I sat through yesterday’s North Miami Beach Emergency Council Meeting with an odd combination of amusement and disgust, unable to shake the deepening sense of unease I’ve been feeling since Tuesday night’s unceremonious firing of City Attorney Darcee Siegel. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but my gut tells me that something is very, very wrong.
As much as it pains me to write this, what I witnessed was the ramming through of personal agendas and the quashing of dissension by a Mayor who could barely contain his impatience with anyone not in agreement with him.
I just gotta ask … did anyone else feel like they were sitting through one of Andre Pierre’s North Miami City Council meetings? Or was it just me?
Damage Control?
The fact that my phone’s been ringing off the hook since Tuesday night’s fiasco has raised my cynicism level to new heights. The words “off the record” are beginning to sound like a broken record right about now. At the risk of sounding conspiratorial (Who, me? NEVER!), it sure seems like the spin is in and damage control has begun.
Luckily, I’ve got my bullshit meter at the ready.
There really should be an app for that.
But, getting back to the meeting…
In addition to watching a good, old fashioned cat fight between Councilwomen Beth Spiegel and Marlen Martel, with a short-tempered Mayor George Vallejo acting as referee, the proceedings provided a unique opportunity to get a glimpse of political drama at its worst.
This Emergency Meeting was called by the Mayor at the request of the City Manager via email:
According to the Emergency Meeting Agenda, there were four items to be discussed: (1) Severance Package for Darcee Siegel, (2) Contract Terms for Dotie Joseph (Interim City Attorney), (3) Organizational Transition Plan, and (4) Recruitment Process for City Attorney.
Darcee’s severance package was deferred due to the fact that she’s hired an attorney to make sure she doesn’t get screwed anymore than she already has. You go, girl!
The Committee.
The “discussion” of the recruitment process was moved to the top of the agenda, and that’s when the fun began. The Mayor offered his idea of a “search” committee that included himself, Miami Beach City Attorney Jose Smith and Sunny Isles Beach City Attorney Hans Ottinot.
Councilwoman Beth Spiegel, who just happens to be an attorney, suggested that she sit on the search committee instead of the Mayor. He wasn’t having any of that.
Other suggestions were made, including Councilwoman Phyllis Smith’s no-brainer idea (correction: Marlen told me this was her idea and not Phyllis’) that each of the seven council members should have the opportunity to appoint someone to sit on the committee, because, HELLOOOOO, all seven of them should have a say in their future employee.
Phyllis’ suggestion was brushed off with a wave of the Mayor’s hand.
Councilwoman Barbara Kramer tried to add to Phyllis’ idea by suggesting that all seven of them write a name on a piece of paper, then put those names in a box and let the City Clerk randomly pull four of them out, add Rose Amberson, and voilà, you got a search committee.
Barbara’s proposal was simply ignored. (Barb, how does it feel to be chopped liver?)
After some more fireworks, the committee was increased to five members per suggestions made by Marlen Martell and Tony DeFillipo. Tony made a motion, which someone seconded and which passed four to three coincidentally by the same ones who voted to fire Darcee.
As the Miami Herald article that was published last night pointed out, “The search committee will be: Mayor George Vallejo, Miami Beach City Attorney Jose Smith, Sunny Isles Beach City Attorney Hans Ottinot, North Miami Beach’s human resources director Rose Amberson and a representative to be appointed by Richard Cooper [sic], executive director of the Miami-Dade League of Cities.”
The real question, which either Beth or Barbara (I don’t remember) tried to ask, is where did the names Jose Smith and Hans Ottinot come from in the first place? As Phyllis pointed out, this was the first she heard that anyone had even been contacted, much less appointed. Good question!
I’m sorry, but the plot thickens.
Just Saying.
Let’s look at the people who are now on this “search” committee:
The Miami Beach City Attorney Jose Smith is a good guy. I know this personally because I had been in contact with him on several occasions after I filed a complaint with the Ethics Commission about NMB’s EX-Mayor Myron Rosner’s cozy relationship with Miami Beach developer/lobbyist Russell Galbut. Not surprisingly, the Commission found No Probable Cause. I have no clue why Mr. Smith was hand picked for this committee, but I will dig further.
Hans Ottinot, the City Attorney for Sunny Isles Beach, used to be a team manager in the North Miami Beach Little League during my tenure on its Board of Directors. So was George. I’m guessing that’s how they know each other. I have no idea if Hans is a good attorney or not, or even a good judge of character (although judging from some of the gushing praises from the dais last night, he walks on water), but I can tell you that as a Little League parent/coach, he was a pain in the ass. Like George, Hans is used to getting what he wants and isn’t a happy camper when he doesn’t.
Just saying.
