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of the public safety committee, which had recommended the independent inquiry after a meeting last week, to review the police department’s work.
“You’re embarrassing our fine police department. You’re embarrassing our town,” Lopez told the council members.
Eladio Jose Armesto, a close friend of the mayor’s and local Christian leader, also said the meeting was improper. “These chambers were not built so it could be made into a snakepit where ignorant people use .. to further a personal agenda. It should never be prostituted into a snake pit to advance anyone’s personal agenda.”
But a few residents said they deserved answers — something more serious and believable than Pizzi’s changing version of events.
“I want to know what happened,” Diane Vargas said. “If someone is to represent our city, it should be someone professional, someone our kids can look up to.”
Claudia Luces also brought up her son, saying that he had been reading the rules and regulations book to get his drivers’ license. “My son asked me, ‘Did the laws change? Is it okay to leave the scene of an accident.’
“Indirectly, you are telling the public that you can leave the scene of an accident as long as you come back. I can go home, freshen up, have some dinner maybe, and a glass or two to calm my nerves, and then go back.”
But David “Doc” Bennett, a dentist and Pizzi’s longtime nemesis, was the only one who got Pizzi riled up. Bennett cited a 2009 ethics complaint that indicated Pizzi did gain some favoritism from police and the mayor interrupted him, saying he would not let him impugn the reputation of the Miami Lakes cops.
Councilman Frank Mingo intervened forcefully: “He has the right to say whatever he wants.”
“An independent investigation is warranted,” Bennett said, “if nothing else than to clear our officers’ names.”
All eight members of the public safety committee stood up to say why they had recommended an independent look at what happened: Because residents had requested clear answers. Council members said that is what moved them.
“Being that there are still many unanswered questions and we are not educated nor authorizted to provide guidance, there was a unanimous request for a citizen-requested independent review of the incident,” said public safety committee chairman Roberto Alonso.
“The committee is requesting that, in an effort to educate our residents, we receive clarification on how the sate statute is enforced and what a resident should do in th event that they themselves crash into town property.”
“Is that too much to ask for? Clear answers?” asked Councilman Ceasar Mestre, who called the meeting. “There’s been allegations in the past. There’s been allegations now. There’s too many inconsistencies in the story.”
Read related story: Red flags: Michael Pizzi ran from crash, changes story
Mestre said he would ask the same questions of any of the other council members, or himself, in the same situation.
“Why did you leave? Why did you run? 
There’s people in this town that deserve answer,” said Mestre, a one-time Pizzi ally. “The days of not calling people out are over.”
He said that the excuses people used to let the mayor slide on this one were “red herrings.” Pizzi, for example, recused himself after repeating three or four times that the council could vote to spend millions of dollars investigating him when the FDLE investigation costs nothing. As for the political motivation, Mestre scoffed.
“Nobody told him to drive that night. Nobody put the animal in front of him. Nobody put the tree in front of him. And, certainly, nobody told him to do what he did after the accident.”
Mirtha Mendez said she was there to ask the question everyone was asking themselves: “Would I have been afforded the same courtesy as the mayor?”
That’s the crux of the issue. The suspicion is that Pizzi was drinking at the Cancun Grill the night of the accident and ran from the vehicle to avoid getting a DUI citation. The allegations are that he used his position and his relationship with someone inside the police department to escape any real scrutiny.
That’s what the FDLE investigation will be about.
But the town might have another problem on its hands if its mayor is showing early signs of Alzheimer’s. One of the speakers said he was concerned that the mayor couldn’t recall whether or not he was at Cancun Grill when he was asked by CBS4’s Gary Nelson last week.
“Having a mayor in office who cannot remember what he did I think is a liability,” said Omar Gonzalez.
Ladra thinks Pizzi’s liabilities are too many to count.
