Coral Gables Commissioner Melissa Castro has had enough of the quiet quid pro quo culture that seems to linger like cologne after a ribbon cutting. So she’s bringing a little disinfectant to the dais. Castro plans to introduce an ordinance that would make it crystal clear that no elected official in the City Beautiful can […]
Joe Martinez is going to prison. Well… maybe. The former Miami-Dade commissioner and retired cop was sentenced Monday to 34 months for taking money in exchange for crafting legislation that would have helped a West Kendall supermarket owner. But Judge Miguel de la O wanted to give him less time — saying his hands were […]
Former Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla hasn’t filed any official paperwork to run for mayor this year, but you’d never know it judging by the money trail and the paltry little care packages he has been leaving on doorsteps in The Roads. After more than a year of reporting no contributions, Diaz de […]
Attorneys for former Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla will have to wait a little while if they want their $1.3 million from the city’s taxpayers, because his successor, Commissioner Miguel Gabela, wants the city to more carefully review the invoices. The city commission could have approved the payout on Thursday, and Gabela said he […]
Miami taxpayers may end up on the hook to pay more than $1.3 million in legal defense fees for former Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, who was suspended from office by the governor after his arrest almost two years ago on bribery and money laundering charges that were later dismissed. Diaz de la Portilla […]
Ruling says it was part of his job Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mavel Ruiz on Thursday dismissed the civil lawsuit against former Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla — who faces 14 political corruption charges on an unrelated case — in the alleged shakedown of the Rickenbacker Marina owner in 2020. She said in her […]
If there ever was a municipality that needs an independent inspector general, it is the city of Miami. One commissioner who was suspended after his September arrest on 11 felony charges, including bribery and money laundering, in connection with is vote to give away a public park. Another former commissioner is being investigated for promising […]
Miami City Commissioner Miguel Gabela wanted the city to stop payments to attorney Ben Kuehne in cases where he was representing former Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla in civil court. Kuehne is also Diaz de la Portilla’s attorney in his felony criminal case on money laundering, bribery and other public corruption charges. But before […]
Two commission meetings have come and gone since Miami City Manager Art Noriega said he would provide a report on his wife’s business dealings at the city. Y nada. And it’s odd that none of the commissioners — especially the two recently-elected, reform-minded guys — haven’t held his feet tot he fire. Last month, WLRN […]
Former Miami Commissioner Sabina Covo, who ran on a platform of fighting corruption, is currently under investigation for “remuneration by candidate for services, support, etc. and bribery.” Remuneration? Yeah, that means promises of money or jobs by a candidate for support of her candidacy and it is illegal under Florida Statute 104.071. Remember that in […]