When Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Grieco dared to defy Mayor Phillip “Fix It Phil” Levine, the latter lashed out in the media and on an email calling the sole dissenting vote on the 84% stormwater rate increase “playing politics.” But it wasn’t enough. Like the jilted half of any bad break-up, Levine needs to vent […]
By DARA KAMTHE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDATHE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE — Floridians really, really support the legalization of medical marijuana, according to a poll released Monday morning.The poll found that 88 percent of Florida voters approve of medical marijuana, including 83 percent of voters age 65 and older and 95 percent of those between 18 and 29.The support also crosses party […]
What do you call it when you put all the local Republican club members, political candidates, party loyalsists, activists, campaign workers and volunteers together in one room with a DJ, a slideshow, a stage, a guy dressed as Abraham Lincoln serving beverages and lots of balloons in red, white and blue? The GOP organizers called […]
There will be at least three more forums or debates for candidates this week. Ladra is going to have to find a way to be in two places at one time Monday when Miami-Dade Commissioner Lynda Bell faces off with challenger Daniella Levine Cava a second time. The debate sponsored by the Rotary Club of […]
One might assume that Sen. Marco Rubio and Miami-Dade School Board Member Carlos Curbelo were thick as thieves. But they were once enemies. A negative attack on Curbelo financed by the campaign of Cutler Bay Mayor Ed “Mac” MacDougall reminds voters that the one-time political consultant used to work for former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist […]
One candidate is really turning up the temperature in the already heated Republican congressional primary for the chance to run against U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia in November. And just in time for the absentee ballots, which will arrive in a few days. Cutler Bay Mayor Ed “Mac Daddy” MacDougall, who drew first blood in the […]
By JIM TURNER / THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDATHE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, July 24, 2014 — For most state lawmakers, 2013 was another good year financially, regardless of party. Still, those with an “R” affixed to their names are doing better, in general, when it comes to the bottom line thanks mostly to stronger housing and stock markets.Updated financial-disclosure reports for 2013 were due July 1. […]
Call it the calming before the storm. Miami-Dade Police Deputy Director Juan Perez sent a feel good memo to all department personnel Friday morning telling them that he was going to do “everything necessary” to avoid “this worst case scenario” — the firing of 283 positions, including 228 officers. The memo comes more than a […]
It was a short-lived honeymoon and Ladra sees the pending end of the bromance between Miami Beach Mayor Philip “Fix It Phil” Levine and Commissioner Michael Grieco, who ran on the Levine slate last year to overcome longtime Beach incumbents. At Wednesday’s city commission meeting, Levine lashed out at Grieco for being the sole nay […]
It escaped me Wednesday, but Genting isn’t the interesting client represented by the lobby firm that stole Miami-Dade Deputy Mayor Genaro “Chip” Iglesias from the county. David Beckham is. Iglesias has been the county’s lead negotiator on the talks with Beckham and his group of investors to bring Major League Soccer to Miami — and […]