Elected officials in Miami-Dade seem to habitually harass journalists on a regular basis. It’s like a virus or something. And it’s spreading. From Hialeah’s Mayor Carlos “Castro” Hernandez having me followed by police and throwing me out of public meetings to newly elected Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine deciding who is a journalist and who […]
Ten months out, the heated contest for the Congressional seat in District 26 has already gone into attack mode. And Cutler Bay Mayor Ed MacDougall — seen as the least likely of three hopefuls in the Republican primary, mostly because he doesn’t have a z or a vowel at the end of his last name […]
Another Miami Beach city employee, the four or fifth so far by Ladra’s count, has lost his job due to the change in administration. Acting Planning Director Richard Lorber sent an email Thursday afternoon to his friends and contacts informing them that it would be his last day at City Hall. He also clearly implied it […]
Another endorsement has come out in this year’s headliner of a race for the 26th Congressional District: Auto mogul and political meddler extraordinaire Norman Braman has already picked his horse among the three Republican hopefuls lining up to unseat Democrat U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia. Braman, left, is backing Cutler Bay Mayor Ed “Mac” MacDougall, right, […]
It’s starting early this year: The parade of political endorsements that precede every election. Sometimes, they seem somewhat counterproductive to me. I mean, who would want the Latin Builders Association’s nod. Doesn’t that just reek of special interest? Or is it just Ladra? Of course, it is good to know who is supported by the […]
Ladra knew the Congressional race in West Miami-Dade, the GOP battle to take the seat from newly-minted U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, would be one of the closest watched races in the country because it is one of the seats Republicans hope to take back in 2014. I love it when I’m right. The National Journal […]
Miami-Dade County Commission hopeful Daniella Levine Cava, who filed Friday to run against Vice Chairwoman Lynda Bell, is set to announce her candidacy this afternoon, again, with a slew of “special guests” including local electeds and former electeds who, one would surmise, support her bid. But Ladra is curious about who is not on the […]
It has been rumored for weeks but it became official on Friday: Democratic Party gadfly and social services activist Daniella Levine will be running against Miami-Dade Commissioner Lynda Bell. Levine, who founded the Human Services Coalition of Dade County in 1996, filed the paperwork Friday. Well, Danielle Levine Cava did. Whoever that is. She added Cava to […]
Freshmen State Reps. Jose Javier Rodriguez and Manny Diaz, Jr., might breathe a sigh of relief because, while they still may get challenged this year — and we know that Rodriguez will face Republican Daniel Diaz Leyva — they won’t have to wage ugly, harsh rematches with the Diaz de la Portilla brothers. That’s because […]
Another slow week for electeds as we celebrated New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day and the prolonged vacation people take the days before and after. Very few selfies were posted. But Ladra always finds some. And, this time, the general theme was family. Miami Springs Mayor Zavier Garcia skipped the parties and rang in […]