Rose Amberson’s name was thrown in there by Marlen for what I guess is the obvious reason that she’s an “expert” in human resources. I have no qualms with Rose, but I don’t have to work under her, either. What I do know is that she answers to City Manager Ana Garcia, who answers to the Council, and who was hand picked by another “search” committee spearheaded by the Mayor.
Again, just saying.
I’ve never met Richard Kuper (corrected spelling), the executive director of the Miami-Dade County League of Cities, so I have no opinion of him whatsoever. Since the Council, at Tony’s suggestion (correction, Marlen advised it was she who amended the motion, not Tony), handed Kuper the authority to pick someone – anyone – of his choosing to sit on our “search” committee, the fifth member is still a mystery. What I do know, however, is that our Mayor was just recently installed as the Treasurer of the Executive Board of the Miami Dade-County League of Cities.
JUST FREAKING SAYING, OKAY?!?!?!?
At least two people on that dais appeared to have already known in advance that the names on this list was a done deal – George and Tony. It was unclear whether or not Marlen or Frantzie were in on it, but they weren’t phased by either the discussion or the motion. It was quite obvious that Barbara, Beth and Phyllis were taken by surprise. The same way they were genuinely shocked on Tuesday night, when Marlen threw out her motion to fire Darcee.
The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry.
As for Darcee’s unexpected firing, I get that Marlen was upset with the City Attorney. Marlen claimed that Darcee hid from her since last August a letter that Darcee received from former City Manager Lyndon Bonner regarding his severance claim. She told the Herald that by Tuesday night’s meeting “she had grown weary of Siegel’s “poor communication” and “overstepping her bounds.” Marlen claimed that on that day she “exploded.”
If that’s the case, then I’m not saying that Marlen’s anger wasn’t justified. Darcee, however, told the Herald that Marlen “never brought that issue to my attention.” Obviously, only the two of them know what went on between them. I’m just not sure why Marlen didn’t try to work it out with Darcee before she “exploded,” but only Marlen can answer that.
At this point, my only concern is whether or not Marlen’s agita with Darcee might have been pounced upon by someone else on that dais who was looking for just such an excuse to bring out the ax.
Even if my suspicions are baseless, I’m still having trouble figuring out what single incident could have pushed Marlen to make such a drastic move on Tuesday night, all of a sudden, without appearing to have thought it through. Which brings me to…
Who is going to fill Darcee’s shoes?
It’s already been pointed out that the city is in the middle of major litigation issues which Darcee has been handling. Notwithstanding the obvious appointment of Assistant City Attorney Dotie Joseph as Interim City Attorney, who is probably quite capable of filling the position temporarily, Darcee’s abrupt dismissal may have been short sighted.
In her defense, Dotie is extremely intelligent and can answer on-the-spot questions thrown at her without breaking a sweat. She also handles herself quite professionally. But she’s only been a lawyer for about eight years, and has been with the City of North Miami Beach for only fourteen months. I’m also told that even though Dotie specializes in labor law, when it comes to trial experience, she’s no Darcee Siegel.
In addition, Darcee’s contract, under which she will continue to be paid, does not expire until September 30, 2014. On top of that expense, Darcee may also eligible for a severance package.
To make matters worse, there are now only two attorneys in the legal department, and a third will most likely need to be hired to take up the slack.
That sucking sound you hear is money. Circling the drain.
Beth also questioned whether Dotie’s appointment as Interim City Attorney was even “legal” according to our Charter, which states that the “city attorney shall be a member of the Florida Bar with at least five years experience in the practice of law in Florida.” According to Martindale.com and Avvo.com, Dotie Joseph was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2005, but her primary practice was in the District of Columbia until 2011. Dotie claims she’s qualified because she’s been practicing “pro-bono” work in Florida for at least five years. Dotie offered to obtain a legal opinion to satisfy Beth’s concerns. I don’t know if Beth will take her up on the offer, but even if Dotie is not qualified per our charter, we have absolutely no one else to fill the temporary position.
Yeah, that whole fire-the-attorney thing was well thought out, huh?
Nine-one-one. What’s your emergency?
Beth was understandably cranky by this point, as was I, because she kept asking which part of the Agenda was considered to be emergent enough to warrant the calling of an Emergency Meeting. She wanted to know what specific item on the Agenda was so important that it couldn’t wait until the next regularly scheduled council meeting.
Darcee’s severance package, although tabled, was not a matter of life and death.
Certainly, Dotie’s Interim Attorney Contract didn’t need to be signed immediately, since any provisions that may be contemplated, including a temporary salary increase, could easily be made retroactive twelve days after the fact.
An “organizational transition plan?” Like WTF is that all about anyway? Maybe someone should have thought about that before moving to fire the City Attorney.
