Miami is a fast paced community with a rapid fire news cycle. Our blog keeps you current on the most important issues affecting the tax payers of Miami-Dade county. Read, share, comment, and as always let us know what topics you want us to tackle.
Miami Foundation plans forums for every Miami-Dade Commission race
Get those calendars out. There will be at least one virtual forum for each of the five Miami-Dade County Commission races on the August ballot thanks to The Miami Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to bring the philanthropic, leadership and civic communities of Miami together.
The forums won’t start until after absentee or mail-in ballots go out next week, so hang on to those for now. And the Miami Foundation is closely allied to Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, so one might think that they’re going to be biased in favor of her favorites. But it’s something.
Outsiders and GOP influence (fund) Miami-Dade School Board races
If there was any doubt that Monica Colucci was a Republican Party plant in the Miami-Dade School Board race against Marta Perez, there isn’t any now that she’s filed several campaign finance reports.
Colucci reported raising $104,362 through July 1– not a bad figure for a newbie. But a closer look at the funding finds that at least $20,000 came from lobbyist and political consultants. Another $30,000 came from no fewer than 30 different political action committees that seem to have nothing to do with Miami-Dade K-12 education.
Jorge Fors vs Kevin Marino Cabrera = heated Miami-Dade commission race
Sure, there are four candidates in the Miami-Dade Commission race to replace longtime Commissioner Rebeca Sosa in District 6. But it’s really a head-to-head between Coral Gables Commissioner Jorge Fors and political operative Kevin Marino Cabrera.
And it looks like it’s headed to be the most heated of the county commission contests.
Update on judicial races in Miami-Dade — forums, funds and endorsements
It’s not strange that a bunch of Republican candidates for this or that office, even non partisan county seats, were at the Christian Family Coalition’s 2022 Miami-Dade Legislative Victory & Candidates Breakfast last month, pandering for the ultra conservative vote. But a judicial candidate?
Incumbent Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Oscar Rodriguez-Fonts took a few minutes to speak to the crowd assembled at the event, featuring Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, where organizers celebrated the recent reversal of Roe vs. Wade by the Supreme Court, which has, ironically, shone a light on how important judicial races are.
Polls test Ken Russell, Annette Taddeo in CD27 primary and vs incumbent
The phone call came in Monday afternoon. “Jaime,” if that is her real name, was surprised that the person who answered was not just willing but happy to participate in a survey about “important issues in Florida.” Ladra just loves these calls.
Turned out to be one of many recent polls for the congressional primary in District 27, testing message points on both Miami Commissioner Ken Russell and State Sen. Annette Taddeo, both of whom jumped into this race from another contest (U.S. senator and Florida governor, respectively), to go against Republican Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar.
Appointment or special election for Miami Beach commission vacancy?
Old names resurface as possible fill-ins for the late Mark Samuelian
Renier Diaz de la Portilla paid $75K to his brother’s neighbor — for what?
When he ran for county commission two years ago, Renier Diaz de la Portilla paid an inactive corporation $75,000 for “canvassing” voters in Miami-Dade District 5.
It’s already strange because the company, CruisePort Destinations, doesn’t seem to have any canvassing or election experience. It’s a D/B/A for a larger corporation, America’s Gateway Inc., that provides portside operation and logistics for several South Florida cruise companies.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez pushes for renewal of ‘Plan Z’ on Rickenbacker
Anyone who thought the outrageous and over-the-top $500 million Plan Z proposal for the privatization of Rickenbacker Causeway was dead in the water might want to look again.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez wants to resurrect the public land grab.
Death of Miami Beach Commissioner Mark Samuelian stuns, saddens
Most people were shocked when they learned that Miami Beach Commissioner Mark Samuelian died Wednesday.
Mayor Dan Gelber announced the death late in the commission meeting, one of several recent meetings that Samuelian had missed, right before they took a 30 minute recess.
Candidate Renier Diaz de la Portilla doesn’t meet judicial canon standards
And Circuit Court Judge Robert Watson needs to publicly distance himself
