County officials honor Natacha Seijas for 1999 living wage law

County officials honor Natacha Seijas for 1999 living wage law

She’s been known as the body bag commissioner because she once threatened a colleague with those words in a late night, early morning budget hearing.  But on Tuesday — er, I mean, on “Honorable Natacha Seijas Day” — the former Hialeah commissioner who was ousted in an ugly and historic recall in 2011, was re-christened The Mother […]

John Couriel opens campaign HQ next door to Rebeca Sosa

John Couriel opens campaign HQ next door to Rebeca Sosa

John Couriel, who is running for state rep in the district vacated by Erik Fresen, is opening his campaign headquarters this weekend — in the Interamerican Bank building where Miami-Dade Commissioner Rebeca Sosa has her district office. Couriel, who ran unsuccessfully in 2012 against Sen. Gwen Margolis (38 to her 62 percent), is one of two Republicans […]

Democrat candidates to speak at South Dade Dems event

Democrat candidates to speak at South Dade Dems event

The program allocates one hour for the speakers, but Ladra bets the Democrats of South Dade Club meeting Tuesday goes late. That’s because there are no fewer than eight blue party candidates — one congressional, one state senate wannabe and six House hopefuls — on the schedule. And who knows how many more will just show […]

Friends and family Plan B: Carlos Gimenez’s sister-in-law

Friends and family Plan B: Carlos Gimenez’s sister-in-law

We’ve all just figured out what Plan B is for the family and friends of Miami-Dade Carlos Gimenez should he get fired by voters and lose his seat at County Hall in August: Get another seat on the school board. The mayor’s sister-in-law filed documents earlier this month to run for the Miami-Dade School Board […]

Animal shelter show hides truth about services, kill rate

Animal shelter show hides truth about services, kill rate

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez will lead another dog and pony show today. Or should we call it a dog and cat show? The opening of the new animal services shelter in Doral is 12 years late, since voters approved it in 2004, but comes less than two months before absentee ballots drop in a hotly […]

Will La Gwen’s retreat cause more musical chairs?

Will La Gwen’s retreat cause more musical chairs?

Everybody is wondering if the news Thursday that Sen. Gwen Margolis was withdrawing her re-election bid and retiring will cause Andrew Korge to switch seats again to the first one he looked at way back before he was a congressional candidate even. Or if it is causing State Rep. David Richardson (D-Miami Beach) to take […]

Public employees labor union backs three GOP legislators

Public employees labor union backs three GOP legislators

Despite having Democratic opponents in a Hillary presidential year, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Florida are endorsing two Republican incumbents in this year’s election: Sens. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla and Anitere Flores. They’ve also endorsed Sen. Rene Garcia, but that’s different. Garcia has no opponent. Miguel DLP and Flores, however, are […]