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Nov 5, 2009 6:39 pm US/Eastern
Manny Diaz Reflects On His Time As Mayor
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, makes remarks at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Aug. 4, 2008.
Lawrence Jackson/AP
On his 55th birthday Thursday, Miami Mayor Manny Diaz checked in on construction plans for a new green energy lab that will be built with federal stimulus money. Energy policy is one of his passions and he'll have more time to pursue such projects after November 11th. That's when Diaz leaves office after eight years as the government leader of the Magic City.
He's in a reflective mood these days and doesn't back down from disagreements over his choices. Diaz said the hiring of Miami police Chief John Timoney was one of his best decisions. I asked him about mayor-elect Tomas Regalado's desire to oust Timoney over ethics and leadership complaints. Mayor Diaz said, "I'm still very supportive of him (Timoney). He's America's top cop. We brought our crime rate down 30 percent over the past eight years."
The mayor-elect, Regalado, also opposes big ticket projects Mayor Diaz has championed, from the Miami mega-plan for downtown development to the new Marlins baseball stadium in Little Havana. Regalado says they were bad deals and he wants a "breather" on major development. In tough times he may have no choice but Diaz offers a different perspective. The outgoing mayor said, "We are now competing with the rest of the world. If we take a breather the rest of the world will pass us by."
As for his immediate plans Diaz says he's not currently entertaining any thoughts of another political race. The lawyer will continue working on government related projects and take time to think more about his next steps. Diaz also said he'll keep pushing for the city in which he was raised. "The census will show our population grew 30 percent over this decade, Diaz said. He added, "That didn't just happen. It was an improvement in the quality of life that has brought people back into the urban core."
It's a legacy Diaz is confident will stand the test of time, and propel a city currently feeling the brunt of foreclosures and economic crisis toward a brighter future.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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