Miguel Gabela won’t answer questions about spending
Right after he was elected as an outsider and government reformer, Miami Commissioner Miguel Angel Gabela promised voters he would expose the questionable spending habits at the Bayfront Park Management Trust under former Commissioner Joe Carollo. Instead, he seems to be copying those tactics now that he’s in charge..
Public documents obtained by Political Cortadito now show that the same mysterious vendors already raising eyebrows over massive spending out of Gabela’s District 1 office — Atlantis Solutions and Elandor — have also been billing the Bayfront Trust itself for thousands upon thousands of dollars in vaguely described “branding,” media and logo-related services.
Yes. Logos. Plural.
Apparently, Bayfront Park now requires more logos than a NASCAR jumpsuit.
Read related: From reformer to operator? Miguel Gabela starts to look like the old boss
The invoices, which are about as informative as a hostage note written in crayon, show repeated charges connected to design work, 
communications and branding services tied to the two shadowy firms that Political Cortadito already reported were collecting substantial sums from Gabela’s office despite having little to no visible public footprint.
No meaningful websites. No obvious client history. No visible portfolio. No clear explanation for why taxpayers should be funding what increasingly looks like a permanently operating political image factory.
And now these same vendors are feeding at the Bayfront trough too.
Atlantis Solutions has billed Bayfront Park Trust more than $86,000 since June of last year. It looks like a monthly marketing and PR fee went from $4,5650 to $6,650 to $8,000 all within three months. But there are additional charges almost each month also, like $1,250 for a custom wax and seal stamp, $6,000 for content creation — which we guess is not included in the monthly fee? — $1,300 for branding, more than $10,000 for drone piloting and video footage, $420 for domain renewal and $2,000 four times for four months in a row for “web and logo design.”
Two of the invoices are dated on the same day, October 13, and amount to a total of $17,319 in that one month. November was good, too. Two invoices for $9,750 each dated on two consecutive days netted Atlantis Solutions $19,500. It was a good Christmas for Gaston Rico and Eva 
Manusia, who own the company, according to the Department of Florida Division of Corporation records.
Elandor, the one that provides the fishy app service to the District 1 office for $6,000 a month, has billed a total of $43,200 to the Bayfront Park Trust, mostly for signage, signage and more signage. Doesn’t Miami have an in-house sign shop? There is also a $4,789 invoice for 15 custom frames, $739 for letterhead, $796 for custom business cards for six staffers and a total of about $2,000 for floor mats on three different occasions.
It’s almost as if these invoices are completely made up. Or a money laundering operation. District 1 has a history, don’t it? Pick your fraud. Ladra has provided the invoices below so you can see for yourselves.
Read related: Commissioner Miguel Gabela set to expose more Bayfront Park Trust issues
Remember when Gabela stormed into office talking about audits, accountability and exposing the spending excesses of the Carollo era? Pepperidge Farm remembers.
At the time, Gabela portrayed the Bayfront Trust as a bloated political playground in desperate need of reform. There were promises of transparency. Promises of oversight. Promises that taxpayers would finally learn where all the money had gone.
Instead, what taxpayers appear to have gotten is a new handpicked management team with fancier graphics packages.
The latest invoices raise a lot of uncomfortable questions.
- How many logos does Bayfront Park actually need?
- How many times can somebody redesign a palm tree before it becomes a public corruption metaphor?
- What exactly are Atlantis Solutions and Elandor producing for all this money?
- Who approved these expenditures?
- Was there competitive bidding?
- And why does everything connected to these companies feel like it was organized in the witness protection program?
Calls and text messages sent over the course of a week to the phone numbers listed on the invoices were not returned. Calls and messages to Gabela were not returned. Calls and 
messages to District 1 counsel Jose Sanchez-Gronlier were not returned. Calls and messages to Bayfront executive director Raul Miro — Gabela’s handpicked choice who later received that eye-popping 70% salary increase from $150,000 to $255K — were also not returned.
Which, at this point, almost answers the questions itself.
Because when public officials who once campaigned on transparency suddenly go radio silent over invoices, consultants and politically connected spending, people naturally start wondering why.
And the optics here are brutal.
Read related: Miami electeds spend hundreds of thousands to polish their profiles
Atlantis Solutions was already under scrutiny after reports that Gabela’s office paid the company nearly a quarter-million dollars for communications work. Elandor, another barely visible entity operating out of a townhouse complex in Doral, was already receiving thousands monthly for vague app-related services no one seems capable of fully explaining.
Now both firms appear deeply embedded inside Bayfront operations too.
What are the odds?
At some point, this stops looking like ordinary outsourcing and starts looking like a parallel communications ecosystem financed with public money.
And that’s where the comparisons to Carollo and former District 1 Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla — who was arrested while in office on bribery and money laundering charges that were eventually dropped — become politically dangerous for Gabela.
Because this is exactly how Miami’s reformers often evolve once they gain control of the machinery they once criticized. First comes the outrage over spending. Then comes the promise to clean house. Then comes the realization that government infrastructure can also be very useful when it’s promoting your own operation.
Suddenly the watchdog becomes the landlord.
To be clear, nobody is accusing Gabela, Miro or either vendor of criminal conduct.
But Ladra is absolutely accusing them of creating the kind of opaque, defensive and evasive environment that breeds public distrust faster than mold in an illegal efficiency just off the Miami River.