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Gentlemen– now I am being compared to Tokyo Rose, a heretic, and the Three Stooges. For what it’s worth, the insanity truly is that I have no dog in this hunt. In actuality, I have no personal, business, financial or political stake in the outcome of the mess in the Town of Miami Lakes. With that said, take a step back and objectively look at our town. If we are a laughing stock, it is because we are a Town that was founded by a great and prominent family that 60 years later still controls this Town! Forget Tokyo Rose. Sometimes I feel like James Stewart in “It’s A Wonderful Life” living in a Town controlled by one family and if you are not with the program, you’re an outsider. I guess the chip on my shoulder stems from the failure of the Town to recognize that Miami Lakes today is not the Miami Lakes of the 1960s. Miami Lakes has diversity, whether it be by race, religion or nationality. Many, and perhaps a majority, now speak Spanish. So, when I hear or see terms like “Brooklyn ” “shemp howard” and other little code words to disparage the individual, I take offense. Wayne Slaton’s fight to stay in office was intellectually and legally dishonest. Raul Gastesi, a good attorney should have known that the legal position taken by the town was fatally flawed from the beginning. It was all so self serving. I believe these folks played on the naïveté of the town counsel and towns people and wasted over a million dollars arrogantly attempting to take back power. For me, Wayne Slaton represents the past and he now represents a shrinking class of white Anglo into oblivion. Miami Lakes has color and salsa, although it’s still tough to find a synagogue. So there you have it. In 2015, I think we have more than our own fair share of problems where one family owns virtually every hotel, every restaurant leasehold , every rentable space of residential and commercial property and not to mention the Town’s only newspaper and we have a Town council that believes they control the destiny of the town folk. .? Please! That’s why I say, with our little ant farm, at least let the people elect their representatives and respect those elections. For the umpteenth time, Mayor Pizzi soundly defeated Slaton in 2012 and it really was a no brainier under the law to return Pizzi back to office in 8/2014. The rest was dishonest, stupid and expense to the Town. Indeed, Slaton has now disappeared after fabricating the Charter dispute as he plots for 2016. Heck, even Dave Bennett, right or wrong on the issues is active and participates in the on going debates whether he holds an elected seat or not. That’s intended as a compliment Doc. In sum, I want to be clear– I do believe that Mayor Pizzi is still beloved by many and yes, I believe an overwhelming majority still support him. For the next 12 or 14 months, whatever it is, I believe he wants to govern with the Council without the animosity. Everyone should work together on the schools, parks, and infrastructure and other important issues. Objectively, and I do mean objectively, Raul Gastesi should be relieved from his duties by the Council because of his poor advise on the Town Charter issue. That wasted taxpayer money alone, which will exceed $1,000,000.00 is more than enough to pay for the two programs recently line item vetoed by Gov. Scott, So, how about keeping your name calling in check and take a deep breath on these issues. Pizzi crushed at the polls in 2012 after a successful 4 year term and he was returned to office by large numbers. Maybe that won’t hold in 2016, but we will find out…..Now, if Trump came in and bought out the Graham Companies that would make of an interesting debate …
Looks like the Pizzi heretics are out in force trying to do damage control. We are the laughing stock of every other municipality in this county. Send this deranged mayor to rehab and get us sensible and respectable government. We are totally embarrassed by the on goings at the town hall.
David, it’s not a question of cowardice; its civility and practicality, together with a desire to express genuine concerns without alienating friends and neighbors. Many believe you would be a disaster sitting on the council in any capacity. It appears that you are on the wrong side of most issues, yet, with that said, how can I possibly greet you on the street or sit in your dental chair with confidence if we identity ourselves? You are a good dentist, but a disaster in how your revel in being a professional gadfly. Mayor Pizzi is supported by the majority and by overwhelming numbers. It was shameful the money wasted fighting his return on acquittal. There will be a new election in 2016 and I suspect Pizzi will win because the majority want him. Slaton has vanished and no longer participates in town affairs. How sad. If he can’t hold the gavel, he slinks away. Maybe he hopes people forget he snuckered the town to waste millions to keep his seat. He was wrong to fire Geller. He was wrong to create the crisis by refusing to step down in 8/14. Amazed that Gastesi STILL has the support of the Council. Really bad advise. David, I wonder if you have the courage to fight for what you believe in. Pizzi sat at that dais as people insulted him and took it like a man. You my friend are cruel in your hostility. It was disgusting watching you gloat with each vote to bankroll the litigation against him. Grow up and show some class! But, I guess like any insignificant person who craves attention you don’t care how you get it. My response has now brought you some attention. So, why don’t you put on your game face and practice in front of a mirror and imagine that people care what you say. Election is in 2016. Put your name in again and glory in the rejection. I may have an appointment coming soon, so please excuse me if I don’t upset the man who holds the drill….and KEEP my anonymity. It’s not cowardice, just brains. But you wouldn’t understand that, would you Doc.
