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.
Growing calls for Francis Suarez to resign lead to nasty mayoral message
There’s a growing list of people who think Miami Mayor Francis Suarez ought to resign his position in light of the exposé published this week by The Miami Herald, with details about just how much he blurs the lines between his private, for-profit life and his, ahem, “public service.”
Former Miami Police chiefs Jorge Colina and Art Acevedo — who wrote a scathing memo about corruption that is supposedly being investigated by the Broward State Attorney’s office — have joined the chorus. But the first one to publicly call for his resignation was newly-elected Commissioner Damian Pardo, who ran on a platform of rooting out corruption.
Miami’s new commissioners show strength, force tax cut at first meeting
The first meeting of the newly-elected Miami commissioners showed the change in the dynamic that voters seem to want in their city government when Miguel Gabela and Damian Pardo refused to rubber stamp the old budget and fought to make changes that resulted in a $25 million shave on operational expenses and a tiny tax cut.
But it’s the thought that counts.
Steven Miro is back at Miami City Hall as new commissioner’s special advisor
Talk about awkward: Steven Miro, the former chief of staff fired by Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo in 2018, is back at City Hall this week as special advisor to newly elected Commissioner Miguel Gabela.
Miro said his job would be to run the district offices and “make sure the constituent services are up to par, which they haven’t been.” He is going to be making $60,000 a year, which is more than he did as Carollo’s staffer before he became a whistleblower and got fired in 2018. Miro had gone to the State Attorney’s office to report PaellaGate, Carollo’s use of district funds to campaign with Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, in the county commission race of 2017, with the Spanish dish at elderly housing.
New commissioner moves fast to fire Miami City attorney Victoria Mendez
Miami City Attorney Victoria Mendez should be shopping for a new job.
Newly-elected Commissioner Miguel Gabela, who said on the campaign trail that he would fire Mendez, has put her termination on the agenda of his first regularly scheduled meeting Dec. 14.
In House 118 special election, 1st timer Republican Mike Redondo keeps it red
But Democrats over perform in Trump district
Personal injury attorney and first time candidate Mike Redondo beat perennial candidate and longtime activist Johnny Farias in the special election for Florida House 118 Tuesday, with a squeaky 52% of the vote to keep the seat red. Republican Juan Fernandez-Barquin held the seat until the governor named him Miami-Dade Clerk and Comptroller in June.
Miami City Manager Art Noriega reaches out in new YouTube video series
Is it from the horse’s mouth? Or is it propaganda?
Miami City Manager Art Noriega recorded an 85-second video and posted it on YouTube two weeks ago saying that this was only the first of a series in which he would lay out the details of projects, programs, legislation and other city business. You know, for transparency’s sake, he says.
Miami-Dade junket to Japan is latest trip on La Alcaldesa’s world tour
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Commission Chairman Oliver Gilbert and several county commissioners and staffers are in Japan on an “outbound mission” to encourage business and economic development, growth, expansion, trade, tourism and cultural exchanges.
A delegation of public officials and about 30 business leaders left Nov. 25 for the trip to visit Tokyo and Kyoto to meet with government officials and “talented Japanese business leaders” in the areas of AI, robotics, biotechnology, transit, tourism and renewable energy to exchange ideas and find opportunities
Special election in House 118 pits longtime public servant vs first timer
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the library, there is a special election that ends Tuesday for the Florida House 118 seat to replace Juan Fernandez-Barquin, who was named Miami-Dade Clerk and Comptroller by the governor in June.
The candidates are Democrat Johnny Farias, an electrical contractor and former community councilman in his third attempt at elected office, and Republican Mike Redondo, a personal injury attorney on his first run.
Winners and losers from Miami election
As always, the candidates in our local elections are not the only ones who win or lose come Election Day. A bunch of influence peddlers, lobbyists, developers, consultants, environmentalists, preservationists and other special interests will float up with the winners on the ballot, or go down the losers’ proverbial drains.
And this has become somewhat of a tradition on Political Cortadito. So, without further blah blah blah, here are the winners and losers of the Miami 2023 elections.
Oh, how the mighty fall hard: The rise and plunge of Alex Diaz de la Portilla
DEVELOPING: First, he lost his pride when he was arrested in September, cuffed and jailed, on public corruption charges that include bribery, money laundering and official misconduct in a pay-for-play scheme where he gave away a public park for at least $245,000 in campaign contributions, paid hotel accommodations, booze and snacks.
Then, former Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla lost his seat when Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended him.
