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.
Florida State House, Senate candidates in the 305 qualify — with a big yawn
Five incumbent state representatives in Miami-Dade — four Republicans, one Democrat — were re-elected more than two months before the primary Friday when nobody qualified to run against them.
State Reps. Tom Fabricio in District 110, David Borrero in 111, Alex Rizo in 112 and Daniel “Danny” Perez, the future Speaker of the House, in 116 can all relax for the next few months. They drew zero challengers in the primary and Democrats were unable or unwilling to throw anyone at them in November.
He’s baaaack! David ‘Nine Lives’ Rivera is running for Florida state rep, again
Former Congressman David “Nine Lives” Rivera just sucked all the air out of the Florida state primary this August.
Rivera surprised everybody when he qualified Friday to run for state rep in the open 119 District against a bunch of other Republicans who are suddenly in an interesting, nationally-watched race.
Miami commission looks to Melreese for new city HQ, police, fire, solid waste
The sudden and unexpected plan to put the city of Miami’s administration building and City Hall at the publicly-owned Melreese — adjacent to the future Miami Freedom Park — grew like a hungry monster last week when Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla suggested moving the police and fire departments and, heck, solid waste to the potential future offices there.
ADLP apparently wants to have a fire sale of downtown public properties.
It’s a lock: Miami-Dade commission wannabes qualify for Aug. 23 election
At noon Tuesday, former Miami Beach Commissioner Micky Steinberg became a Miami-Dade county commissioner after nobody qualified to run against her in District 4, where Sally Heyman is termed out.
It is the only county commission race that is uncontested — maybe the $400K she raised scared would-bes away — as 19 other candidates qualified in the five other districts on this year’s ballot.
Renier Diaz de la Portilla raises judicial race funds from big bro’s city interests
Former elected and three-time loser Renier Diaz de la Portilla has raised $62,700 in little more than a month for his judicial race, according to the latest campaign finance report. And many of the campaign contributions are from real estate developers and special interests in the city of Miami, where his big brother is a sitting commissioner.
In addition to the $3,500 he’s loaned himself, the youngest of the Diaz de la Portilla brothers has collected a few checks and bundles most likely thanks to his brother, Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, who is also the chair of the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency.
Second veteran Miami Police IA officer calls Chief Manny Morales corrupt
A second member of the Miami Police Department’s Internal Affairs unit has filed a complaint against Chief Manuel Morales, saying that he is corrupt and unethical and has used his position to retaliate against some officers and reward lackeys.
The accusations from Wanda Jean-Baptiste, a 16-year veteran, mirror those made by former IA Commander Brandon Lanier last month.
Miami-Dade School Board Member Mari Tere Rojas draws a challenge
Key Biscayne teacher intends to run against incumbent in District 6
Miami-Dade Qatar trip shows mayoral advisor Christian Ulvert’s pull, power
How in the world can Miami-Dade’s first female mayor, a self-proclaimed progressive who fights for equality and champions immigrants, women and the LGBT community visit a country like Qatar for no good reason?
This is a country with an abysmal human rights record, according to Amnesty International. Women and gays are routinely discriminated against and persecuted by law and by society. Homesexuals and journalists routinely “disappear” and are jailed without trials. The government allows the abuse and exploitation of immigrants.
Let the socialist name-calling begin — 2022 election mailers start coming
The first mailer of the Election 2022 season to hit Ladra’s mailbox arrived Saturday. It’s a piece for Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar and, predictably, it touts her as “a freedom fighter” who is keeping socialism out of the United States.
And it comes within days of Sen. Annette Taddeo‘s announcement that she switched races from the governor’s bid to this congressional contest.
Miami ponders new City Hall and administration HQ at Melreese Park
The city of Miami might one day operate out of the Melreese Golf Course.
An item on Thursday’s agenda for the city commission would have the city manager negotiate the construction of a new administration building on the western edge of the Melreese property. It would move the future site of Miami’s headquarters from a parcel next to the Miami Riverside Center to the future site of the controversial Miami Freedom Real Estate Park.
