Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago may say he’s not worried about the recall effort mounted against him. He may say it’s just gadfly Maria Cruz and activist attorney David Winker with a grudge against him.
But don’t believe him. He is sweating it.
That’s why Lago has an anonymous, cowardly blogger trashing Cruz and Winker so he can then mass text the link to voters. That’s why he has a bunch of apologists, including developers and others with interests in the city, writing letters to the editor of a community newspaper on his behalf. That’s why he reportedly made a robocall telling residents not to talk to the people collecting petition signatures.
And now the police are intimidating those canvassers.
“It appears that Coral Gables Police are engaging in a coordinated campaign of harassment against those seeking recall signatures,” Winker told Ladra. “Following them, detaining them, searching their cars.”
Read related: Coral Gables activist forms PAC to recall former friend, Mayor Vince Lago
There’s already been three incidents, according to several sources. Officers are allegedly caught on video telling the canvassers that what they are doing is illegal. It’s not. In the latest incident, which occurred about noon Wednesday, an officer told a pair of canvassers near the University of Miami campus that they needed a permit. They don’t.
In at least one and maybe all instances, the police ask the canvassers — who are wearing bright red “Lago Must Go” t-shirts and holding clipboards — what they are doing.
In one police stop, officers searched a young woman’s car for no good reason. They got permission. They found nada.
Canvassers say they are being followed. One of them got a traffic ticket for something he said he didn’t do, and this was after he already had an officer approach him earlier in the day. “So, of course, I was being extra careful,” the canvasser told Ladra.
Winker calls it “another chapter in the weaponization of Coral Gables government against residents and political opponents.”
The harassment has gotten so bad that a top city administrator was getting ready late Wednesday to send an email to the police chief and employees “reminding” them of the law and the exemption provided for religious or political canvassers as far as permits are concerned. But this is Chief Ed Hudak, the same police chief who called voters last year to “warn” them against voting for Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez, who were running against two Lago-backed candidates.
Read related: Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak calls, pressures voters in commission race
Commissioner Kirk Menendez, who was in the city manager’s office when calls started to come in about the police stopping a canvasser, told Ladra late Wednesday that he asked for the clarification.
“Having been involved in local government as a government attorney, I thought it was best to get the city attorney’s office engaged,” said Menendez, who was once an assistant city attorney in Miami. “The fact that it happened again today means that whatever our law is or the exemptions are weren’t properly communicated or defined.”
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Menendez expects it to be “properly clarified” by Thursday.
But maybe by now the intentionally chilling message has been sent. Canvassers will get harassed by the cops. Who’s going to want to do that?
The recall effort needs 1,690 petition signatures by April 19 to get on the ballot. By Wednesday, they had collected almost half of that. Once they are validated, the recall group has 60 days to collect 4,500 signatures before a date can be set for a voter recall election.
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Lago is setting the City back and the same is being done by the Police Chief Hudak. Both individuals are a cancer. Even if you’re a Lago fan you would have to admit that the perception of Lago’s business affairs are HORRIBLE. Collecting $13,000 a month rent for a vacant store front from Rishi Kapoor is a bad look. Combine that with the small real estate firm that had to be dissolved because of the individuals that it was run by Riley, an attorney that was arrested, Hialeah Mayor and even Lago’s Chief of Staff. Toss in Lago’s poker play with an affidavit that he did not have a family member interest in the annexation of Little Gables…only to find out that his brother was the lobbyist for the largest land owner in Little Gables. Can you believe that “brother” was left off the affidavit. SHADY SHADY SHADY.
Now to the Police Chief Ed Hudak. If his officers were actually harassing petitioners then that must be addressed. Chief Hudak’s misdeeds have been going on a lot longer than Mayor Lago. Hudak has been able to fly under the radar while working as a “liaison” for the University of Miami. Watch the video and you decide.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7pR21Bi8huQ
This must be fixed.
What About The CORRUPTION Triangle ? Miami, Hialeah and Coral Gables ? Think About IT? Very Similar Bad Admministrations ?
” Communism is the new norm in Coral Gables ”
” Many who flee oppression / dictatorships in the and practice it once in power , it is what they know plus they know it works “
Why has attorney David Winker not filed a lawsuit to remedy this violation of the First Amendment? It’s a no brainer.
Police were out in full force today. Communism is the new norm in Coral Gables. Viva Chief Fidel Hudak!!! Lago & Hudak are the same guy.
I have encountered these canvassers twice; they knocked on my door both times. I declined to sign the petition both times. They were extremely polite both times. The canvassers are don’t bother me in the least.
Ever since these new guys were elected Coral Gables is looking more like a NY chaotic city.
