It’s like he’s been backed into a corner.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez lied again last week and slandered, again, a pair of animal activists who 
worked hard to get the Pets’ Trust Initiative passed by 65% of the voters in 2012 and who are brave enough to keep fighting ever since for that vote to be respected.
Michael Rosenberg and Rita Schwartz certainly have been very active in politics since Gimenez first funded the Pets Trust initiative and then scratched it in 2013. They may get a little too excited sometimes. They certainly get creative — Ladra particularly loves this video with the chihuahua — and they certainly get passionate.
But they do not, ever, incite violence. In fact, their email blasts and protests seem exceedingly polite to a man who has repeatedly ignored these people while telling others that all Rosenberg and Schwartz want is the millions for themselves, a ludicrous and impossible claim since they would have absolutely no control over the county’s funds. Ladra has seen some of the many emails they send Gimenez gatekeeper Michael Hernandez to try to meet with the mayor or just set the record straight. They might be a tad bit sarcastic, but they are exceedingly polite. There’s no other way to describe their approach.
The mayor knows this. He knows that these two animal lovers do not incite violence. So when Gimenez outright makes that claim to a misguided Miami Herald reporter and then on TV to a Univision 23 cameraman, he is basically giving them a victory in court with their slander lawsuit.
There are three things one must establish to prove slander: The source must know he or she is spreading a lie. Check. He must have an intent to hurt or discredit the subject of the lie. Check. And the lie causes the subject’s reputation to be tarnished. Check.
Because some people might believe him.
But that will be the hardest part to prove. Because most people realize that this is Cry Wolf Gimenez’s desperate attempt to keep his job and maybe even an acknowledgement that the 65% of the people who voted for the Pets’ Trust knew what they were voting for and will prove it to Gimenez by voting him out of office Nov. 8. He knows that Mike and Rita pull votes. He knows that the Pets’ Trust supporters are one of the reasons he is facing a runoff in the first place. He knows that he is really hated by thousands of animal lovers who may have even voted for him in 2011 and 2012 but now feel he is the devil himself and hold him personally responsible for the continued killing of thousands of dogs and cats at the county shelter.
Many of these people do comment on Facebook and in stories in the Miami Herald. Many of these comments are entirely too personal and passionate. Some people say they want him to suffer what the animals have suffered. They call him an asshole and other names. They are understandably frustrated by his disrespect of their votes and the continued and, perhaps, even worsening conditions for animals in Miami-Dade.
I hadn’t seen any death threats, however, until the Herald story about the single one they quoted.
“Better watch yourself in Miami i don’t have much to lose, ever see what s person that nothing to lose is capable of?? i WILL kill you if not ill start with your family and loved ones,” wrote someone calling himself “nakmuaythai.” Turns out his name is Daniel Bowes and he lives in Ottowa. And Rosenberg has never heard of him.
“Daniel who,” Rosenberg asked.
What’s more, a Miami-Dade police spokesman told the Herald that detectives do not consider the posting a “viable threat” (they were probably pissing in their pants from the laughter) but the investigation is “nevertheless ongoing.” Really? With our limited police resources? Because this is what the mayor considers a police priority?
For the mayor to speculate that the threat was at the direction of Rosenberg and Schwarz is just ludicrous. For him to speculate out loud is dangerous. There are many people (Ralph Garcia Toledo et al) who stand to lose millions of dollars if Gimenez is not re-elected. They might go to great lengths to silence his detractors — who have now been singled out by name.
“I’m calling them out,” Gimenez told the Herald.
“The people responsible are Michael Rosenberg and Rita Schwartz,” he said in his choppy Spanish. “They have led a campaign called ABC, Anybody But Carlos, and that is part of their campaign, pretty dirty and with lies.”
Let’s forget for a minute that the ABC campaign you see on bus benches throughout the county has been paid for by the Dade PBA. Ladra doesn’t think she has ever seen any public official — let alone the mayor of the fourth largest county in the country — talk like that publicly about a couple of civilian activists. And for what? He knows that Mike and Rita have no ties to that man in Ottawa. But he’s mad at them and, boy, there is hell to pay for going against him.
In fact, Ladra wouldn’t be surprised if this story was pitched by someone on the Gimenez camp. Because we certainly have seen similarly hateful and vitriolic comments on the Facebook posts of stories about Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump or Marco Rubio or David Rivera or Rick Scott. Especially Rick Scott. Why was the story just about Gimenez? Perhaps because it was pitched by someone on the Gimenez campaign in order to discredit a group that was hurting his re-election chances?’
