Miami Beach decision looms as Levine slate threatens

Miami Beach decision looms as Levine slate threatens

It’s been quiet on this blog for days as Ladra has been busy biting her nails about the outcome of today’s Miami Beach elections. Runoffs in three council races have never been so important. Why? Because the right candidate can help maintain checks and balances in the city by the sea for the next couple […]

Philip Levine gets candidate to swap backing in Beach race

Philip Levine gets candidate to swap backing in Beach race

An also ran candidate who had pledged his support to Miami Beach Mayor Matti Bower in her runoff for a commission seat pulled a surprise switcheroo and endorsed her opponent, instead. And he admittedly did it so he could gain favor with the new mayor elect, Philip Levine. Oh, and because he knows Levine is […]

New Miami Fire station named for Mayor Carlos Gimenez

New Miami Fire station named for Mayor Carlos Gimenez

The newest City of Miami Fire station on Northwest 79th Street will be dedicated Saturday and named in honor of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez — yeah, the same guy who wanted to drastically slash county fire-rescue services earlier this year. Really? Really? Ladra is not the only one scratching her head. The decision is […]

Doral dominos continue to fall after scandal, no Miss USA

Doral dominos continue to fall after scandal, no Miss USA

Doral seems to be spiraling downward with a constant barrage of blows in the wake of scandalous accusations and an escalating feud between the mayor and the city manager. In the past few weeks, Mayor Luigi Boria has lost two assistants, the city has come under investigation for ethics and possible criminal violations, a group […]

Philip Levine team leaves slate mate in the cold

Philip Levine team leaves slate mate in the cold

Miami Beach Mayor Elect Philip Levine is having a little shindig on Friday for his slate mates — it’s called a “friendraiser,” though, because I think it is past the deadline for reporting campaign contributions. But not everyone is included. The event posted on facebook Wednesday is for commission candidates Michael Greico and Joy Malakoff, […]

Hialeah ‘naming rights’ law aimed squarely at Raul Martinez

Hialeah ‘naming rights’ law aimed squarely at Raul Martinez

In his first real official act as the newly re-elected mayor of Hialeah — well, the second act, after the little childish banner towing plane snub — Carlos “Castro” Hernandez will promote a new city ordinance at tonight’s meeting that will prohibit naming city properties after a living person. But make no bones about it […]

Joe Garcia’s new chief will be union leader Caitlin Fishman

Joe Garcia’s new chief will be union leader Caitlin Fishman

The woman that is soon to be named the new chief of staff for Congressman Joe Garcia is SEIU Florida State Council Director Caitlin Fishman, who is also daughter of one of New York City’s biggest union bosses. Caitlin Fishman will begin her new job the first week of December. But her name has been […]

Dems’ Blue Gala honors 5, drums up funds for more locals

Dems’ Blue Gala honors 5, drums up funds for more locals

Five local Demoratic Party leaders will be recognized at the Miami-Dade Democratic Party’s first-ever Blue Gala fundraiser this Sunday in Coral Gables for “investing locally” in a majority Democratic county where the red representation has always been bigger: State Rep. David Richardson(D-Miami Beach), the first openly gay elected to the Florida House, will get the […]

Congressman Joe Garcia to name new, AB scam-free COS

Congressman Joe Garcia to name new, AB scam-free COS

U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia (D-District 26) is going to name a replacement Tuesday for the former Chief of Staff Jeffrey Garcia, who is kind of busy serving a 90-day sentence for absentee ballot fraud. The new chief of staff in D.C. will be a woman, sources told Ladra. Jeffrey “No Relation” Garcia was Joe Garcia’s […]

Nan Rich pushes harder to be Dems choice against Rick Scott

Nan Rich pushes harder to be Dems choice against Rick Scott

Seems that former Florida Sen. Nan Rich is finally trying for that 2014 governor’s ticket she pretends to want so badly and has finally launched her campaign for realz now, positioning herself as the anti-Crist — as in former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, the only other Democratic candidate who finally announced last week, though everybody […]