The NAACP is backing down, after all, from its demand that Jimmy Morales not be appointed as the Chief Operations Officer of Miami-Dade County.
But only to wait and see for 100 days.
After that, the former Miami Beach city manager and Mayor Daniella Levine Cava will get a report card on their promised actions to help the minority communities.
After a meeting Monday between La Alcaldesa and leaders of the Miami-Dade Branch of the NAACP, the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the U.S., the two issued a joint statement indicating that she had convinced them Morales would not repeat his Miami Beach racist ways.
Read related: La Alcaldesa pushes on with Jimmy Morales post vs black leaders’ pushback
“We had an open, candid conversation with Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who listened closely to concerns voiced by the Miami-Dade Branch of the NAACP and the greater community regarding the appointment of Jimmy Morales as Chief Operations Officer,” read the statement, which was issued by the mayor’s office.
“The Mayor listened to the apprehensions from the organization and feedback from the community concerning decisions made by Mr. Morales during his tenure with the City of Miami Beach. Mayor Levine Cava reiterated that under her leadership, her administration will operate from a core set of guiding principles including inclusivity, equity, and accountability. She affirmed that all members of the Mayor’s leadership team will be held accountable to uphold these principles in their departments and work for Miami-Dade County. And she affirmed her commitment to establishing an Office of Equity and Inclusion, assisting small businesses, making County contracting more fair and equitable, and more.
“Following this dialogue, we are encouraged and remain committed to moving forward together – the Mayor, her appointments, and NAACP leadership – to address issues of equity and inclusion in Miami-Dade County. And the Miami-Dade Branch of the NAACP is also committed to representing the community and voicing their concerns with Mayor Levine Cava as needed to continue to address the issues expressed in our conversation today – as we believe that this is an ongoing and necessary dialogue.
“Mayor Levine Cava has likewise committed to working alongside the NAACP and other community leaders to foster greater engagement and collaboration, to put inclusion first in her administration, and to make investments in wealth-building for all Miami-Dade County’s families. The Mayor looks forward to sharing a report following her first 100 days in office on the progress that she and her administration have made to build a more equitable and inclusive Miami-Dade County.”
Miami-Dade NAACP/county Mayor’s office joint statement — released by mayor’s office
Sounds like it’s all water under the bridge, don’t it? It seems like Levine Cava convinced the NAACP that Morales ain’t that bad.
“We are definitely not convinced,” said NAACP President Elect Daniella Pierre. “There’s a lot of jargon in that statement. Our concerns about Morales haven’t changed.”
Read related: Jimmy Morales leaves Miami Beach early for Miami-Dade and La Alcaldesa
Pierre told Ladra that DLC promised to establish the Office of Equity, to continue and expand assistance for small business and to ensure that the procurement department does more to offer opportunities to local minority-owned businesses.
“There’s only so much we can legally do,” Pierre said. “And based on her response, which is that she is still appointing him, it becomes incumbent upon us and all members of the community to hold her accountable.”
The zoom meeting also gave Pierre, NAACP President Ruben Roberts and several members “a chance to let Mr. Morales know our concerns, our frustrations, our hurt and the pain that has been experienced by so many in Miami Beach,” she said.
“He listened and it appeared he took notes. He looked intensively and I must say he respectfully listened to it all.”
It must have been a whoopin’.
But did the NAACP really accomplish anything at all. All these things — the Office of Equity, the assistance to small business, more fairness in procurement — are things she already said she would do.
Read related: La Alcaldesa restructures Miami-Dade to focus on policy, equity, social services
“It is echoing her campaign trail,” Pierre admitted. “But now it’s in writing. It’s a record in the public view.”
She was disappointed in the commissioners, none of whom said a word despite having been getting calls from members of the community. “Not one commissioner said anything,” she said, and Ladra could almost hear her shaking her head through the phone.
“So, yeah, we’re still looking for answers there.”
Pierre said the NAACP was going to keep a close watch on the commission, the mayor and Morales — especially in the next 100 days — and would become more involved in local politics.
“So get ready.”
Jimmy Morales gets reprieve after Miami-Dade mayor meets w/ NAACP added by Ladra on
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