Or was it to put a bull’s eye on Mike’s and Rita’s backs?
Rosenberg fears for himself and his family. He has gotten a police watch order on his home. They obviously think it’s 
a more viable threat than the comment against the mayor.
He also wants an apology from the mayor. He should get one, but he won’t. Gimenez is so arrogant that he is literally blind to the fact that he is wrong more often than he is right. In this case, he knew he was lying to begin with. It matters nothing because it’s all about perception.
It’s too bad that David Ovalle or some other Herald reporter doesn’t spend as much time as they did stringing together the worse comments they could find to actually investigate the claims of the animal activists — that the death count is only down because the county has changed the way it counts euthanized cats and dogs, that the increases in animal services funding has mostly gone to salaries and benefits, not spay and neutering programs.
There is still time to actually do a fact check on Gimenez with this, David. Wouldn’t that be more challenging? It’s a better story.
Meanwhile, Ladra is going to make a complaint about some commenter herself. We have taken to moderating reader comments here on Political Cortadito in recent weeks, since some people are (or one person specifically is) trying to use my space to malign others and myself without any context and to make threats. I have been told that I deserve to be “trashed,” whatever that means. And I have received multiple threats from the same source about shutting the website down. I haven’t taken them seriously but people say that I should and, in light of this story, perhaps they are right. Because some of Ladra’s friends and loyal readers say the commenter — who sometimes goes by the name of Got-A-Point and sometimes other names but with the same IP address — is Gimenez spokesman Mike Hernandez. Others say he is the mayor’s son, CJ Gimenez.
So let’s find out. Ladra will print out some of those comments and see if the Miami-Dade Police Department can’t find out who the commenter is.
But I am willing to bet that whoever it is is far more directly connected to Carlos Gimenez than some loudmouth in Ottowa is to Mike and Rita of the Pets’ Trust.
More lies from a desperate Carlos Gimenez vs Pets’ Trust added by Ladra on
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Be careful Ladra your Racquelita infatuation is showing. Pets are great companions. But lets get real. The county has a lot more pressing needs, like traffic congestion and mass transportation. I like pets, but people will always come first in my book
There is a mistaken belief that you can be compassionate for people OR pets-the “either or” myth. There is plenty of room for BOTH (I myself have volunteered for BOTH human AND animal organizations and causes throughout my adult life). Let’s not forget that Mayor Gimenez threw out 500,000 votes from a clearly-worded ballot, that would have put into action a viable, workable and money-saving Solution to the myriad of problems that our animal and human residents face daily. Above all, let us take our outrage at this Mayor’s blatant disregard for the Democracy into the voting booths on November 8th to vote for Raquel Regalado, who respects the Voices of the Voting Majority, and represents the intelligent and clear leadership that has been sorely lacking under the current administration.
Rita, you can deny that poll worker on this issue telling those in the hispanic community that the question was non-binding and therefore just an opinion? They said it Diaz, Sosa, Bovo, Souto, Bruno’s and Zapata districts. It was mis-leading.
Manolo, you sound just like Commissioner Bovo! Please call me at 305 491 5651 and I’ll explain the facts! One example. Do you seriously believe that poll workers polled 500,000 voters that this was a poll? Thank you, Rita
Sharon
look at your tax notice, there is an envelope to make a direct contribution to no kill. Also, the percentage of saved animals has gone way up over the last 2 years.
What the residents voted on was a push poll……of course we don’t want animals killed, but poll workers on the issue told everyone that this was a poll…..not a binding question and their taxes would not go up.
I believe the Mayor and Commission have worked hard to fulfill the goals of the Pet Trust. 1- They have increase the budgeting for pet programs, 2- Opened a state of the art facility, 3- Have decreased the amount of animals that have been killed and 4- have increased the amount of adoption events through out the county, 5- they even allowed for residents to contribute additional money for the no-kill issue. The Pet Trust won, they accomplished their goal of raising awareness and make this issue a priority.
That being said, I believe the commission acted correctly in not raising taxes. In fact I applaud the Mayor and Commission for not buckling to the threat of recalls and misinformation by the organization. The vast majority of the population does NOT want its taxes raised, we want government to work within its means. There are issues much much bigger here, transportation, court house, more police, sea level rise and jails falling apart.
If Raquel Regalado has been endorsed by the Pet Trust, then she must be clear with the residents of Miami Dade that she wants to raise taxes. Which is much different than what she has discussed on radio and TV in Spanish.
