Political Cortadito - Local News, Politics, Miami, Hialeah, South Florida, Ladra, Elaine De Valle, Hyperlocal, Blog

Ron DeSantis unveils statue of slave owning U.S. president James Monroe

While most Floridians were enjoying free park entry for George Washington’s Birthday weekend, Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Monroe County pulling…

By Ladra on February 17, 202617 Comments

Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner defends calling the cops on a critic

And he has a ‘protective detail’ paid by taxpayers Remember when Miami Beach officials insisted that the police visit to a…

By Ladra on February 14, 20266 Comments

Attorney General or FOX commentator? Pam Bondi’s Capitol Hill meltdown

If congressional hearings were scored like Olympic events, Attorney General Pam Bondi posted a perfect 10 last week in the category…

By Ladra on February 14, 20264 Comments

Supreme Court slams door on Joe Carollo’s appeal of $63.5 million verdict

Former Miami commissioner’s last appeal dies in D.C. The end…

By Ladra on March 5, 2026No Comment

Ex-Trump man, ex-con Lev Parnas could jump into Congressional District 27 race

Hold on to your cafecito. Guess who is suddenly being…

By Ladra on March 4, 20266 Comments

Beam me plans up, Scotty: Miami considers new virtual permitting dream

Newly-elected Commissioner Rolando Escalona is on a roll. Fresh off…

By Ladra on February 25, 202610 Comments

Eileen Higgins asks for ballot item to change Miami election year, cut her term

The election calendar is back on the table Thursday at…

By Ladra on February 25, 20263 Comments

Was that Donald Trump’s State of the Union or a State of the Campaign?

Tuesday night’s monologue from Capitol Hill wasn’t a State of…

By Ladra on February 25, 20269 Comments

Miami Realtors crown Vicki ‘Live Local’ Lopez ‘Housing Advocate of the Year’

If there is one group absolutely thrilled with newly-appointed Miami-Dade County Commissioner Vicki Lopez these days, it’s the people who sell the product. The Miami Association of Realtors…

By Ladra on February 6, 20269 Comments

Mayor Obsession: Vince Lago takes his Melissa Castro fixation to Tallahassee

At what point does a political disagreement stop being governance and start looking like, well, fixation? Because Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago just dragged his long-running feud with…

By Ladra on February 6, 202615 Comments

Florida Decides Healthcare is back with petition drive for Medicaid expansion

Florida ranks 47th in the country for affordable healthcare. And the group behind the long-simmering effort to put Medicaid expansion on the ballot is relaunching statewide signature collection…

By Ladra on February 5, 20262 Comments

Watchdog Wars: Oliver Gilbert’s IG rewrite survives first test — barely

In a discussion thick with irony, Miami-Dade commissioners on Monday advanced legislation that would reshape the hiring rules for their own watchdog — while investigations touching the dais…

By Ladra on February 5, 20261 Comment

Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins is quick to offer a bonus State of the City address

Miami didn’t need a State of the City address at the end of the month. Not technically. Not politically. Not theatrically. Outgoing Mayor Francis Suarez had already taken…

By Ladra on February 1, 20267 Comments

Florida House 113’s mystery poll: Testing the knives before the knife fight

Someone is polling in House District 113. And like every good Miami political ghost story, nobody wants to…

By Ladra on February 16, 20262 Comments

Ralph Rosado says Miami Police Chief Manny Morales will run against him

Is this the work of the ghost of Joe Carollo? What was supposed to be a sleepy, bureaucratic…

By Ladra on February 14, 202615 Comments

Is Maria Elvira Salazar finally getting a real challenger in Eliott Rodriguez?

