Developing story: The news that Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago is getting monthly rental payments from a developer with several projects in the city is just the latest in a series of ethical lapses and questionable actions by the top politico in the City Beautiful, once a promising rising star in the local Republican Party.
Lago is part owner of a property that is currently rented by Location Ventures, the same developer who is building a luxury condo on Ponce De Leon Boulevard and who has also offered to pay $9 million for a city-owned parcel in the downtown. Location Ventures CEO Rishi Kapoor‘s payments to Lago’s buddy, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, while navigating permits and approvals for projects in that city is already a subject of investigation by the Miami-Dade Commission of Ethics and Public Trust. Lago’s ties to Kapoor, and questions that raises about a potential quid-pro-quo relationship should be looked at, too.
But this is not the only blemish Lago has acquired in recent months.
In April, Ladra exposed his third mortgage for $616,300 held by former Coral Gables Commissioner Frank Quesada. Records show the loan was satisfied April 21, about a week after it was made public in Political Cortadito — and four months before it was due. Did Lago pay him all at once? And how did he get such a windfall? Or did Quesada forgive the debt in return for some favor?
It is definitely worth looking at.
Read related: Developer who paid Miami mayor also rents from Gables Mayor Vince Lago
And las malas lenguas say Lago is already being investigated by the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust for lying when he said he had no conflict of interest with the annexation of Little Gables. He knew his own brother is the registered lobbyist on record for the owner of the trailer park, the largest piece of property in the unincorporated enclave, for which there are already development plans floating around. Lago intentionally left off siblings from a “sworn affidavit” he made a big dramatic show about.
Ladra can’t help but wonder if Oscar de la Rosa‘s real estate company — who sold the 1505 Ponce building to Kapoor — will have something to do with that deal, also. This is the real estate office where Lago has his license registered — and the same real estate office that took credit for the sale of the 1505 Ponce building to Location Ventures.
More will be added as this story is reported.
Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago gets another ethics hit in $$ from developer added by Ladra on
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[…] Read related: Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago gets another ethics hit in $$ from developer […]
[…] Read related: Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago gets another ethics hit in $$ from developer […]
[…] Read related: Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago gets another ethics hit in $$ from developer […]
[…] Read related: Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago gets another ethics hit in $$ from developer […]
I’m no mathematician, but it looks like Lago used the commission for 1505 Ponce to pay off the loan with Quesada. Rishi Kapoor used Vince to get Francis his deal. Quesada benefits from lending Vince the funds for 1424 Ponce LLC and 211 Menores LLC for future zoning love. Lagohis partner, Francis’s cousin, gets his vacant property rented for Triple Net Wow. Follow the Zonings, I mean Money$$.
” Please tell me that they are not all Cubans! ”
Lol .
My neighbor is Venezuelan and a few years back I told him I won’t vote for Cubans and he said ‘ If you find one Hispanic politician who is not a criminal regardless of where from you have found that rare politician ‘.
He grew up in Virginia and moved here like 19 years ago as his company wanted a Venezuelan representative in Doral,.
He retires in 2 years and moving back to Virginia.
Alberto Santos come on Bro, ” After the Miami Herald began asking questions about his investments last week, Lago filed an updated financial disclosure form saying he has a 40% stake in the two corporations listed as the property owners in public records, 1424 Ponce LLC and 211 Menores LLC.” The Herald allowed him to give his side of the story. This guy is a dud.
Lago seems to stand for corruption. Coral Gables residents deserve better.
Good reporting. You should also look into the new business he started with his boss at bdi. Wonder what that’s about?
Lago’s brother is a lobbyist who works at Greenberg. And the lobbyist brother used to work for Francis Suarez. Cubans. Money.
Money, money, money, money.
Some of these young chaps tend to choose the political route to live the life of the rich and famous. Miami is fertile territory for those ambitions.
This seems to be a one sided story. Was Mayor Logo given the chance to explain his side of the story ? I did not see it in the story. Frankly, the article looks a lot like one of those cards that politicians send to voters by mail during an election about their opponents.
Ay Dios Mio! Hasta cuando???? Vamos de Guatemala a Guatapeor! Need to clean the city completely of this cancer that is attached to it. Please tell me that they are not all Cubans! Thank you Ladra for your great investigations and reporting.