Could two of Miami’s biggest developers be bluffing for a quick profit? Ladra has a question. Maybe a dumb question. Maybe a smart question. Maybe the kind of question that explains why two top county officials suddenly resigned as patsies of the fuel depot debacle that led Miami-Dade to lose an opportunity to secure a […]
The Miami Downtown Development Authority’s troubles just keep coming. At a contentious board meeting last week, DDA board members openly questioned years of negative vacation balances and what Commissioner Ralph Rosado, the DDA chairman, described as potential “time theft” involving Executive Director Christina Crespi. Now Political Cortadito has learned that on the very same day […]
Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago said on Tuesday that he didn’t have to recuse himself from a vote on a variance appeal because he doesn’t do business with Brian Goldmeier anymore. Which raises an interesting question: Since when? The controversy centered on an appeal involving property at 722 Aledo Avenue, owned by political fundraiser and […]
Miami’s billionaires have finally met the one thing standing in the way of another luxury condo tower: Diesel. Specifically, 28 million gallons of it sitting in giant aging fuel tanks on Fisher Island — the same ultra-exclusive playground where the average resident probably spends more on wine storage than most Miamians make in a year. […]
Public service or personal branding? There are few things more Miami than a politician using public money to create a scholarship fund bearing his own family name and then acting shocked when people start asking questions. Welcome to this week’s Miami commission meeting. Buried deep inside Thursday’s agenda — hidden beneath enough legal boilerplate to […]
Mayor accused of sexual harassment by commissioner For a brief shining moment Tuesday, the Coral Gables Commission appeared ready to discuss something mundane: a reappointment to a city board. Then Mayor Vince Lago grabbed the flamethrower. And just like that, City Hall once again transformed into the most expensive live-action telenovela in Miami-Dade County — […]
Could it be because of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein? There are campaign mistakes. And then there are campaign mistakes where you accidentally remind voters that one of your listed supporters was friends with Jeffrey Epstein. Welcome to the latest installment of Miami Beach political damage control. Miami-Dade Commissioner Vicki Lopez — the former state […]
Miguel Gabela won’t answer questions about spending Right after he was elected as an outsider and government reformer, Miami Commissioner Miguel Angel Gabela promised voters he would expose the questionable spending habits at the Bayfront Park Management Trust under former Commissioner Joe Carollo. Instead, he seems to be copying those tactics now that he’s in […]
The escalating battle between Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago and activist Maria Cruz — who went from close kitchen cabinet ally to recall organizer — heated up another notch Tuesday when the 80-year-old grandmother dared call the mayor a wannabe king. Cruz, a frequent flyer at City Hall and full-time thorn-in-the-mayor’s-side, took the podium — […]
Featuring former State Rep. J.C. Planas Just when we thought Alex Diaz de la Portilla’s divorce couldn’t get any messier, the former Miami commissioner has gone ahead and done what every embattled 305 politician eventually does when things aren’t going his way: He’s blaming the judge. In a freshly filed, very detailed motion, Diaz de […]