UPDATED: Former Coral Gables Commissioner Ralph Cabrera killed it at the 
first mayoral debate Monday against the overly-scripted incumbent Mayor Jim Cason, who seemed to fumble around and stammer. Cason could hardly put together a coherent sentence — even though it seemed he was reading the whole time.
It was the best example to date — and in front of a crowd of at least 230 people — of why Cabrera is a better choice to lead the city into the future.
Casonites will tell you that I am a “paid publicist” for Ralph, and I do consult for him. But my content writing and recommendations are limited to his website, media and voter messages. And the best thing is, it was all caught on video anyway. So, you don’t have to believe me. Just watch it for yourself on YouTube or on Coral Gables TV (Channel 77 Comcast, Channel 99 on Uverse) Wednesday at 8 p.m., Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m.
As CBS4 anchor Elliott Rodriguez played referee, the two men sparred about traffic and development and the proliferation of palm trees and the state of the police headquarters building and the growing pension obligation and the city’s debt and the environment and the Miracle Mile “streetscape” project. But crime was probably the central issue as Cason continued to hide behind some numbers that don’t necessarily mean anything — because burglaries were miscategorized as vandalism or larceny — 
and again claim that Cabrera is using “exaggerations” and scare tactics to woo voters.
News flash, Jimbo: Crime is an issue for everybody but you. As Cabrera noted, everybody else, including all the candidates in the forum last week, say its the number one issue that needs to be addressed. You’re the only one ignoring it.
Or, rather, you were ignoring it. On Monday, he said he had a 10-point plan to conquer crime. Yeah, the same crime he says doesn’t exist, so I’m not sure how committed he is to that. I think it’s more like trying to one-up Ralph’s five point plan with a 10-point plan. You know, an “ours goes to eleven” moment.
Read related story: Ralph Cabrera to the rescue in Coral Gables
But that argument and any other became moot after he called the Sept. 11 outpouring of residents who stormed City Hall to complain about crime “a show.”
Heads shook and there was a murmur that sounded like a wave across the church pews.
“Does he think we are all acting,” one voter asked Ladra on the way out, in disbelief at the mayor’s arrogance.
The only one acting is Cason. He is pretending to be a mayor. But being a mayor is about more than going to 5,100 events, as the incumbent proudly stated he had attended since being elected in 2011. That’s 3.5 events each and every day, including weekends. No wonder Cason has no time to address the city’s needs. He’s too busy being the big shot.
The difference between the two men couldn’t be clearer than what more than
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