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Where is Pepe Díaz? As DeSantis Talks Social Justice: Sweetwater Faces Its Own Crisis of Transparency
Sweetwater, FL – While Governor Ron DeSantis visited the Sweetwater Community Center to address protections for condominium owners facing unaffordable assessments, a different kind of silence surrounded another key figure in the municipality: Mayor José (Pepe) Díaz.
Díaz, though physically present at the event, was politically and morally absent from a crisis that has shaken the foundations of Sweetwater: the mass eviction of over 900 families from the Li’l Abner mobile home park. These families were blindsided in November 2024, receiving letters telling them they must vacate by May 19, 2025, just weeks before the holiday season—turning what should have been a festive time into a season of fear and uncertainty.
A Web of Opaque Decisions
The community, shocked and devastated, soon uncovered a trail of opaque decisions and a confusing web of relationships between the developer behind the new housing project and the local government.
Public records show that in 2022, Mayor Díaz sponsored a resolution allocating over half a million dollars to the same developer now spearheading the transformation of the trailer park—raising serious questions about his prior knowledge of the project. Yet for months, residents and the public were kept in the dark, until the eviction notice landed on their doorsteps.
Petition for His Removal
Public outrage is mounting. An online petition calling for Mayor Díaz’s removal has been rapidly gaining support. Signatories denounce a lack of transparency, negligence, and an unacceptable coziness with private interests that appear to have been prioritized over the well-being of Sweetwater residents.
“There was no warning, no hearings, no alternatives—just a letter saying we had to leave,” said Julia Méndez, a resident of the park for 28 years. “While the mayor smiles at public events, we’re packing up our lives.”
Text in the document to sign the petition
The Issue
English
As a concerned citizen deeply affected by the events unfolding in our city, I am using this petition to voice out a plea: to remove Mayor Pepe Diaz from Sweetwater in Miami Dade.
This appeal comes not lightly, and it stems from the troubling allegations of corruption currently associated with our Mayor. Being at the center of these accusations, Mayor Diaz’s current position of power significantly dampens our trust in the city’s well-being and future. Public office is a place for responsibility, trust, and integrity. Evidently, the current situation casts a dark shadow over these essential principles.
Corruption affects us all. Not only does it erode the trust of the people in their leaders, but it siphons precious resources and stifles the development of our community.
Instead of ensuring Sweetwater’s bright future and maintaining the public trust, Mayor Pepe Diaz appears engrossed in actions that undercut these basic expectations. It is, therefore, with the enduring love for our city and the hope for better leadership that we call for his removal.
Let us uphold a true, sincere system of governance. Let’s demand accountability for the alleged unethical actions of our leaders. Let’s remove Mayor Pepe Diaz from office.
Please, lend your support and sign this petition now because Sweetwater deserves better.
_______________
A Stark Contrast to the Governor’s Message
The contradiction could not be clearer during the governor’s visit. While DeSantis spoke of protecting seniors and ensuring Floridians are not driven from their homes by economic pressure, the mayor of the host city remained silent on a local case that perfectly illustrates the kind of injustice the governor pledged to fight.
Can local leadership ignore a housing crisis taking place just steps from its office? And can a public official who many now claim has favored developers over his own citizens remain in office?
A City Demanding Accountability
The people of Sweetwater are not just fighting to stay in their homes—they are demanding answers. Community protests, grassroots campaigns, and media outreach make it clear that this is not an isolated issue, but a true test of leadership and integrity.
In a small, tightly-knit city where everyone knows each other, institutional silence speaks volumes. While state officials take the microphone to talk about fairness and compassion, local leaders must now decide whether they’re truly serving the public—or hiding behind agendas that no longer represent their people.
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