There was no emergency in putting together a “search committee.” Unless, of course, someone has already been promised the job and is in danger of being homeless without gainful employment.
So, yeah, even if Beth’s constant questioning of “What’s the emergency?” started grating on even my nerves after about the tenth time, the truth is SHE WAS RIGHT! In my humble opinion, there was no freaking emergency at hand that deserved the mad scramble to put together a meeting.
At three o’clock in the afternoon.
When most residents of North Miami Beach are at work.
Just saying for the one hundred and twentieth time!
The only reason I was able to attend personally is because my own boss called off a scheduled 3:00 meeting with him that I had no choice but to attend since that’s my paying job. Fortunately, he canceled. I hung up on him as I tore out the door and broke all speed limits so I could get to the “Emergency” Council Meeting almost on time. I will be just as lucky to have a job on Monday as I was that I didn’t get a speeding ticket on I-95 yesterday.
That was fifteen minutes I’ll never get back.
On top of the two and a half hours I spent at the Meeting that Should Never Have Taken Place.
Unless I look at it as free entertainment.
They should have served popcorn.
Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”
Well your definitely safe speeding in NMB, we no longer have a traffic unit. The firing of Darcee was orchestrated by Martel, Mayor, Pierre & Tony. Darcee received a new contract 6 months ago, with a raise, but the Mayor just remembered “out of the blue” how unhappy a marina grande decision was made by Darcee a year prior that warranted her firing, c’mon!!!! The mayor is nothing but a bully and Martel, Tony & Pierre are his puppets. Think about this, Spiegel (whom i’m not a fan of because she’s part of the group who’s trying to steal my 2.5% and 185 monies) has been an attorney for a long time and she of all people understand what the job of practicing law entails. She should be on the committee panel to select an attorney but d-bag Georgie demanded he be the one. That guy is really unbelievable, he’s a pension expert, he’s an expert on how to run a police department, and now he’s apparently an expert on what qualifications are needed to fill the city attorney vacancy. Mind you, he’s always late on his taxes (gets pad by a third party, wtf is up that), he doesn’t pay his mortgage until recently I hear his foreclosure case was settled, and his personal business (which is how to get out of paying taxes) is being sued by Wells Fargo. This guy is as reckless as they come. He throws temper tantrums when he doesn’t get his way. He’s cuts people off when it’s not the same ideas as his and he’s the only Mayor in this county to LAY OFF POLICE OFFICERS (17 in total!!!). This guy and his puppets need to go. They keep making one bad decision after another and it’s costing the taxpayers millions.
Who is the third party that paid George’s taxes?
I hope all four council members go to jail.
I thought all seven council people steered the hiring of the three employees of council. Will the meetings held by the hiring committee be public or behind closed doors?
From my understanding, Darcee only had 3 months left on her contract before she was going to be vested to collect her pension and possibly leave at 55 years of age. They couldn’t wait for the 3 months, paying her regular salary, instead of now having to pay a severance check that will probably cost more than that salary
Wow, did I watch the same meeting? I viewed it online. Admittedly, I was not there like you, Ms. Kienzle.
I must respectfully disagree with many of the assertions, opinions raised by this article. You did warn your readers that “something fishy” is going on. So at least you were up front about your mindset when writing this; that there is some conspiracy that must be rooted out.
If anything, it appeared Councilwomen Speigel and Smith were the ones finishing each other’s sentences.
I came away with a very different view. My mindset is that this is whole thing was a colossal display of high school silliness and middle-school debating skills.
Mayor Vallejo (or “pendejo” as the NMB police like to call him):
I was amazed at his display of patience. I would have gaveled a few of his colleagues over the head. A jury of my peers would have acquitted me, and even chip in for my legal fees.
Is he supposed to let everyone go on, and on, and on, in circles, endlessly, making the same point over and over and over?
Is he supposed to allow personal, highly emotional attacks amongst the council members?
He clearly had a plan to find a new city attorney. He’s the mayor, so it would have looked a lot worse to me if he didn’t have a plan.
He pushed his plan. If you agree with his plan, fine. If not, OK. His plan won the day. It was aired, debated endlessly, tweaked, loved to death, pecked to death, and voted on, and prevailed.
No one else except Councilman DiFillipo (and maybe Councilwoman Martell) had a plan in mind walking in.
Although both Councilwomen Speigel and Smith seemed to have compared notes before the meeting. They seemed to work in tandem the entire time.
The Mayor did go on himself way, way too long at times. He needs to set a better example. Make point, move on.
The mayor needs to get on with the show, not be part of the show.
Council Member Speigel:
She is Sore Loser No. 1. She was clearly doing everything she could to just sabotage everything. Yes, we know you went to law school, graduated, passed the bar, and practice law. I get it.
