The photogenic highlight of the week has to be the emotional installation ceremony where Miami-Dade Commissioner Jean Monestime was installed chairman. But there were other things going on this week, too. A ground-breaking, a ribbon-cutting and even a couple of parades.
The first of two parades was last weekend as politicos pressed the flesh with the sidewalk crowd in Little Havana for the Three Kings Parade. This is city of Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado’s ‘hood, so he was sort of like the fourth king. In one photo, he gives the key to the city to radio personality Javier Romero, while Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernández and Miami-Dade Commissioner José “Pepe” Díaz looked on. In another shot he poses with Hernández, Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and his daughter, School Board Member Raquel Regalado, who is always close by.
Pitbull, also known as Armando Christian Perez, also got a key to the city Thursday for his birthday, in a ceremony attended not only by Sosa and Regalado and Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo, Miami-Dade Commissioner Juan Zapata, but also State Reps. Manny Diaz, Jr. and Erik Fresen and none other than Gov. Rick Scott. Mr. 305 got the gov but Monestime’s historic naming chair did not? But who knew he was Republican? Dale!
There was some serious business being carried out also, as Miami-Dade Commissioner Rebeca Sosa and county Clerk Harvey Ruvin talked to the Miami Herald editorial board about sea level rise.
Sosa also also met with Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado, Miami-Dade State Attorney Kathy Fernandez Rundle and Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez to embark on a new campaign against sex trafficking — which is why these smiles on their faces look a little out of place.
Smiles were definitely appropriate at the historic swearing-in for new Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Jean Monestime. So were kisses.
Commissioner Esteban “Stevie” Bovo was sworn in as vice chair by none other than Sen. Marco Rubio, a friend and “mentor,” Bovo said. He forgot to mention Rubio is also his wife’s boss. Later, Vice Chair Stevie posed for the county camera with the mayor and his family, minus the two oldest kids away at college and a retreat.
Mayor Carlos Gimenez joined Miami-Dade Commissioner Audrey Edomonson and City Commissioner Willy Gort at the opening of Collins Park Apartments. Folks from the Related Group were there again. Aren’t they always at these things?
Former Commission Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa, now just a commissioner, also went to a ribbon cutting for a Walgreen’s in her district.
Friday, after the swearing in ceremony, Gimenez and others headed to the groundbreaking for improvements — much of them taxpayer funded — at the privately owned SunLife Stadium, where the Miami Dolphins play. Here Gimenez stands next to team/stadium owner Stephen Ross, a billionaire who got a $5 million a year gift from our mayor. Standing next to him on the other side is Miami-Dade Commissioner Barbara Jordan.
In Miami Beach, officials toasted with soda to the 100th birthday, a centennial celebration brought to you, in part, by Coca Cola. The city partner unveiled on Thursday a commemorative bottle for the city’s centennial. Here we have Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine in the center, flanked by Commissioners Joy Malakoff, Michael Grieco and Micky Steinberg. Ladra has no idea who the token black woman is but the token Hispanic on the far right is City Manager Jimmy Morales.
We started with a parade and we end with a parade as Levine, who is apparently still being shadowed by a paid professional photographer, took part in the Miami Beach Art Deco Festival festivities Saturday.
Political Pics of the Week: Parades, oaths, keys and Cokes added by Ladra on
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