Some residents in Hialeah were surprised last week to find that they could pay for their water and research a nearby charter school at the same time. That’s because a flyer for the COHEA (City of Hialeah Education Academy) Career and Collegiate Academy was found in the same envelope with the utility bill.
Several residents told Ladra that this was the first time they had ever seen an ad come in or with their water bill. And Councilman Jesus Tundidor said he hadn’t seen it or heard anything about it before Ladra called.
Could it be a new revenue stream for the city? Like the paid advertisement on the public buses?
“The council has not approved anything like that,” Tundidor told Ladra. “It hasn’t come before us.”
One of the residents in Palm Springs that got the bill Thursday for service ending Nov. 15 said she doesn’t even have children. So if it’s paid advertising, it’s not very efficiently targeted.
Or was it a favor or quid pro quo from newly elected Mayor Esteban Bovo, who came into office in the Nov. 2 election?
Read related: Esteban Bovo solidly wins his second place prize job: Mayor of Hialeah
COHEA is serviced and supported by Academica, the charter school giant owned by the family of Bovo’s former state rep colleague Eric Fressen. Academica-related companies gave at least $30,000 to Bovo’s political action committee and his social media includes posts with COHEA staff and students.
So does Miami-Dade Commissioner Rene Garcia‘s, Bovo’s replacement on the county dais and his ally in this past election.
Hialeah city water bill comes with charter school flyer in the mail added by Ladra on
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