Sweetwater Mayor Jose Diaz has fired pretty much everyone except the Police Chief.
Or everyone that is left, anyway.
Diaz will have a press conference Tuesday to announce the dismissal of several department directors and employees as part of the “cleaning house” he has tried to initiate since he took over for the suspended former Mayor Manny “Maraña” Maroño, who was arrested in August on federal bribery charges and is doing three years y pico in a federal pen.
But some say Diaz is really just trying to distance himself from Marono in order to keep his job in next year’s election — you know, have a leg to stand on when he says it wasn’t his administration.
“Our residents need to know that I maintain a firm commitment to ‘clean house’ so that our city government is transparent and we can be proud of our city,” Diaz said in a statement thanking residents for their support.
“I will continue to send our message to all our residents that with the actions taken today we can have a better,” the statement said. Diaz did not return a call from Ladra Monday. His office said he would not make additional statements to the press until Tuesday.
Commissioner Orlando Lopez, who is running for mayor against Diaz, did not want to comment until Tuesday either, saying that he wanted to wait and hear the mayor out first.
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Mayor Manuel Diaz is a decent family man who was tossed into an unexpected situation when Mayor Marono was arrested and convicted. For as long as anybody can remember Sweetwater has been a symbol of corruption in this county. At this juncture in time, Sweetwater’s city government is comprised of Council members that include Isolina Marono (mother of Mayor Marono and renown absentee ballot collector) Manuel Duasso, a three decade Sweetwater gadfly and Isolina’s helper in the absentee ballot collection adventures. The council also includes Catalino Rodriguez, not even worthy of the title of thief but “ratero” which in Latin terms means a person who will steal anything not tied down. It was Catalino Rodriguez who as former Sweetwater cop was in possession of the keys to the evidence warehouse were drugs, cash and property went missing. It is evident Mayor Diaz has a very tough job ahead of him but this is definitely a move in the right direction. Let’s hope decent Sweetwater citizens without the listed maladies run for office and replace the listed group of corrupt officials.
Esther never worked for Pepe Diaz
Thank you, Nazria.
Someone in his office also informed me of that and asked me to take out the reference.
Love, Ladra
This guy drank the Kool-Aid and broke bread when Manny was Mayor – now he wants to do what? Does this “Mayor by Accident” genuinely believe his own press? What a shame and embarrassment. Sweetwater deserves better than this guy at the helm. Diaz was on the City Commission during Marono’s tenure. He supported every move, every suggestion, laughed at every joke, and kissed Marono’s hinnie every chance he got. He now attempts to disclaim his attached-at-the-hip association with Marono only for his self-serving political gain. Diaz and Marono were like Abbot and Costello; Lone Ranger and Tanto; Batman and Robbin; What a Chameleon. Honesty? Who is this Diaz trying to fool! Honesty is admitting where you have been, who was there with you, who you supported or supported you, and recognizing that while Marono made a serious – inexcusable mistake, his leadership, nevertheless, benefitted the City and its residents in many way. Regrettably, it is human nature to emphasis the negative and ignore the positive; to run for away in fear and deny your brethren, all for self gain. Such is history – Judas did it to Jesus, Brutus to Caesar. Politicians have a penchant for such ways. Allegiances are fickle and friendship is disposable. Sweetwater has great potential, but it will never realize those potential with neophyte leaders like Diaz. The issues of Sweetwater are complex and recurring, and the Diaz’ of this world do a disservice to the City. Oh, by the way, did I mention that Diaz’ team of “advisors” are the Carlos Hernandez gang from Hialeah! What a Country. Form Russian Circus Midgets to a Clown in Command and a Hialeah Ring Master. It is a shame a real viable candidate does not step forward to oust this guy.
Define better. Orlando “”El Periquero”” Lopez? Really? WOW!!!
(Revised / Corrected Reply);
I’m going to try to be as objective as I can. Ever since politics was created hundreds of years ago; every time someone takes over as a leader he or she must bring their on people (staff) to help accomplish the tasks an hand. The reason for this is to be able to function with people that are on the same page. There is nothing wrong with that, our state governors & even our great nation presidents have been doing it forever. Jose Diaz (Known to me personally)is a very religious person & I don’t think he will be a bad Mayor. This move should’ve been made the first day he took over but due to his religious beliefs he gave this people a chance rather than fire them when the reality is that instead of this people being grateful, they became an obstacle to the moving forward toward the growth of the city & corruption clean-up.
Even if some people want to call this a political move, it is indeed a good move.Everyone of his predecessors did this including the former mayor Manuel “Manny” Morono & those that eventually be there (hopefully in a far future)in his position will also bring their own people.
I don’t think that if this persons were doing the right thing for the citizens of Sweetwater Mr. Jose Diaz would ve never made this move because then “It would had been a bad political move”.
Last but not least and don’t think that any one reading this, likes to : “”SLEEP WITH THE ENEMY””
Open your eyes & look at the whole picture this looks like when John Gotti went to serve time in jail he was still running the show thanks to all the crooks that he left behind in some key places.
Enough is Enough!!! Let’s cut the B.S. and let the guy do his work and concentrate in things related to the well being of the city and all their constituents.
P/S: I don’t work for the city and I don’t owe anyone or any politician any favors.
Sincerely: J. Rodriguez
About time someone does…