Miami doesn’t have Roberto Rodriguez-Tejera anymore on weekday morning radio to let us know what’s really happening at the county, the different municipalities, the state and the country. But, hey, we have Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo every day at 10 a.m. on America Radio Miami 1260 AM to feed us lies.
As if he didn’t already drone on — on and on and on — during commission meetings.
Carollo, who is threatening to run for Miami mayor, gets an hour Monday through Friday to blast his enemies and support his friends — including recently elected Miami Commissioner Ralph “Rafael” Rosado, whose campaign Carollo coordinated — in a show he calls Miami Al Dia. The program sits in between the three-hour programs of Emmy Award winning journalists Sandra Peebles, before, and Carines Moncada, after.
They must be livid.
How is it okay for a politician to have an hourly morning radio show to use for electioneering and political retaliation? It’s basically an hour long ad and there’s no disclaimer. His communications director, Karen Caballero, who is paid $115,043 a year from city taxes, sits there in the radio studio with him, though it’s hard to figure out why, since this is not part of his city job or her city job. Caballero — the same staffer who tricked Ladra into coming to the district office to get served with a subpoena as a witness in a case brought by the mayor of a neighboring city — is the blonde on the bottom left corner in the photo below.
Neither of them responded to several calls and texts for comment.

Remember, this is the same guy who was found by a jury to have violated the First Amendment rights of two Little Havana businessmen by weaponizing the city’s code enforcement against them. He lost and was ordered to pay a $63.5 million. One could say he is now weaponizing the airwaves.
Carollo used the space and time to attack Jose Regalado — who ran against his puppet candidate, Rosado — and the whole Regalado family (including the candidate’s sister, Miami-Dade Commissioner Raquel Regalado, and their father, former Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, now the county property appraiser). He made scurrilous and baseless allegations about every single one of them, calling them communists and associates of drug traffickers.
The commissioner has also used the airtime to blast other candidates who are or are threatening to run for Miami mayor, including Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins, who has filed paperwork, and former Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, who is just bluffing. He called Portilla’s campaign stunt — handing out fruit to high priority elderly voters — Operation Mamey and called Higgins a Marxist Johnny Come Lately pandering to Hispanic voters (same ol’, same ol’).
Read related: Ralph Rosado and Joe Carollo beat Jose Regalado in Miami D4 special election
“They learned Spanish with JustiLanguage. And all of a sudden they want to be mayor,” he said, referring to what is actually an English instruction school in Westchester. He could have been including former City Commissioner Ken Russell, who has also filed paperwork and has shown pretty fluent and locally nuanced Español on recent interviews and social media posts.
Carollo also calls former City Manager Emilio Gonzalez, who served in the U.S. Army for 26 years, including a stint as a military attache with the Defense Intelligence Agency and who has also filed paperwork, “Coronel Chiringa” (or Col. Smallshit in English), and former Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina, who keeps getting mentioned in polls, a liar.
Gonzalez said it’s not the first time Carollo nicknames him and he doesn’t care. He doesn’t listen to the show. I don’t think anybody does,” Gonzalez told Political Cortadito.
The station’s program director told Ladra that they are between Nielsen contracts and are not currently measuring their ratings with listeners. How convenient. However, one of the recordings last week has 68 views on YouTube — and that’s over five days.
Colina lives in Miami Lakes and, as such, is not running for mayor, despite being named in some polls. He also doesn’t listen to Carollo’s propaganda and doesn’t care. “It would be concerning to me if it was a more respectable person,” Colina told Ladra. “A vast majority of the people know who Carollo is and know that the majority of the things that come out of his mouth are inaccurate or biased or just self-serving.”
Current colleagues also mentioned. Carollo is all aglow about Rosado, going on and on Wednesday about his “illustrious” swearing in on Tuesday. But two of them are regularly skewered: Commissioners Damian Pardo and Miguel Gabela. Carollo has gone so far as to call Gabela’s wife “La Llorona” — or the crybaby — after the woman showed up to a commission meeting and emotionally testified about being harassed and watched by Carollo and his goons. He also played a song by the same name.
