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.
Read related story: District 12 race heats up with Goliath beating up on David
“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.
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What Micheal Rosenberg has failed to tell us animal lovers is that Miami Dade County currently has an 84% save rate for dogs entering the shelter. The numbers of animals saved has drastically improved over the last four years without raising our taxes. Both Lynda Bell and Pepe Diaz voted in favor of the Miami Dade County No Kill Initiative. They did not vote in favor of raising our taxes by $20million to get the job done. Why would we raise our taxes by $20million when a new 69,224 sq ft shelter is being built and the animal euthanasia numbers have drastically decreased without tax increases? We need more commissioners like Lynda Bell and Pepe Diaz who are getting the job done without increasing our taxes. I voted for the “Pet Trust” Ballot but I was misinformed and I am upset about it.
Valentina,
Please call me at 305 439 3571, or email to [email protected] I’d love to talk to you about this. The new shelter will be beautiful and it is hard to believe the concept was in the works for ten years. It will hold about about 50 more animals, maybe a little more or less. Over 500 come in a week…Never ending. The shelter won’t stop that from happening.
I hope you will call. After the conversation, then you could write about our talk.
Michael
Valentina,
Before you call…please watch these two…
http://www.local10.com/news/video-shows-stray-dogs-shunned-by-miamidade-animal-services/25062212
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLMLOz8kC8E
Thanks….
Michael
Pepe should change his name to Poopie, because it stinks to high heaven!
He votes against the minimal tax that we voters said to do to stop the animal killings at the shelter, and now he wants to look good doing something he voted against?
Typical politician…he says one thing and does another, trying to make himself look good. He doesn’t fool anyone. Vote this fool out of office.
Funny how quickly the bids to build the shelter were opened reviewed and awarded. The bids were due 8 8 14 Friday I wonder why?
There is NO honor in anything having to do with the Miami-Dade government. A 2 year old would be able to see what’s going on here, and it’s deplorable.
This idiot has been there long enough. It’s time for him to go bye-bye. Sadly, I do not live in his nor Bell’s district so am not able to have the pleasure of voting for their opposition!
At this point all I can do is hope and pray that the people in those districts are as tired as everyone else is and votes him out.
“All this while close to 300 police officers are being laid off, fire rescue boats are sitting on dry land, canals are putrid with dead animals and debris, the grass on the medians is waist high, potholes are not being fixed and our county is falling apart at the seams for lack of funds and a reduced budget.”
Great list, you’ve been paying attention to what’s happening around us. However, THIS IS GIMENEZ’s MESS. The budget is a mess because he has mismanaged it. He is the responsible party.
In total agreement with you. Of course is Gimenez’s mess. My point was that with all the budgetary problems we are facing, additional taxes for a Pet Trust is not on top my to do list.
Let me get this straight, Michael Rosenberg pleads to animal lovers for the creation of a Pet Trust that will suck at least an additional $20 million in taxes a year from an already strapped Miami Dade County budget. By masterminding this effort of course he would be involved in the selection of members of the new pet board and he would probably receive a nice salary in the future similar to that of United Way executives. All this while close to 300 police officers are being laid off, fire rescue boats are sitting on dry land, canals are putrid with dead animals and debris, the grass on the medians is waist high, potholes are not being fixed and our county is falling apart at the seams for lack of funds and a reduced budget. The citizens of this county pay taxes for essential services and as recently stated by Bernardette Pardo in her weekly Herald column, this is not the year for this battle or extra tax burden. Also, I would be a bit weary about a character like Rosenberg, who finds a loophole in state election laws where he does not have to report political contributions or contributors, he misleads by operating under a defunct PAC and collects cash contributions from his website intended for animal services and subsequently utilizes those funds in political campaigns without the knowledge of the contributors. Nice try Michael, now about that piece of land in the Everglades…
Eltumbe,
I would really like to answer all your questions. You mention that I would be getting a nice salary on the board. The Mayor’s Plan of action clearly states it is a non paid board position. There would be 13 board members…All non paid.
We never operated under a defunct PAC. That PAC was closed in 2013 and the reporter chose not to show what we did open in Tallahassee on June 27th, 2013. She kind of left that part out.
Regard taking money… here are the words from the one email we sent about the campaign.
“We also need money for flyers, mailers, and palm cards, so that we can have two new commissioners that SUPPORT OUR ANIMALS the RIGHT WAY, by honoring our votes.
If you can help, any amount would be appreciated.”
Please call me at 305 439 3571, or send an email to [email protected] and ask me any question you want, and I will back up my answers with proof…. Try it…don’t hide…just call me. It will be a great conversation because I am very good at listening.
