Miami city Commissioner Marc Sarnoff is starting the new year with new office digs. As reported here previously, the Coconut Grove politician had been operating his law firm out of the townhouse he owns at 3000 Shipping Ave. until his enemies reported him to city code enforcers for allegedly running an illegal business from his home. Sarnoff received two notice of violations from the city last year. Well, the commissioner has relocated to 201 Biscayne Boulevard, an office tower in downtown Miami. But he is still skirting the ethical line, according to city hall gadfly and blogger Al Crespo.
On his blog, The Crespo-Gram Report, the acerbic watchdog chronicles his trip down to Sarnoff's new digs this past Monday. Crespo notes that Sarnoff is renting space from the law firm of Allen and Solowsky, which serves as an outside legal counsel for the Downtown Development Authority, where Sarnoff is chairman. Crespo claims Sarnoff sharing an office with Allen and Solowsky "raises a conflict of interest question about the chairman of the DDA board of directors now practicing law in the offices of the DDA's outside counsel."
Crespo also chides Sarnoff for hogging a special street parking spot in front of his new office building. The space, usually reserved for city officials on city business, now has a sign that reads: "Reserved: City Commissioner Only/Tow-Away."
"In short, he abuses the power of his office by parking in a space that should only be used on official business," Crespo wrote. Sarnoff could not immediately be reached for comment.
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