It seems a bit childish at times. Like a high schooler podcasting in his garage.
Read related: Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo to lose appeal on $63.5 million judgement
The commissioner DJ also sometimes fills the space with this-day-in-history anecdotes. One recent Thursday, it was the anniversary of Hank Aaron’s 715th home run and also the release of both the movie Dancing with Wolves and the album The Joshua Tree. He played a little U2 that day, but he daily airs what must be theme songs of old western TV shows, like Bonanza.
He once played the theme to The Godfather on the day Marlon Brando was born. But he just had to mention how former Police Chief Art Acevedo — another regular target of Carollo’s — called the commission a mafia. He marked the birthdays of actor Doris Day, and singer Miguel Bose (he played “Amante Bandido”) and wishes people a Happy Feast Day on occasion.
On the day that Richard Nixon died, Carollo talked about meeting him and getting a campaign check for one of his campaigns. “It’s part of the memory I lived that nobody can take away from me.”
But he always has time for the rants. And when there’s not an election that he’s trying to influence, Carollo is always “reporting” on the undercover activity of the hidden Sandinistas and Chavistas in our midst, alleging that anyone who crosses him is laundering money for the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela. He also constantly rages against the leftist Democrats trying to gain control of the city and hails President Donald Trump, trying to position himself as the Trump candidate in the mayoral election (But so is Diaz de la Portilla, who can’t stop campaigning on the “injustice” of the public corruption charges against him in 2023).
Carollo says on his show that the attempt to move the elections to November of next year is a scheme by “extreme leftist Democrats who want to get control of the city of Miami… by creating Biden districts.” He says any proposal to increase the number of districts is also a Democrat plot. And the lifetime term limits are an attempt to stop him from exposing the real corruption in the city.
In other words, Miami Al Dia is a lot like Carollo himself: There’s a conspiracy everywhere.
Ladra hates to admit this, but it makes for good radio. It’s very entertaining when Carollo gets all hot and bothered and starts to raise his voice in what definitely sounds like practiced outrage. His prolonged silences are just as dramatic. It’s radio theater from the golden age of radio. But it’s bad for you. Like drugs. Ladra might need an intervention.
It’s not the most responsible broadcast.
Luis Gutierrez, the program director for America Noticias Radio Miami, said that Carollo is not paid for his time nor does he pay for the hour himself. Gutierrez says that the commercials he brings pay for the hour and that if Ladra can secure $1,400 per show, or $20K a month, she could have one, too (which is a great idea Mr. Mike Fernandez! Let’s dare them to do it!)
Other sources, and just plain common sense, indicate that this is a quid pro quo for the $150,000 that Carollo had the city paid America TeVe, which was affiliated with America Radio Miami, to cover the New Year’s Eve bash at Bayfront Park. The money came out of the Bayfront Park Management Trust, where there is already an investigation into the commissioner’s alleged misspending of public funds for his private or political gain (same thing).
Read related: Miami paid $150K for one long Joe Carollo commercial on New Year’s Eve
In addition, the commissioner’s wife, Marjorie Carollo, is reportedly the “agent” who buys the air time, meaning she gets a commission, which is usually 15%. That means that if Carollo’s political action committee spent $500,000 on radio ads on the show, which could be a conservative guess, the couple got $75,000 in commission 0ver the 43-day election cycle for the special election that ended June 3. Nice little gig, right?
Gutierrez said he did run it through legal and Carollo’s airtime doesn’t violate any federal rules, “as long as he’s off he air by September,” which is when and if Carollo qualifies for the mayor’s race. If the commission doesn’t move it to 2026 (more on that later).
In the meantime, “If an opposing candidate wants equal time, we’ll take the money. I don’t have a problem with that,” Gutierrez told Political Cortadito. “This is straight business for me. I’m not on the right. I’m not on the left. I’m bipartisan — as long as the money keeps coming in.”