Only a warped mind such as Pizzi’s or his close family would look at what has occurred throughout Pizzi’s political career and still have anything nice to say about him. Pizzi is not “liked by the majority of the people in Miami Lakes”, in fact a mere mention of his name will cause our citizens to spit, curse, or break out in a sarcastic laughter. We think of him as something of a cross between a clown, Shemp Howard or they guy who can’t shoot straight.
For the time being there is nothing we can do but point out Pizzi’s errors even though he should be in federal prison right now after his much publicized corruption and bribery arrest. Pizzi slithered out of a federal penitentiary as a result of the lies told under oath by two polical hacks who bark no different than you do. Come election time, I do promise you a tide of support for whoever does decide to run against Pizzi. Furthermore, for those local politicians or those who mismanage other nearby cities with corruption and graft similar to Pizzi’s, bear warning that mere identification or support of this despicable character will land you out of office as well. We will study all of his campaign treasurer reports. We will take note of all of his political contributions. In fact we will even notice what payments he is making out of his campaign or PAC funds and identify those who are being paid and supportive of Pizzi and will no longer do business with those individuals. At little expense we will mail out campaign information alerting every citizen in this town of all the documented criminal and unethical acts committed by Pizzi and the corrupted environment Pizzi has created. In other words, we will isolate and surgically expose this rat so bad he will high tail back to Brooklyn and more than likely will not even seek reelection.
Now, as far as you are concerned, you are nothing but a modern day Tokyo Rose living under a rock. You are blind in your support of the corruptive forces that Pizzi brings to an a otherwise decent town. Have fun writing these comical diatribes here and sweat out the days. Come August of 2016, if your leader has not landed in prison as a result of his next burlesque theatre drama act, we will have a new mayor in this town and Pizzi will just be another Three Stooges black and white rerun in our minds.
When will you guys learn I DO NOT POST ANONMOUSILY!!
Only Pizzi hides behind the skirts of his aides and was busted by the FBI for doing it.
You should be man (woman) enough to post your comments under your name.
You are just cowards.
Hey, Doc! I’m not George Lopez. Lol. Anyway, regardless of your slander (you really should watch how you phrase things) let’s remember AGAIN that Mayor Pizzi is STILL loved and supported by the majority, overwhelming majority of Miami Lakes! As for everything else you claim, no one cares. All politics are local and people love Pizzi. With that said, you did raise an interesting thought: What if you, David Bennett were elected Mayor?! How funny and appropriate would that be for this circus? You, “Doc” could finally have your chance to govern. however, personally, I don’t trust a man who gives himself his own “nickname”. (Laughing). By the way, the only person looking good in this thing, aside from my choice for Miami Lakes leadership under a strong manager system, Alex Ray, –is Tony Lama. Lama is the smartest guy in the room right now, OR should I say NOT in the room. His advisors are spot on: No embarrassing photo ops with Slaton and the rest of the council opposing Pizzi; voted against firing Geller; either absent or voted NO when asked to bankroll the fight against Pizzi. Tony Lama truly comes off as level headed and neutral in all of this. You really should look at him in 2020 AFTER Pizzi’s term limit. So, enough already ! To summarize, Pizzi is the man for now; Tony Lama is the future; Alex Ray is only in our dreams ; and David Bennett is our nightmare.. Wait, I forgot Wayne Slaton, that’s ok…..so does everyone else, once he leaves the room.
