Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago is pushing annexation like never before.
The city sent petition ballot cards to property owners in the Little Gables and High Pines/Ponce Davis area. Two town hall meetings were scheduled to talk to residents and hear their questions. And Lago has declared himself the lead negotiator with the county on the annexations.
But of course. His brother stands to gain a giant windfall. Lobbyist Carlos Lago has not only represented the largest property owner in Little Gables, Titan Development, the trailer park that the owner wants to turn into a real estate boondoggle. Carlos Lago and his wife also own a home in High Pines/Ponce Davis.
Read related: Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago may have conflict of interest in Little Gables
Carlos Lago and his wife bought the 5 bedroom, 4 bath home for $1.13 million in 2019. It’s already valued at $2.73 million. And the market value — which went from $1.7 to $4.6 in just the last few years, according to the Miami-Dade property appraiser’s office — is expected to rise even more when the address says Coral Gables.
Is this why the city seems to be pushing the annexations. A new web page on the city’s site makes it seem like such a good idea. There are no cons.
But not everybody in High Pines/Ponce Davis wants to be annexed, however. Several homeowners spoke against it at their town hall meeting last week. Some are so against it that the neighborhood has formed an anti-annexation committee.
“Foremost among our concerns is the anticipated increase in taxes for the residents of High Pines, compounded by the augmented bureaucracy of joining a larger city jurisdiction,” says Liz Stack, who has lived in High Pines for 32 years.
Read related: Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago, con ganas, pushes annexations on fast track
“We do not wish to be subject to strict regulations and requirements for permits that have not been required previously,” Stack says. “Specifically, we do not wish to obtain a permit each time we paint our homes or to have to conform to a color palette chosen by the building department; we do not wish to obtain a permit each time we landscape our properties; we don’t wish to be told what types of vehicles can park in our driveways; we don’t want to be fined for not having our dogs on a leash as we take an afternoon stroll on our street; we do not want garbage pits on our streets like those currently in the Gables, and we do not want City employees walking up to and behind our homes to collect our garbage bins — we are quite capable of getting them to the curb ourselves.”
Many Coral Gables residents are also concerned about the strain on the city’s resources and the fact that they don’t really get a vote. Coral Gables could have put a non-binding question on the Nov. 7 ballot. It’s too late now. The deadline for municipalities to put a question on the ballot was Sept. 8.
But maybe for the next ballot? Coral Gables residents deserve a voice on these very important — and beneficial for some — decisions.
Vince Lago has conflict of interest with High Pines, Little Gables annexations added by Ladra on
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Why does it seem that Lago’s campaign consultant is spending his free time lashing on his client’s behalf? Because that is probably what is happening. The Truth is that if an election was held today, Rip Holmes would beat Lago (nothing against Rip, he is a very descent human being). And they know it. Word is that Richi Kapoor is in town, not the Bahamas, and he has been in town for some time. How much do you want to make a bet that he is cutting his deal as we speak. That is concerning politicians from two City Halls in this community. Care to guess which?
Wow! Limp Lago is in full damage control. What everyone seems to forget is last year when department director and city hall staff salaries were an issue (increases 22% and higher for some) during the budget process the Mayor first asked for more clarity, sunshine meetings, etc. Then the $1M executive bonuses came to light an he received even more public pressure. His answer was, no public hearings, no further explanation, he stated the information was presented in two budget workshops and two budget meetings. He asked the manager to write a memo explaining the issue and that was it. “No more discussion, we are moving on.” His words at the time. Look it up. Why the difference now? What’s the uproar? He is full of BS. This is retribution for losing control of the commission.
Thank you for responding. All of them need to be held accountable not only for what they do, but what they fail to do because of their bickering!
Jose
I don’t waste my time on anexation because ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! High Pines/Ponce represents millions to Metro with minimum expenses. This are contributes more $ percapita to the county than any other due to the property values, and they spend no funds. They do not care, the place looks like a dump many times with many homes that are not care for, they do not take care of the green areas, no police. The police and fire unions are not going to allow it, no matter what the majority wants, it’s never going to a vote. The excuse of higher taxes is a lie, the people who complain have been here for decades and are protected with their low assessments, the big issue is they do not want Coral Gables regulations to keep the city beautiful.
This article is written only because of politics, and nothing else. I don’t care about Lago, all politicians are crooked, local, state and federal. It’s the system. That’s why we are moving to communism type where a few control everything.
And journalists only write about their own agenda or what they are paid to say.
Dear Jose and JM: Ladra is the one who reported that Kirk Menendez asked for the raise and the two new commissioners agreed. Read the story here: https://politicalcortadito.com/2023/09/16/coral-gables-commissioners-raise-benefits/ …and I am working on a follow up. But I am getting more information to make it better.
That said, I am turning over every stone that the mayor sits on because I think he’s dirty. He acts like he’s dirty. We’ve already uncovered some questionable conflicts of interests. Are you choosing to ignore them? Something smells rotten at City Hall. So, no, it’s not personal because it’s not about me. It’s about him and the fact that he is not the public servant he sold himself to be.
Love, Ladra
You appear to have a personal vendetta against Mayor Lago or are a paid consultant for CGNA.
Why are you not exposing the 3 stooges who call themselves commissioners that gave themselves a raise and payment for new cars? As to annexation, it is clear that the majority of residents in those areas support annexation.
If you have actual evidence and proof of a conflict of interest then provide the actual documents and the sworn statements of the alleged witnesses. Otherwise move on to a new topic.
Annexation of High Pines has been tried in the recent past and did not go thru because of the police and fire unions.
Unfortunately the reason many of us wish to become part of CG is because we get no services from Metro Dade. Police is rarely here, fire and rescue has to go thru South Miami to get to us, and cleaning, parks, etc is not taken care of. Bottom line, Metro gets our high taxes but does not spend the money.
There are hard questions, as Michael Galex mentions in his response, above. I would propose that Ladra focused on the hard things like tax implications or service levels impact to current Coral Gables residents; instead of going into conspiracy theories around Mayor Lago business profession.
Little Gables’ question on annexation has always been one of utility , as has been the delays by the City. The services of police and fire would be stretched. Little Gables’ property values are suitable now. The appreciation of trailer park’s land value , and its benefactors is a sticking point , Gables’ residents need to pronounce themselves on. Ecce est.
This may have been explained before, but what are the tax implications for unincorporated area property owners absorbed into Coral Gables? If property is even more valuable once in Coral Gables, must owners pay even higher taxes than if they stayed in unincorporated Dade? Aren’t tax increases for homestead property capped at the lesser of 3% or CPI? I live in Coral Gables and answers to these questions may affect my position on annexation. Thanks for any help.
I read your blog religiously and agree with your views 90% of the time….
I also agree with your reporting of Vice Lago’s shutdown of the two new commissioners.
Having said that, why have you written nothing on the 104% raise (that is the actual number) that they gave themselves this week?
We wrote both of them and they did not have the decency to answer a Gables resident.
She also chickened out of the meeting in which it was approved attending by ZOOM.
Mind you, they have only been in office since February of this year, with no achievements to show other than feuding with Lago and do-nothing populism.
One wishes for the good old days when Coral Gables was run like a Country Club.
Why don’t you interview some residents from High Pines, Little Gables, and Ponce Davis who are positive toward annexation? How can anyone take your reporting seriously. Your blog is a joke until you discuss both sides of issues!!