Ladra asked him if she could have an hour of time some mornings if Political Cortadito got enough commercial sponsors to pay $20,000 a month. That’s apparently the value of the “freebie” time Carollo is getting on the air. Could it be considered an “in-kind” donation to his campaign?
Gutierrez said he would have to ask Carlos Vasallo, the owner of the station, who is really good pals with Carollo, if they would put me on the air.
“I run the station but I don’t set the rules. And I would have to filter that through him,” Gutierrez said.
There will be an update when he gets back to me. But Ladra is not holding her breath.
Would you like to hear Ladra on the air? Give equal time to the truth and help unmask these liars on the air and in elected office? Help with a contribution to Political Cortadito. All funds will go to amplify the content here in every way possible. Thank you for your support!
The post Commissioner Joe Carollo freelances as ‘Miami Al Dia’ morning AM radio host appeared first on Political Cortadito.

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UPDATED: This item will be heard before the full commission on June 26.
Miami-Dade County is already cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials by holding anyone they arrest that has a deportation order or is wanted by ICE. Now, the county might help the federal government disappear these people.
A proposal in front of the county commission would basically remove information about any detainees whose information has been provided to ICE from the county’s portal or records custodian. It means family members would no longer know if their loved one is still here, moved to a facility in Arizona or Texas, or already deported.
So, more of our rights — this time to public information protected under Florida’s Sunshine Laws — are going to be eroded. This is only to help ICE disappear the people they have in custody. There is no other reason for it.
Read related: Miami-Dade Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez event blurs church-state line
Whose brilliant idea is this? Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez, arguably the most conservative right-wing elected on the county dais — remember, God told him to run for office — is sponsoring the measure. He posted something on social media last week that sounded so Trumpian and Ladra is sure he’s going to smile when he reads that.
“Miami-Dade is not and will not be a sanctuary county. I’m backing an item to formally approve our ICE agreement, already signed by the Mayor in March, as required by state law. We’ve honored detainers since 2019. This just ensures we get reimbursed,” Gonzalez wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “Common sense is greater than politics.”
Like Charlie Cale in Poker Face would say: Bullshit.
The “basic ordering agreement” being considered makes “public disclosures” the purview of the federal government. Why does that have to be in there at all if it’s just about reimbursement?
Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava is apparently all for it. She’s already signed the agreement, though maybe it should have been signed by Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosanna “Rosie” Cordero-Stutz? There’s a line drawn through her title.
Read related: Miami-Dade leaders react to Donald Trump’s new ‘xenophobic’ travel ban
Was it the $50 per day reimbursement per detainee? Is that going to help Levine Cava make up for the giant $400 million shortfall she is facing in next year’s budget. It’s a shameful revenue stream.
Besides, las malas lenguas say that the cost of holding a detainee is $180 a day.
Is this basically a modern-day 30 pieces of silver?
Commissioners should reject this further intrusion and erosion of our rights. This is not just about the detainee. It is about the residents — yes, even U.S. citizens, born or made — who have a right to the information about anyone who is being held in Miami-Dade corrections facilities.
We cannot condone living in a country where people disappear — physically or virtually.
The item was originally on the agenda for Monday’s Miami-Dade Policy Council, but that meeting was cancelled due to lack of a quorum. The commission meeting on June 26 can be viewed online here.
The post Miami-Dade could go above and beyond to help ICE with local detainees appeared first on Political Cortadito.

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As always, there are winners and losers in every election that go beyond the candidates. As tradition, Political Cortadito has analyzed the campaigns and results of the special election last week in Miami’s District 4 to replace the late Manolo Reyes.
Ralph “Rafael” Rosado, an urban planning consultant and fired city manager of North Bay Village, is a winner, simply because he got 55% of the vote. But he’s also a loser, because only 11% of the eligible voters in D4 cast ballots and because he is now going to have to be a puppet vote for Commissioner Joe Carollo, who bankrolled his candidacy and ran his campaign.
