Ladra could have told you this was coming.
Donald Trump has been salivating for years at the idea of hosting the world’s power players at his Doral playground, the golf resort he scooped up in bankruptcy and turned into his Miami-Dade monument to himself. He tried to stick the G7 there back in 2020 until COVID got in the way. He wasn’t about to let another shot slip by.
So now, in 2026, the G20 summit of world economic leaders will land in… wait for it… Doral. Not “Miami,” like Trump kept repeating last week– with Miami Mayor Francis Suarez beaming and falling all over himself to thank him at his side in the Oval Office — but Doral. You know, that suburb best known for traffic or arepas.
Trump said the Trump National Doral was perfect because of the weather and nearby airport and insisted that we, the people of “Miami,” wanted it. Pero claro, who wouldn’t want thousands of cops, Secret Service agents, motorcades, barricades and headaches right in time for Art Basel? Doralites already know what traffic looks like when there’s a junior golf tournament. Multiply that by a hundred, add a few heads of state, and you’ve got December gridlock.
But make no mistake: this is all about Trump finally pulling off what he couldn’t in his first term. He has always wanted his name in the backdrop of world leaders’ photo ops, his Crystal Ballroom on the evening news, his private cabanas whispered about in security briefings. He gets to say he brought the G20 to Miami-Dade — while really bringing it to the only piece of real estate that matters to him.
And Suarez? Ay, the mayor couldn’t thank him enough, practically calling Trump the savior of the hospitality industry. “I know you own many hospitality assets and properties,” Baby X said. Wink, nod.
Read related: Donald Trump’s Gold Visa puts the American Dream up for sale for $5M
Never mind that the city of Miami won’t be hosting squat. It’s Doral that will be on the map, as Doral Mayor Christi Fraga quickly reminded everyone, already polishing the welcome sign.
“Doral is ready to shine. From business to culture, we’ll showcase our city on the world stage,” Fraga posted on the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Residents of Doralzuela, where thousands of Venezuelans have remade their lives after fleeing the dictatorship back home, might not be as enthusiastic. The same president who is now trying to deport more Venezuelans than ever — even those who had legal protections just five minutes ago — wants to showcase their adopted hometown as his shiny global stage. He’ll fill his resort with heads of state while ICE fills planes with families.
Trump swears he and his own family won’t profit from the decision. ¿De verdad? At a resort he owns? Where every suite, cocktail, and catered lunch gets rung up at Trump National Doral? Ladra will believe that when the Venezuelan cartelitos stop laundering money through Doral condos.
So sí, the world is coming to Doral. But don’t let the White House spin fool you. This isn’t about Miami’s “global city” moment.
It’s about Trump finally getting to show off his golf course to the planet — even if he has to snarl traffic, crash Art Basel, and make Miami look like a backdrop for his resort ad in the process.
The post Trump finally gets his G20 at Doral — porque nunca dejó de quererlo appeared first on Political Cortadito.

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Just in time for the 47-acre Upland Park transit-oriented, mixed use project that is expected to transform the Dolphin Park-and-Ride terminal into a major multimodal transit hub, the city of Doral is looking to update its transit plan, which could also include changes and/or additions to its trolley service.
Residents can hear about the transit plan goals and proposed improvements to the trolley service at a workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday on the first floor of City Hall, 8401 NW 53rd Terrace. They can also learn about the county’s Better Bus Network — which many say is not necessarily better (more on that later) — and provide feedback on the city’s trolley service.
Traffic is already bad in Doral, and it is expected to get worse.
Developer Terra broke ground last month on the first phase of Upland Park, which will include more than 2,000 mid-rise and garden-style apartments, 282,000 square feet of retail and 414,000 square feet of commercial space.
Upland Park is designed to increase public transit ridership “while anchoring the new East-West Corridor of the county’s Smart public transportation plan,” according to a press release from the developer, who billed it as “the largest public-private transit-oriented development” in the history of Miami-Dade County.
“Through public-private partnerships, we are accelerating smart solutions by adding new transit-oriented communities along major transit corridors,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said in a statement.
“These developments provide public transportation connections to employment centers, schools, arts and culture, and healthcare, making it easier for residents to access essential services and opportunities. Upland Park is a prime example of how we are continuing to build a better community for all and a future-ready Miami-Dade County,” Levine Cava said. “Located alongside the 836 Expressway, which features a dedicated bus lane, this development will provide residents with seamless and efficient transit options, further integrating smart mobility solutions into our growing region.”
Read related: Post election shake up in Doral as new mayor ushers in new administration
Said District 12 Commissioner Juan Carlos “JC” Bermudez, the former mayor of Doral: “Upland Park is a significant step forward in ensuring that residents of West Dade, have greater access to transit, jobs, and essential services.”
In 2016, the then-city council approved two inter-local agreements between Doral and the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) providing up to $90,000 in grant funding to study the expansion of Doral trolley service to Florida International University and the conversion of certain streets into one-way traffic corridors to increase circulation capacity.
The trolley expansion back then was an initiative by current Doral Mayor Christi Fraga, who was vice mayor at time.
If you want to see more Doral coverage in Political Cortadito, let Ladra know. There’s a space to make a comment in your donation to independent watchdog journalism. Thank you for your support.
The post Doral seeks input on update to city transit plan, expanded trolley service appeared first on Political Cortadito.

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What are you doing this weekend? Doral Mayor Christi Fraga and a bunch of legislators are going to chat about the repercussions of new condo laws and issues on Saturday.

Florida State State Reps. David Borrero and Juan Carlos Porras and Miami-Dade State Attorney Assistant State Attorney John Perikles, division chief of the economic crimes unit, and Sgt. Carlos Luffi of the Miami-Dade Police economic crimes will participate in a day-long “information session” at the Doral Cultural Arts Center.

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The election of two new council members and Mayor Christi Fraga in Doral has turned to a shake-up of the city administration as at least two top officials have been asked to resign.

City Manager Hernan M. Organvidez and City Attorney Luis Figueredo both submitted their resignation letters, which will be considered at Wednesday’s council meeting, Fraga’s first. Fraga has already nominated someone to replace him: Barbara “Barbie” Hernandez, the city of Miami’s parks and recreation director, with a proposed salary of $238,442, according to the employment agreement the council will consider.

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The election of two new council members and Mayor Christi Fraga in Doral has turned to a shake-up of the city administration as at least two top officials have been asked to resign.

City Manager Hernan M. Organvidez and City Attorney Luis Figueredo both submitted their resignation letters, which will be considered at Wednesday’s council meeting, Fraga’s first. Fraga has already nominated someone to replace him: Barbara “Barbie” Hernandez, the city of Miami’s parks and recreation director, with a proposed salary of $238,442, according to the employment agreement the council will consider.

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The city of Doral has a new mayor today after voters on Tuesday chose former Councilwoman and Miami-Dade School Board Member Christi Fraga over Councilwoman Claudia Mariaca, 55% to 45%.

There were also two new council members elected on much narrower margins. Both Rafael Pineyro and Maureen Porras beat opponents Susie Castillo and Ivette Gonzalez Petkovich, 51% to 49% and 52% to 48%, respectively. It was a flip for both. Gonzalez left the first round in August with 43% to Porras 38% and Castillo had a 10-point lead over Pinyero.

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