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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Please have them stop by 18th Road, there are several people who will sign.
How is this not about Bill Fuller’s massive smear campaign about Carollo when the first petition accusation is about him? How much money is this guy going to spend until people start talking about this as an attempt to buy themselves the commission?
“1. Carollo abused his power and violated the City Charter by instructing code enforcement officials 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 on 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 public funds to organize lunchtime events for senior citizens, which included free food and other giveaways; Carollo invited his political ally to attend these events and converted them into campaign rallies for his political ally, encouraging the seniors in attendance to vote for him.”
Mr. Money, who doesn’t want to identify himself. I am not sure if I have ever spoken to Mr. Fuller. I don’t remember it. I never met him. I don’t know him. I have been to his establishment maybe twice. But it is apparent that Joe Carollo has tried to have the city administration, especially code enforcement, come after him ONLY BECAUSE his political opponent had an event there. That is an abuse of power. What smear campaign? I haven’t heard a peep from them.
This is not an attempt to buy a commission. Joe Carollo can run again against someone else and let’s see if his own district supports him again.
An attempt to buy a commission is what the Miami Freedom Park people are doing.
Love, Ladra
Crazy Joe is a hazard for the city he will be recalled
This looks like a bunch of sore losers that couldn’t win majority control of the Miami commission in the last election. The all-volunteer effort is laughable! Of course, these are paid activists that like Juan Cuba live outside of Miami’s district 3 running this. Someone doesn’t care how much money they have to spend just to harass the commission rather than organize a legitimate recall.
Alex DLP will be next. There are lots of voters in Alex DLP’s district who hate him. Now that Alex is acting like a Cuban dictator even a few Alex voters might sign a petition.
I Trust Joe Carollo More than The rest of the Commissioners and Mayor at Miami City Hall !!!!!!!!!!
He is Strait Forward and NOT Around The Bushes !
Some Bars (Restaurant ) That Are NOT and Have been NOT as per Code Should Be Worried ? But Not Till The Code Enforcement Start Going by The BOOK and Not Looking The Other Way ! Go JOE GO !