And Jose Regalado, the former assistant building director and son of former Miami Mayor and current Miami-Dade Property Appraiser Tomas Regalado, and brother of Miami-Dade Commissioner Raquel Regalado, is a loser. He doesn’t win anything. Especially since he left a six-figure job as the number two at the city’s building department to run for office at the request of Reyes’ widow. Ouch.
And that brings Ladra to the list of other winners and losers.
The big winners are:
Topping this list, everyone agrees, is Carollo, whose horse made it across the finish line in first place. He bet big — some say he spent more than $800,000 through his political action committee — and is already gloating about the win. Está insoportable. And he’s going to have that third vote on so many things, including the Bayfront Park Management Trust, which he lost the chairmanship to Commissioner Miguel Gabela and which everyone expects Crazy Joe to take back, even though he is being investigated for misspending the agency’s funds. Carollo might even be able to go so far as stopping the investigation in its tracks.  This win also shows his strength in a potential run for mayor, which means he will get more money to replace what he spent.
Former Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, a lobbyist whose claws are still very deep into Miami government, just got another ally on the commission with Rosado’s election. Sarnoff was spotted at Rosado’s victory party Tuesday night. Will he get more taxpayer-paid contracts from the city? Ladra’s guess is yes.
Former City Attorney Victoria “Tricky Vicky” Mendez is celebrating Rosado’s victory. She is BFFs with Rosado’s wife, after all, and serves with him on their crooked Abuelo’s Foundation, which is a front to find homes to steal from vulnerable elderly residents to flip for a huge profit. Mendez, who could still be held liable for bad advice and other shenanigans at the city — and is representing Carollo anyway through a cushy job at the same law firm where Sarnoff works — just got additional protection for using the city for her real estate scam or any other shenanigans she may have pulled.
Read related: Lawsuit: Miami city attorney, husband ‘conspired,’ used city to flip property
Lying. Normally, Ladra does not include adjectives in the winners and losers circles post election, but this time it is different. Lying and scheming are also victors in this election because they will be seen as winning strategies that can be utilized again and again and again. Yes, it’s true that this may not be new. But it’s never been more blatant. Rosado lied to Ladra when he said that Carollo was “not there” and “not directing” a TV commercial he recorded a park. He couldn’t even admit to it after he was told that there was a video recording showing Carollo giving him instructions and Marjorie Carollo nearby holding a clipboard. He lied again when he said he was a lifetime resident of Miami (he used to live in Schenley Park) and then again when he said that he was independent and not being supported by any Miami commissioner. He’s a perpetual liar who is now a commissioner.
The big losers are:
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez thinks he’s won. But that’s because he’s a postalita without any calle. Suarez supported Rosado and got his dad, former Miami-Dade Commissioner Xavier Suarez, to hype up the Rosado team. Las malas lenguas say he wants pensions back on the table. But Baby X will soon find out — the hard way — that he stepped right into a trap. Carollo has him wrapped around his finger and will soon stab him in the back. Probably in public. Crazy Joe is famous for burning bridges with nuclear bombs. Remember the mayoral election in 1983 between Maurice Ferré and Xavier Suarez, when Carollo was set to endorse Ferré at a public event and then ranted against him instead, on the mics, accusing Ferré of being anti-Cuban (he was Puerto Rican).
Jose Regalado is not the only one in his family licking his wounds. The whole family is hurting. They are used to losses, of course. But Tomas Regalado is taking this one hard. It feels kinda personal to him. It is. Carollo went on the attack against the whole family, lashing out in very cruel and personal ways like only Joe Carollo can, or will. Raquel Regalado is more disappointed, but still laser focused on her county job. The day of the election she was at a county commission meeting and then a virtual Zoom update on the issues at the Coconut Grove Playhouse since part of it collapsed recently (more on that later). Tomas N. “Tommy” Regalado, who lost to Carollo in a crowded 2017 race, must be feeling a little deja vú.
