Blogging Black Miami

Commissioner Spence-Jones linked to payouts from arrested minister

Last night's continuing report on the arrest of Rev. Gaston Smith linked the minister to embattled City of Miami commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones. According to reports, Spence-Jones was paid as a consultant from funds from the grant. This is the grant for which is does not appear as though any work has been done?

This is really ugly, folks. Over relatively small amounts of money, Miami's black community continues to regress. Although the scandals in the community tend to center around individuals, the entire black community loses. The folks at the center of these controversies know their involvement in the situations of which they are accused. It's also likely they know of others who are not black who have done the same thing but we can't get caught up in that.

The expenses attributed to Rev. Smith are so very damaging that it is difficult to imagine a credible defense to the charges. Rev. Smith's attorney also appears a too dramatic and demonstrative; he may want to pull up a bit.

The madness continues…

Two Tales of a Rally for Michelle Spence-Jones

"Ain't no shaking down going down in my district." --- Michelle Spence-Jones

A rally was held last night at New Providence Missionary Baptist Church in support of embattled City of Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones. Interestingly, media reports of the rally differ in tone and flavor.

Miami Herald: Spence-Jones supporters hold rally

Miami New Times: Spence-Jones Looks for Support in Familiar Places

Liberty City Residents and Business Owners Demand Answers on Misuse of Trust Funds

Several Liberty City businessmen and residents met with Cynthia Curry, senior adviser to County Manger George Burgess, on Tuesday demanding answers on the misuse of dollars allocated for the Empowerment Trust Zone. Check out the Miami Herald's coverage of that meeting and a brief video on exchanges during the session.

The business people are angry and rightfully so. Curry did little to allay that anger and quite frankly, should have accompanied other county officials to that meeting. Others need to answer to the folks in Liberty City, they should not have sent Curry alone --- it's disrespectful.

Prayerfully, these folks will keep the pressure on the county to be accountable to them. Someone should be going to the federal government to demand an investigation and/or filing charges against county officials and the Trust board.

Let's face it, any resolution to this problem is not going to be pretty for someone. Continuing to kick the can down the road and waiting for this to go away, does nothing to help the people who need it the most.

Related Links from The Miami Herald:

Liberty City residents demand answers about funds

Video: Frustrated Liberty City Residents Demand Answers

The Miami Herald’s Poverty Peddlers and the Public’s Right to Know

I finally finished reading The Miami Herald's latest investigative series Poverty Peddlers over the weekend. It then took a couple of days to disconnect emotionally before writing these few words on the issue.

Who's minding the store in Miami-Dade County? The Miami Herald has managed to serve up a picture of a local government so corrupt that the average citizen should have no confidence in their best interest being of any concern.

Not one to believe everything I read, the investigative series makes compelling points on the criminally incestuous relationships of folks in Miami-Dade. More important is the deafeningly silent response from all of those involved except Congresswoman Carrie Meek and Dennis Stackhouse. Hello? Why are we not hearing from any of the other folks? The public has the right to know.

Let's find the bright side in this issue, at least folks in Miami have made corruption a multicultural affair. We can all get along when it comes to ripping off public dollars. To my fellow black people who try to make this a racial issue, let's not go there. I am pissed at folks stealing and you don't get a pass because you look like me. All skin ain't kin. Again, if The Herald's report is not true, then step up and defend your name.

Between the Miami Herald's House of Lies and Poverty Peddlers series, one has to wonder when some federal law enforcement agency is going to swoop down and take over the City of Miami and the entire county.

You know what's even more sad bout this situation, the by-product of this mess will likely be approval of all the county charter amendments. That would not be good but the public has far more confidence in Mayor Carlos Alvarez than other local officials.

State Attorney's Office Releases Names of Judge and Gubernatorial Candidate in Stackhouse Case

In a press conference yesterday, State Attorney Kathy Fernandez-Rundle indicated that the campaigns of former Judge Shirylon McWhorter and gubernatorial candidate Rod Smith each received $250 from Stackhouse through his employees.

Those employees were reimbursed later from monies Stackhouse received for the failed Ponciana Park biotech project.

While the crimes for whaich Stackhouse is accused are significant, either the SAO's office or The Herald demonstrated overkill regarding his involvement with the last two campaigns.

Stackhouse Contributions Questioned; Rolle Under Investigation

Things are not looking well for Miami-Dade County commissioner Dorrin Rolle. Defamed developer Dennis Stackhouse was jailed for campaign contributions violations in a scenario that leans toward malfeasance committed by the commissioner.

Also caught up in the investigation are an unnamed judge and an unnamed gubernatorial candidate.

Here’s the link to the Miami Herald article. Don’t miss the 2:30 press conference on the issue.

The Poinciana Park Bio-pharmaceutical Debacle: Looking past the Meeks, Dorrin Rolle, Dennis Stackhouse and The Miami Herald

It’s taken awhile for me to post to this blog because of technical difficulties. It’s also been a little uncomfortable to post about people I know personally endure uncomfortable circumstances.  That being said, here goes.

With all of the hoopla about the Miami Herald’s investigative series on the Poinciana bio-pharmaceutical park debacle, it was really difficult to watch Former Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek on This Week in South Florida with Michael Putney. Her anger was apparent as for the first time ever she has been criticized publicly and forced to defend her actions. She attempted to salvage her reputation and that of her son, Congressman Kendrick Meek, also.

As to be expected, the Congresswoman had a few choice words for The Miami Herald. She indicated that The Herald made the article more about her and her son than developer Dennis Stackhouse. Based on comments to articles about this situation, it may not be as easy for the Meeks to distance themselves for this issue. If the Herald lied in its reporting, at least one of the people targeted should seek legal recovery for damages to their reputation --- Yes, sue!

On the other hand, if there charges to be filed, the citizens of Miami-Dade County fully expect State Attorney Kathy Fernandez-Rundle to have some folks hauled It will likely be the folks considered collateral damage but some effort made nonetheless.

On the surface, this issue appears to be about corrupt politicians. Look past the surface at the tipping point of change in or eradication of Black political power in the largest county in Florida. This Poinciana issue, on the heels of the Herald’s “House of Lies” investigative series and other local scandals, several folks have some ‘splaining to do.

Most important is the clear message of accountability that must reverberate within each voter now and in the next election. The political dynamics must change. While politicians and government officials are pointing fingers at each other about this latest issue, they must also be reminded that they work for us --- the citizens. We must become more involved in government at all levels. We have allowed our votes to be taken for granted and our community to be neglected and we have largely been silent. It’s simple ---If we keep doing what we’re doing, we’ll keep getting what we got.

It’s time for a change and it starts with each of us.

Miami Herald publishes scathing report on squandered public dollars and pay-offs

The Miami Herald has published a scathing expose' titled "Poverty Peddler" that focuses on several prominent Blacks in Miami. There are reports of free vehicles, donations to favored non-profit organizations, contracts secured by a questionable developer and more.

Based on the reprt, it doesn't look good for former U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek, her son U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Dorrin Rolle. How the Black Miami community and its leaders respond to this will be interesting.

If recent history proves correct, the Herald expose' will do little more than assure sales of their paper and readership on the internet. Remember the award-winning  House of Lies investigative series did no harm to Rolle during his last political campaign. He trounced two opponents and kept his seat without a run-off election.