BFD. By her reasoning, only lawyers should be allowed to serve on the NMB Council. Everyone else is just not qualified.
The most telling parts were when the new and improved, temporary/acting/interim city attorney ran circles around her. You got played, punked by a rookie!
I like this Dotie women. She has game!
Every motion Der Speigel made was shot down by her colleagues. It was pretty clear, and very discomforting to watch, how only one of her colleagues wanted her anywhere near the selection committee.
She gave it her best, but her best wasn’t good enough. Please move on already. Spare yourself more embarrassment. People will begin to question whether your legal competency.
Councilwoman Phyllis Smith:
Sore Loser No. 2. In all my life I never understood why people think that saying the same thing over and over and over again will sway anyone who disagrees with you.
Boy, that dead horse is now a pile of mush in the council chambers.
She did seem to go out of her way to be extra polite, so she does get a little certificate of appreciate her failed duplicative and redundant efforts. I guess her political handlers coached her before the meeting.
Councilwoman Kramer:
She chimed in a few times. I just could not for the life of me make out what her point was.
I was always taught to keep hush unless you have a question, or something useful to add. There was no shortage of dead air to fill at that meeting.
She was probably trying to show some solidarity with Sore Loser No. 1 and No. 2. If that’s the case, I commend her sisterly overtures and instincts.
Councilwoman Martell:
She became very, very emotional. She needs to get some tougher skin. This entire issue doesn’t seem to be worth getting worked up about.
I also was confused about her plan to find a new city attny. She did have the good sense (something sorely lacking on that Council) to realize it wasn’t going anywhere with her colleagues so she retreated.
Councilman Pierre:
I tried so hard to hear and understand what he said. I turned up the volume, stuck my ear in the speaker. I still just didn’t understand most of what he said.
He did seem to indicate that a mass selection committee taking months to do its work wasn’t a good idea because it hasn’t worked in the past.
If that’s the case, then I tend to agree.
Councilman DeFellpo:
I thought he did the best. He did his homework, came into the meeting prepared, stayed out of the personal spats, kept his comments short and sweet, got his points across.
So I give him the meeting’s MVP award.
Thank you Steph for allowing me to provide a counter point of view.
Peace and love everyone. We certainly need it in NMB.
Thanks for your commentary. Believe it or not, I tend to agree with your assessment on many, if not most, of the issues. I did have a chance to meet with the Mayor this afternoon and discuss the meeting and the proceedings. I specifically asked him about the selection committee and he told me that he received calls from quite a few prominent attorneys in the county asking to be on the committee. He personally narrowed the list down to Smith and Ottinot and gave me his reasons for those choices. He also said he merely put his suggestion out for the council to discuss, but it did not go well. I suggested that he might have had a better reception from his colleagues if he had merely listed all the names and then allowed his colleagues to be part of the narrowing down process. I also told the Mayor that while Jose Smith was probably a great choice, Hans Ottinot was not so hot. He advised me that he chose Ottinot for several reasons, including that he already knew him, that Sunny Isles Beach is a neighboring city, and that Ottinot is very familiar with our city. To him, Ottinot was a logical choice. I did, however, share with the Mayor a few things I’ve since learned about Ottinot (other than that he was a pain in the ass as a coach) that the Mayor may not have known, and which I may discuss in a future blog if the need arises. In any event, the committee has been selected, so we will have to see how it progresses.
I also told the Mayor that I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’ve disagreed with Darcee in the past. Darcee herself knows I’ve asked for her head on at least two occasions. Whether or not there were legitimate reasons to let her go all of a sudden, my biggest concern was the way it had been done, and if now was the right time. If there was no immediate reason to do so (such as malfeasance, for example), why not simply wait until her contract expired?
I find it particularly disturbing that Marlen told the Herald that she “exploded.” As an elected official, one does not simply “explode” and make a decision in anger. In fact, no one should make decisions in anger, especially major ones. Clearly Marlen did not consider the ramifications of her motion, especially the financial ones. If she felt that Darcee was not working out, I believe she should have taken a different approach.
Whether or not this is the case, the impression that most people got on Tuesday night was that somehow Marlen and the City Manager had at least been complicit in an orchestrated move to fire Darcee. Marlen’s comment that the council needs to “deliver a supportive team to the City Manager” gave the impression that the City Manager’s needs and wants were more important than the City Attorney’s, despite the fact that they are both equal players on the “team.” That really just rubbed me the wrong way.
As I told the Mayor today, perception is everything. The perception given on Tuesday and again yesterday was one that made me suspect that something was amiss.
