Vetting Miami Mayor Manny Diaz

Posted: Thursday, November 20, 2008 10:28 AM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Chuck Todd
Earlier today, we mentioned how some are concerned that Hispanics might be shut out of high-profile cabinet positions. Well, First Read has learned that Miami Mayor Manny Diaz is in the vetting process for two potential posts: HUD and Transportation -- with HUD apparently the job offer he's most likely to get. If Diaz is tapped, he'd be the first major Hispanic pol to get a nod for a cabinet post.

Still, quite a few key Hispanic supporters of Obama have been concerned by the lack of Hispanics being considered for some of the higher-profile posts.

Interestingly, George W. Bush's first HUD secretary -- Mel Martinez -- also was a Florida Cuban pol who headed a major metro area. Martinez is now senator of Florida.

*** UPDATE *** A potential problem for Diaz at HUD? NBC's AJ Goodwin flags to our attention a Miami Herald investigation about Miami's public housing mess. According to the paper, the city and county tore down much of the public housing with promises to replace it with better options. But much of the new housing was never built, and what was built was not filled in a timely manner.

In the end, HUD ended up taking over the county-run Miami-Dade Housing Agency in April 2007, saying it "demonstrated a pattern of financial irresponsibility and mismanagement." And last summer, Habitat for Humanity came to Miami to build affordable housing on the land the local government had failed to re-develop.

Per the Herald, "Diaz acknowledged problems in the housing program but said he inherited them and has worked to put safeguards in place, such as creating penalties for affordable-housing developers who sell city-subsidized land for profit. 'Everybody makes mistakes,' he said. 'But if you look at that record and if you contrast it to where the city was before I got here ... I think that's a good news story.'"

[CORRECTION: An earlier version of this post incorrectly identified the Miami-Dade Housing Agency as the Miami Housing Authority.]

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Comments

Rick, the last time I checked Obama didn't have any problem connecting with the majority of American voters. By the way, the last time I checked was November 4.

Brian, Covington, Georgia (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:44 AM)

Worst than Las Vegas, NV? Transportation that is. Oh well. Maybe the media will stop making stuff up and allow the President-elect to make the statement at the appropriate time. And Joe Scarborough, far as calling him the "Chosen One" it's better than the "Devil in Carnate" your favorite president. Maybe you should embrace instead of disgrace.

Lisa, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:46 AM)

Rick, NC - typical GOP nonsensical blabber.

Bill, Dallas, Texas (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:48 AM)

So much for change. He has picked insiders for many top positions. He ran a syaing he would not be accountable to any special interest. All the post so far have gone to Obama insiders. He is being pressured by other groups that support him to provide the same opportunity. What if there is no minority leader in that group qualified or if there is anotehr person not in the group mroe qualified. He made promises he now has to keep to get re-elected. Same old polotice reward those who have hepled and fawned over you. Ignor the possiblity that there is an outsider more qualified and that does not have the Washington inside track.

Hiram, Rosamond, Ca (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:50 AM)

I'd have to agree "MetroFail". Living in Miami isn't much fun during the summer when you have to rely on public transportation. That goes beyond the standard criminal acts our politicians tend to get themselves involved with on a regular basis. Not to say Manny is to blame but he could be doing a bit more to shore up my respect.

Paul, Hialeah, Fl (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:52 AM)

This will be a big mistake. Miami is one of the worst cities in the country regarding affordable housing and transportation. His Miami21 initiative is still on hold waiting for the lobbyists and the Latin Builders to pick it apart.
No to Manny Diaz

Mike, Coral Gables FL (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:55 AM)

Well, I want to see some black women in the administration, not just in the WH. LOL

Demcor, Pittsburgh (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:00 PM)

David Shuster for MTP...are you serious? And keith will be singing whatever song the Dems tell him while he is gulping the Kool-aid.

I wish NBC would get rid of both of them and bring back Tucker and Dan Abrams.

How about Andrea Mitchell or David Gregory for MTP? They are real journalists that could live up to the bar the Tim set.

As for the 1st hispanic...we will never progress as a nation if we contiune to focus race...if he is not qualified he should not be selected and based on what people from Miami are saying here, it sure doesn't sound like he is.

Lisa, NY (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:04 PM)

James of Coral Gables speaks the truth. I was raised in SoFL and lived there for 40 years until '97. Once the Miami Cubans consolidated political power, the fun began. The wipeout of 14,000 homes in S. Dade from Hurricane Andrew was a direct result of the weakened building code that was foisted on the public by the Cuban Builders Assoc.

Now as for Mayor Diaz, I don't know him. As a number of posters have suggested, Bill Richardson backed Barack early in spite of the Clinton backlash, has good skills and would make a fine Cabinet appointment.

Ed, FW, TX (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:13 PM)

Rick, NC:

Liberals have such a problem connecting with America, they just turned Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina, and Colorado blue 2 weeks ago...with an African American president.

A better statement would be: This is why the lily white Republican party has trouble winning elections: They're a marginalized Deep South party now that likes to drag out its token minority members, without any real eye towards competence (Alberto Gonzalez, I'm looking at you).

Harry (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:14 PM)

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