Dime con quien andas y te dire quien eres.
That’s an old Cuban saying my mom used to tell Ladra to get me to stay away from my more, um, troublemaker friends. “Tell me who you run with and I’ll tell you who you are.” It’s still true today. And nowhere is it more true than in politics.
So, now, we bring you the cast of characters that are hosting a fundraiser for Richard Lara, the executive vice president and general counsel for Spanish Broadcasting that is running against Coral Gables Commissioner Kirk Menendez next year. Most, if not all of them, are directly connected to Gables Mayor Vince Lago, who everyone knows recruited Lara for the race.
And they tell you as much about who the candidate is as anything else.
Read related: Coral Gables Commissioner Kirk Menendez draws an opponent for 2025
Ladra’s favorite name from the list? Attorney Anibal Duarte-Viera, one of former Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla‘s preferred bagmen and the “associate” involved in the shakedown of Rickenbacker Marina operator Aabad Melwani. According to a lawsuit filed last year by lobbyist and former State Rep. Manny Prieguez, who represents Melwani, Duarte-Viera said he had to be made a partner in the marina operations in exchange for ADLP’s vote to renew the contract.
Diaz de la Portilla was arrested last September on public corruption charges — including money laundering and bribery — in a separate and completely different quid pro quo scheme (he’s not going to put all his eggs in one basket) where he got more than $300,000 in campaign contributions, food and booze and hotel accommodations from the attorney for the private Centner Academy in exchange for the exclusive use of two thirds of a public park for the next 99 years or whatever.
Is that the kind of commissioner Lara is going to be like? Does he not know the kind of baggage — or strings attached — that Duarte-Viera comes with?
Among the other hosts on the list are Tony Newell and Nicolas “Nick” Cabrera, son of former Commissioner Ralph Cabrera, who is banking on his papi’s credibility as he strikes out on his own political limb. Both are employees of Lago’s. Or, rather, Nick’s an employee. Tony is his business partner at Hammer Lake Development.
Then there are Alex Bucelo and Ivette Arango O’Doski, the two failed city commission candidates Lago backed and financed in the ’23 election that he lost big to Commissioners Ariel Fernandez and Melissa Castro, respectively. And, because it’s hard to find people outside Lago’s circle to support Lara, there are also Bucelo’s parents, Armando and Beatrice Bucelo, who are actually hosting the fete at their six-bedroom/five bath, $4.8-million Granada Boulevard home overlooking the Biltmore Golf Course.
Read related: New Coral Gables PAC seeks to change election date and commission powers
There is also Margarita Rohaidy Delgado, a public relations consultant who has worked for the Miami Parking Authority, among others, and who was named chairwoman of Lago’s PAC, Coral Gables First, in 2016. And Claudia Puig, former VP and general manager at SBS, where Lara works. She and Lago both sit on the board of directors at the Miami-Dade Beacon Council. And Manny Alfonso, another PR and marketing guy who loves to kiss Lago’s ass.
And let’s top it off with former Mayor Raul Valdes-Fauli and former Commissioner Wayne “Chip” Withers, Lago allies who were intimately involved in the recruitment of Lara. Withers and George Kakouris, founding chair and chair emeritus of the Coral Gables Museum, followed Lara out of commission chambers when the candidate finished his six-minute announcement speech during public comments last month. Kakouris is also on the host committee.
Lago may not officially be on the host committee, but it has his name written all over it. And y’all remember what happened the last time Lago heavily backed a candidate, right?
Cast of losers, Vince Lago lackeys host event for Gables commission candidate added by Ladra on
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[…] including Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago and Hispanic marketing guru and Lago lackey Manny Alfonso, one of the hosts for that fundraiser for the Lago commission plantidate in next year’s […]
[…] Read related: Cast of losers, Vince Lago lackeys host event for Gables commission candidate […]
[…] Read related: Cast of losers, Vince Lago lackeys host event for Gables commission candidate […]
I have finally read this entire article.
Who is most responsible for the Lara Campaign?
The DEVELOPER-OCRACY spawned by THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY’S CRIMNIAL BRIBES TO GOP SUPREME COURT JUSTICES — ALA CLARENCE THOMAS, and
the present list of people willing to:
A. sabotage and to destroy Coral Gables as a safe place to raise children
FOR THE FULL 18 YEARS FROM BIRTH TO THE AGE OF 18
free of urbanization and the crime that comes with it. And
B to sabotage democracy itself, to enrich themselves. Money changers at the Temple.