I’m still not 100% convinced that this isn’t the case; however, rather than jump to conclusions I’d much rather talk to the Mayor and other council members and hear them out. That is the fair thing to do.
In the end, I am only interested in the truth. I am confident that whatever that truth may be, it will always be revealed eventually.
I am truly curious why “prominent attorneys” from all around Miami-Dade County would call up the mayor and ask to be on the search committee. In fact, I find it almost impossible to believe, particularly since the news of Darcee’s termination didn’t even hit the Herald until after Friday’s emergency meeting. While I suppose they have an information network amongst themselves, it still seems odd to me that they would volunteer for such a thing. Are these prominent attorneys just bored and looking for some excitement…like serving on a search committee?
i think you’re hitting at a very interesting point.
While it’s fine for the mayor and commissioners to think among themselves about what they might want to do on any given issue, but to collude in secret about something which was never discussed in public prior is a clear violation of the sunshine laws.
The fact that the mayor already had a plan of action ready to present along with names suggests to me he has been consulting with people about city business during his personal time.
Perhaps the purpose of calling the emergency meeting was to enact the conspiracy with as little public input or recognition as possible so the mayor and his pals could create their perfect committee to select the perfect candidate. (whom I imagine has already been chosen, and needs only wait for the committee selection process to complete before taking the job.
Since I am on a roll, I will post again. Unlike with the police department, I am not as familiar with the circumstances of Darcy’s firing.
OPINION. Darcy was always skating on the edge. She was a very talented and capable city attorney. But I think (key word THINK) it was only a matter of time before the ax came.
She was admonished several times during meetings for trying to act as the 8th council person. She also made a lot of excuses for taking so long on certain things. She blamed outside counsel, actuaries, staff outside her office, etc. The buck stops with her.
However, I absolutely AGREE that her abrupt firing seems strange under the circumstances. NMB is a strange place is all I can say!
OPINION. If we are going to talk about conspiracy theories, I have my own. This was revenge from Marina Grande. They always hated Darcy for trying to stop their project.
OPINION. I also have a feeling that maybe the police union was involved. They also hate her, and blame her for fighting back too hard. I have less conviction in this conspiracy theory than with Marina Grande.
FACT. Phyllis Smith used to torture Darcy at every chance. I remember when Darcy’s contracts were up. Phyllis was so mean spirited trying to get Darcy to give up the tiniest things. Darcy was almost in tears. Now Smith is shocked, shocked, about Darcy’s firing. Give me a break. I think Smith is really angry because she didn’t get the chance herself to initiate her firing. Crocodile tears and an Oscar nomination from Smith.
OPINION. After all is said and done, it’s up to the Council to hire and fire the city attorney. If they don’t like someone, or if someone isn’t working out, they have every right to make a change. I am glad they got rid of the former city manager. What were they thinking when they hired him? The new city manager seems pretty sharp. I am hopeful. Best of luck to her. She will certainly need it!
I probably disagree with Darcy’s firing at this time. However, in the scheme of things I just can’t get too worked up about it other than a few blog posts to put things in perspective.
I don’t remember voting for a strong mayor
There is a group of City NMB’s left leaning comrades who are truly out to get our mayor because they don’t like him personally because he doesn’t agree with their party line.. One of them, who seemed a little “under the weather”, went so far as to personally attack him on Facebook! Every chance they get they insinuate misdeeds and evil doings on his part. Not once have they brought any proof of anything to the table. It’s becoming ugly and obvious. Put up or shut up.
NMB Lady, I can point out one major decision from the Mayor that has effected the citizens of this city and employees of his city. 17 layoffs. Do you think of the 40 or so police agencies in this county, NMB is the only one that was forced to lay police officers off. When he union offered enough concession that would have saved 12 of those officers from getting layed off, wouldn’t it be a logical decision to take those concession and spare the horrible decision to let so many go. That decision caused a trickle effect and others left to more stable cities and some just retired to not deal with his vindictive behavior that he’s lashed towards the police. You once had 114 officers but now were down to 89. Shootings, murdere and att. murders have become the norm. Now that decision is unacceptable and unforgettable.
Since this Blog’s sponsor allows anyone with internet access to post nonsense and outright lies, I feel compelled to set out the facts regarding NMBLEO’s posts.
FACT. NMBLEO is certainly NOT in law enforcement. Every single sworn officer in the NMB PD knows that they will be fired for posts like NMBLEO’s. They also know they will be caught.
One day, this blog will be subpoenaed as part of some lawsuit unrelated to the blog itself and every poster will be able to be tracked down. A police officer has a 1st Amendment right to express their opinion. They don’t have a right to make things up and hurl unfounded accusations. Conduct unbecoming a police officer.
