I received an unconfirmed report that the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust has fined North Miami Councilwoman Marie Steril the sum of $4,900.00. The Commission held a hearing this morning in connection with the accusation of “seeking preferential treatment for her mother” by insisting on “upgrades” worth “nearly $8,000.00,” as I reported earlier this year.
I’m told the Commission will issue a press release today regarding the outcome of this hearing. I will keep you posted.
UPDATE:
Just posted on Miami Herald: North Miami councilwoman admits getting special treatment for her mother
Just posted on Local 10: North Miami Councilwoman Marie Steril settles ethics complaint
Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”
An elected official who cannot afford to return a measly 5k of stolen money is a sure bet to steal again.
She should be required to pay all of it back including the $154,000. What a joke!
OK.
So the city had to pay $154,800.00 because of her corrupt dealings, and all she gets is a minuscule fine.
How about charges?
How about suspension from office !?
Is this how the ethics commission fights corruption !??!!!!
What a disgusting joke !!!
This is just the tip of the iceberg for this sleezeball. She also had in hand in the $99,000 no-bid sidewalk pressure cleaning contract that bilked the taxpayers of North Miami for 6 blocks of sidewalk that was never completed.
But the former island residents of North Miami will overlook any corruption on the part of their corrupt elected officials because they don’t know any better. They were raised in a culture of corruption where their own politicians steal millions from them and they think this is normal. Just look at the funeral of Baby Doc to see proof of how they cherish a guy who looted their country’s treasury and lived high on the hog with the money while his countrymen lived in utter squalor.