Thursday, July 7, 2011

Hialeah cuts are a campaign con

Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez has announced, very dramatically, that he wants to cut the mayor's pay by 30 percent, from $272,000 to $190,000.

But what he forgot to say was that he will never feel it in his pocket. No, siree. Hernandez will still enjoy six or seven more paychecks with an almost 400 percent raise from his council president salary of two months ago through November, when a new mayor (which won't be him) is elected.

That's because if the council approves his proposal at its next meeting Tuesday, he wants to put it on the November ballot as a charter change -- during the the mayoral and council election. So, basically, Hernandez wants to cut Raul Martinez's pay. The former mayor and current mayoral front-running candidate, who is wading in dough from Dominican Republic deals, might shrug it off -- what's $80,000 or so to a guy like him -- but it still is quite a brave move for Hernandez.

Or a lame [duck] move. He does not have to put it to voters but is couching it with an amendment so voters would have to approve all future raises, which is a good idea. Hey, here's a concept: Put future raises on the ballot and cut your salary now. Ladra is sure voters won't mind.

The interim mayor said in a statement Wednesday that he wants to cut the mayor's pay to $150,000 and expenses -- which currently do not have to be documented with receipts, so it's really like a second salary or bonus -- to $40,000. (The council should add a requirement that expense reports be submitted so taxpayers know what they are paying for). Hernandez said that brings the mayor's compensation back to its 2001 level (which is what Martinez made, so maybe this is an omen).

Now, yes, Ladra is a cynical conspiracy theorist at heart, but this should smell like a distraction ploy to anybody because there are already questions about the city's finances. Hialeah might not be able to meet payroll through the end of the year. These questions might be asked publicly at Tuesday's meeting. And this announcement -- with the mayor blocking out three hours Thursday morning for media interviews -- looks like a pre-emptive strike against public comments.

It also looks like Hernandez is in full campaign mode. Running as the underdog for mayor in November, Hernandez likely realizes that the salaries of recalled Mayor Carlos Alvarez and his former (and some say still current) boss, loser county mayoral candidate Julio Robaina, cost them politically. So did the Alvarez taxpayer-paid luxury car. Now Hialeah will re-evaluate it's take-home vehicle policy. So was the bloated budget at the county, with more departments than the state of Florida. And now Hialeah might do away with two departments and reassign those tasks to parks and recreation.

Not that these proposed cuts are not good things that need to happen. Just that they needed to happen yesterday. Hernandez -- whose pension is now based on this year's salary, a 400 percent increase -- should have proposed to cut the mayor's outrageous salary sooner, when his puppeteer, Robaina, was raking it in. Or at least the day after he was appointed to the position by Robaina, before he started demanding more cuts and concessions from the workers, cops and firefighters who do not make a third of $272,000-a-year. Take home vehicles should have been evaluated before Hialeah Housing Authority Director Julio Ponce got a $900 monthly car allowance. And some of those departments should never have been created for cronies.

"Leadership begins at the top," Hernandez said in a statement, loosely stealing the new county mayor's "lead by example" move, only Carlos Gimenez cut his own salary by 50 percent.

"I strongly believe that to hold public office is an honor and privilege, and those individuals who I serve should have a say in the salary of the mayor," Hernandez added. Apparently, the voters just obtained this say after the county mayoral election.

"The public has made their dissatisfaction with the high salaries and benefits of elected officials clear, and I agree. My job is to listen to the public and act in benefit of our citizens."

See? I told you it was a campaign ploy. And he still gets paid $272,000 a year to listen and act.

20 comments:

  1. I don't know if I would completely agree with Ladra's conclusion that this is a campaign ploy; for the temporary incumbent, once affectionately known as the Rock (and not for his chiseled body, but more for his intellectual prowess); even he must know that his chances of retaining his current office are about the same as Natacha Seijas winning a beauty contest. "It also looks like Hernandez is in full campaign mode." I have to take Ladra's word for this, as she has her finger on the.....pulse,...yeah, the pulse of Hialeah; and her track record is pretty damn good. It just seems to me that Hernandez running for Hialeah Mayor is like running through water in waders; or spinning one's wheels, generating a lot of noise, but not getting anywhere. In fairness to Ladra, compare her headline to that of the Miami Herald. "Hialeah mayor to cut his pay, benefits...Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez will slash his pay and benefits by 30 percent and wants to make the deal permanent — an austere measure in a climate of voters weary of cushy public benefits."
    Reading this in the Herald, a reader would comprehend a different reality, that Hernandez will slash his pay, rather than the actual reality that Ladra reports, that he will just slash the salary of the next Alcalde de la Ciudad que progresa. Ah, things were so much simpler back when Milander was mayor.

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  2. Mami Ladra - this is only the beginning of the political backtracking as everyone tries to pivot to the pulse of the people. It is a circus charade. Where is Homey the Clown from the Living Color syndicated TV program when you need him? (Homey, Don't play that)

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  3. Oh, Me So Homey....apologies to Luther and 2 Live Crew

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bpf_WIn51Q

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  4. Ladra-

    I think Rudy Garcia wins the Hialeah Mayor's race. Raul Martinez is not that popular anymore, look at how badly Diaz Balart beat him and Hernandez does not have a chance.

