When a code enforcement inspector showed up at an illegal after hours club without a liquor license in Allapattah after midnight one recent Sunday, she didn’t expect to find a city commissioner there.
Let alone get into a physical altercation with him.
But, according to multiple sources and public records available on the city’s NextRequest website database, Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla was not only at the illegal party at 772 NW 22nd Street, but he allegedly poked and shoved the code compliance supervisor, Suzann Nicholson.
She’s already been transferred to the building department to cover it all up and may be seeking workman’s compensation for a hip injury she said she received in the scuffle, according to an email she sent her boss March 8.
The illegal club bust was on Feb, 21. According to a police incident report, a gun was discharged.
A photo of Diaz de la Portilla among some scantily-clad women inside the club — the kind that pole dance or serve $20 beers at those illegal cafeterias on Flagler — was posted on the city’s website after a public records request. Las malas lenguas say it was a kind of strip club.
“Not a strip club, mentirosa,” Diaz de la Portilla texted Ladra when she asked him about it. “An establishment in my district that is creating jobs and helping revitalize our economy.”
An illegal establishment, that is.
“I don’t check licenses when I visit an establishment. That’s not my job. That is what code enforcement does,” he actually wrote. “My job is to help people who are struggling find jobs.”
Um, no, that’s not his job either.
The incident occurred just after midnight on Feb. 21 — waaaay after Alex’s bedtime, and more importantly, after curfew. Nicholson arrived as part of a routine joint inspection with police officers. She had a list of places to go to where there were complaints of illegal dumping, illegal drinking and a pop-up strip club in Wynwood. On her list was 772 NW 22nd Street, operating as a venue called Museum Miami.
“Museum Miami was being used as a partially closed nightclub with a minimum occupancy load of 100,” Nicholson wrote in a 3:45 a.m. email to her boss, Assistant Code Compliance Director Eric Nemons.
“At the time of inspection, I observed one way in and out, no sprinkler system seen, alcohol was being served, cover charge at the door, no certificate of use, no business tax receipt, no Alcohol and Tobacco license, 85% of the attendees were not wearing facial masks. Joint inspection conducted after 12 a.m. curfew,” Nicholson wrote.
Read related: Alex Diaz de la Portilla is investigated on ghost employee at Omni CRA
“Upon request for license/special even permit/temporary use permit, the security officer introduced Miami-Dade County Commissioner Alex De La Portilla. I asked Commissioner Portilla if he was representing the event, and he responded NO.”
The email makes no mention of pushing or shoving. But a separate email to Nemons and Assistant City Manager Natasha Colebrook-Williams, sent on March 8, Nicholson states: “I attempted to speak with you regarding the incident with the commissioner on February 21, during the unpermitted special event inspection. During the poking and pushing I lost my footing and although I didn’t fall, assumed I was okay. since then, I have been having issues with my left hip and would like the incident documented.”
Nicholson, who was just doing her job, is known as a hard-working, dedicated, by-the-book inspector. She raises her grandchildren. She’s been through a lot. She was “promoted” to building department shortly after that email. It’s a transfer she requested long ago. But the timing is suspicious.
Efforts to reach Nicholson, Assistant Code Compliance Director Eric Nemons and City Manager Art Noriega have been fruitless. Noriega did not respond to several voice mail messages and texts. Again. He certainly knows about this. But Ladra hears he is very afraid that he could lose his job now that there are four votes against his handler (more on that later).
Ladra has also asked for the police reports and the body cam footage from the two officers who were there with Nicholson.
Read related: Omni CRA ghost employee fired, could be rehired by Commissioner ADLP
Diaz de la Portilla — who is being investigated for multiple shenanigans, including hiring a ghost employee at the Omni CRA — may be facing a lawsuit. A very reliable source told Ladra that Nicholson has retained an attorney. He is still mad about Political Cortadito breaking the story about Jenny Nillo, his longtime confidant with a no-show $53K-a-year job at the CRA who was really spending her time helping his brother, Renier Diaz de la Portilla, during the county commission campaign last year. He was stripped of the CRA by the other four commissioners last week.
He’s been losing control of the commission for weeks, however. It’s almost expected for Diaz de la Portilla — who has allegedly fallen off the wagon — to be at a bar after midnight. Just not an illegal one. And abusing his power to threaten or berate a code compliance inspector.
According to the Miami-Dade property search, the 22nd Street warehouse is owned by MJ Property Investments, which has Mark Brooks listed as the only principal on Florida corporate records. It is about eight blocks from the mattress factory that ADLP owns (read: stole from his parents), so he might have slept there instead of going all the way home — to Brickell.
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Dear Mike, no I did not see. Can you send me the link or info? [email protected]
Of course, you could be making it all up. Especially since the inspector was terminated months ago. Sooooo…
I will try to follow up on this anyway. Thanks for reminding me.
Love, Ladra
Did you see what happened at Miami Civil Service Board? ADLP exonerated by the cameras and the testimony. The lying inspector discredited and terminated. I can’t wait for my next fresh colada, which will print the retraction, right? Lol. You will not post this. You’re afraid to be exposed for the fraud that you are. That is why MH fired you. Remember your ethical duty to the truth, and against censorship (I have all the past comments you blocked). I will take my colada black, and without sugar, thank you.Dark and bitter like you.
Where does Alex DLP live? It is illegal for Alex DLP to live outside his district. Is there any adult supervision?
