Rolando Escalona sworn in as Miami’s newest city commissioner = D3 reset

If anyone thought Rolando Escalona would ease into the job, smile for the cameras, and wait politely for the dust to settle, they clearly haven’t been paying attention. Even before Miami’s newest city commissioner was sworn in Wednesday — officially, publicly, and with all the ceremonial trimmings — he had already gone to work.
And the first message out the gate was crystal clear: The Carollo era is over. Full stop.
Last week, Escalona — just days after beating former Commissoner Frank Carollo 53% to 47% — sent a memo to the mayor and the city manager, as commissioner elect, requesting a freeze on all District 3 activities launched under former Commissioner Joe Carollo (Frank’s big bro). Every disbursement. Every project. Every initiative. Paused.
Not canceled. Paused. As in pending review.
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“As I prepare to be sworn-in and assume the responsibilities of District 3 Commissioner, I am writing to respectfully request that all actions, approvals, modifications, or disbursements related to District 3 legislative items, funding allocations, programs, and projects be temporarily paused until I take office,” Escalona wrote the day after Carollo resigned six days early.
“Given the former District 3 commissioner resigned effective yesterday, and the District 3 seat is now vacant, taking any action would be concerning for our residents,” Escalona wrote.
Roar.
“This request is made in the interest of ensuring a smooth and transparent transition, as well as safeguarding continuity and accountability for the residents of District 3. Delaying further action will allow my office to properly review pending matters, meet with the relevant departments, and ensure that all district initiatives align with community priorities and long-term goals,” Escalona said, adding that he may undo some of the last things Carollo did.
“If any concerns arise through our review process, I intend to ask my colleagues to support a motion to reconsider actions taken at yesterday’s commission meeting. Therefore, pausing any action would send a clear message to our community that we are embracing a new day for our city and transparency to guide our way.”
In Miami political terms, that’s not subtle. That’s a message to City Hall, staff, lobbyists, contractors, and anyone who ever whispered “Joe wants this done” and expected magic to happen: The days of governing by vendetta, pressure, and volume are over. Now comes the audit.
Read related: Goodbye, Joe: Miami’s Carollo slinks away early and at midnight, but why?
A City Hall insider told Ladra that this is really about three specific land giveaways for affordable housing that Carollo had brought to the board last week (more on that later).
The ceremony was attended by all four of the commissioners as well as former Commissioner Ken Russell, who came in third in the Nov. 4 mayoral election, and Mayor Elect Eileen Higgins, who will be sworn in Thursday afternoon.
Escalona, a Republican, took the oath of office (from Miai-Dade Clerk and Comptroller Juan Fernandez-Barquin) with Democrat Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and outgoing Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, a onetime Republican POTUS wannabe, on hand to offer remarks — a symbolic, bipartisan moment in a city still shaking off years of political chaos and an election cycle that became increasingly about keeping Miami red or turning it blue.
Levine Cava praised the importance of steady leadership and public service. “Today is all about renewal. It’s about new beginnings, and it’s about turning the page. This is a new era of city government in Miami,” the original La Alcaldesa said.
Suarez, in one of his final cameos as mayor, did what Suarez does best: smiled, congratulated, and made sure he was in the room. “Governance should be about solutions, not shouting. Collaboration, not combat,” he said, and Ladra thinks there was some giggling in the audience.
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Even Congressional candidate Richard Lamondin, who is running for the chance to go against Maria Elvira Salazar in District 27, was there to wish the new commissioner well. “Rolando Escalona is a good man whose story reflects the very best of Miami. From arriving here from Cuba to working as a busboy to now an elected City commissioner,” Lamondin posted on his social media.
Escalona stayed true to his roots in his comments. “I will fight every day for safe streets, for neighborhoods where families feel proud and secure and to keep families secure and workers will be protected,” he said, and it seemed as if he wiped a tear from his eye. “As a commissioner, I promise you this: I will never forget my promises to you and where I came from and who I work for.”
Escalona beat a residency challenge in court from another candidate, Denise Galvez Turros, who came in an embarrassing sixth place of eight. His home was drawn out of District 3 and he moved to an apartment so he could qualify. Months ago, he moved to a larger apartment to away the twins his wife gave birth to weeks ago.
Read related: Judge: Rolando Escalona belongs on Miami ballot for D3 commissioner
He promised more unity and less drama at City Hall and thanked his mother and his wife. “Your love and sacrifices made this moment possible. You are my rock and my support.”
But if you want to understand how a new commissioner might plan to govern, don’t listen to the speeches and the applause — look at the staffing. Escalona, a restaurant manager, real estate agent and political newbie, didn’t waste time in surrounding himself with some insiders.
Steven Ferreiro, the respected former chief of staff to the late Commissioner Manolo Reyes, will now serve as Escalona’s chief of staff, after a brief stint working for Hialeah’s interim mayor Jackie Garcia-Roves, who lost her election in November.  Ferreiro is known inside City Hall as serious, steady, and deeply familiar with how to actually get things done without setting the building on fire. This is especially sweet because the new District 4 commissioner, Ralph Rosado, won’t like it.
Steven Miro, formerly an aide to Carollo — until he was fired after blowing the whistle on abuse of office — is also joining the District 3 team. He will be leaving the District 1 office, but he told Ladra that his heart has always been in D3.
Ariel Trueba, who worked in the city for two years (2023-24) as a consultant in the department of human services and economic initiatives, will be the director of constituent services. An FIU graduate (class of ’22), he also served two terms as chairman of the Miami-Dade County LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, possibly becoming the youngest person to chair a county board in Florida.
Read related: ‘Winners & Losers’ from the Miami, Miami Beach and Hialeah elections
Let’s be real: District 3 hasn’t had a “normal” commissioner in a long time. It’s been lawsuits, subpoenas, headlines, vendettas, and a City Hall civility crisis that could be summed up in two words: Crazy Joe.
Escalona ran against Carollo’s baby brother — and won — as the calm alternative. The quiet contrast. The guy whose campaign wasn’t fueled by fear or fury, but by discipline, timing and hard work. And now that he’s sworn in, the follow-through is unmistakable.
Freeze the projects. Rebuild the staff. Lower the temperature.
For a city still recovering from years of five-alarm political fires, that’s not boring — it’s revolutionary.
Because let’s be honest: Rolando Escalona didn’t just win an election. He inherited a mess.
And on Day One, he showed Miami exactly how he plans to handle it: No shouting. No theatrics. No revenge tours.
Just a hard stop, a deep breath, and a methodical reset.
For District 3 — and maybe for Miami City Hall — that might be the most radical move of all.

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