We have always enjoyed a respectful snd lawful city management until you new guys appeared in the picture! Maybe we the Citizens of Coral Gables should unite and have these people recalled ? STOP HARASSING US THROUGH TEXTS STREET PROTESTS ! You are destroying our city! Lago was duly elected and unless you have proof that Lago has been charged and convicted of a crime… Stop 🛑 with your low class behavior! It’s not Gables conduct rather a Vulgar conduct that fits your name “POLITICAL CORTADITO” that we do not appreciate. Let a court of law decide if there was a crime PRIOR to your ACCUSATIONS!
One of the canvassers that came through my neighborhood stole an envelope with cash that my neighbor left for her gardener. It’s on video and my neighbor sent it to police. The canvasser had a recall Lago Tshirt! some of the canvassers are quite rude and aggressive, even when you do not open the door. Maybe write about that.
Scared to Talk – Of all people officers should not be afraid to speak up. It is their job to do the right thing. So I don’t buy that argument. I checked out that YouTube link you posted. I will say if any of what is mentioned in that video is true Chief Hudak should at the very least be investigated. I don’t believe that a Chief of Police this day and age would do that with such a sensitive topic.
In response to the article, I have rented in Coral Gables for almost 6 years and never had an issue with the police besides going through a red light . If they are harassing or bothering political canvassers that should be looked into. I live in a building with a front desk, so we don’t have to worry about anything like that. I’m pretty sure nobody these days likes strangers knocking on their doors, but if they have the right to then let them be.
Vinnie is a tyrant and will never relinquish control. He will have to be forced out of that position. Hopefully this will happen soon and hopefully he will be investigated for all his corruption too.
Kathy Terry – I agree with you that the silly names seem childish, but that is the only part of your comment I agree with.
Ed Hudak, the Coral Gables Chief of Police, is an absolute tyrant and when he is let go (hopefully VERY SOON) 95 percent of the CGPD officers will be honest with you at that point. He and his cronies have led the police department into an abyss that will likely take years to surface from. There are definitely pay and benefits factors driving officers away en masse, but that is severely exacerbated by the Chief, his pawns and their treatment of those under him command
Regarding other agencies having hiring problems, that may be true, but many of the CGPD officers are leaving this agency for other nearby agencies whereas no one is coming from another Police Department to Coral Gables PD. 12 officers left to other agencies within Miami Dade-County in less that a one month period earlier this year. Why is that? If someone says movement or opportunity, I will shut that argument down immediately by saying at one point CGPD was only hiring sworn officers from other agencies. This Police Department was the place to be due to the pay, benefits and overall morale. The movement (or lack thereof) was the same then as it is now. Now CGPD is not the place to be, but rather the place to be from. That’s sad
As far as the authors identifying themselves, your naivete with this issue is quite evident. Do you sincerely expect people to identify themselves to the very tyrant they’re speaking out against? Watch this and let me know what you think;
https://youtu.be/7pR21Bi8huQ?si=VePZ0leqAoGB36J8
Where can we go to sign the petition? I don’t want to wait for the canvassers, and I want to tell my neighbors to also sign.
Elaine DeValle has become AN EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT REPORTER ON CORAL GABLES NEWS.
For anyone interested, these are my detailed comments on this critically important issue:
Coral Gables. Report of possible Police corruption trying to kill Recall Petition. 3-28-24,…
https://youtu.be/gMbAc334iEA?si=E0bex7i7IF4loDgq
THANK YOU MS DEVALLE,
Jackson Rip Holmes
Albert Santos – The canvassers are not breaking any rules.
Lago hired canvassers for his candidates who lost. I asked the canvasser that came to my door and he said he was paid. The folks at the voting places were also not Gables residents and were getting paid. But I guess you have no problem with that since this was all Lago’s doing.
Seems your blind support for Lago is making you blind to a lot of things.
Do We Have mayors FIX on 3 Cities ( CORAL GABLES, MIAMI and HIALEAH ) Los Tres Compañeros ?
What is the Mayor worried about? If he has done nothing wrong he should let the process play out. The canvasser that asked for my signature was nothing but pleasant and professional. Chief Hudak has crossed the line but that’s another subject for another day. I hope the recall goes to a vote and let the Coral Gables Citizens decide whether Vince must go.
Ladra forgot to mention that these canvassers are not Coral Gables residents; and they are paid labor with funds from some undisclosed organization, likely from someplace outside from the city.
I am glad that the police department from Coral Gables is attentive to the behaviors by these canvassers. Here in Coral Gables we like to respect the rules.
All these comments about Chief Hudak destroying CGPD are ludicrous.
As to recruiting, South Miami PD had a red blinking billboard on Sunset Dr. recruiting motorists driving by. Surfside has also publicly commented re same issue. So get with the times and note it is a county, if not state or nation wide problem
I must admit. Anonymous and silly names at the end of an opinion piece destroy any credibility. If you have an opinion, you should say so loud and proud instead if cowardly hiding behind a bogus name. Pitiful
When you don’t deal with an issue head on it will come back. Laura, you reported on Chief Ed Hudak doing the same thing a year ago. Nothing has changed. Hudak and Lago are thick as thieves. The are the two biggest egos in Coral Gables, bar none.
