UPDATED: It’s really happening. The recall effort against Miami Commissioner Loco Joe Carollo is gaining steam with the first canvassing for signatures on Saturday. And organizers are forming a formal political action committee this week.
Volunteers have been told to meet by 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Domino Park, from which they will fan out into District 3 to collect 1,500 
signatures, representing a little more than the required 5% of the registered voters, por si las moscas.
“This city is not going to change until we take it upon ourselves to hold bad politicians accountable,” activist and organizer Juan Cuba, former director of the Miami-Dade Democrats, posted on Facebook Tuesday night.
“And Carollo is the worst of the bunch. He’s broken the law by using city funds to campaign for his political ally. He’s dangerous – using the power of his office to intimidate and harass business owners and residents (see: Ball & Chain),” Cuba said, referring to the restaurant owned by Carollo’s main target (after Mayor Francis Suarez), Bill Fuller, who he has harassed and tried to militarize the city’s code enforcement against.
Read related: Recall effort vs Joe Carollo picks up after commission meltdown
“And he’s more preoccupied with his petty political fights than he is with the real problems we face as a city (see: the meeting they 
adjourned without hearing a single item on the agenda),” that was the meeting earlier this month that Carollo cohort, Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, adjourned to deny the city manager an opportunity to answer serious allegations made in a politically charged environment.
Cuba said volunteers will go door to door to collect signed petitions in two-hour shifts at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The 1,500 signatures have to be collected within 30 days of the first petition signed.
“This Saturday is an important day for us to show that we have momentum,” he said, telling Ladra that he hopes to get 30 volunteers.
Read related: Joe Carollo fires staffer who reported abuse of office to the State Attorney
There was a time when Ladra thought it would be easy to collect 1,500 votes to recall Carollo. But these are the people who voted for him in the first place. And let’s not forget: Carollo will have access to the petitions, which are a public record, and he will know who signed it and who didn’t. Someone as vindictive as he is could show up at your door to see if you have any code violations.
“That’s precisely why he needs to go,” Cuba told Ladra. 
“We need to stand up to him. And, sure, we are going to have to make our case.”
But he says he has already found people that are willing to sign. “People are mad because he’s a bully. Especially people in The Roads.”
He knows it won’t be easy because it has to be an all volunteer effort, but Cuba plans to register a political action committee on Thursday to raise funds to start doing some voter outreach and messaging.
The petition has two reasons on it for Loco Joe to be recalled:
“1. Carollo abused his power and violated the city charter by instructing code enforcement to target, harass and intimidate a business owner in Little Havana who supported Carollo’s political opponent. Carollo himself participated in the harassment, visiting the targeted business late at night and claiming that he is the “new sheriff in town” and that he is “the law.” Carollo’s actions resulted in a federal lawsuit and an investigation by the Miami-Dade Commission of Ethics and Public Trust; and
“2. Carollo abused his power and violated state law by using public funds to support the political campaign of a political ally. In 2018, Carollo repeatedly used city resources to organize lunchtime events for senior citizens, which included free food and other giveaways. Carollo then used these taxpayer-funded events as campaign rallies for his political ally, introducing him to those present and encouraging the seniors in attendance to vote for him.”
That second one refers to PaellaGate. Remember when Carollo 
used city funds and staff to take Paella lunches to seniors at the public housing buildings on Northwest 7th Street to help ADLP in his ill-fated campaign for county commissioner? Well, this refers to that.
Anyone going on Saturday is urged to bring a friend, a water bottle, and a fully-charged cell phone. If you can’t join in Saturday, you can volunteer for another weekend here: http://bit.ly/recallvolunteer
The form says: “Joe Carollo abused his power and influence as commissioner to intimidate and harass local business owners, used city funds to campaign for a political ally, and is a continued source of embarrassment and divisiveness in the city (as he’s been in every government he’s been a part of). His actions have led to an investigation by the Miami-Dade County on Ethics and Public Trust and several ongoing lawsuits.”
“It’s time for him to go and send a signal to the rest of the commission that residents will not sit idly by.”
Hear that, ADLP? You could be next.
Recall against Miami’s Joe Carollo is launched this week in Little Havana added by Ladra on
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