Change could give Mayor Vince Lago an additional 20 months in office
Voters in Coral Gables who got the robocall from Commissioner Rhonda Anderson agree on one thing: She sounds very unenthusiastic. Ladra is not sure that means anything. Anderson sounds monotone most of the time.
But some insiders think she had to hold her nose to endorse commission candidates Alex Bucelo and Ivette Arango O’Doski, the two development darlings, as a favor to Mayor Vince Lago — or, better said, as a trade to be vice mayor.
Coral Gables officials have admitted to making a mistake in February when a rewrite of the zoning code meant to clean up inconsistencies actually increased height and density in an area known as the Biltmore Section.
Whoooooops.
It may be two years away, but newly-minted Coral Gables Vice Mayor Mike Mena just lost any chance he had to be re-elected in 2023.
No, it’s not just because of the condescending matter in which he dismissed resident-driven ideas from newly-elected Commissioner Rhonda Anderson, who proposed amending the zoning code to require approval and notice for “as of right” commercial developments. The Gables Insider correctly called Mena’s arguments mansplaining. It was also pathetic.
Newly-elected Coral Gables Commissioner Rhonda Anderson is already delivering on her campaign promises, proposing sweeping changes to the zoning code at her first commission meeting Tuesday.
Anderson sent Mayor Vince Lago and her colleagues a memo on May 4, just over a week after winning the April 27 runoff, detailing a bunch of suggestions that include making certain zoning changes go before the commission, as well as a moratorium of sorts on the Mediterranean bonus that allows developers more intensity for Mediterranean designed projects.
Surprise! Big development interests poured money into both campaigns