The are one-uppers to the tenth degree.
-Vince Lago says he doesn’t have a relative in Little Gables…Brother is lobbyist for the largest land owner in Little Gables. – unethical!!
-The Chief of Police Ed Hudak pressures Gables Residents to vote for Lago’s crew. – Unethical!
-Mayor Lago accepts $13k a month rent for vacant building from developer Rishi Kapoor who upto his nose in illegal activity… UNETHICAL and criminal
-Chief Ed Hudak texts, meets and speaks with a Univeristy of Miami Football Coach Josh Gattis who committed a Lewd and Lascivious offense. Gives him advice and sets him up with the Coral Gables Police polygraph examiner to exonerate him. Slows up case to so UM can just fire him with no uprising. UNETHICAL and FLAT OUT JUST WRONG. What about the woman’s rights?? Oh, that’s right. Ed Hudak doesn’t care. See link for video
https://odysee.com/Curious-Case:d
-Mayor Lago is part of a “Boutique” Real Estate group. The memberof the group Mayor of Hialeah Bovo, Hialeah Councilman Oscar De La Rosa, Lago’s Chief of Staff Granell and attorney William Riley who was arrested. Great group of people. I feel sorry for Lago’s Chief of Staff. No doubt reeled in by Loverboy Lago. Lago had to remove his license. Show me your friends …Uneithical!!
This is all in the last year….cmon.. Gables need to clean house. You could go on forever.. Lets hope that Lago and Hudak don’t.
All of this is almost making me glad that I moved to Miami. In Miami all of this is expected but not in Coral Gables. I am very concerned for the future of CG. I still own property there.
According to Cornell Law School, Moral Turpitude describes wicked, deviant behavior constituting an immoral, unethical, or unjust departure from ordinary social standards such that it would shock a community. Stay tuned for more on L’Egos antics. You will be shocked.
If true, the allegations are reprehensible and must stop. The recall may be a ridiculous waste of time and money, but we all have a right to be foolish with our time and shekels.
I don’t think the recall effort is going as swimmingly as claimed. The canvasser that came to my house yesterday was an attractive woman in tight, revealing workout clothes. This made me think those behind the recall are having difficulty getting signatures and think using pretty, scantily clad women will get them more signatures. The other canvassers that have visited all looked like ratty hobos. So I really doubt the recall is going all that well to date.
Mayor Lago has not been charged with any crime. He was just re elected with no opposition. In the next election, the residents of Coral Gables can vote him out if they want to. The recall effort is just a witch hunt.
FIRE CHIEF EDWARD JAMIE HUDAK, JR! He has destroyed the Coral Gables Police Department during his tenure. If you don’t believe me, take the time to speak to the officers. They are miserable and leaving the department at an alarming rate. More vacancies to come… City Manager it’s time to act; do not waste time or else he will get you out too!
Retired Colonel Benjamin Dover
Revisionists have already won control of Commission and appointed their own manager, so they have effectively reduced that the Mayor or ViceMayor, for that matter, could do anything they consider “illegal”!
The recall is a waste of time and unnecessary, as all these efforts would be better focused on supporting a candidate to oppose Mayor Lago at next election.
People in Coral Gables do not want others knocking on their door with a political agenda – leave us alone!
Imagine people exercising their rights? Lago WORKS FOR THEM!. He’s conflicted & manages to get his panties in a bunch. Add abuse of power by COP. Is this CUBA now? In this country, people have every right to protest tyranny, especially when their $ pays for their salaries.
People of Coral Gables. Look no further then the Chief himself Mr. jefe… Ed Hudak. The guy has run the police department into the ground harder than Eastern Airlines. From all I hear, there’s 37 vacancies and more are on the way. Not really sure what is going on, but look no further. If officers are leaving to other agencies for pay and benefits along with morale then it’s his responsibility to fix the issue. And I also hear rumblings that he blames everything on the police union. The tall tell sign for a bad leader is blaming everyone else for the issues. Take responsibility! Own up to this train wreck!!! It’s Ed and his cousin Vinny’s fault. Nobody else’s. Both Ed and Vinny, do everyone a huge favor and quit, move on, and enjoy life.
Lago is a crook lining his pockets with developer money. He’s a bully who has no problem stooping to illegal actions.
Maybe you should see the video of canvassers lying and defaming the Mayor and harassing residents of Coral Gables. They are not welcome at my house and I won’t give them the time of day. How would you and the people trying to recall the Mayor like canvassers going house to house lying about you or the people involved in the recall effort. Are you involved in the recall effort?
You folks have nothing better to do than harass Lago. There is no substantive evidence of corruption or malfeasance. Vote him out if you have a personal grudge and don’t like him. Maria and others would serve better as activists than finding themselves involved in a lawsuit.