Happy Mother’s Day, a bit early. Hope you have something lovely planned for the mama in your life on Sunday — whether that be a biological, spiritual or political mama.

But the rest of the week is just a normal week in May, with government meetings and candidate events and political powwows.

Please make it easier for me and send me information about your government meetings, candidate forums and political protests to edevalle@gmail.com. Do it for mom.

TUESDAY — May 9

8:30 a.m. –Last week, the Miami Beach Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club had one of the city’s mayoral candidates, former Sen Dan Gelber, photographed left, as the speaker. This week, it is the other mayoral candidate, Commissioner Michael Grieco. Former Mayor Matti Bower, who is so far not running for anything, serves as moderator at the morning meetings, which are at Puerto Sagua Restaurant, 700 Collins Ave. Questions can be submitted in advance via Facebook.

9:00 a.m. — This will be the first Coral Gables Commission meeting for the new Mayor Raul “I’m Back” Valdes-Fauli and new Commissioner Mike Mena after both won their respective races last month. Among the items on the agenda or Commissioner Vince Lago‘s lowering of the speed limit from 30 to 25 MPH. It seems to fly in the face of reason that this will be at all effective when the Gables does not have enough police to be enforcing any speed limit, but it sounds good and will look good on his political resume. What people don’t realize is that it will cost about $200,000 for the signage, of which there will be more. Extra signs will be required to enforce the special 25 MPH speed limit. In the Gables, where people sweat every detail, that is a big deal. Ladra fully expects the measure to pass unanimously, however, less some smaty pants campaign consultant put your picture in a red convertible for an attack piece come eletion time.

5 p.m. — Palmetto Bay Council members Karyn Cunningham and David Singer will meet with Miami-Dade County officials to discuss transit and transportation issues, including a possible “bridging” of Southwest 87th Avenue from 164th to 163rd Terrace, something that has caused the community some concern and is opposed by the council. The implementation of more traffic calming devices and the criteria for such may also be discussed. Starting after 6 p.m., the two council members will also talk about the downtown urban village code, reducing speed limits around village parks and the future of the five-acre parcel of property near Villlage Hall on Franjo Road owned by Shores Development. This is an open meeting that has been noticed, as required by government in the sunshine laws, so that the two electeds can discuss something that they may and likely will have to vote on in the future. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. at Village Hall, 9705 East Hibiscus St.

THURSDAY — May 11

9:30 a.m. — While the non profits fighting over $14 million in grant allocations wait for commissioners to get comfortable with the process, the parks and recreation committee will likely dole out more than half a million in grants (if there is a quorum and they are able to meet aftr all). Of those, 37 are for organizations or projects that will boost tourism. Another 14 are for artists for cultural programs. The committee meets at 9:30 a.m. in commission chambers at County Hall, 111 NW First St.

FRIDAY — May 12

2 p.m. — Miami Beach Commissioners just can’t wait to ban casino gambling in the city. So they expedited the process and will meet on an off day Friday, the day after the issue is considered by the planning board, to vote on changes in the city’s comprehensive plan and zoning laws to prohibit gambling. The process was started last month, after a gaming bill was floated in Tallahassee. Even though the bill never saw the light of day, Beach commissioners want to pre-empt any attempt to turn Collins Avenue into the next Atlantic City.

SATURDAY — May 13

10 a.m. — In yet another sign that Miami-Dade Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava is not running for congress, her county commission re-election kick-off rally is this Saturday at Ludovici Park, 17641 Old Cutler Rd, in Palmetto Bay. There will be food and “campaign bling” — probably t-shirts since volunteers may go out and canvass the neighborhood. Levine Cava, who won her seat against Commissioner Lynda Bell in 2014 faces her first re-election next year.

SUNDAY — May 14

Happy Mother’s Day.


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