All of these comments really are nothing more than an exercise in futility. Mayor Pizzi is overwhelmingly popular with an overwhelming majority of the people of Miami Lakes. Mayor Pizzi supports the schools, the civic organizations, the parks and recreation, the police and fire departments and the future growth of the Town. The Mayor repeats himself because he is not some phony politician spitting out talking points. He shoots from the hip and is hip when he shoots. The Mayor actually listens to people and people respond to this unpolished and honest approach. Compare him to Cool Wayne Slaton who slinks back into the Mayor’s seat by default and then slinks away when repudiated by the Courts. Millions spent to try to undue the majority who support Mayor Pizzi. The Council is petty and transparent in their disdain for Pizzi. I guess they have to attack him to justify the millions wasted trying to unseat him. Honestly, the Town has become a joke with this gang. Let’s put ALL of the Council on double secret probation and see who least can hold his liquor. Yes, councilman we know who you are too. Bottom line, forget the vendettas and govern. The people will have an election and decide who stays and who goes. Where is honesty from Nancy and Mary when we need it…
This sort of masochistic statement can only come from former Council member George Lopez. Yes, the same individual who would perjured himself in a federal court of law at the risk of spending the next five years in prison to serve as alibi for his master Pizzi.
The list of Pizzi’s misdeeds is long but either you suffer from amnesia or you are benefitting from the relationship to this mayor and continue to provide him with an alibi.
Here are a few of the embarrassing acts committed by this mentally unstable Mayor Pizzi:
1- A failed recall against former County Commissioner Natacha Seijas personally overseen by Pizzi where three individuals were arrested by MDPD for committing fraud and notary public violations.
2-A suspicious arson that remains open where he is believed to have set fire to his own office to destroy records and avoid returning funds to his clients.
3-Multiple unethical acts, including slithering at the town hall to place denigrating bumper stickers on his political t opponent vehicles. An intimidating visit along with one of his now retired council member cronies to a town residence to intimidate a citizen he was having a dispute with.
4- A major federal arrest by the FBI for bribery and an assortment of other crimes for taking kickbacks for future contracts. The fact that he did not plea out a deal on this case and took it to trial tells you how deranged he is. The fact that some of those who lied in open court still comment here on his behalf still baffles us.
5-Flleeing the scene of a traffic accident with property damage for no other apparent reason than to sober himself up while having his MDPD buddies concoct a story to let him walk away without even a citation. A clear DUI and not unusual since he had been drinking at Cancun Grill just before the incident and he makes that shopping center his enclave. Any given day you can see this mayor half or fully drunk at the pool hall telling tall tales and bragging about being “Mayor of Miami Lakes”.
Pizzi is nothing but a clown and we the citizens of Miami Lakes, regardless of how the council feels about him, have had enough of his antics. We do not care if it is Slaton, Bennett or Mestre who decides to take out this both morally and criminally corrupt mayor in August of 2016 but I can tell you George, you and your buddy mayor have had your last dance. (To all those decent citizens of Miami Dade who are not afraid to tell this mayor and his two goon attorneys Shohat and Rhinehardt where to go, please feel free to add any other Pizzi antics that may have slipped my mind).
While FDLE is at it, they should revisit the arson committed at Pizzi’s Miami Lakes law office a few years back where all of his client files were supposedly “burnt”. At the time Pizzi claimed $200k were stolen from a safe, then it was $50k, then mysteriously it was $50.00. It has been reported by some of those clients that Pizzi set the fire himself to avoid showing he had not done any work for his clients and he had charged handedly. Those public records can also be obtained from the police department as well as the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics. Judging by the way some town cops cover for Pizzi, I would not be surprised they looked the other way on that case as well.
Michael Pizzi’s accident should be investigated along with the Miami Dade Officers mentioned in the first comment by Pizzilandia. There should be some other Police Officer’s names added to that list that were manipulated by elected officials and retaliated against my family and I for exercise our freedom of speech. Miami Lakes still have some police officers that plays politics and depending on what the case they will act accordingly.
This is not the first time that the Police in Miami Lakes gives a chance to Michael Pizzi. There are complaints filed with the Miami Dade Commission on Ethics that state that Pizzi was driving with the insurance and tag expired, a police officer stopped him and then the police Officer received a phone call, supposedly from Bocanegra and had to let go of Michael Pizzi. Public Records are available at the Commission on Ethics. Bocanegra is no longer there, but there are others that also has come to his rescue.
There are also complaints filed by the Police in Medley of how Pizzi manipulated them to favor one of his friends or clients.
I don’t know if the FDLE is going to be able to do something; but at least every resident in Miami Dade County should start requesting to their County Commissioner to bring back the Independent Review Panel to investigate those Police Officers in the Miami Dade Police who abuse their power, their position and play favoritism and violate the law.