Manolo, thank you for providing a forum to once again clear up a profound misunderstanding of the Pets’Trust issue. Although I resolutely support the Pets’ Trust initiative, my allegiance is solely to the Facts regarding this issue. My responses to your numbered points as follows:
1-The budgeting for pet programs has NOT increased; the increases have gone to salaries and benefits, not to any programs benefiting animals.
2 and 3-A nice new facility, yes; however basic math emanating from the County’s own records indicate that there are no fewer animals killed at the new facility than at the previous one.
4-The number of adoption events is not indicative of numbers of animals saved, so this statement has probably been presented to the public as a distraction from the real issues of overpopulation, spay and neuter, etc.
5-Allowing residents to contribute for the no-kill issue. How? Where? Very vague statement, and unnecessary for these contributions to be made if the Majority Vote was honored in the first place.
Very interesting that you stated that “the vast majority of the population does NOT want its taxes raised”. You might want to re-read the original 2012 ballot, as the wording was VERY clear that the residents were voting on exactly THAT-to raise taxes; which, incidentally would have cost an owner an average of $15 a year…however, since 2014, there has been a surplus in the County budget so that ANY tax increase would have been unnecessary to implement What The Majority Voted For In This Democracy.
Perhaps one might surmise that the only plausible reason for so significantly misrepresenting the facts would be that they can only emanate from someone related to or benefiting from a close relationship with Mayor Carlos Gimenez.
Ladra, please keep us informed if you discover who “Got a Point” is. No doubt it’s that dirty mouthpiece Hernandez.
Javier,
Thank you for a great call!
Michael
Michael:
Enjoyed our call, as well. While I am not yet swayed on the issue, you certainly gave me much to think about. I look forward to our future conversations.
Javier
Javier,
Thank you for sharing your number and I will call you.
Regarding the straw vote non-binding.
People in the state of Florida can not vote to raise their property taxes. However, that vote gives a message to our elected official. They don’t have to follow the will of the people, but when 500,000 people vote for something, it does send a message.
In this case though, we had the assurances of elected officials, including Mr. Gimenez, that he would honor the will of the people. We trusted him. We believed him. So, we went to work and spent thousands of hours because we believed the Mayor.
We were betrayed and deceived.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLMLOz8kC8E
Watch this.
The Pet’s Trust vote was a straw poll vote. It was never meant to be binding and was advertised as such. People voted for it because it wasn’t going to have any impact on their taxes.
It’s unfortunate that animals die because of their irresponsible owners. It’s a fact of life. Animals die every day, every where. We don’t have 500,000 vegans in Miami-Dade. That steak you had for dinner came from a cow that was alive at one point.
I won’t vote for Gimenez. He doesn’t deserve my vote for many other reasons.
A straw poll, while not binding, is meant for something. It’s meant to send a message to those who govern, a “temperature reading,” if you will, of the people they represent. If Gimenez shows this much disdain for the wishes of the majority of the electorate, then you have to wonder how far that disdain extends.
I don’t care to find out how much farther. In 40-plus days, I and thousands of others will cast our votes to put Gimenez and his disdain out for good.
Disparaging 550 thousand irked voters is a sure recipe for defeat; please continue Mr. Gimenez!
REALLY HAS THIS MAN EVER SAID THE TRUTH ? SO WAY EXPECTED IT NOW! THE ONLY MESSAGE HE WILL EVER RESPOND TO IS “GET OUT” he hears that a lot at home so he has a quick response to it:)
Javier,
This is Michael Rosenberg the President of the Pets’ Trust. “Bigger Issues”? It is the Mayor that has made this front and center by calling out our names publicly as “inciters of violence.
This article was not about the Pets’ Trust but rather about the Mayor of Miami Dade County broadcasting on television and the newspapers that the founders of the Pets’ Trust incite violence.
He should be praising us for fighting for democracy and fighting to honor the 500,000 votes that he denied. He should be encouraging citizen initiatives.
Instead, he accuses of violence.
This is our Mayor. This is how he works.
One day, if you decide to fight for a cause because of a strong belief or passion to do the right thing is in your heart, I STRONGLY advise you to run it by Mr. Gimenez first to make sure he is okay with it!!!
In America, it is We The People. In Dade County, it is………. I the Mayor.
If you have any questions, please call me at 305 439 3571.
Mr. Rosenberg:
I respect the tremendous effort and initiative you and others have spent on this issue. I am not familiar with the Mayor’s comments as frankly disagree with you on the relative importance of this issue – which is our respective right – and have not followed every twist and turn of this conversation and do not want my comment equated with an endorsement of any disparaging remarks.