Michael, I’m glad I have you on the line. Did not mean to strike a raw nerve but you play a great shell game. You see Michael you are a good hider. I can say this because I looked up your Pet’s Voice Political Action Committee (PAC) and I found out it has been defunct since 2013. I did notice you incorporated under Pet’s Voice, Inc., a corporation not a PAC, that you operate out of your business locale so you could conveniently HIDE political contributions and contributors for two local political races. You see Michael, the reason politicians are required to report and make their contributions and expenses public prior to an election is so citizens can learn who is behind those campaigns and make intelligent choices prior to casting their vote. I know you found a loophole with the Department of Agriculture but that just makes you look shady to me. To this day you have collected and spent close to $30,000 in those two campaigns and we have no idea where that money came from. Furthermore, not only did you determine that supporting Levine-Cava and spending monies in her campaign was a good thing but you also openly advertised for any candidate to run in District 12. Again, you are good at hiding Michael, if you disliked the current candidate so much why not move there and ran for office in that district yourself? That brings me to Figueira your chosen candidate. Here is a women who cannot even provide a correct date of birth on official records since she has provided not one or two but three dates of birth throughout the last few years. Is this the kind of person I would want to vote for? Not at all. Then there is the issue shown on Channel 41 about these political wrapped trucks with the slogan “Pet’s Voice Political Action Committee” (not corporation) driving all over and posting illegal signs on every tree and light pole in my city of Doral. Not too ecologically sensitive I would say. You see Michael, I am a tired tax payer and my taxes already pay for an Animal Services Department that seems to be doing a decent job. What makes you think I would want to pay additional taxes so someone like you and those chosen by you determine how to use those taxes, which by the way was estimated at about $20 million a year? Also you may not be asking for a salary now but if you were to get your way you may just change your mind in the future and ask for one. Maybe Michael you are not up to speed with the budgetary problems this county is facing but I can tell you, I much rather have the county handle my tax dollars than allow you to run a $20 million a year trust. Oh and by the way, seems like Levine-Cava, who is a legitimate candidate, agrees with that assessment and has already renounced any further association with your corporation. Good luck to you Michael, no offense but I need not ask you any further questions.
Eltumbe,
Wow…I would really love to talk to you more than ever. I don’t call that hiding. You have my number. What are you afraid of…..conversation?
One example of how you are incorrect. We set up the 501 C 4 over a year ago….well before we did any type of political campaigns. We were not even thinking of doing that, because we thought that the commissioners and Mayor would honor the vote of the people. Well, they didn’t, and it turns out that a 501 C 4, can support candidates. I did not make up those rules. It is not hiding…it is just what a 501 C 4 can do.
There is a reason we did the 501 C 4. Not only were we advised to do this by two attorney’s, but the State suggested it as well.
If you would like to meet, I’d gladly show you the list of donations that came through the website. There is no state form I can put it on, but you apparently don’t want to talk to me…or email me..or I’m sure meeting would be out of the question so I could show you…
So, continue to write these stories, but until we actually talk, you’ll never know the truth.
The salary is a perfect example. The board members do not get salaries. They are all volunteers from the community that would be asked to participate.
You are saying, that one day, I would walk into a meeting, (if I were on the board) and say…Michael Rosenberg wants a salary. What world do you live in where you can do that?
However, I like the way you think. I am President of the Kendall Federation of Homeowner Associations and of course a board member. Next week is our board meeting. I am going to try what you suggested and let you know how I make out. I’ll start small….$100 a year and see if I can get it!!
Call me….wow…we’d have a great conversation. I would truly enjoy it.
“Not only were we advised to do this by two attorneys, but the State suggested it as well”
That is a great quote Michael. Of course your attorney “advised” you to use a corporation to hide the political contributions you received. It is quite common in this county for special interests to hide contributions and protect their agenda. Also the “State” does not “advice” anyone what sort of PAC or corporation to file so give it a rest and tell the truth. You found a loophole and you tried to feed us a a fast one. Tell you what, why don’t you use this medium and post all the contributions and expenses related to the two campaigns so not only I but the rest of our citizens can see the numbers. We are all for the ethical treatment of animals and we hope Animal Services implements a no-kill county in the near future; however, we are tired of seeing tax dollars wasted on boards and trusts intended only on inflating government. Good luck to you Michael.
Eltumbe,
The grass in the medians is purposely not being cut, it’s one of many tools that this Mayor is using to show residents that he has to cut back services because the employees are getting back some of what was taken from them. The cops are about to suffer his wrath. This Mayor is all about focusing on the wrong issues, instead, someone should talk about all of the money being wasted awarding contracts to special interest groups represented by a select lobbyist buddy of his.
What’s funny is that a ground breaking ceremony is being held and the contract bid out yet permitting is still ongoing.
In total agreement with you Julio. The citizens of this county were taken for a ride by Gimenez. Also this strong mayor format is a mess and all it has created is a system where only friends and family are promoted to managerial positions. What used to be a professional workforce has been diminished to a group of employees led by Gimenez’s cohorts more intent on reporting individuals who disagree with Gimenez’s policies than actually solving the problems of this community.
I hope Michael doesn’t show up because he will scare all the animals . Guy is so ugly only a mother would love that face. Instead of collecting funds to help animals (which he lied about and is using funds for campaign purposes), he should’ve used the money for plastic surgery.
Ivy….ouch…After reading your comments I’m thinking of starting… http://www.PlasticSurgeryforMichael.com I’m receiving calls from plastic surgeons offering help.
Until I get my surgery, my only hope, my only dream…is to be as lucky as the guy in this photo… http://www.miamidade.gov/district12/contact-us.asp
On the other issue, where you accused me of lying about funds, please call me at 305 439 3571, or send an email to [email protected] and after we talk, you can decide if I was lying, or if the report was wrong. Don’t be afraid to call me…I’m ugly…but I’m really nice.
My guess is that Pepe Diaz won’t invite Michael Rosenberg to the groundbreaking ceremony. I expect that he’ll show up anyway with his own camera crew.