People are talking and Democrats are dreaming For years now, Democrats have searched — sometimes desperately — for…

By Ladra on February 11, 202624 Comments

Supreme Court slams door on Joe Carollo’s appeal of $63.5 million verdict

Former Miami commissioner’s last appeal dies in D.C. The…

By Ladra on March 5, 2026

Ex-Trump man, ex-con Lev Parnas could jump into Congressional District 27 race

Hold on to your cafecito. Guess who is suddenly…

By Ladra on March 4, 2026

Beam me plans up, Scotty: Miami considers new virtual permitting dream

Newly-elected Commissioner Rolando Escalona is on a roll. Fresh…

By Ladra on February 25, 2026

Eileen Higgins asks for ballot item to change Miami election year, cut her term

The election calendar is back on the table Thursday…

By Ladra on February 25, 2026

Hialeah political machine behind judicial hopeful

She threatened to get involved in the county’s judicial…

By Ladra on April 20, 2012

Mayor’s lackey gets 62% pay hike for campaign work

While most of the post election talk in Hialeah…

By Ladra on April 17, 2012

Casals-Muñoz hit with loan lawsuit

While Hialeah Councilwoman Vivian “I’ll notarizethat!” Casals-Muñoz has publicly…

By Ladra on November 13, 2011

Hialeah council losers not ghosts

While all eyes are on the possible mayoral endorsement…

By Ladra on November 5, 2011

Poll says Miami-Dade voters divided on most issues — and thinking of leaving

¡Que sorpresa! Looks like Miami-Dade voters more divided than…

By Ladra on October 6, 2025

Recall Mayor Carlos Gimenez and strong mayor post

For months, there have been whispers about a possible…

By Ladra on July 31, 2014

5 things to know on Mayor’s $6.2 billion Miami-Dade budget

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Cry Wolf” Gimenez will present his…

By Ladra on July 8, 2014

Miami-Dade math: More for pet projects = less for cops

Say it ain’t so, mayor: Please tell Ladra and…

By Ladra on July 7, 2014

Carlos Gimenez wants 10% less pay for workers, other cuts

Some call it payback for the 5% loss and…

By Ladra on May 29, 2014

Gimenez dodges questions, tarnishes his brand

As law enforcement lags in its actions on the…

By Ladra on July 30, 2012

Brito’s attack apology lame

We need to get out of here for another…

By Ladra on April 7, 2011

Gimenez stays; Moreno goes?

After another high-profile candidate threw himself into the mayoral…

By Ladra on April 7, 2011

ADLP hit by attacks in all negative Senate 40 GOP primary campaign

And the hits just keep on coming against former…

By Ladra on July 11, 2017

Florida House 113’s mystery poll: Testing the knives before the knife fight

Someone is polling in House District 113. And like every good Miami political ghost story, nobody wants to admit they paid for it. A…

By Ladra on February 16, 20262 Comments

Ralph Rosado says Miami Police Chief Manny Morales will run against him

Is this the work of the ghost of Joe Carollo? What was supposed to be a sleepy, bureaucratic conversation about succession planning at City…

By Ladra on February 14, 202615 Comments

Is Maria Elvira Salazar finally getting a real challenger in Eliott Rodriguez?

People are talking and Democrats are dreaming For years now, Democrats have searched — sometimes desperately — for someone who could seriously threaten U.S.…

By Ladra on February 11, 202624 Comments

Florida House 113’s mystery poll: Testing the knives before the knife fight

Someone is polling in House District 113. And like every good Miami political ghost story, nobody wants to admit they paid for it. A text message last week…

By Ladra on February 16, 20262 Comments

Supreme Court slams door on Joe Carollo’s appeal of $63.5 million verdict

Former Miami commissioner’s last appeal dies in D.C. The end finally came without fanfare. No oral arguments. No…

By Ladra on March 5, 2026

‘Neutral’ activist worked for mayor

The chairwoman of the Miami Voice recall PAC, Vanessa Brito, has repeatedly said she was going to stay…

By Ladra on June 30, 2011

Mayor, Miami Heat bait and switch to ‘better deal’ for who?

One after the other, Miami-Dade Commissioners who voted in favor of a new agreement with the Miami Heat…

By Ladra on June 4, 2014

Hialeah political machine behind judicial hopeful

She threatened to get involved in the county’s judicial races and now Absentee Ballot Queen Sasha Tirador has…

By Ladra on April 20, 2012

Financial finesse? Miami-Dade budget shortfall disappears in final version

Was the county’s $402M budget gap just a drill? Remember that $402 million budget hole Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella…

By Ladra on September 15, 2025

ADLP hit by attacks in all negative Senate 40 GOP primary campaign

And the hits just keep on coming against former Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla in the Republican primary…

By Ladra on July 11, 2017