Like you, I agree that I need only ask permission of myself to speak my mind and act on what I believe. That said, your “mandate” was a straw poll that the Mayor can choose to disregard – at his potential political peril.
More fundamentally, I believe that there are more equitable ways to underwrite the cost of a “no-kill” initiative, but I do not claim to be an expert. I welcome the chance to speak to you and am happy to take your call at (305) 761-2274.
I love animals as much as the next person, but don’t we have bigger issues of concern in this County than the Pet’s Trust? Climate change? Traffic? Really this is what we are writing about when criticizing the Mayor. The truth is he is write and the well-intentioned supporters of the Trust are wrong. The whole of the County should not bear the financial burden of would-be pet owners who buy a pet only to then choose to discard it for a myriad of reasons. Maybe a surtax on the purchase of pets to fund a no kill initiative or a recurring annual licensing fee for your pet (like our cars) would be more equitable? Point is pet owners should pay their own freight and this issue is getting way more attention than it merits.
You are kidding, “climate change” How sad you take a TOTALLY BOGUS issue and demean the fight for the lives of animals, that you clearly do NOT consider worthy enough to fight over. And yet you want to consider a completely fraudulent, political issue. But aside from your faulty reasoning, you have missed the ENTIRE point of this discussion. And that is the temperament and HONESTY of a sitting Mayor to continue to hold an office that involves the PEOPLE’S TRUST. This mayor has clearly sullied the reputations of ALL animal activists, who I would remind you are CITIZENS in the county and governed by this mayor. He has spread intentional lies to ruin reputations of people he does NOT agree with simply to win an election and that is DESPICABLE. So what REALLY the issue is here is whether the Mayor has the proper level of honesty, integrity and temperament to deserve another term in office. The fight over the Pets Trust is a separate and valid issue as well since the Trust is alleging that promises were made as far as implementation of the program based upon the vote that was taken. So there certainly is enough evidence to indicate that the mayor has a credibility issue involved as well that needs to be looked at in evaluating whether he is fit to continue to hold office. The citizens of the county deserve, if nothing else and honest mayor and respectful mayor, regardless whether he agrees with their opinions or not.
Javier,
You make two references to purchasing pets. If you are referencing buying animals (other than shelter adoption fees), this shows a basic lack of understanding of one aspect of this whole issue of improving animal (and owner) lives in Miami-Dade. Please understand that with each animal purchased another must be euthanized to allow space for all the unwanted animals taken in to the Miami Dade County animal shelter, not to mention the large numbers of animals turned away that are then abandoned on the streets to fend for themselves. There is never an excuse to purchase an animal (which, if it is a dog, likely comes from a puppy mill with horrific conditions). There are so so many healthy adoptable animals waiting, in our local shelters, to be welcomed into loving homes.
I have had the honor of working closely with Michael Rosenberg and Rita Schwartz while serving on the Pets’ Trust Board. I have personally seem them in action at countless meetings, events and speeches. They have always conducted themselves both passionately and professionally. Miami-Dade and especially its animals are very well served by both Michael and Rita.
Thank you for your blog.Really thank you! Much obliged.
Ovalle in his “HIT” piece contact me personally to discuss issues regarding MDAS. I went into some details as to the lies and deceptions surrounding the false claims of “improvements” Gimenez repeatedly publishes. These “improvements” are ALL a sham built on “smoke & mirrors” shell game to fool the public in his election campaign. Ovalle ONLY seemed interested in the Pets Trust angle and wanted to know whether I was connected with their organization. I assured him I am an INDEPENDENT advocate who has been investigating the lies and mismanagement and CORRUPTION involved with MDAS for years and do NOT work for the TRUST in any way. My opinions are TOTALLY my own as published on my shelter reform advocacy page. Ovalle told me that he would include some of my comments in his article. In fact he included NOTHING as to my thoughts on the lies coming from both MDAS,and GIMENEZ. He apparently only was interested in trying to pick up dirt on the Trust to support the lies of the mayor.
Ladra, you must really be getting to someone to get these threats of shutting down your website…and your website must be effective! Keep up the good work. Very sad about the Pets Trust 🙁
As someone who has worked with both Rita Schwartz and Michael Rosenberg, for four years as a volunteer, I am uniquely qualified to state that their communications in writing, as well as privately, have emphasized a respectful peaceful approach regarding Mayor Gimenez. The above article is correct on all points. Gimenez is desperately trying to hold on to his Office. The way he is doing it has given us one more reason NOT to vote for him, and to replace him with Raquel Regalado, who presents a rational effective approach to the challenges Miami-Dade County faces, many of which have been caused or exacerbated by the current Mayor.