FACT. The vote to impose cuts on the PD was UNANIMOUS. Every single council member voted for it. 7-0. That tells me they heard all the facts, and all agreed they needed to cut or else the city would face bankruptcy in a few years unless they raised taxes.
FACT. The PD’s union had the chance to avoid the layoffs, but instead DARED the city to call its bluff. The union could have come up with an alternate plan to enact the critical savings.
They even went on a PR campaign to point out that three of the officers to be fired are Haitian-Americans, so they could get some support from that community. The reason those three were fired was because of the union’s rigid seniority rules. How about MERIT-BASED rules?
FACT. The PD’s union is waging a scare campaign among residents. There are a lot of unwitting residents and blog posters who have sipped their Kool Aid. We have ALWAYS had crime issues in NMB, ALWAYS ALWAYS, whether we had 90 or 130 police officers. So something has to change. We can’t keep doing the same thing over and over.
FACT. This is the absolute bottom line. Our city had to make cuts or else face huge problems in a few years. Those cuts were painful, but necessary.
Having our own PD is something I favor. But we should explore having Miami-Dade take over. It has worked well in a lot of other cities in the county.
Let’s at least have that conversation. I believe the former city manager had looked into that, but was fired before anything came of it.
If we get more bang for the buck with Miami-Dade, then let’s make that change. If we can overhaul our current PD, then let’s do that.
But let’s do something, finally, with our PD. On that I believe we can all agree on.
Thank you for writing. I am compelled to respond to some of the issues you brought up. For starters, “this blog’s sponsor” is me. As a firm believer in the First Amendment, I am not inclined to censor those who wish to comment. The only exceptions would be (1) if someone threatens another person with bodily harm – in which case I turn it over to police department, (2) if the language is really, really out there – and trust me, it would have to be THAT bad for me to cringe, or (3) if the comment is derogatory based on race, religion or sexual orientation. There may be others, but that’s all I can think of at the moment. Other than that, I pretty much give anyone with an opinion a chance to spout. I am not the thought or morals police.
I will address two items that you claim are FACTS:
Your accusing NMBLEO of not being a law enforcement officer is NOT a fact. It is your opinion. As such, you are as entitled to your opinion as anyone else here who posts an opinion.
Secondly, I absolutely refuse to give up my sources to anyone. I don’t need to expound, but let’s just say that if anyone serves me with a subpoena they had better have a legitimate reason to believe that they have a right to access my personal records. They’d have to make a case in order to get their hands on that information. And that’s even before they can get past my lawyer, who I can assure you, is a pitbull.
So, please get your “facts” straight before you claim them as such.
Thank YOU for responding. Yes, you are the blog’s “sponsor”. That did not come out very well when I wrote that. A big oooops.
I appreciate your respect for the First Amendment. I really am aghast, though, at some of the accusations allowed to be published. I don’t believe people should be allowed to accuse someone outright of criminal activity (breaking Sunshine Law, for example) without presenting anything more than circumstantial evidence, hearsay or innuendo.
Maybe I’m just old fashioned, old school.
I retract my assertion about NMBLEO as being FACT. I hereby restate that assertion as my OPINION and apologize to NMBLEO. Another ooooops.
I am sure you would fight the subpoena with your “pitbull” lawyer. I am saying that I predict there will be a day when a very, very deep-pocketed and determined developer or lawyer-lobbyist will just grind you down until you say uncle.
I am not a lawyer. I do know that I would NOT promise blanket protection to the people who post on this blog. That is a promise you might not be able to keep.
Just saying.
Thanks for setting me straight.
“I am sure you would fight the subpoena with your “pitbull” lawyer. I am saying that I predict there will be a day when a very, very deep-pocketed and determined developer or lawyer-lobbyist will just grind you down until you say uncle.”
That sounds like a threat to me. So, pray tell, are you a deep-pocketed developer or a lawyer-lobbyist? Just curious.
For someone who claims to know so much is proof of how so many are still in the dark. “NMB Facts” is not a good anonymous name for you since most of your “facts” are opinions and others are flat out lies. One thing I agree wih is we should go to he county, this city can no longer provide its residents with the services they lay for. I’d also like a raise so let’s let’s do it!!!!
NMBLEO, I retracted one of my statements and apologized to you above.
So, which of my statements are “lies”? Do tell.
Before you address that, I need to first ask something.
I have shown a willingness to admit my misstatements and apologize. Are you willing to do the same?
NMB Facts, I mean Mr. Donner – Mr. Keith Donner I believe. We all know it is you. You are aghast that Ms. Kienzle allows accusations on here. Where are citizens supposed to make them? Your mayor, and yes I mean YOUR mayor is the one who stopped us from mentioning your name during public comment. It is not a personal attack when we say that you are his puppet master. It is what we see. Personal would be calling you a jerk, asshole or piece of crap. I don’t think anyone has ever done that during public comment. Now you think we shouldn’t mention it on our only city blog either?