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  5. Don't make any predictions yet. There are plenty of Martinez followers in Hialeah that remember how Great the City looked when he was Mayor. Diaz Ballart won because Robaina betrayed Martinez, after all that was the start of Robaina's fall. Many out there think he did Raul wrong. I agree Hernandez is toast in the November elections, he may save himself if he comes clean regarding the finances of the City and how he or the council were not told the truth. Stay tuned that may be coming sooner than later, they all turn on eachother in the end.

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  6. Julio Robaina the next mayor of Hialeah

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  7. Any Hialeah Council members that claims to not have known what was going on financially should resign. The sing song of synchronized voting according to what the Mayor (Robaina) wanted was revolting, not a single independent thought among the lot of them. As for the pay cut, as a retired cop, Hernandez already receives a paycheck from the city, so his net income from Hialeah is more than stated. Mayor Hernandez states "leadership begins at the top" well, Hialeah is in a world of hurt if that's the case!

    Hialeah needs leaders not sycophants!

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  8. Hernandez, should take lessons from Robaina. Spread the wealth, in this case, buy the votes. The difference from his salary as council president to mayor should be a good start. He may want to make a donation, hmm, to Anthony Verdugo of the Christian Family Coalition. Verdugo has already sold his soul to the devil and will say and do anything for money. Look how many votes he got Robaina by spreading so many lies.

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  9. I'm in favor of Senator Rudy Garcia to be the next Hialeah Mayor.The race will be hard, but he Will Win. Candela Say

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  10. "Leadership begins at the top", one of the anonymous posters reiterated above, this quote from Mayor Hernandez. Personally, I would like to stay out of this next Hialeah Mayoral Election. I find it painfully difficult to support a Republican, or to be quite honest, a Cuban American politician; but alas, it seems you don't always have the luxury of an alternate choice in non-partisan elections in South Florida. Looking at Rudy Garcia's past legislative accomplishments, well, he is accomplished. One of his legislative highlights was to win the LeRoy Collins Distinguished Alumni Award. Leroy Collins was the first Florida Governor to serve two consecutive terms; and he was a Democrat. Even though he railed against the Supreme Court's decision in Brown vs Board of Education; he fought against the Florida legislature which wanted to interpose itself between the citizens of Florida and the federal government to stop Court imposed integration of the public schools. Collins later became Chairman of the Democratic Nat'l Convention in 1960. By winning this coveted award honoring a great Democrat; by osmosis or diffusion, or maybe infection, I hereby grant Rudy Garcia temporary amnesty from "Republicanism." Republicans often state that they want to bring America back....fine...but Democrats want to bring her forward. I don't think a return to the past, to bring back an old Administration is in Hialeah's best interest. But one thing is for sure, the status quo is unacceptable. Inaction, such as on the issue of the illegal gambling machines stealing the money of Hialeah's poorest,and removing these funds from the small pool of discretionary spending that helps fuel Hialeah's business engine; inaction is unacceptable. Willful inaction enables political corruption. The sooner Hernandez is out of office, as well as many, if not all, of the council persons, the better.
    ,

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  11. Elaine how much is martinez paying you? You have been in his camp since the Gimenez election.

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  12. Not hardly enough! As in nada. I am in my own private, cool camp. And you make that assumption just because I say he'd win if the election was today? It's my unpaid opinion. Garcia has more signs and some chance -- its early yet and things can get interesting -- but it would be unrealistic not to paint Martinez as the front runner here. We'll know more when we see the finance reports Monday. Can't wait.

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  13. Elaine why don't you look into martinez water plant how he was working as a consultant for a company that lost the bid. He was getting paid 10000 per month and if Robaina would have awarded the contract to his client would have made millions. Please trust me on this lead. Martinez is a crook. Always been.

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  14. Elaine, will you investigate Martinez and Morales? I just posted an entry that should serve as a lead, should you choose to want to get answers...

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  15. Since when is it illegal for a private citizen to work as a consultant?

    By the way, you are getting confused and posting under both Anonymous and under Responder. Looks bad dude.

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  16. It's not . Perfectly legal, but just admit it and stop this bull shit that you are this tough dog that is going to confront all these politician with there issues. She doesn't do that . She picks sides and doesn't write on the truth. She iss full of shit. Her whole life she has been that way and now I am tired of her shit. She is a sick lady that has always lived behind lies and is all about money and the high life.

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  17. Dude, you just posted under a third name. Oh my God, you're a nut.

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  18. I responded for who ever that responder is . You are a dick dude. Go to sleep and get a life. I wish I had the ability to write like responder. Who ever that is should give Elaine some writing lessons. Ash lickerprick he was a student.

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  19. Good idea. Good night and don't forget to take your meds.

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  20. Interesting comments from Mayor Carlos Hernandez who use to brag that "John Gotti" was his hero and mentor...lol to funny. I guess he figures he will win since he has Herman Echevarria supporting him. This is going to be a "3 ring circus" come November..You have Raul Martinez, you have Rudy Garcia supported by Lincoln & Mario Diaz-Balart not to leave out Ileana Ros, and according to sources Rudy is being supported by Commissioners Pepe Diaz, Rebeca Sosa. The question is will Commissioner Steve Bovo support Rudy or Carlos or Raul...What a city..glad I left when I did..

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