Alex Diaz de la Portilla tries to get his foreclosed house back from the bank

Alex Diaz de la Portilla tries to get his foreclosed house back from the bank

Seems that former Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla doesn’t have enough to worry about with the felony charges against him for money laundering, bribery, unlawful compensation and criminal conspiracy. He’s also trying to get his childhood house back from the bank. The five-bedroom Little Havana house where Diaz de la Portilla and his […]

Winners and losers from Miami election

Winners and losers from Miami election

As always, the candidates in our local elections are not the only ones who win or lose come Election Day. A bunch of influence peddlers, lobbyists, developers, consultants, environmentalists, preservationists and other special interests will float up with the winners on the ballot, or go down the losers’ proverbial drains. And this has become somewhat […]

Oh, how the mighty fall hard: The rise and plunge of Alex Diaz de la Portilla

Oh, how the mighty fall hard: The rise and plunge of Alex Diaz de la Portilla

First, he lost his pride when he was arrested in September, cuffed and jailed, on public corruption charges that include bribery, money laundering and official misconduct in a pay-for-play scheme where he gave away a public park for at least $245,000 in campaign contributions, paid hotel accommodations, booze and snacks. Then, former Miami Commissioner Alex […]

Miami incumbents hold on in election; District 1 and 2 races end in runoffs

Miami incumbents hold on in election; District 1 and 2 races end in runoffs

It may seem unbelievable, but 1,571 people in Miami voted for a man who stands accused of public corruption charges like bribery and money laundering and unlawful compensation from abusing the very position they want to put him back into. What are these people smoking? Former commissioner (because he was suspended by the governor after […]

Eviction lies in Miami District 1 race are rebuffed by woman in campaign ad

Eviction lies in Miami District 1 race are rebuffed by woman in campaign ad

In the Miami District 1 race, candidate Mercedes “Merci” Labrada Rodriguez is fighting for a runoff spot against auto parts dealer Miguel Gabela, who four years ago forced a runoff with suspended Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, who was arrested in September on public corruption charges. Though he will likely be suspended by the […]

Miami D1 race could become rematch for suspended, arrested commissioner

Miami D1 race could become rematch for suspended, arrested commissioner

As the Miami election deadline approaches Tuesday, there is one thing that is practically certain: It won’t end there. We won’t have winners in two of the three districts on the ballot. Sure, Commissioner Manolo Reyes will win easy peasy over whoever that guy is that threw his hat in at the last minute and […]

Miami commissioner campaigns vs (threatens) public corruption prosecutor

Miami commissioner campaigns vs (threatens) public corruption prosecutor

Looks like former Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla — suspended by the governor after his September arrest on public corruption charges like money laundering and bribery — knows he’s not going to win re-election in District 1. That’s why he’s wasting money on a campaign against the Broward State Attorney who is prosecuting […]

Mailer in Miami District 1 race attacks ADLP, nails him on corruption arrest

Mailer in Miami District 1 race attacks ADLP, nails him on corruption arrest

It was bound to happen. Voters in Miami’s District 1 got a mailer last week reminding them that suspended Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla had been arrested on public corruption charges, including money laundering and bribery, in a case mostly about campaign contributions. It writes itself. And when you see it, it looks like […]