Anyone see Alex DLP bully commissioners and city staff at the May 27th Commission Meeting? Alex is more out of control than usual. Watch the video…
Where does Alex DLP actually live? People say he lives outside his district. No one believes he shares a tiny apartment with his loud dumb baby brother.
” The sad reality is people like Alex serve as a stain to our community and the Cuban culture.”
Many cubanos confuse themselves , their family , their friends with los politicos de miami .
This has been the feeling I have always had when I used to ( no longer do ) discuss politics outside of the forum.
Joe Carollo is looking to remove Art Noriega as City Manager. Art is trying to see if he can return to managing quarters and pennies, because he is unable to manage the City without Alex De La Portilla having majority political control.
I want to know if Alex DLP does NOT live in the district he is supposed to represent. The dude is not actually sharing a tiny apartment with his loser bro is he? Anyone able to come forward? Doormen? Valets? Opponents? Witnesses? Who is investigating?
Instead of Mexican telenovela, where there is a priest, a challenged person, little children, a nice and a bad person, a husband whose wife is having a desperate enamored encounter, and ostensibly everybody looks European; in Miami the telenovelas seem to be about vociferous and scandalous guys, with testerone activity at precarious
levels, mouthing each other off and treating women with disdain. Their vulgarity is there in all its splendor. These Miami politicos are a great disappointment. Miami deserves better!
So why is any one surprised
This is Miami
Corruption is expected
No required
Of all the things that make this guy a loser is the fact that he needs to continue to pay chicks for a little action.
This is such a sad story for our community. How could a young man who loves his parents so much, to the point where he has lived with them taking care of them since he was termed out of his last office about a decade ago.
He was in the prime of his life and single. What a sweet sweet child who would sacrifice his future to live with Papi y Mami. Me da triste pensandolo.
He did the right thing Ladra. He took the properties from his parents, he didn’t steal them because Papi and Mami didn’t want to say no to their “special child.”
He knew this, knows this actually and he did what any wonderful child would do, financially ruin his parents for his own political ambition.
Their house, not so fast, now it is his.
Their factory, not so fast, now it is his.
Their farm, not so fast, now it is his.
He would snatch them up and refinance them to suck the equity out of them (he does resemble a Vampire more and more these days and needs to stop wearing shoulder pads).
Then he would take the equity and “invest” in his failed campaigns. And boy there were many, most notably the complete and total beat down he received in 2017 at the hands of Jose Felix Diaz. It was like 40 points.
Thank God no one votes in the City of Miami. If Castro had $1,000 per voter, like little Alex did, he would have won there too.
The sad reality is people like Alex serve as a stain to our community and the Cuban culture. He is a person devoid of humanity, decency.
And Joe Carollo called it, while Alex may be Tally Smart, he is NOT Miami Smart. His rise in the City was quick. His fall is fitting but sad. His name, forever left in disgrace, and the demonstration of disgrace will go beyond this one story. I expect a drip drab of leaks and investigations over the next few months.
Alex thought he was moving up to that deluxe apartment in the sky, living the vida loca surrounded by luxury he couldn’t afford for himself. Problem is Alex, for as smart as you think you are, your not smart enough to get away with it this time.
Enjoy the drinks. They should have been your undoing years ago.
Better late than never!
Kisses.
Alex DLP has been breaking laws for years. Joe Carollo endorsed and supported him in his last two elections. Alex DLP does not live in his district. That is a crime too. Alex DLP gave a fake address in his last campaign reports. Please post Alex DLP’s addresses.
FIRE HIS CULO
CORRUPTION in Miami at Illegal Night Club ? Drunk County Commissioner in Key West ? ALL This Commisioners Get A Brake That The Tax Payers DON;T WHY ?” La Piña co El State Attorney ” (SAO) ?
Btw , I work at night and the curfew has always been a joke .
That is just one reason why it should have been lifted months ago.
Selective enforcement is all I have seen, Real selective.
Law abiding business owners / employees have suffered financially while those who engage in the same business and ignore the curfew make that much more money but in truth isn’t that the way it works in Miami ?
Not a thing will happen to him unless FBI gets involved .
Thankfully the FBI has become a lot more active in the corrupt Banana Republic the last 2 years which might be why DA Rundle seems to now be doing a bit more as far as the Cuban politico Cosa Nostra is concerned but a bit more when she doesn’t do a thing isn’t much .
If he did push her and the police who were also there did not arrest him , I would not be shocked at all . Sad reality of Miami.
Would have been shocked if they actually did their job and didn’t look the other way due to who he is .
I wonder if Alex Diaz de la Portilla will be reimbursed by the city for the money he spent there ” creating ” jobs , pfffffffffffffffffffffft .
I am hearing that Joe Carollo is conjuring up the 4 votes to fire Art Noriega because he has found out that Art and Alex De La Portilla teamed up to get Billy Corben to go after Joe during the City Commission. Art also got together with Alex DLP, Marc Sarnoff, and Billy Corbin to hire a truck with a traveling billboard to embarrass Joe Carollo and start a negative campaign to make certain that “Crazy Joe”, as they call him, does not get re-elected. The City Attorney Vickey Mendez has also been involved in this plot, because Mayor Francis Suarez has asked her to assist Art, because he does not want 4 more years of Joe Carollo.
Let’s see more of the cover up….and the hush money
Solid. Keep going. This is excellent work. Let’s unmask them all. Noriega is DLP’s butt boy.