[…] Read related: Cast of losers, Vince Lago lackeys host event for Gables commission candidate […]
Agree with Maria. This trisomy of terror needs to be stopped. I had good hopes for Kirk but his alliance with these 2 buffoons makes me want to reconsider Kirk and to recall F and C
” de la Portilla: indicted for money laundering
suarez: investigated for having like 7 side gigs as miami mayor, and for accepting unreported gifts
carollo: owes millions in liability for intimidating business owners
lago: huge developer funded PAC, rents property to indicted developer, sends de la portilla money from pac, partner with hialeah politicians, started in sweetwater politics!!”
Meet the crew (Goodfellas – 1990)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caCA0rUMR6U
de la Portilla: indicted for money laundering
suarez: investigated for having like 7 side gigs as miami mayor, and for accepting unreported gifts
carollo: owes millions in liability for intimidating business owners
lago: huge developer funded PAC, rents property to indicted developer, sends de la portilla money from pac, partner with hialeah politicians, started in sweetwater politics!!
hard to know what this cast of loosers (looters?) sees in friends of lago. glad we have a new US Marshall in town to make coral gables an example of clean government
Can’ This Political PINAPPLES Of Corruption Be Disintegrated For TRANSPARENCY ? Is Bad Enough That SUAREZ, BOVO and LAGO Are Partners ?
No clearer evidence that Richard Lara is the developers’ lackey, as is L’ego and his posse.
Ladra: you are behaving like Hillary Clinton who mis-treated US citizens who vote in elections by calling a deplorables.
For your information, those you called “cast of losers” and “lackeys” happen to be law abiding, tax paying, Coral Gables residents.
I believe that we deserved to be treated with respect by you, and everybody in the media.
L’Ego is scared. You can see it on his face at commission meetings. He knows it’s only a matter of time before his house of cards comes tumbling down. And the secret stuff is no longer secret. And for that reason, I am sticking with Menendez.
Thank you for keeping us informed.
Ability & transparency, Ladra’s own words, bring to mind the likely violation of Sunshine Law that occurred in the Tallahassee visit of three musketeers WITHOUT any City liaison, at their request, and rarely done ever before!
Perhaps Ladra can ask them for details of their visit to Tallahasse, who they met with as well as discussions had, etc
What does Lago have to do with Lara? Cast of losers is Ariel Fernandez, Melissa Castro and Kirk Menendez. Maybe you should investigate and report the conflict of interest of Melissa Castro. The only thing preventing that is bias.
Love the circus show. Political cesspool. We can only pray Vinnie doesn’t get his third vote back. We will be right back to the backdoor deals and vertical development. I’m not a fan of any of these commissioners, but the tripod has effectively tied Vinnie’s hands. It’s a beautiful thing to watch.
Thank you for advertising this reception for Richard Lara. Anyone who is interested in how a professional conducts himself should show up to learn more. Anyone who thinks Kirk has conducted himself professionally need not show up as it is clear that you are a lost soul!!!
” That’s an old Cuban saying my mom used to tell Ladra to get me to stay away from my more, um, troublemaker friends. “Tell me who you run with and I’ll tell you who you are.” It’s still true today. And nowhere is it more true than in politics.”
When Hispanic Parent give you a Speech about Friends
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU8KfrVA4XY
Can public officials side step the line of integrity without repercussions? Here’s a compelling case that begs for attention. Meet Chief Hudak.
Click my name to see the video.
His ties with the University of Miami coaching staff aren’t just old school buddies catching up. It’s a tale of power misuse conflict of interest and a worrying lack of accountability. Imagine police escorts usually reserved for emergency situations being freely used as a personal concierge service for the University of Miami teams.
All on the taxpayer’s dime a clear case of public resources being misappropriated for personal favors. Yet another conflict of interest for chief. Hudak was recently published in the Miami Herald. The chief of police called met and texted with the suspect of a lewd and lascivious offense case, the suspect was a University of Miami football, coach and colleague.
The chief’s long-term relationship with the coaching staff at the University of Miami, blurs the lines between personal and professional. Raising serious questions about impartiality in his duty to serve and Protect the community. Another Showcase of Chief hudak’s. Hubris was shown when an officer was injured. While doing a complimentary motor escort for the University of Miami.
Instead of owning up to the situation, Chief Hudak pressured, the team to label it at training exercise, a deceptive move to cover up the misuse of resources and potential liability, the irresponsible behavior of Chief, Hudak illustrates the potential for public resources to be misappropriated for personal benefit. This serves as a reminder for us to monitor the Integrity of our public officials closely and emphasize transparency and answerability the Public’s role in keeping City officials accountable for their actions is crucial when will Justice accountability and transparency matter to Coral Gable’s residents and leaders.
Ability and transparency are not mere, Buzz words. They are the pillars. That uphold the Integrity of our public offices, without them, our systems crumble under the weight of unchecked power, and Corruption. Because in a democracy power is given by the people for the people and It’s our responsibility to make sure it stays that way.