Two old oak trees on Grand Avenue in Coral Gables were cut down to make way for an entrance into the Wawa gas station and convenience store that is planned for that corner, despite the opposition of many residents and parents at the elementary school across the street.
WaWa will pay a little more than $17,400 for “tree mitigation,” according to emails obtained from the city.
But those emails show that former State Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla was representing the Wawa without registering as a lobbyist. Attorney Laura Russo also sent emails to the city attorney before she registered as a lobbyist for Bahamian Village, which is building the Wawa, on March 23.
Now the parents and residents, who formed the Gables Accountability Project to stop the Wawa from breaking ground, have filed an ethics complaint against them with the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust.
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A public records request filed by their attorney, David Winker, showed that Miguel Diaz de la Portilla had been communicating with City Attorney Miriam Ramos via email since at least March 12. Russo had been discussing the tree removal with Gable Assistant Public Work Director Brook Dannemiller since Feb. 26. She registered to lobby for Bahamian Village on March 23.
“None of these negotiations were known to city residents,” Winker wrote in his complaint, adding that they learned of it when then Vice Mayor Vince Lago mentioned, at a candidate forum on March 18, that he had spoken to Wawa’s lawyer about the trees.
That’s five days before Russo registered.
“I was hoping the developer would hold off on taking any action,” Lago told Ladra Thursday. “But they have every right to move forward.”
He further stated that it was he who “asked for the meeting” with Diaz de la Portilla to try to save the trees. The meeting was later cancelled by Ramos.
Lago also told Ladra that the city has very little to do with the tree removal.
“The city of Coral Gables has no jurisdiction. I would love to see those trees relocated,” the newly elected mayor said. “At the end of the day, it’s completely outside our jurisdiction.”
Ladra is not sure how that’s possible since it is in the city.
The corner on Grand just south of U.S. 1 was originally going to be affordable housing and a community center 17 years ago when the county sold the 1.7 acres to the Lola B. Walker Homeowners Association for $10. After years of stalling and changing course, Miami-Dade was about to take the land back. Then the county, the city and the HOA reached a settlement that included a commitment to expedite the review and approval process for the project. The WaWa doesn’t even have to pay impact fees. There were none of the normally required public hearings and residents feel sidelined.
It became an issue during the election this month.
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Miguel de la Portilla — whose brother, Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, has no problem flaunting the law — told Ladra he is not worried.
“I read the complaint. It failed to show a violation of any rules,” MDLP said in a text Thursday night. “I was engaged in the practice of law. There was no lobbying. I have full confidence in the ethics commission and their ability to conduct an unbiased review of this meritless complaint. I will fully cooperate with their review and expect it to be resolved in my favor soon.”
Unregistered lobbying leads to removal of old oaks for Coral Gables WaWa added by Ladra on
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