Ms. Kienzle may need proof in order to make accusations against people. We the residents of North Miami Beach are the ones who actually put YOUR mayor in office and have every right to read between the lines. You have told enough people that you want to control OUR city. Now you are mad because we are sick and tired of it. Go control your own city! You are nothing more than a sleazy, slimy, nasty, careless liar. All anyone has to do to know that is to type your name in on google.
And now you want to threaten the only blogger in the city who cares about fighting corruption with lawsuits to scare her off! This city will stand behind her long before we will ever stand behind YOUR mayor.
Leave our blogger alone and leave our city alone!!
I know that Ms. Kienzle removed another comment that talked about Mr. Donner. I hope that she won’t remove this one. I can not prove NMB Facts is Donner. Just like I can not prove that he is running our city. It is just my opinion and my belief and it should be treated as that.
You don’t know for a fact that the writer is Mr. Donner, but I think you made that clear that it’s your opinion. If not, I’m sure I’ll hear about it.
Thanks for sticking up for me, though. I appreciate the vote of confidence.
Please excuse my spelling, not easy to navigate and type on this blog from my phone.
I hope NMB will be adding officers soon. I know a bit about the negotiations and the union and the mediator played as big a role in the outcome as the Mayor-bigger, really. I hope better days are ahead for all of us. Everyone has been struggling, not just the police.
NMB Lady,
If you know so much, then by all means please explain for us in more detail how the union is to blame for the city’s decision to lay off 17 officers.
This I’ve gotta hear.
I believe there is a conspiracy with Vallejo being the leader only using Martel to carry out his wish and of course the other two I consider “hangers on”. However, what came to my mind when Darcee was fired was “Oh, now we have THE BIG FIVE – Vallejo, Martel, DiFillippo, Pierre and lastly the city manager to run our city – the latter being those who can be controlled by the mayor. To use your expression “Just Sayin'”. Can you guess who will be our next City Attorney?
Is there a strong or weak mayor in NMB? Who calls the shots there by charter? Does the manager run your city/in charge of hires/fires? I am asking not to be snarky but to understand how your city runs by charter. Feel free to talk basics to me as I am just learning here and someone made a comment up above that made me curious. Thanks.
And another question (as an outsider to this issue just learning from this blog): how much IS it costing the city now in severance/legal etc compared to what it would have cost if let this Attorney serve her term out (and perhaps use the time between now and then searching for someone?) A wash or not?
NMB Facts? Thats awesome PR and follow it up with a scare tactic to discourage comments from employees. So all other posts are nonsense but yours is fact?
The FACT is that the union was in agreement to concessions and to pension reform and offered such. The city didn’t want to meet halfway. What the Union offered was much more than halfway, but the City wanted all or nothing. 17 officers FIRED and in addition they parked 100 cars to rot in a parking lot. Why? They didn’t want to lose. More importantly the mayor didn’t want to lose. He had his “master plan” that he tried to force in action and he wasn’t having anything else. In the end we all lost, he didn’t get what he wanted, obviously the police officers suffered and most importantly so have the residents.
Here is an OPINION:The prior Manager was brought in as an axe man. Why else would he move here, leave his wife and small child behind and rent? He had no plans to stay here. He was brought in to do the dirty work-PERIOD. When all was said and done and those who orchestrated his hiring also had a hand in making it a little easier for him to leave. Then they could bring in a new person to make everything better. He was not good enough to keep around, but they can give him glowing letters of recommendation for jobs he was applying for. PLEASE! These people are still worried about him not getting the money due to him. (forget about money being stolen from the officers with the pension changes the city forced)
I had high hopes when this City Manger was hired, hoping she could turn things around for this city. I thought the expert law enforcement officers in City Hall, might trust the expertise of a chief this manager brought in, because it was obvious they never had much faith in the other Chiefs. They would do the expected compliments required as part of their politicking on the dais, but when decisions are made that go against what their chief suggested, it was obvious the chief is just a body. The Weekend at Bernie’s actor might have been a cheaper alternative.
Watching the last council meeting and the City Manager fight for a 5% raise made me want to puke. So the city is broke, but she is deserving of what boils down to a 25% raise if I deciphered the whole mess correctly? 5% in her pay check and the city will be putting 20% into a 401k? The pension issue is not resolved so the city will still be contributing to her city pension which is I think 8%. (yes folks we have no money) She says she has to fight for herself, but when the cops fight for themselves we are overpaid bullies. She even has the chutzpah to show and provide comparable cities and their benefits package. When we did that at the PD we were laughed out of the room. Whats good for the goose….
