Now that he’s won the mayoral race in Coral Gables, we are going to have to keep a watchful eye over Vince Lago.
Ladra supported Lago over Commissioner Pat Keon because he has worked harder and represented the residents better, especially when it comes to overdevelopment, where he has been the consistent sole nay. But also because he has always been transparent, accountable and accessible.
Maybe he’s too accessible.
Somehow, Lago let Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla — who is embroiled in multiple scandals and being investigated for his shenanigans — into his campaign at the last minute. He was there for early voting and on Election Day and showed up to the party, looking a bit worn and tired. Maybe it’s all that Allapattah nightlife!
Read related: Vince Lago is the new Coral Gables mayor in heated and divisive election
Not sure what The Dean added. Lago had this without him. And now does he owe ADLP a favor?
“Those are issues he’s dealing with and I wish him the best,” Lago said about the multiple investigations into ADLP’s shenanigans. “But at the end of the day, I need to be able to work with anyone.”
Like Tom Martinelli, a former Carlos Gimenez lackey turned into AirBnB’s local lobbyist? He was at the victory party also. What does he want?
Hialeah Commissioner Oscar de la Rosa was there and Ladra was told that former county Commissioner Steve Bovo, his stepfather, was there also. Bovo is best known for absentee ballot fraud in his Hialeah district office during he 2012 elections.
Read related: Alex Diaz de la Portilla is investigated on ghost city employee at Omni CRA
Lago already had some less than desirable people working on his team. And, no, we’re not talking about Brian Goldmeier, his professional fundraiser. Goldmeier is in it for the fee he collects, not favors.
But Jesse Manzano, the new campaign manager for Lago — he and Steve Marin broke up — does deals with professional government grifter Ralph Garcia-Toledo. They pitched a monorail project to the county. Might we find Manzano trying to get transportation contracts in the Gables?
Lago says Manzano is a longtime friend and there will be no conflicts.
“My brother is a land use attorney at Greenberg Traurig and I have never allowed my brother to step in and do any business in Coral Gables,” Lago told Ladra. “There are plenty of other cities that he can work in.
“Jesse Manzano will not be doing business in the city of Coral Gables.”
New Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago has ‘friends’ in all the wrong places added by Ladra on
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[…] Read related: New Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago has ‘friends’ in all the wrong places […]
[…] Read related: New Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago has ‘friends’ in all the wrong places […]
Wow… Some interestingly shady names on that list: ADLP, Ralph Garcia-Toledo, one of Carlitos 2.0 lackeys, and Steven “El Bobo”… I’m starting to regret my vote.
Coral Gables Mayor does not pay all that much. It requires a firm disposition to discharge the duties of presiding over City Commission meetings. It’s not the executive Mayor format of Miami-Dade County, and this gentleman is not likely to try to turn it into one . It’s not a stepping stone to a higher political position within our state .
Please consider the following.
Vince Lago worked for 2 1/2 years on the Zoning Code Rewrite WITHOUT INFORMING VOTERS.
When pressed for and in Public Workshops on
How much larger houses, apt buildings, and multi-family buildings the Code allows, and
How REMOTE PARKING
A. Allows developers NOT to provide 20% of the required parking EVER
B. How REMOTE PARKING will not seriously hurt income on Miracle Mile — WHO WANTS TO REMOTE PARK?!
Vince Lago REFUSED TO ANSWER, and said twice — in pushing for quick votes on the Zoning Code over Citizens protest that more time was needed to understand the Code Rewrite:
“We’ve debated this for 3 years. It’s time to vote and move forward.
Sincerely,
Jackson Rip Holmes
All I can say is that there are a whole bunch of sore losers! They tried every possible lie, innuendo, etc; accepted campaign money from the developers, used any dark money they could get their hands on, and…………..they couldn’t derail him. So sad that they have nothing to move on to! At least Pat is going to travel, play golf and enjoy her family.
As to the comment from, obviously a City employee, let’s hope that yes, a new Commission can force the Administration’s hand to finally get rid of all those employees that do not understand that they work for us, the residents, That they are there to do what the elected officials ask them to do, and not to push their own agendas. Of course we could throw in that they should learn to be respectful when dealing with each other and with the residents! Oh, and perhaps they should also be reminded to find romantic interests away from their jobs.
OK lesson learned: winners attract losers…So moving forward to the runoff in 2 weeks
Group 2, both qualified and divergent platforms. It’s a personal choice.
in the other race, Baño is the AB candidate (anybody but) because of his rouges gallery of family friends and supporters while the slow growth preservationist zoning candidate Menendez will be putting his house for sale soon at a 300% mark-up after leading the commercial upzoning of his formerly residential neighborhood?
Are we sure Carl Hiaassen didn’t write this script?
Lago Marred
Ladra Wonder of Transportation ? The City Already Have LYFT ,UBER , Bicycles ,Scooters, Mopeds and Yes FREE BEE Golf Carts That has Cost Tax Payers $ 180,000. DONATIONS Wonder Why The City LOOKS SOO Filty ?
Lago will get rid of the few bad apple city employees that have been chronic to city hall problems. bye bye! no more resident disrespect.
“Trust but verify”.
Lol
“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so. “ – Mark Twain
Everybody was so positive that Gimenez had a train full of dark money and special interest baggage following her, turns out it was the golden boy who’s pulling the train.
Crónica de una muerte anunciada. Nothing that 38% of those of us who voted on Tuesday didn’t know!
Oooooo wow. There are politicians and special interests trying to get things from a newly elected Mayor? Shocker. That’s some hard hitting journalism!
When and if something happens, report on it. Until then, all this speculative nonsense is little more than click bait. Do better than insinuations. Don’t pin other people’s issues on someone else. Either there is a problem or not.
And that, as they say, is the rub. Lago says the right things but does the wrong ones. He is also surrounded by a few miserable residents who attack staff while Lago looks for ways to help his friends (research dollhouse resolution). It’s going to be an interesting two years.
The same cast of characters made up of lobbyists, campaign managers and politicians roaming from one end of the county to the other.
None of those named here serve the public. They just serve themselves. They are a pack of wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing.
And who is there to prevent these predators from robbing us of every tax dollar we pay? None other that the most corrupt State Attorney in the state. With over two decades of behind the scenes deal making our state attorney picks and chooses who is investigated and who gets to roam free and steal. Has anyone ever bothered to do a net worth analysis to determine how she has enriched herself while in office? That should be up to FDLE or the FBI but those two agencies are either inept or they just play the game.
Her two hand-picked directors at the OIG and the Commission on Ethics serve her well. These two lackeys obtained their jobs with her nod and with the precondition that they would do as the State Attorney said or else. They come with impressive resumes and so called “experience” but it is all a sham, they care only about their salary and the power they wield from their positions. Remember their names, Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, State Attorney, Jose Arrojó, Commission on Ethics, and Felix Jimenez, Office of the Inspector General. Corruption begins with these three misfits and it radiates into every facet of our society. Thank them for the high taxes we pay, for the high cost of insurance companies passed on to us to cover all the fraud, for the absentee ballot fraud and for the lack of quality of life associated with South Florida. Expect no change as long as these corruptors remain on the scene.