SCANDAL Miami Beach Continuing Corruption Documents

7/28/2019 SCANDAL Miami Beach Continuing Corruption Documents

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FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

Miami Beach Supermanager Jimmy Morales to AddressInflammatory Allegations

City of Miami Beach Mayor Matti Bower andCommissioners Michael Gongora and Deede Weithornwere asked if any further action would be taken orrecommended in response to fired fire inspector DavidWestons' rebuttal to the report Interim City ManagerKathie Brooks and City Attorney Jose Smith filed with theCommission in response to an inflammatory articleappearing in the Miami New Times that assertedmisconduct within the Fire Department and BuildingDepartment. Weston alleged that he had uncoveredevidence of millions of dollars of "missing monies" inBuilding Department fees, and that he was fired as a

consequence. He opined that several city departments areRICO operations.

In their report to the Commission, the interim citymanager and city attorney asserted that Weston had beenfired for unethical conduct, a charge that Weston has
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zWp9UMaq7DQ/UXFoAJva40I/AAAAAAAAAoc/YCx9Nj9G9MM/s1600/Supermanager.jpg


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disagreed with, asserting it was merely a pretext forgetting rid of him. His response addressed several of thealleged misrepresentations. We asked the officials if the

issue would simply be shelved without formal commentsince the parties had their say.

Neither Mayor Bower nor Commission Weithornresponded to our request for a status report.Commissioner Gongora, however, who is running formayor, did answer when we followed up and asked for the"straight poop" on the matter as to whether the issue will

be "shelved or swept under the rug."

Gongora referred the matter to Jimmy Morales, the newcity manager. Morales replaced involuntarily retired JorgeGonzalez subsequent to the F.B.I. arrests of several cityemployees. Expectations are so high for radical reform onhis watch that some people have dubbed himSupermanager.

We informed Morales and Gongora of our editorialopinion, that the dismissal was defamatory due tomismanagement, and the defamation is maintained in thecity's public personnel records as well as the publicstatements of Brooks and Smith. We reported that Westonsaid his wife was an attorney, yet he has insisted that hewants to be part of the so-called Morales Solution.

"I have received a copy of this," said Morales in an email toCommissioner Gongora. "Frankly, in the 2 1/2 weeks that Ihave been on the job, I have not yet had a chance to reviewthese items and determine what, if any, follow up isrequired. Nothing is swept under the rug. I will get to this


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and report back to you and the Commission accordingly.Thank you."

We understand: eventually Supermanager will approach

the Speed of Light and Catch some Sleep. He must dealwith first thing first. The Weston Affair is past history, butit should be addressed as soon as humanly possiblebecause something will then be learned that will be usefulfor future guidance. Especially, be sure to get all the factsbefore taking action, and make sure that action isreasonable.


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