As promised, Hialeah mayor’s son Oscar de la Rosa resigns from council

As promised, Hialeah mayor’s son Oscar de la Rosa resigns from council
  • Sumo

Who will be appointed? Ladra’s money is on a former councilwoman

Updated: Hialeah Councilman Oscar de la Rosa announced Tuesday that he would resign, as promised when his stepfather campaigned last year for mayor of the second biggest city in Miami-Dade. You know… to avoid any potential or perceived conflict of interest.

Esteban Bovo won in the first round Nov. 2 and papi and hijo have been serving together, however, for more than two months. People were beginning to think de la Rosa was going to back out of bowing out.

De La Rosa told the Miami Herald he waited so he could see through some of his items, including the creation of a 24/7 entertainment district and incentives to promote workforce housing in new residential developments. He said he and his dad worked on the workforce housing item together.

Wait. So there was no conflict of interest in that?

Read related: All in the family: Steve Bovo’s stepson runs for Hialeah Council

The tradition in Hialeah is for the council to appoint someone to serve out through November — when the city can tag onto the general state ballot — rather than have a special election. The mayor doesn’t have a vote but is expected to either make his recommendation outright or through his lackeys, either Councilman Luis Rodriguez or the new Council President Carl Zogby.

Bovo can count. And he needs four votes to get anything done.

But the council members can count, too. And if former President Jesus Tundidor or new Councilman Bryan Calvo can convince independent Monica Perez (not hard) and newly elected Jacqueline Garcia-Roves — she’s the wild card swing vote — to appoint someone who would be independent of Bovo, not a pocket vote, then they might have a chance at the required five votes for a veto when they need one.

If they don’t, then Bovo could be veto proof.

Tundidor told Ladra that he hadn’t even thought of that and that he’s comfortable with Bovo’s leadership so far. Actually, and with less than 100 days in, Stevie has gotten high marks from a lot of people. They really liked that, just days after being elected mayor, Bovo forced out the embattled and tarnished police chief and initiated a public process to succeed him.

“He’s just trying to really increase transparency,” Tundidor said. “And he’s shown so far to be someone who can work with everybody.”

These appointments can be very important. They have always or almost always turned into elected office for the de facto incumbents. These include former Council Members Vivian Casals-Muñoz, who was appointed in 2006 and termed out in 2019, and Katherine Cue-Fuente, who was appointed in 2008 and termed out last year.

Read related: Esteban Bovo solidly wins his second place prize job: Mayor of Hialeah

In fact, that same year, a young ambitious Stevie Bovo was appointed to the Hialeah Council, to replace Rene Garcia, who went to state office. And Bovo used that to propel him into the State House and then the county commission.

So, who is the lucky lackey that Mayor Bovo would anoint as the next council member?

As usual, Bovo did not respond to Ladra’s calls and text messages.

During the campaign, he supported nurse and rehab center owner Angelica Pacheco, who lost. But she’s had trouble with an employee and her license at the state and has other issues, like past arrests for assault and child abuse. There might be resistance to her. It’s not a good look for Bovo, who is flying high right now (more on that later).

Read related: More on Hialeah candidate Angelica Pacheco’s arrests — and her web of lies

The mayor should nominate, or the council should appoint someone who ran and came close, like Maylin Villalonga, who lost the runoff against Luis Rodriguez but got almost 2,000 votes. She is someone who at least has been on the ballot and had the support of some citizens.

Better yet, longtime city activist Milly Herrera would make a fine voice for the residents. Hialeah voters have voted for her at least twice.

But it is most likely going to be Casals-Muñoz, who is a longtime Bovo friend and dropped out of the mayor’s race last year when he jumped in. He definitely trusts her and can use her experience “during these difficult times” to convince the council. Ladra is not sure term limits would apply to an appointment. But they really just want to help her run for State House in District 111 in November, which is when the appointment would end.

Bovo introduced her at a Hialeah Chamber of Commerce event last week.

Councilwoman Monica Perez said someone who is new would have to learn the rules in a short time.

“But whoever is going to be put there is going to be working with a young new council,” Perez said, “and has to know that we’re all very independent thinkers, we’ve all stood on our own and we’ve all held each other to the fire.”

Meanwhile, de la Rosa — who was accused of living in Coral Gables but said he was just spending nights at his girlfriend’s house — can probably run in the City Beautiful in 2023.

Because Papi is going to stick around as King of Hialeah as long as he can.

On Tuesday, Bovo tweeted a photo of the press conference in front of City Hall where de la Rosa announced his resignation.