The loss Tuesday must still be stinging the Reyes family, as well. They backed Regalado hard. Not only did Chacha Reyes, who was married to the late commissioner for decades but never recorded a commercial for him, do a radio spot urging voters to support Regalado, but her son, lobbyist Manny Reyes, helped Regalado raise money for his campaign. They made calls and walked. They may also feel party responsible for Jose Regalado’s sudden unemployment, because they were the ones who asked him to run and continue Manolo Reyes’ legacy.
Read related: Manolo Reyes’ widow comes out strong for Jose Regalado in D4 special election
Miguel Gabela is not sitting pretty. Did anybody see his face at the Rosado victory fete? He was not happy. Gabela supported Regalado and is the biggest thorn in Carollo’s side right now. He has had two special meetings to reach out and slap Carollo recently — one on the Bayfront Park Trust’s mismanagement and misspending and another on Carollo’s weaponization of government (more on that later). Ladra thinks he is going to be on the losing side of a lot of votes at the next meeting — and for the foreseeable future.
Miami voters citywide are also loser. This was a District 4 race but the ramifications will be felt by all Miamians in all corners. Pensions, lifetime term limits, the change of election year, the future of the Bayfront Park Trust and its moneys, the future of the city’s community redevelopment agencies, and particularly the Omni one, are in play. Residents from District 1, Gabela’s district, and District 2 — Carollo already hates Coconut Grove people — should be especially afraid.
That seems like a pretty complete list, but Ladra always forgets one or two. So, please feel free to add any winners and losers left out of this story in the comments below.
The post Political Cortadito’s Winners and Losers from Miami’s special District 4 election appeared first on Political Cortadito.

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President Donald Trump‘s travel ban on and restrictions on 19 countries includes Haiti, Cuba and Venezuela, which is going to impact this community more than most. It means that, as of Monday, the United States will suspend the issuance of most immigrant and non-immigrant visas for Cubans and Venezuelans, while fully banning entry from Haitians.
And local electeds are reacting with concern.
“Miami-Dade is home to the largest Haitian, Cuban and Venezuelan communities in the U.S., and I am deeply concerned by this decision which further divides us as Americans and harms hard-working families contributing to the essential fabric of the community,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
“We learned from past travel bans that the end result is families being divided and loved ones unable to see each other. The work of our federal government should be to protect our borders and pass comprehensive immigration reform, not tear down our communities.”
Trump writes in the order that:

“Cuba is a state sponsor of terrorism. The Government of Cuba does not cooperate or share sufficient law enforcement information with the United States. Cuba has historically refused to accept back its removable nationals.’
Venezuela “lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.”
Haiti, has a 31% visitor visa overstay rate and mass migration from Haiti creates “acute risks of increased overstay rates, establishment of criminal networks, and other national security threats.”

There are some exemptions, according to the New York Times, including athletes competing in the FIFA World Cup matches next year. But nada on fans. Ladra is pretty sure the FIFA is going to pull out of the U.S and schedule those matches in Canada and Mexico, which are already co-hosting the tournament.
“I am deeply disheartened,” said Hatian-born Miami-Dade Commissioner Marleine Bastien, whose District includes one of the largest Haitian communities in the country. “This is not only a cruel and xenophobic policy proposal – it is a blatant attempt to scapegoat an already suffering people. This unjust policy will sow chaos in our communities, separating families, and disrupting lives.
Read related: Campaign ramps up vs Miami’s Cuban, Republican congressional delegation
“The Haitian Community has long been a cornerstone of Miami-Dade County, contributing to its culture, economy, and strength. Targeting Haiti in this manner is not just only discriminatory, but a betrayal of the values America claims to uphold – compassion, justice, and opportunity for all,” Bastien said in a statement Thursday, citing the hypocrisy in the administration’s policy.
