Imagine the chutzpah of someone who is in debt for nearly a million and a half dollars, yet has the nerve to give anyone advice on how to avoid foreclosure.
Well, you don’t have to imagine.
The fiscally irresponsible North Miami Councilwoman Mary Estimé-Irvin personally owes:
- Two unpaid tax liens totaling $1,403,731.88;
- An unpaid hospital bill of $1,926.80;
- Unpaid fines to the Florida Elections Commission in the amount of $9,262.16;
- Unpaid Code Enforcement Liens (with interest through 12/31/19) totaling $327.00;
- Unpaid water bills (through 4/24/20) in the amount of $2,751.62; and
- Approximately $15,000.00 in back rent on the house she sold, but continues to live in and refuses to vacate.
Yet, this shameless politician has the audacity to host a Virtual Talk about mortgage debt relief.
Especially coming from someone who is about to be homeless.
As we reported earlier this year, Mary lost her home by first executing a Quit Claim Deed to VWC LLC, a Florida Limited Liability company, on May 8, 2018 as collateral for a loan.
When Mary refused to repay the loan, VWC sold the house on February 10, 2020 to Michael Etienne, the opponent she beat by 74 votes in the 2019 runoff election.
When Mary refused to sign a lease or even vacate the house she no longer owned, on March 5, 2020 Michael filed a lawsuit to evict her from the property.
Then Covid-19 happened and the world literally stopped.
An eviction and foreclosure moratorium in Florida has kept Michael’s lawsuit in limbo for six months. Barring any more extensions, that moratorium expires this Thursday, October 1, 2020, and Mary’s free ride will come to a halt.
In the meantime, however, she’ll still owe back rent to Michael from March 1, 2020 until she either vacates voluntarily or the Sheriff forcibly removes her from the premises.
While Michael told us he’s hesitant to do that, he will if push comes to shove.
Personally, we’d break out the popcorn to watch that happen because we find karma to be very entertaining.
In the meantime, we’ll just get our kicks watching Mary say stupid stuff on the virtual dais.
And do even stupider stuff like host Virtual Talks to “inform” North Miami residents how to avoid foreclosure.
While she refuses to pay her own water bill to the very city she was elected to represent.
Folks, we can’t make this stuff up.
Stephanie
Although Opa Locka went “BANKRUPT,” and other Communities (including Bay Harbor Islands) are on the verge of going “BROKE,” your articles are terrific on allegedly “busting” Town Elected Officials, except for they are given the right (with Taxpayers money) to “appoint” alleged “manipulative” Town Attorneys that “circulate” throughout our Communities protecting them (F.S. 111.071 and 111.072 “INDEMNIFICATION”)?
How does she still have water at her home? They are quick to turn it off in NM. I recall missing a bill once and received a shut off notice that was something like 3 days later. This was several years ago before they had auto pay.
Well, they’re not turning of Mary’s water apparently. If I were a resident I’d be storming City Hall right about now and demanding answers.
Just saying.
LOL Who hasn’t had an unpaid hospital bill? But the others, unforgivable.
Please don’t forget your picks for the NMB commission.
Hi Steph,
You’re the only one who can possibly help us when we don’t want another alleged insider “Joe,” who you seem to know very well, as our next (BHI) appointed by Council Town Attorney…still looking for the $4.1M from the previous one?
“Break out the popcorn,” it’s another hilarious and wonderful piece of work from Stephanie. Thanks for all you do. You should be required reading for all city residents.
You’re so sweet. I think you’re my biggest fan.
We need you so badly. Move to NMB and run for mayor. Although I think the cancer is too deep to be fixed. Thank you . I wish I had time to be next to you fighting. I know it is a pathetic answer . Thank you so much. You keep all these politicians in place.
Laughable. Does this woman not have any real friends to say, “yeah, lets just NOT do this. This is a bad idea!”
The last thing we need in North Miami, specifically in District 3, is a representative who does not pay into the public purse. Its not speculation, its legitimately well documented that she has had quite a few decades of bad decisions which have caused her to be seriously in debt, financially insolvent and unstable.
All over District 3, hard working North Miamian’s are scraping by, working whatever they can right now, but trying very hard to honor their commitment to pay their mortgages, pay their taxes, tighten the belt and protect their hard work investments. Despite COVID. But Mary, the elected that WE PAY A GENEROUS SALARY TO, lost her home, collected over a million in debt to the IRS BEFORE COVID EVEN BROKE OUT. She refuses to negotiate a lease for the home she no longer owns. Seems like her strategy for her life is to just hope for the best and look for sympathy for anyone who may have some to spare. I don’t. I have more sympathy for hard working men and women who are doing everything that they can to scrape by.
From all the readily available documents that I have read, this situation Mary Estime-Irvin finds herself in is YEARS in the making. She even held a code enforcement zoom and when she herself owes back fees. Huh? Elected’s really shouldn’t be an exception to paying fees to Code either. And that is something that I am going to bring up to the City. We cannot have separate rules for the “leaders” and the “People.” That’s not how this works.
What moral mandate does Mary Estime-Irvin have to represent us? She needs to focus on her own life and get herself situated. This is public service and by refusing to pay her fair share in taxes- which is well documented- she is not participating in her own civic responsibilities and REQUIREMENTS. Why would we trust her? What’s to trust? Do you trust a person who is hard up for money, who has lost the deed to her home, to negotiate with developers? I sure don’t. Good graciousness, we deserve better.
Thank you to Stephanie for all the time she spends researching. Facts do matter, fair and ethical representation does matter. We all deserve so much better.
On top of the unpaid water bills, Mary has not even bothered to pay her property taxes since 2016. When Michael Etienne bought her house in February, he had to pay $14,687.20 in back taxes, including the redemption of three tax certificates just to clear the title (see: https://miamidade.county-taxes.com/public/real_estate/parcels/06-2125-027-0230/bills). Fortunately, he doesn’t have to pay her water bill because he doesn’t live there so if the city ever turns off the water, it’s not his problem.
Of all the politicians I’ve written about in ten years, Mary Estimé-Irvin is the biggest loser of them all. North Miami has a choice next May since she’s already drawn challengers for her seat, including Michael Etienne, who we are endorsing. I’d love to see him evict her from the dais, too! LOL!!!
The Florida Elections Commission should have not let her run for office until she paid what she owed them and the same goes for the City of North Miami. Next year if she should decide to run which we all know she shouldn’t, she needs to pay up, snd thanks for posting her water bill. I sure hope residents remember this next time they have their water turn off.