North Miami’s newest council member Mary Estimé-Irvin has no problem spending money … other people’s money, that is.
On June 11, 2019, the very first day of her tenure as an elected official, she handed North Miami taxpayers a bill for $17,550.22.
And she was just getting started.
The moment she was sworn in, Mary began earning an outrageous annual salary and compensation package of $109,927.82, which included a $47,910.00 base salary, $9,285.65 in insurance premiums, a $24,400.00 expense and discretionary fund account, a $5,000.00 travel allowance, and a $23,332.17 contribution to her retirement account.
And yet, she had the audacity to complain that this wasn’t nearly enough compensation to support the lavish lifestyle to which she was quickly becoming accustomed.
In fact, at the September 17, 2019 North Miami 2nd Budget Hearing, Mary quickly voted to increase her own base salary by a whopping 20% from $47,910.00 to approximately $57,500.00 a year. This raise will also increase the taxpayers’ contribution to her retirement account from $23,332.17 to $28,002.50 (48.70% of her new salary).
We did the math.
Since her induction on June 11, 2019, Mary Estimé-Irvin has already earned approximately $25,550.00 in base salary, $10,000.00 for cell, car and general expenses, and $12,445.00 toward her retirement, for a total actual income of $47,995.00.
And that’s only after six months in office.
Keep in mind that the median ANNUAL household income in North Miami – for those who actually work for a living – is $39,723.00.
On top of that, taxpayers have already paid out $4,150.00 for her insurance premiums and $3,860.00 for her social security tax, for an additional $8,010.00.
In the six short months since Mary Estimé-Irvin took office, she has already cost North Miami taxpayers grand total cash payout of $73,555.22!
And that’s not even including the four trips she’s already taken since June to the tune of $8,041.61!
Less than three weeks after being sworn in, on July 1, 2019 Mary arranged for two taxpayer funded trips outside the City of North Miami.
Her first Travel Request was for a trip to Houston, Texas from July 16 through July 20, 2019 to attend the Africa Forum of the Sister Cities International Cities Mean Business Annual Conference. According to this organization’s website, the purpose of this conference was to “Connect with Community leaders, citizen diplomats and like-minded volunteers in the name of peace through people.”
According to her Travel Request, this trip was estimated to cost $2,125.75 and was not included in the budget, nor was the required explanation for this “no” response given.
As you can see, this trip – which was not budgeted for in Fiscal Year 2018-19, actually cost North Miami taxpayers a total of $2,690.94.
City officials did not respond to our request for the public purpose of this trip; therefore, VotersOpinion determined that the residents of North Miami derived absolutely no benefit from this expense.
Mary Estimé-Irvin, on the other hand, got a free 5-day vacation in Houston only 35 days – and three council meetings – after being inducted as a councilwoman.
Must be nice.
The very next month, Mary took off once again on another taxpayer funded excursion.
Her second Travel Request was for a trip to Orlando, Florida from August 14 through August 18, 2019 to attend the Florida League of Cities 93rd Annual Conference. According to it’s promo, the purpose of this conference was “to enhance leadership skills, learn from municipal experts, share ideas with peers, discuss strategies for Florida’s future, and hear about the latest in products and services designed for municipal governments.”
According to her Travel Request, this trip was estimated to cost $1,559.02.
This trip actually cost North Miami taxpayers a total of $1,619.84.
The vast majority of local politicians attend the Florida League of Cities conferences every year. If this had been Mary’s first excursion of her term, VotersOpinion would acknowledge the public purpose of this trip and rate it as an acceptable expenditure.
However, combined with her frivolously unnecessary trip to Houston the previous month …
And her trip the very next month to attend the Annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation in Washington, DC, from September 11 through September 15, 2019 …
We’re definitely sensing a pattern here.
We have made several public records requests for the details this particular trip, including Mary’s Travel Request, Travel Expense Report, and the public purpose thereof. While we have yet to receive all the documentation we requested, we did receive Mary’s conference registration form and airline ticket, totaling $1,179.43, including a preferred seat upgrade in the amount of $54.83. We are still waiting for a copy of Mary’s hotel bill at the Embassy Suites Convention Center in Washington, DC, as posted on the September 2019 Bank of America credit card statement, in the amount of $1,328.84. The October 2019 Bank of America credit card statement also reflects additional charges by American Airlines in the amount of $90.00 for Mary’s air fair on this trip.