“If Haiti is truly ‘unsafe,’ as President Trump now claims, then why did his administration terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals and cancel the CHNV (Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan) parole program for Haiti? The contradictions in his statements highlight the lack of genuine concern for the Haitian people and reveal a disturbing pattern of punitive, anti-immigrant policies targeting Black and Brown communities.”
Bastien also said that the U.S. bears some of the responsibility for the situation in Haiti.
“Let us be clear: the current crisis in Haiti is not occurring in a vacuum. Haiti’s instability is the direct result of decades of international interference, including the actions of successive U.S. administrations that have undermined Haitian democracy, supported illegitimate regimes, and crippled the country’s capacity for self-determination. Our Haitian brothers and sisters are now facing the consequences of policies and interventions that were never designed with their wellbeing in mind.
“Instead of banning Haitians, the United States must take responsibility for its role in creating the crisis and act with compassion, justice, and accountability. That starts with reinstating TPS and the CHNV program for Haiti, supporting Haitian-led solutions to restore security and democracy, and rejecting fear-based rhetoric that seeks to dehumanize our community.”
In Doral, Venezuelans, many of whom supported Donald Trump, gathered at El Arapazo — the same place where Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Sen. Rick Scott sought votes in 2014 blasting the Venezuelan government — to express outrage. Some are fearful that their work permits will be revoked. Others are upset that their family members won’t be able to visit.
Adelys Ferro, executive director of the Venezuelan American Caucus, told the Miami Herald that the ban targeted nations that are already struggling and immigrants, and their families, that are not white.
Read related: Maria Elvira Salazar takes credit for judge extending TPS for Venezuelans
“They didn’t even try to hide the racism, discrimination, and xenophobia when drawing up this list,” she said. “The countries affected are all places devastated by war, dictatorship, famine and death.”
On Instagram, she posted an avatar waving and asking “Where are my MAGA friends?”
They’re either applauding, Ms. Ferro, or they simply don’t care.
If you like what you are reading, help sustain independent government watchdog journalist with a donation today to Political Cortadito. Thank you for your support!
The post Miami-Dade leaders react to Donald Trump’s new ‘xenophobic’ travel ban appeared first on Political Cortadito.

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Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo may have won the special election in District 4 this week with his puppet candidate, but he lost in court on the same day when the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals basically laughed at his feeble attempt to get out of the $63.5 million jury award given to a pair of Little Havana businessmen in 2023 after they sued Carollo and the city for violating their First Amendment rights.
The court has not yet issued its ruling, but the reaction from the three panel judges at oral arguments Tuesday seem to indicate that they are going to flatly deny his appeal because, well, it’s ridiculous. They kept asking the same questions, which were never answered, and kept interrupting Carollo’s lawyers, who were making the same moot point over and over again. Hear the whole thing here.
This could be the end of the line for Carollo’s appeals. He could try to go to a full court hearing or the U.S. Supreme Court, but it’s doubtful that either will take the case after the ruling comes out, if the ruling reflects the oral arguments.
This is that Ball & Chain thing. The owners of the historic bar in Little Havana were targeted by Carollo shortly after he was elected in 2017 because his opponent, Alfie Leon — who lost by a scant 252 votes — had his watch party there. Carollo sicced code enforcement not only on the Calle Ocho watering hole but also on other businesses that were owned by William “Bill” Fuller and his partners and associates, or businesses that lease properties from them.
At one point, the city shut Ball & Chain and Taquerias El Mexicano down.
Read related: Jury says Miami’s Joe Carollo abused power to violate 1st Amendment rights
Fuller and one of his partners, Martin Pinilla, sued Carollo and the city in federal court in 2021 for violating their First Amendment rights. After 18 months, 24 days in court, and the testimony of many in the city’s senior staff — including the former city manager, two former police chiefs and two of Carollo’s former chiefs of staff — a jury found that Carollo had targeted these businesses for political retaliation.

