Miami DDA drama heads to City Hall — and this time, there will be questions

Miami DDA drama heads to City Hall — and this time, there will be questions

Publicity checks point to political patronage Just when you thought the drama around the Miami Downtown Development Authority couldn’t look more, um, interesting, along comes a paper trail. And not just any paper trail. The kind that makes you stop, tilt your head, and ask: “And we’re supposed to pretend this is normal?” According to […]

West Miami mayoral election pits incumbent against former manager

West Miami mayoral election pits incumbent against former manager

In the tiny city of West Miami, there is a quiet yet heated election in two weeks. The incumbent, Mayor Eric Diaz-Padron, is facing the city’s longtime former city manager, Yolanda Aguilar, who has the blessing of the city’s godmother, former mayor and Miami-Dade Commissioner Rebeca Sosa. Less than a square mile in size, surrounded […]

Tony Diaz files early, leans in, talks big in Florida HD 113 Republican primary

Tony Diaz files early, leans in, talks big in Florida HD 113 Republican primary

While most candidates are still polishing their numbers and waiting for the campaign finance report deadline this week, Florida House 113 candidate Tony Diaz couldn’t wait. He filed early. On the very first day he could, last Tuesday. “First to file our campaign report, as usual,” his campaign proudly announced. They’ve done it twice. He […]

No quorum, no vote — just unanswered questions at Miami PZAB meeting

No quorum, no vote — just unanswered questions at Miami PZAB meeting

More than 65 residents showed up to Miami City Hall on Wednesday night for the city’s regularly scheduled Planning and Zoning Appeals Board meeting. They were ready to speak. Ready to push back. Ready to ask why, exactly, the city keeps finding new and creative ways to give developers more. More height. More density. More […]

The CD27 Democratic primary may not be as done as some people think

The CD27 Democratic primary may not be as done as some people think

Everyone watches Eliott, while Robin Peguero builds momentum In Miami politics, there’s always the candidate everyone expects to win. And then there’s the one quietly raising money, stacking endorsements, and daring the establishment to notice. Right now in the crowded Congressional District 27 race, most of the chatter is about Eliott Rodriguez — the veteran […]

Op-Ed: Gables Commissioner Melissa Castro on pro-development referendum

Op-Ed: Gables Commissioner Melissa Castro on pro-development referendum

Why change 100 years of elections? Who really benefits? Opinion By Melissa Castro, Coral Gables Commissioner  For nearly a century, Coral Gables has held its elections in April. That was not random. It was intentional. It ensured that local elections stayed focused on local issues like development, traffic, infrastructure, and the character of our neighborhoods. […]

Tony Diaz goes on offensive in HD 113 with “Fishy Frank” Lago narrative

Tony Diaz goes on offensive in HD 113 with “Fishy Frank” Lago narrative

Frank Lago’s past baggage is hard to leave behind In the three-way Republican primary for Florida House District 113, one candidate isn’t waiting around to define one of his opponents as a questionable character, unworthy of representing the community. Small business owner and urban farmer Tony Diaz has rolled out a full-on digital opposition campaign […]

Where’s the DDA? Miami’s Rolando Escalona calls Sunshine, gets ghosted

Where’s the DDA? Miami’s Rolando Escalona calls Sunshine, gets ghosted

Freshman Commissioner Rolando Escalona did what elected officials are supposed to do: he called a Sunshine meeting to ask basic questions about how the Downtown Development Authority spends taxpayer money — specifically, how much of it actually makes its way to Brickell, the district he represents and one of the biggest revenue engines in the […]