Miami City Manager Art Noriega got a pass Thursday after he explained, to use the word loosely, his wife’s business dealings with the city, while City Attorney Victoria Mendez was removed of her position at the commission meeting on the spot. After commissioners voted 4-1 for Mendez to step down — she will still stay on in “a transitionary role” through June — the new Acting City Attorney George Wysong moved into her seat. Only Commissioner Joe Carollo voted against the change.

“I was born in Allapattah, raised in Flagami and lived in Flagami for 44 years,” Mendez said, thanking God, her family and her colleagues — and choking back what some say were crocodile tears.

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Finally, after an embarrassing misstep last month with a report that was short on numbers and remorse, Miami City Manager Art Noriega has submitted a new report about the way the city handled furniture purchases from his wife’s company since he was appointed — and it sounds a lot like the old report.

It’s also still about $90,000 off the mark.

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City attorney’s future, manager’s excuses on agenda

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Hires fired, former Doral manager as his number two

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Two commission meetings have come and gone since Miami City Manager Art Noriega said he would provide a report on his wife’s business dealings at the city. Y nada. And it’s odd that none of the commissioners — especially the two recently-elected, reform-minded guys — haven’t held his feet tot he fire.

Last month, WLRN exposed that Michelle Pradere-Noriega‘s family business was awarded more than $440,000 in city contracts for new office furniture and furniture assembly. The public documents obtained by the station show that $37,000 worth of furniture was purchased for his offices at City Hall and the Miami River Center over two months early last year.

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Is it from the horse’s mouth? Or is it propaganda?

Miami City Manager Art Noriega recorded an 85-second video and posted it on YouTube two weeks ago saying that this was only the first of a series in which he would lay out the details of projects, programs, legislation and other city business. You know, for transparency’s sake, he says.

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