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.
Coral Gables could join lawsuit against new Form 6 disclosure requirements
The city of Coral Gables could join other municipalities in a lawsuit against the state to overturn legislation passed last year that requires municipal electeds to submit a more detailed financial disclosure document known as Form 6.
It’s a war against transparency.
Alex Diaz de la Portilla tries to get his foreclosed house back from the bank
Seems that former Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla doesn’t have enough to worry about with the felony charges against him for money laundering, bribery, unlawful compensation and criminal conspiracy. He’s also trying to get his childhood house back from the bank.
The five-bedroom Little Havana house where Diaz de la Portilla and his two brothers and his sister grew up was sold for $300,100 at a Miami-Dade County foreclosure auction Nov. 15 last year. Owned by the former commissioner and his former wife, Claudia Davant, the home was purchased by Wells Fargo, which won a $628,545 final foreclosure judgment in 2019.
Miami City Hall is on fire — the cleansing kind, rooting out corruption
First to burn: City Attorney Tricky Vicky Mendez
Ladra is still reeling from the last Miami City Commission meeting. So much torture and pleasure at the same time. So much happened in a span of eight and a half hours. Forgive the tardiness, but we’re still shellshocked over here.
Facing termination, Miami city attorney could offer to retire — in April
For weeks, maybe months, Miami City Attorney Victoria Mendez has boasted that she has the three votes she needs to keep her job. But that may have changed recently.
A source at City Hall says Tricky Vicky can read the writing on the wall and will likely announce her retirement, effective in April, at the commission meeting Thursday. Probably before newly-elected Commissioner Miguel Gabela brings up his item on the agenda asking his colleagues to join him and terminate her as-, er, employment.
Manolo Reyes to the rescue; Miami commissioner wants more transparency
Rumors of Manolo Reyes’ impending death are vastly exaggerated. The Miami commissioner was diagnosed with leukemia last year, but has apparently responded well to treatment and is on the mend.
And – after what he’s seen the city go through in the last couple of months — he’s also on a transparency and accountability tear.
Miami-Dade wants $125 mil more from surtax and People’s Transportation bond
The Citizens Independent Transportation Trust will have a special meeting Thursday afternoon to consider giving $125 million in additional funds from the county transportation surtax funds and People’s Transportation Plan bond program to Miami-Dade’s Department of Transit and Public Works for ongoing architectural and engineering projects. But there are few details.
Several questions asked by the CITT staff came back with “pending” on Wednesday. Unanswered.
Under fire, Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago sues Cuban radio station for libel
Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago does not like to be challenged or criticized. He has recently taken to calling his critics — which include award-winning documentary filmmaker Billy Corben, award-winning journalist Roberto Rodriguez Tejera and yours truly — mercenaries paid to smear him.
That’s old news. He’s again copying his idol, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who says the same thing.
Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago is another Francis Suarez in the making
Everybody is waiting for the other shoe to drop.
By other shoe, Ladra means the tired, old, stinky loafer that is Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago, who would follow his BFF, mentor and role model, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, anywhere.
Fat ballot: Everybody is running for something, everything in 2024
Happy New Year, voter! Are you ready for 2024?
If anybody thought elections in 2023 were interesting — what with corrupt Miami Mayor Francis Suarez being a pretend presidential contender for all of five minutes and incumbent losses in Coral Gables and the city of Miami — next year will likely be as good or better.
Absentee Miami Mayor Francis Suarez issues Christmas Eve veto on D1 lines
He was absent from the redistricting process when the Miami City Commission disenfranchised black and Coconut Grove voters by dividing their districts and diluting their votes. He let Commissioner Joe Carollo carve up the Grove so he could put his own house into District 3 and he let Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla take his only real challenger out of District 1. Mayor Francis Suarez didn’t say ni pio.
But now he wants to be involved? Now he wants to work?