Do not let Pizzi and/or some Police Officers retaliate against your freedom of speech. If you do not stand for something you are gonna sit for everything.
Check this out:
https://youtu.be/66pd7abqCts
Mayor Pizzi would not know me if he fell over me. Never met him. But this nonsense must end. The Town Council blew it when they sided with Slaton and Gastesi against Pizzi. That blunder will cost a million bucks! Now, this gang wants an FDLE investigation, Fine. While they are at it, how about investigating all of the legal fees Gastesi made by giving bad advise to the Town. The Town and Slaton lost. No doubt about that. Yet, Gastesi and the Town Council sit there and pontificate about doing the people’s business. Please. It’s time to scap the entire council. Let Alex Rey run the town and bring back the lawyers from Weiss Serrota. Heck, rebuild Rendezvous on the Lakes and we can really bring the town together , lol
Are you all aware that the detectives you are accusing of giving favoritism were just recognized by MADD for arresting drunk drivers? Maybe they know what they’re doing? Just saying.
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2015/07/02/drunk-driving-crash-survivor-thanks-officers-for-their-service/
Silenced citizen, what good is a plaque on a wall for arresting 100 drunk drivers when you purposely cover up one more DUI and let Mayor Pizzi off the hook? All those awards and commendations in police files are atta boys for a job well done, yet it does not relieve those ofofficers of the responsibility to enforce the law regardless of class status or elected office prominence. The law is the law and should be equally distributed. I wonder how many awards and commendations those MDPD officers recently arrested for narcotic trafficking, stealing and pawning stolen property, stealing gas from county pumps, etc., had in their files before they were placed under arrest. If your intent is to give Pizzi another alibi we are not buying it.
** sigh **
In the picture it looks like pizzi is receiving a blow job from the balding guy in the front seat. Did anyone notice this and file a complaint?
The old Michael Pizzi is coming back. The one that seemed a little conciliatory is gone. The fact that Pizzi refused to give up the dais and leave while the issue of whether to ask for an investigation of him was improper and a conflict of interest. And to have two of his attorneys there to make veiled threats to the public? Out of line, counselors.
I wonder if the tree should be removed and kept in a lock up place as a witness ( maybe he to was bribed ) I don’t put it pass the clown (mayor ) to talk to a tree. We all know he is not always in his right mind. Kudos to a council and to the referring committee, you have shown to real care for the silent but hard working people in your community.
It never fails, the moment Pizzi is in trouble in comes former Councilman George Lopez to the rescue. He did it in Pizzi’s recent federal trial where he lied through his teeth by claiming Pizzi had given him the package that contained cigars and bribery monies at the pool hall. He claimed he took the cigars and disposed of the package and the money in the bathroom where it was “found” by another Pizzi lackey who claimed he took the money and bought drinks. Yeah, likely story!
The presence of two of Pizzi’s attorneys at a town hall meeting for the purpose of intimidating citizens is preposterous. They were there for the simple reason to remind citizens they will be sued, persecuted by Pizzi’s code enforcement puppets and harassed if they dare call Pizzi what he truly is- a disfunctional individual with substance abuse tendencies and neurotic behavior.
FDLE should begin its investigation by concentrating on the cadre of high ranked police officials that have come out of MDPD’s Town of Miami Lakes in recent years. Not only related to this specific issue, but also the past absentee ballot fraud of 2012 which Pizzi was a part of in conjunction with Commissioner Esteban Bovo, Rene Garcia, Carlos Hernandez and a cast of other undesirable politicians.
In FDLE’s radar should be individuals like former MDPD major and town manager Frank Bocanegra; former town MDPD Major Gene Dieppa; current Northwest District MDPD Major Ignacio Alvarez and former town MDPD Major Richard Amion who currently heads MDPD’s internal affairs unit and is ultimately responsible for disciplining the officers that let Pizzi go without as much as a wrist slap. All those listed northwest quadrant police officials are politically tied to Pizzi’s tentacles and give the MDPD a foul smell. One or more of those listed are responsible for this police cover up.
We do not know if anything will come of this particular issue but the wheels are in motion and on August of 2016 hopefully we will see the last of Pizzi and his circus act.