Concerns force workshop on mayor’s Vizcaya ‘privatization’

Concerns force workshop on mayor’s Vizcaya ‘privatization’

Concerns about Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s reorganization and expansion plans for Vizcaya Museum have been mounting and will have to be publicly vetted at a commission workshop to be set in the near future. Gimenez, in one of his famous last minute Friday memos, requested a workshop “in light of the public comments and media […]

Gimenez Vizcaya proposal to take $48 mil out of public eye

Gimenez Vizcaya proposal to take $48 mil out of public eye

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Mr. Giveaway” Gimenez‘s plan to privatize Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, transferring operations to a non-profit board like the one at the county-owned Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, comes just as the public park and tourist attraction considers a $50-million plan to renovate its existing space and expand across the street. […]

Miami-Dade mayor’s PAC’s campaign million — in context

Miami-Dade mayor’s PAC’s campaign million — in context

King Carlos II has already amassed a $1 million war chest to defend his kingdom. With 16 months to go until the election, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Mr. Giveaway” Gimenez has reported collecting $1 million with his political action committee, Miami-Dade Residents First. Sure, it’s a huge amount. But it’s no surprise. Not really. Gimenez is not […]

Jesse Manzano and Carlos Gimenez together again for 2016

Jesse Manzano and Carlos Gimenez together again for 2016

Does this indicate the same type of campaign as 2012? It’s no surprise to some that Jesse Manzano-Plaza would reprise his role as candidate Carlos Gimenez‘s spokesman and message massager for the Miami-Dade mayor’s re-election bid next year. It was announced last week, that Manzano-Plaza had joined the G-Man team as “senior consultant” for the […]

Carlos Gimenez’s ‘age friendly’ initiative for premium voters

Carlos Gimenez’s ‘age friendly’ initiative for premium voters

Ladra had to laugh out loud when she read the announcement. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, in partnership with the Miami-Dade Age-Friendly Initiative, will launch the “Mayor’s Age-Friendly Challenge,” encouraging business, civic and elected leaders “to take a pledge to help make our community more age-friendly.” Okay, I know that Ladra is a jaded bitch, but […]

Francis Suarez says definite maybe to Miami mayoral race

Francis Suarez says definite maybe to Miami mayoral race

He said he didn’t want to steal any thunder away from Sen. Marco Rubio, who is expected to announce a run for presidency later today. But Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez all but said he was running for mayor in 2017. “Yes, that’s my plan. Wife permitting of course,” Suarez said Monday morning on the Gray […]

American Dream Miami mega mall clears School Board

American Dream Miami mega mall clears School Board

The Miami-Dade School Board approved the release of a lease hold on about half of a state property that is now in a convoluted land deal between the the county and the developers of a proposed mega mall and tourist attraction where I-75 meets the Florida Turnpike. But not before Superintendent Alberto Carvalho revealed the county […]

Raquel Regalado’s message: ‘I can be a better mayor’

Raquel Regalado’s message: ‘I can be a better mayor’

Dressed in a crisp white skirt suit that shimmered just a little, with a big green flower pin that matched her high heels, Miami-Dade School Board Member Raquel Regalado — the 305’s favorite political daughter — became on Monday morning the first Hispanic woman to run for Miami-Dade mayor. While the media throng made a […]

She’s in: Candidate Raquel Regalado declares for 2016

She’s in: Candidate Raquel Regalado declares for 2016

Let the games begin. Call her candidate Raquel Regalado, as she officially was born Sunday as the Miami-Dade School Board member  announced that she will run for Miami-Dade mayor, after all — which was sorta the best kept secret in local politics. It was first outed by Doug Hanks at the Miami Herald that she was […]

Miami-Dade mega mall: A new, and shinier, insider deal?

Miami-Dade mega mall: A new, and shinier, insider deal?

Why is everyone freaking out about a future mega mall that sounds like fun out in the middle of nowhere that is probably never going to happen anyway? This American Dream Miami mall that was unveiled this week — after what? A year of planning? —  should perhaps be called the American In Your Dreams […]