Fighting against public corruption, especially in Opa-locka, is usually an exercise in futility.

It’s nearly impossible to win even one battle, but a back-to-back sweep is nothing short of a miracle.

Well, add another feather in the cap of Miami Lakes attorney Michael A. Pizzi, who scored a second win yesterday when the twice fired Opa-locka City Manager Newell J. Daughtrey was rehired … once again.

In Opa-locka turns back the clock and rehires its city manager-turned-whistleblower, the Miami Herald reported that “Daughtrey was rehired as acting manager by the new City Commission on Wednesday, reversing the action of the previous commission that fired him without explanation in October.  Daughtrey filed a whistle-blower lawsuit against the city on Nov. 28, alleging he was fired as retribution for calling out corruption in City Hall.”

This latest achievement came on the heels of his last big win two weeks ago, when Pizzi won a multi-million dollar lawsuit on behalf of former Finance Director Charmaine Parchment, who was fired for blowing the whistle on then-City Manager Eddie Brown, alleging that he “was asking her to engage in corrupt and illegal practices,” according to a Miami Herald article published last month.

Ms. Parchment had also previously clashed with Brown’s predecessor, Yvette Harrell, by confronting her for illegally withdrawing approximately $600,000 from a restricted account to cover expenses.  She told the Miami Herald that “she was also targeted for cooperating with an ongoing FBI probe into corruption in City Hall.  The investigation has already resulted in arrests of, among others, former City Manager David Chiverton, City Commissioner Luis Santiago, Assistant Public Works Director Gregory Harris, and Corleon Taylor, son of the city’s former mayor, Myra Taylor.”

Instead of being lauded for her role in exposing the rampant corruption in Opa-locka, Charmaine Parchment got her walking papers.

In a city entrenched by a decades-long, systemic culture of corruption, employees who dared to shine a spotlight on wrongdoing were promptly escorted out of City Hall.  Courageous employees who speak out and fight the system, such as Newell Daughtrey and Charmaine Parchment, are Opa-locka’s only hope for redemption.

Combined with a newly elected Mayor and Commission determined to bring in a new era of transparency and accountability, there appears to be a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

Their lawyer, Mike “Pitbull” Pizzi, told the Miami Herald, “Newall is very, very happy because he believes he won the lawsuit when he got his job back last night. That’s why we sued and we won.”

He will also be negotiating to try to get Mr. Daughtrey any lost wages he may be entitled to since he was fired in October.

When we asked Pitbull Pizzi how he felt about his second stunning triumph over the City of Opa-locka, he responded, “Who’s your Daddy?”

Just kidding.

What he really said was, “This was a great victory for integrity in government.  This shows that honest public servants have a way to fight back and prevail.  I am happy we won this case because it will encourage people to come forward and report corruption.”

Well done, Mr. Pizzi.  Well done.

Now do North Miami.

Stephanie