The appeal was based on the fact that Zack Bush, one of Fuller’s partners, had gone into the same elevator with Juror #3 in the case and said something to the effect of him following her. Carollo’s attorneys argued it was a threat and that the court should reverse the ruling against the commissioner or call for a new trial because the lower court judge never talked to Bush.
The appeals court judges found that the encounter was “harmless,” and pointed out two things that seem important: (1) The juror didn’t feel threatened at all and said she could continue to be unbiased. And (2) One of Carollo’s attorneys in the case — and Ladra suspects it was Benjamin Kuehne — complimented the judge on the thoroughness of the investigation into the interaction, and even suggested that the judge talk to all the jurors and issue an instruction order, which the judge did.
“So why was it not enough? It has to be contact about a matter pending before the jury,” one judge said. “It wasn’t about the lawsuit.” The juror, she said, “didn’t seem to perceive it” as a threat. “Isn’t that the inquiry that matters?”
“The only reason it would be relevant would be to show us that it biased the jury,” another judge concurred. “That’s the part that I’m missing.”
Carollo’s attorney wanted the three-judge panel to make presumption of prejudice and said the lower court judge could not “analyze the influence” had on the juror without interviewing Bush.
One judge disagreed because even if there had been an attempt to rattle a juror, it didn’t work.”The only reason it would be relevant is if the jury was biased,” she said.
“Suppose Mr. Bush had been plotting for two months that he is going to run into a juror at the elevator and he is going to do all manner of things,” another judge added. “What we know is exactly what happened in that incident and how it affected the jury. What does it matter what Mr. Bush intended or planned or anything of the sort?”
Jeff Gutchess, the attorney for the Fuller et al, also said that Kuehne could have but never asked for that juror to be excused and for an alternate juror to be seated. And that the strength of the evidence caused the judge to write a scathing ruling that said Carollo “used his position of power to weaponize city government against plaintiffs because plaintiffs chose to exercise their first amendment rights by supporting defendant’s political opponent.
“He said that this weaponization continued long after the plaintiffs had filed suit,” Gutchess said, “and he said that during that time the weaponization was ‘continuous and unrelenting,’ and that’s a quote, and then he says, and it ‘specifically targeted the plaintiff’s financial vulnerabilities by attempting to shut down their tenants business.
“He called this intentional and malicious, reprehensible and a shock to the conscience,” Gutchess said. He basically reargued his case before the panel, saying that any elevator chat was “inconsequential in light of the avalanche of evidence we had against Mr. Carollo.” He brought up testimony about city staff meetings about targeting Fuller’s businesses and lists created to do so.
Within six months of those meetings, Gutchess said, Ball & Chain and Taquerias El Mexicano were shut down.
Read related: Ball & Chain to reopen after years of city harassment by Joe Carollo’s hand
Fuller’s attorney also mentioned former Police Chief Art Acevedo‘s arrival to the city in 2021, when he was driven from the airport to the taqueria at 12:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday to watch live as the city manager oversaw a raid with “more than 12 officers” in bulletproof vests and helmets with guns — all to check for a permit.
The real reason? “Simply to terrorize Mr. Fuller.”
Gutchess also mentioned how Carollo is constantly calling Fuller a “corrupt mafioso” on Spanish-language radio, saying that the Little Havana booster takes money from the Venezuelan government, which actually is a safety hazard in that neighborhood. He said Fuller has lost tenants and business opportunities, bank financing and that Greenberg Traurig stopped representing them because they were afraid of Carollo’s wrath.
“And The Smithsonian Institution that had been committed to open up a museum on Cuban American history pulled out because of this harassment from Joe Carollo.”
That’s new information. Ladra didn’t know that.
An official ruling could take a few days or a few weeks to be written, but Ladra expects a sharp denial based on these oral arguments.
The next question is: Can the city now get reimbursed by Carollo for the legal fees that taxpayers have paid for his defense?
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The post Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo to lose appeal on $63.5 million judgement appeared first on Political Cortadito.

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