"Less than two weeks from recall-election day, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez came under heavy attack Wednesday after his administration excused 12 county transit employees from their regular jobs to work on a vaguely defined union committee — while still collecting full salaries — and for revelations that one of the dozen workers was campaigning for him.
"Alvarez said he is looking into allegations of transit workers mixing politics and work, issuing a statement that such a move violates county policy and that, if the rule was broken, “action will be taken.”
Miami-Dade Transit, a severely mismanaged agency, is protecting Mayor Alvarez and the $242,602 annual salary of its director Harpal Kapoor.
It is quite simple to determine whether the twelve workers alleged to have been campaigning on County time were actually on the public clock or not by reviewing time records, payment schedules, and the like. Mayor Alvarez and County Manager George Burgess will not undertake such an investigation however because they know full well what the results will be. They are merely buying time until the election March 15, hoping the entire thing will blow over.
Harpal Kapoor, Miami-Dade Transit director, was in attendance at last weeks meeting of the Mayor's "brain-trust" in a Doral warehouse and the transit worker's union has donated $20,000 to Mayor Alvarez' PAC, Citizens for Truth.
The only "truth" here is that Mayor Alvarez should show some leadership for those under his purview.
Commissioner Natasha Seijas, facing a recall herself, puts it best:
“I cannot imagine a more blatant abuse of taxpayer dollars. Why would the Strong Mayor think it is reasonable for the taxpayers to foot the bill for campaign workers?”
The same way the Strong Mayor thinks it is reasonable to dip into taxpayer wallets to pay for raises to his executive staff. This Mayor has shown a consistent disregard for taxpayers. Having taxpayers pay for his campaign workers is no different.
