After a decade of delays and hand-wringing over the where and how, Miami-Dade county officials are finally going to have 
a ground breaking for the new animal shelter they approved in 2004 — four days before the election.
This sudden scheduling of an event in the district represented by Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz — who has come under fire from the Pet’s Voice people, who are running and funding his challenger’s campaign — seems a little shady to me.
I mean, why not wait a few more days to have the ceremony after Aug. 26 so it doesn’t look like a campaign event? After waiting ten years since the official vote, and at least two and a half years since securing this location, four more days would not make such a big difference.
Except maybe to Diaz, who is suddenly facing a not-so-easy ride to re-election.
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“The timing is incredibly suspect,” said Pet’s Voice founder and president Michael Rosenberg. “It is obvious the county and Mr. Diaz are coordinating their efforts to give him maximum exposure to make certain he wins.”
“Has there ever been a more perfect example of government collusion?”
I’m sure there has been, Mr. Rosenberg, but this still looks like a pretty good textbook case.
Especially since the event was not on the county online calendar Tuesday morning, looking like they suddenly and intentionally squeezed it in right on time for the election.
Animal Services Director Alex Munoz told Ladra late Tuesday night that it had been on the construction schedule since at least April. He said that Internal Services Director Lester Sola scheduled the event. Munoz also said it was actually supposed to happen in July, but it was pushed back for whatever reason.
We know the reason: The closer to Election Day, the better for Diaz, who now gets free publicity (earned media) on TV and radio and in the newspaper on the very issue that his challenger is running against him on.
Ladra sees the scenario: Diaz goes to Sola and says, ‘Hey, since we’re having this event anyway, can we have it the Friday before the election? Pretty please?”
Said Rosenberg: “Mr. Diaz wants to start his 13th year as commissioner with this amazing press event, four days before the election and the county works with him to have a ground breaking ceremony. Ten years later, it is timed perfectly.”
Munoz told Ladra it never even occurred to him that the timing would so much as look questionable. “I want the shelter opened and I want it opened as early as possible,” Munoz said.
Really? Really? As if a ceremonial ground breaking delay of five or six days is going to have any real impact on the construction schedule.
If there is any honor in Miami-Dade government, or at least a desire to avoid the mere perception of happy timing, county officials — maybe even Diaz himself — would postpone the event for a week.
Or even just five days and have it on Aug. 27.
Good timing: Animal shelter event may benefit incumbent added by Ladra on
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