“Today, my son, Councilman Oscar De La Rosa, resigned from the City Council to avoid any conflict of interest,” Bovo wrote. “I am proud of you! You will continue to accomplish great things.”

5 Responses to "As promised, Hialeah mayor’s son Oscar de la Rosa resigns from council"

  1. Thank you for mentioning my name and recognizing my labor as a concerned citizen and longtime community activist. After many years as a community activist, I’ve ran twice for city council because I am heartbroken and worried for what I see and truly believe that I would serve my city, its citizens and business owners well.

    I submitted my affidavit and letter of intent to be considered for seat IV this week. Even if only for a short time, I would try my best to learn quickly and work hard. If selected, anything I could propose or do that would benefit the city, its residents and business owners, would be a good thing. Regardless, I will continue to do what I can within the community.

    We ought all to remember that City Hall is the people’s house. We cannot adopt laws and practices that override unalienable rights and freedoms guaranteed to all of us under the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution. At the same time, our citizens need to be more involved in caring about local government and their community, if only to pick up trash that settles on the street or sidewalk in front of their home or business, attend a meeting or contact an elected official when it is something related to their neighborhood or important citywide issue, and get out to vote. We have less than 20% voter turnout. Government has the duty to find ways to help improve in these areas.

    We have only one mayor and seven council members, but over 230,000 residents and over 109,000 registered voters. We must do better at educating, motivating and forging a better and stronger alliance between government and its citizens.

    Milly Herrera
    Hialeah, Florida

  2. Dear Ms. Ladra

    First and foremost, thank you for your dedication to keeping citizens informed through your journalism. Several of my supporters reached out to me this afternoon to make me aware of this article in which I am mentioned. I am sure you know much more than I that the cornerstones of journalism ethics are truth, accuracy, and objectivity. The meaning of OBJECTIVITY is the quality or character of being objective : lack of favoritism toward one side or another : freedom from bias.

    You have emphasized the issue of my arrest on more than one occasion. While it may not be your intention to cast me in a dark light, you may have inadvertently missed to include an important fact. That fact is that I have never been convicted of any crime. The only crime I have committed is to dare run for public office and unknowingly become someone's rock in their shoe. I have committed the crime of genuinely believing that if I did no wrong to another, no wrong would be done to me. I have since learned my lesson.

    Another fact is that I have not had any problem with my state license. It is inevitable for a business owner to have an issue with an employee at some point, but that is a far cry from having problems with my license.

    As for Bovo's support, I will be candid with you; the first time I found out about his inclination to support me was through your blog. Perhaps you have sources that give you that information. Perhaps it was his unwillingness to support the other candidate? You knew about it before I did. Prior to the days before the runoff, I really didn't have any relationship with Bovo. He had no reason to favor me other than the fact that he saw qualities in me that would benefit the residents of Hialeah. For that, I am thankful, and I would honestly be honored if I am considered to occupy the council vacancy, but that is a decision that is up to the council. Do keep in mind that I did obtain 6076 votes which my opponent NEVER surpassed, not even in the runoff. So technically, I had the most votes overall in group 6.

    Now I ask you not as a former candidate to a journalist but as a woman to another woman. Is it so appalling that a woman who has had a difficult start in life and overcomes so much dare dream of achieving more? Or are people such as myself excluded? I did the best I could with the cards I was dealt. Life gave me lemons, and I made lemonade. Rocks were thrown at me, and I collected them; I built an empire with them. A storm fell on me, and I learned to dance in the rain. I only ask for objectivity. I am not asking to be understood by you. I am only asking for fairness. I wonder if you will also write about the multiple Florida election laws that my opponent broke in his relentless obsession to win at all cost. Violations that have already been formally reported to the FEC. I hope your commitment to ethical, unbiased journalism prevails over any personal bias. Don't forget that there are two sides to every story. It is never too late to do the right thing.

    Sincerely,

    Angelica Pacheco

  3. It’s funny how everyone forgets that this person is under investigation for not living in the city that he was elected to serve in

  4. I Understand the Cynicism from some due to
    Hialeah’s past, but from a person who has fought the corruption for years I will say this:
    Oscar will be missed. He has taken on issues no one ever wanted to tackle and stood on his own two feet and sometimes alone. Where we he ends up he will always have my friendship and support.

    I proudly and publicly place my name to this.
    Eric johnson
    Hialeah Firefighters
    Local 1102

  5. ” De a Dedo ” Appointments for Hialeah ! Let’s The Corruption Continue ? And What BOTELLA will Step Son Get ?

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