The FACT is that City Manager was hired 6 MONTHS AGO! How in the heck do you get a raise in 6 months when you have other employees who have not had raises in years!!
Keeping officers based on Merit based rules? Really? So the officers that are older, or not writing enough tickets or not making enough arrests based on what? Police officers routinely make decisions not to arrest or write a ticket and instead go with warnings. Start basing jobs on stats and your little Johnny might go to jail for having a joint in his pocket or driving like a dumba*& teenager instead of a warning and a phone call. Numbers and stats don’t always paint the full picture of what we do.
What you call scare tactics is FACT. Putting faces to the “numbers”. When those layoffs occurred we suffered severely. We lost good, young officers who were going to be the future of this city. We lost males, females, white, black, spanish speaking and creole speaking. All what we needed to provide the best services to the city. As a second blow to the city, the actions by this council, made the decision easy for many others to leave for other departments. Who wants to work with so much instability. This city lost out on some great officers!
You can threaten to go to the County, which doesn’t scare the officers as you would want. You don’t need to go that far north to find cities that contracted out to Broward county and are now having the prices go up with much less service then they had with their own PD.
The “bad guys” used to avoid driving through NMB at all costs because they knew they would most likely get stopped and arrested. Not any more.
So since I’m on a “Roll” let me point out a couple perceptions from the last two meetings.
Martel was a nervous wreck the whole night. Why? Did she contemplate this whole firing issue? Was she put up to this by someone else? At around 10:20 ish, Martel has the floor and goes off on a tangent. While supposedly discussing the City Manager’s raise, that she so deserves, Martel turns and begins speaking to the City Attorney about a new direction. WTF? She is quickly reeled back in by the Mayor after asking, “do you want me to make a motion?”He of course shuts her up. Why? Wrong time? Who goaded her into this motion? The City Manager- or someone else?? In her tangent she talks about Kevin Klopp not going into the management pension because he said it wouldn’t be fair to the residents. Really? How about because it makes much more sense not to lock yourself into a pension with a city you obviously won’t be retiring at. That was such self serving crap being that she worked under him. So as the manager is debating her contract and why she is so deserving of a raise, Defillipo chimes in about the City Attorney’s lifetime benefits. Hmm she’s not the only one who gets those- He should probably stick to the script. By now it’s very clear this discussion is really to segway into the real focus-the City Attorney.
So after many hours discussing an additional 6 foot height in Eastern Shores, the council fires the City Attorney with less then an hour discussion. No thought process on a transition, how much this will cost the residents with things such as contracts and severance packages.
Then you have the “emergency meeting”. Spiegel FIRST before anyone else makes a motion, offers to help with the selection process, since after all she is an Attorney. She offers to sit on a committee if it is the councils desire to go the committee route. CRICKETS. Then, in what appears to be scripted, Defillipo motions for a selection committee with the Mayor as a member. So does Defillipo write everything he plans on saying? He sure refers to notes a lot. Defillipo has been a councilman for a minute and with his experience, after the VICE MAYOR, offers to be on the committee he disregards that idea and goes with the Mayor. The Mayor adds to the conversation that it would be just as he did on the search for the City Manager. NOW HERE IS WHERE IT GETS GOOD FOLKS. The prior search committee included a person who was later ARRESTED FOR BRIBERY- Not saying that the selection of our City Manager was not done on the up and up (hopefully), but the perception. This concern was brought up in so many words by Phylis when the Mayor got defensive and asked for Phylis to say what she meant. Obviously he got what she was saying but it never really came out to the public.
Having those accusations half thrown out there, one would think that the Mayor could stick his macho ego in his back pocket. Really why is the Mayor any more qualified than Spiegel who had already volunteered to be on the committee? That gives one the perception that there is a reason the Mayor wants to be on this committee. Sometimes perception is everything. Since the Mayor (as reported in the local news) has had problems paying his taxes, just settled a foreclosure on his home and is reportedly being sued by Wells Fargo, one would think he would possibly defer to Spiegel. Then no one could accuse him of anything. But he didn’t.
So I’m with Stephanie in feeling that something is very wrong.
The next elections can’t come quick enough. Someone needs to step in and save this city from itself. With a 10% voter turn out my hopes aren’t too high.
On a positive note, watching these council meetings is better than any reality show on TV. Even without the popcorn!
Merit based raises, I can see how that will go.
Excuse me officer, why did you stop me?
You were speeding.
I’m so sorry, I’m running late to work, is it possible to get a warning this time.
Nope!!! I need a raise!!
this may be a stretch but find out who the mayor wants to be the new lawyer. something tells me that decision has already been made and just needs to be condoned through formality.