Coral Gables voters got a mailer this week that attacks Ralph Cabrera on development, calling him a “career politician” and saying he approved 40% of the tallest buildings in the city.
But nobody is taking the credit.
Not only is the figure pulled out of the sky, with no reference to any research or parameters — are we talking about the five “tallest buildings,” for example? — the piece says it is paid for by a Jensen Beach political action committee that told Ladra Friday it had nothing to do with it.
So that means we do not know and may never know who really paid for the mail piece. Unless we can get the State Attorney’s Office to investigate. Because someone did break the law here.
Read related: Coral Gables candidate Jorge Fors had illegal Homestead exemption
Ladra’s first guess was that the piece came from Jorge Fors‘ camp. Neither Carmen Olazabal, the onetime interim city manager, nor downtown property owner Jackson “Rip” Holmes have the funds you would need to do this kind of mailer. And, besides, the Leadership for Florida’s Future PAC has ties to Fors’ campaign manager Steve Marin, who got $63,000 from them last year.
But Marin, who said he was paid for work on state races, told Ladra he had nothing to do with the hit piece, either. “I don’t have a PAC for this reason,” said Marin, adding that Fors’ mailers will come directly from the campaign.
Ladra specifically asked a PAC administrator if they had maybe sent it on behalf of Steve Marin. Debbie Millner, wife of PAC Chairman Michael Millner, vehemently denied sending it on behalf of anybody.
“We know nothing about it. We didn’t send it out,” Millner told Ladra Friday morning. “No one asked us if they could use our political committee at all.”
Leadership for Florida’s Future doesn’t have any contributions or expenses reported since October, except for $1,300 paid last month in accounting fees. The report for March won’t be filed and public until after the election April 9.
[…] Read related: PAC says it did not send hit piece on Ralph Cabrera — so who did? […]
[…] Read related: PAC says it did NOT send hit piece on Ralph Cabrera — so who did? […]
Dear Ladra – I received a glossy negative ad today reprinting your words on the Fors homestead… Who takes the credit for that secret hit piece? Is it legal?
[…] (2013), and I’ve been for Cabrera (2015). I’m not I guess his biggest fan, but at least Cabrera has the right sort of enemies (whoever the anonymous cowards are). And he sure looks better than the […]
I’m happy to file a criminal complaint re this secret hit piece on Ralph Cabrera.
Jack Thompson, amendmentone@comcast.net
Dear Political Cortadito and Sacred Readers:
Lest anyone wonder, I have no knowledge of, nor involvement in, this matter.
I do submit that I have THE ANSWER TO OUR TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. Namely, we need, and can afford to pay for, METRORAIL, OR AT MINIMUM RAPID TRANSIT BUSSES, ON ALL OUR SUPER-HIGHWAYS SR 836, the Palmetto Expressway, the Turnpike, etc.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN ASKING OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO JOIN VINCE LAGO’S LAWSUIT DEMANDING AN ACCOUNTING FOR, AND REPLACEMENT OF, $2 BILLION DOLLARS MISSING FROM THE PENNT SALES TAX TRANSPORTATION FUND, the money we need to implement this SOLUTION TO OUR TRAFFIC PROBLEM.
Sincerely,
Jackson Rip Holmes
Orlando based USPS mailing permits? These guys are getting creative.
Why doesn’t the Cabrera camp ask USPS who the mailing permit belongs to? I’m sure that’d be better than whining about it to Ladra.
(Ladra, I love what you’re doing for Coral Gables. It’s like the Miami version of “Interview with a Vampire,” I mean, the same name politicians are virtually immortal around here. Like Cabrera who never seems to age. Looking good! *sic*)
Corruption is all Over ? Do We have One Politician for transparency in Florida ?
Easier than tracing it back might involve comparing this to other mailers in this and other districts to find a similar designer. Things from font to color choice can reveal the identity of designer.