Robert Gewanter’s public poetry in neon hit the nail on the head. Again.
The owner of M&M Liquors is already famous for the rhymes he writes on the sign outside his store on Southeast 8th Street in Hialeah.
Gewanter, who has swiped at presidents and senators and world leaders from beyond, struck 
closer to home Tuesday with a sign that slaps Mayor Carlos Hernandez for admitting to a felony during the federal tax evasion trial of his predecessor and mentor, former Mayor Julio Robaina.
A tale of 2 mayors
Both did the crime
But only one
Will serve time
It’s sounds musical, don’t it? Kinda like a haiku. Only not technically.
But, technically, he is correct.
Hernandez was specifically by U.S. Attorney Richard Gregorie if he was paid 36 percent interest on loans he made to jeweler, Ponzi schemer and Hialeah Chamber of Commerce member, Hialeah jeweler later convicted as a Ponzi schemer.
“Yes, sir,” the mayor answered.
When asked whether he plans to amend his tax returns, presumably to pay taxes on the income he didn’t declare before — just like Robaina.
“Yes,” the mayor answered.
Gewanter seems to get what none of the law enforcement agencies locally are understanding: That Hernandez is just as guilty as Robaina. Maybe not to the same monetary level. But to the same basic crime.
And he is a sitting mayor. This should make everyone shiver and bring shame to our local authorities — even Gov. Rick Scott, who should find a way to suspend him. I know the guv’s powers are limited to suspending officials who have been charged or indicted.
But Hernandez admitted to his crime. How often does that happen?
Perhaps we can get a lawmaker to change the rules so that the guv can suspend an elected who admits openly and brazenly to committing a felony, especially one he denied for three years.
Liquor store owner gets it: Carlos Hernandez is a criminal added by Ladra on
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And the question that has not been asked is “were did that $ come from. When you retire as a Lt from the Hialeah police, you have a nice monthly retirement but not a big amount of cash to lend out! I guess I will have to hear the Real Thruth of MiAMI give me lesson as how to understand this crazyness, of well that’s life:)
You have a point. But she is not worth the time.
I do appreciate the additional page view each time, Sasha. Please come again. Comment as often as you like.
Love, Ladra
Real Truth of Miami,
Anybody defending Carlos Hernandez, Raul Martinez, and Julio Robaina is rubbish and fools gold in my book. So I can now understand how you know the inner details of a Pawn Shop. Don’t you think that lending at 36% interest to the poor is classless? And you are defending the practice. You just told me who you. Don’t give a them damn whether you are Sasha or Gavel Girl, but you worth less than fools gold in my book. If you are not convinced, look at what you said in your comment, “Carlos Hernandez lent money to a dirtbag driving a Rolls Royce.” So what does make him and you? As you cleverly stated, “Tell me who you associate with and I tell you who you are.”
Ladra, do I have a point? Did she just got bit by her own bark?
Elaine, watch the video. When he refers to collecting principal not interest he is referring to a LEGAL tax strategy of taking payments toward principal and then toward interest. He may or may not be amending the returns but nothing he said actually contradicts that. I find it amusing how you skipped the rest of my response (including the RM section) but, then again, when you professionally spin facts for a living, I should expect nothing different. Oh, lastly, I’m not sure if I should be offended or complemented that you refer to me as Sacha but, like most of your spiel, you are incorrect on that one. I didn’t disappear, simply got increasing complicated in my professional career. Anyway, off me, if you want real stories, I have no issue pointing you in the right direction.
Well, well, well. Look who’s back. The real propaganda of Miami. Or Hialeah, as it were. You know, the website that defended Robaina and attacked Ladra and then, abracadabra, disappeared after he lost the election.
Anyway, Sasha, the truth is that Hernandez did, indeed, say he was not charging interest but principal with that 36%. It is on video. He had a press conference and chided the Miami Herald (so it’s not just me) for saying it was interest when it was principal. So, yes, he denied it.
Everything else is irrelevant — to this case, as you say. Ladra is not an expert in pawn shops as, apparently, you are. But maybe there needs to be reform here. Regardless, 36% interest on a personal loan is illegal. No doubt about that.
And, by the way, we also know that he also failed to disclose income on his taxes. Since he said, under oath last week, that he would be amending them to reflect the income from those 36% interest payents. So if he denied that, he was lying then, too.
Surprise, surprise.
Love, Ladra
Woof!
Ladra,
My apologies for my typos/grammatical errors. But I think you got my point!
This is a problem where most people simply don’t get it or don’t give a hoot. Why residents or the media like the Miami Herald are refusing to hold the State Attorney’s Office accountable for its lack of tenacity to prosecute certain politicians dumbfounds me. Laws are written to be applied equally. The unwillingness for the State Attorney’s Office to do so raises serious concerns on whether the office is racist, corrupt, or purely driven by politics. You are looking at institutional corruption and an organized criminal organization at that Office because I believe all three exists within the State Attorney’s Office. This is no different what can be seen in most non-democratic nations.
Ladra- I hope you understand my point. If you agree, bark once and if you don’t bark twice.
The mayor doesn’t have to be charged he can be removed for malfeasance, basically if a public official is found to have committed a crime then he can get suspended but he doesn’t have to be charged.
[…] periodista Elaine de Valle, editora del sitio “Political Cortadito” recoge este ejemplo de “poesía pública” o agórica del bardo Robert Gewanter, propietario […]
I feel that if a political official commits a crime and even admits to it, he should also be arrested and charged. And even more then that, he should be removed from office. Not a good representative for the citizens. That only can say what else he can be doing with the citizens tax dollars.
Suspend Hernandez