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MCM files Chapter 11, but Carlos Gimenez pals have other firms
The collapse of the FIU pedestrian bridge and the lawsuits that followed seem to have pushed one-time Miami-Dade County darlings Munilla Construction Management to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Pedro Munilla, pictured here with his wife, is often out at galas with Mayor and Lourdes Gimenez.
But that doesn’t mean that Pedro Munilla, an insider and longtime member of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez‘s friends and family plan, can’t do any more municipal business. Munilla — who is related to Gimenez’s wife Lourdes and, as such, also to Miami-Dade School Board Member Mari Tere Rojas — owns at least 10 other active companies with his brothers and Frank Lopez, according to the Florida Division of Corporations.
In fact, MCM Construction of Florida LLC — which a month earlier was Munilla Construction Management LLC — changed its name in December to Magnum Construction Management LLC. At least they don’t have to spend a lot of money on new letterhead or a logo.
And the Gimenez sons — who have either worked for or lobbied for Munilla Construction — likely have jobs forever in one or the other company.
The most recent of the new companies, 315 Sunny Management LLC, was formed in December of last year, nine months after the bridge collapse and before the bankruptcy filing. Munilla’s partner there is Frank Lopez, who is also his partner at Shopping Plaza Corp., one of his first companies, incorporated in 1986, and earlier versions of Sunny Management.
Read related: I-395 signature bridge standoff is political palanca at its best
The Miami Herald and the Real Deal reported on Friday that MCM had sent a press release announcing the bankruptcy in order to put creditors off so they can reorganize. A spokesman has said that the company will continue to operate and has enough capital to finish projects it has already started.
The company could also use the time to negotiate settlements to lawsuits filed by survivors and family members of the six who died when the pedestrian bridge over Southwest 8th Street collapsed March 15. A federal investigation indicated that design flaws led to the cracks in the bridge’s foundation. While MCM partner FIGG Bridge Group designed the FIU pedestrian bridge, MCM supervised the construction and could be liable.
But MPM is not. And neither is Advanced Realty Management. Or 7501 Medley Civil LLC. Or Sunny Management LLC.
So before you start feeling bad for Mr. Munilla, know that he’s got options.
DBNJ: Will Volusia, Flagler be wielding new legislative clout?
DBNJ: Will Volusia, Flagler be wielding new legislative clout?
AP: New leaders, new agendas as Florida Legislature set to begin
AP: New leaders, new agendas as Florida Legislature set to begin
Herald: Ron DeSantis may finish the K-12 education transformation that Jeb Bush started
Herald: Ron DeSantis may finish the K-12 education transformation that Jeb Bush started
NSF: DeSantis will test his influence during legislative session, which begins Tuesday
NSF: DeSantis will test his influence during legislative session, which begins Tuesday
NWF Daily News: Florida Legislature has a lot on its plate
NWF Daily News: Florida Legislature has a lot on its plate
Alex DLP bolts out of Miami gate with a campaign cash advantage
Don’t think that former Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla is not a true threat in the Miami District 1 race this year. While some think this three-time loser is unelectable, it’s best not to underestimate The Dean.
Especially when he is raising more campaign money than anybody else.
Read related: After loss in Senate, Miami-Dade races, Alex DLP may try Miami
Diaz de la Portilla tapped into his list of lobbyist buddies so they could bundle for him and he could come out with $40,400 in the first month. That’s just a couple K over the next highest amount, $38,000 by neighborhood fave Horacio Aguirre, who has been raising money since October.
Sure, it shows that Mike Gabela has raised $112,000 but he loaned himself $100K of that so he’s only raised $12K in a whole year. That’s worst than Yanny Hidalgo‘s $10,337, raised since October.
Eleazar Melendez, who also announced in January, raised $17,723, which wouldn’t be bad for someone without a rolodex full of lobbyists who owe him. Except he loaned himself $12K of that.
Read related: Neighbor vs neighbor in Miami District 1 as Eleazar Melendez files
Which means that a week before the second campaign report is due, just looking at January’s reports, Diaz de la Portilla is winning the money race thanks to his lobby pals.
He got at least $9,000 from former State Rep. and lobsterman Manny Prieguez, Jr., and his business and family interests as well as at least $5,000 each from Ron Book and his companies and Miami Beach parking czar Rafael Andrade and his companies. Add $1,000 each from Hugo Arza, Juan Mayol and Felix LaSarte and more than half the cash is lobby money.
There’s another $4,000 from Anibal Duarte-Viera, an attorney who is also a real estate developer and deal maker — and possibly a slumlord. Google him.
Read related: Bank foreclosed on ADLP, who ‘moves’ to run for Willy Gort seat in Miami
We don’t have long to wait to see if DLP — whose house is being foreclosed on and who “moved” in September into the district that is being vacated by termed-out Commissioner Willy Gort — was able to keep the pace in February, because those campaign reports are due next week. Ladra, for one, can’t wait to see who he taps into next.
Aguirre has some bundling of his own, with at least $10,000 from Terry Zerby and his family and partners in the marine terminal business and address in Oklahoma City and North River Drive. There’s another $8,000 coming from Sara Babun and her related companies and $6,000 from Emmanuel Pacin, a real estate and marine guy. All $24,000 of it is Miami River money.
Much of District 1 is along the Miami River, a newly booming area of development in the city.
Aguirre’s best month might be March, with his official campaign kick-off fundraiser Thursday hosted by former Mayor Tomas Regalado, Rev. Guillermo Revuelta and ten others at the new Miami Police Benevolent Association Hall.
There are two other candidates, Michael Hepburn, who just lost in the Democrat congressional primary, and Francisco Pichel, but neither have raised any money yet.
POLITICO: Former DEM director opens disaster consulting shop
POLITICO: Former DEM director opens disaster consulting shop
Herald-Tribune: Coalition forms to curb Florida’s gun violence
Herald-Tribune: Coalition forms to curb Florida’s gun violence
POLITICO: As regulators and feds closed in, an insurer's lobbyist helped rewrite state law
POLITICO: As regulators and feds closed in, an insurer’s lobbyist helped rewrite state law