Based on the information we have so far received, Mary’s free 5-day vacation in the nation’s capital, financed by North Miami taxpayers, came to a total of $2,598.27.
Once again, city officials did not respond to our request for the public purpose of this trip; therefore, VotersOpinion determined that the residents of North Miami derived absolutely no benefit from this expense.
In November 2017, the State of Florida issued State Audit Report 2018-038 of North Miami’s finances and listed 30 findings of deficiencies in how the city mismanages taxpayer money. An audit of the city’s credit card (or purchasing card) usage disclosed that “Travel cost reimbursement expenditures did not always comply with City policies and procedures or serve a documented public purpose.”
Apparently, nothing has changed in the last two years.
But, wait. There’s more!
On September 25, 2019, Mary purchased another airline ticket to Washington, DC for travel from October 11 through October 13, 2019 at a cost of $278.60. According to the October 2019 Bank of America credit card statement, Mary stayed at the Hyatt Place in Washington, DC for three nights at a cost of $710.73, and took ten Uber rides while visiting the city at a cost of $143.23. Mary’s second trip to Washington, DC cost North Miami taxpayers a total of $1,132.56.
And we have absolutely no idea why she was there!
We made a public records request for the details of this trip as well as its public purpose, but we will update you as soon as we find out.
In her first six months in office, Councilwoman Mary Estimé-Irvin have cost North Miami taxpayers A GRAND TOTAL OF $81,596.83.
What have they received in return for their investment?
Well, for one thing, five absolutely useless pieces of legislation:
- Yet another Sister City in Haiti
- A resolution recognizing Florida City Government Week
- A resolution recognizing November as National Diabetes Month
- A resolution recognizing November as National Adoption Month
- A resolution recognizing November as National Epilepsy Month
Oh, and she did manage to pull off hosting a Hurricane Preparedness Workshop on June 25, 2019 … because no one in North Miami knows what to do when a hurricane is coming.
And even though Mary has never held a real job or run a successful business in her life, the second event she hosted during North Miami’s Inaugural Florida City Government Week was a “Business Luncheon with Councilwoman.”
Yeah, we hurt ourselves laughing, too.
There’s a reason Mary Estimé-Irvin was so desperate to get herself elected as a North Miami councilwoman, and it had nothing to do with public service …
But everything to do with finally having gainful employment …
And the luxury of going on monthly vacations.
Stephanie
We’re grateful for another in-depth investigation by Stephanie, but why isn’t the paid “media” doing their job and reporting this? We have seen the Sister City and League of Cities elected-only travel and participation skyrocket in certain other cities around the state. We’re wondering why more scrutiny is not being paid to these groups, as they are corporations that only allow for politicians to sit at the table, yet derive their income from taxpayers. What is going on in North Miami with city hall is very troubling. Maybe the citizens should consider dissolving the city, save the tax money that goes into city hall for themselves, and become part of the county. Sometimes there’s just no other way to stop the hemorrhaging of public money. Thank you, as always, Stephanie, for your diligence.
Clearly going to the county is not necessarily the answer, unless you just want your trash picked up. Eight years ago North Miami Beach was in much worse shape. The council approved drastic raises for themselves without any input from the community, spending like drunken sailors on shore leave, emptying the reserve accounts, traveling all over the place, etc. Two individuals said enough is enough and ran for Mayor and Council. They where outspent by the incumbents by four to one. They spent the better part of four months knocking on doors and taking their message and mission to the citizens and both won election. When they left office the entire city had done a 180. Well thought out planned development was going on, taxes were going up from the new development, taxes for the rest of the city where going down, reserve accounts had surpluses in them and the city was running like a well oiled machine. If a small group of well thinking local citizens take their message to the streets they can kick some a**. The next thing is to get rid of the friends and family program and get some professionals in to run the city. There are some well meaning professionals running departments now but about half of the departments are run by either people who do not care or idiots who are part of the problem.
This is clearly an injustice to the taxpayers and a deliberate misuse of political power.
I wish i could take lavish all expense paid trips across the country
I wish i could vote for my own raise.
When are we as American citizens realize that these politicians are mere criminals that use the power bestowed upon them for their own financial interests.
I don’t think that she cares about her country nor do many politicians.
That is what is wrong with the country these days.
Hard to have pride in your country when the people who are supposed to be in power treat the country like a circus act.
We need some true blue red white and blue national pride and commitment to our culture and our country and say goodbye to the governing clowns.