Maybe the most damning part of all this is not even the invoices themselves. It’s the silence. Because if these expenditures are legitimate, necessary and properly procured, then why does nobody want to explain them?
Why won’t anybody simply answer basic questions? What exactly was delivered? Who approved it? What measurable public benefit exists? And again — because it deserves repeating — how many damn logos does Bayfront Park need?
Remember, this is the same Bayfront Trust where Gabela promised the public a full accounting of alleged financial abuses under Carollo. That audit still has not produced the kind of sweeping public reckoning many expected.
Maybe that’s because once Gabela took control of the system, he discovered something very Miami: The machine works pretty well when you’re the one operating it.
This kind of independent, government watchdog reporting is crucial to transparency and democracy. And more so every day. Help shine a light on the darker corners of our community with a contribution to Political Cortadito. Click here. Ladra thanks you for your support.
Atlantis Solutions Invoices by Political Cortadito
Elandor Creative Agency Invoices by Political Cortadito
Bayfront Park’s new management looks a lot like the old management in Miami added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →
Oh. My. Gosh… Seriously, is there like no one truly in charge of taxpayer dollars anywhere at all…? Are the people in charge here the same ones that were in charge (or weren’t really…) in Minnesota or California or New York or DC? Has everything everywhere just gone off the rails and basically a free for all feeding frenzy but with politicians and taxpayer dollars, but still politicians like Trump and Vance say they’re on it, that tax fraud is being investigated with fraudsters being persecuted to the fullest extent of the law? Is this like Desantis taking $30 million of taxpayer dollars naming it the Casey Desantis Foundation and then spending it on pet projects? I don’t get it, it just doesn’t make sense to me. None of it does. I have a question, is the music from the beginning of the movie The Godfather the same at the end of the movie? Because if so perhaps that’s the music that should be playing now. Maybe someone should also be monitoring flight schedules to other countries…?
One last thing Ladra; these invoices are illegal. Why? Unless these boards have a delegation of authority, which none have, the City Manager has to sign off, he doesn’t know that, since he has no clue of the job description of a Manager. None of these boards have a chief procurement officer, just director’s collecting/stealing money to do the will of the boards/chairman/proxy chairmen, not the paying public.
Mr. Inspector Gadget, here is your ordinance, if anyone decides to test this ordinance with any of the meeting minutes of all your boards you WILL FAIL.
Add all of Ladra’s invoices and they total over $25K and 50K, piece Mealing them is not a clever way of getting around them, since they are to the same vendor.
Take Notes, Game is Over if anyone wants the spoils of shaming the entire system and the goofy attorneys working on their pet projects while the meetings are taking place, passing resolutions for fun
Sec. 18-77. – Authority of the chief procurement officer.
All rights, powers, duties, and authority relating to the procurement and contracting of goods and/or services for the city, including the authority.
(1)To approve all purchases and awards up to $25,000.00;
(2)To certify for compliance with applicable procurement methods all purchases and awards not in excess of $50,000.00 for goods and services, and not in excess of $100,000.00 for contracts for public works and improvements, except as otherwise provided in this article; and
(3)To issue those purchase orders and change orders for the purchase of goods and services governed by this article, provided they are in conformance with the law and all applicable rules and regulations.
The city manager retains sole authority to execute contracts and agreements except for purchase orders and change orders.
Sec. 18-85. – Competitive sealed bidding.
(a)Conditions for use. Competitive sealed bidding shall be used for the award of all contracts for goods, equipment and services over $25,000.00, except as otherwise provided for in this article, where it is both practicable and advantageous for the city to specify all detailed plans, specifications, standards, terms and conditions so that adequate competition will result and award may be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder principally on the basis of price; provided, however, when a responsive, responsible non-local bidder submits the lowest bid price, and the bid submitted by one or more responsive, responsible local bidders who maintain a local office, as defined in section 18-73, is within 15 percent of the price submitted by the non-local bidder, then that non-local bidder and each of the aforementioned responsive, responsible local bidders shall have the opportunity to submit a best and final bid equal to or lower than the amount of the low bid previously submitted by the non-local bidder. Contract award shall be made to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder submitting the lowest best and final bid. In the case of a tie in the best and final bid between a local bidder and a non-local bidder, contract award shall be made to the local bidder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the city manager may waive competitive sealed bidding methods by making a written finding which shall contain reasons supporting the conclusion that competitive sealed bidding is not practicable or is not advantageous to the city, which finding must be ratified and the award approved by an affirmative vote of four-fifths of the city commission or an unanimous vote of the quorum that exists because of either abstentions or vacancies resulting from resignation, death, suspension, or physical incapacitation after a properly advertised public hearing. When competitive sealed bidding methods are waived, other procurement methods shall be followed except for the cone of silence provisions, which shall not be applicable. This section shall not apply to transfers to the United States or any department or agency thereof, to the state or to any political subdivision or agency thereof.(b)Invitation for bids.
An invitation for bids shall be issued and shall include, but not be limited to:(1)Instructions and information to bidders concerning the bid submission requirements, including the time and date set for receipt of bids, the maximum time for bid acceptance by the city, the right of the city manager to reject all offers or bids, and any other special information;(2)The purchase description, qualification factors, delivery or performance schedule, and such inspection and acceptance requirements as may not be included in the purchase description;(3)The contract terms and conditions, including warranty and bonding or other security requirements, as applicable;
(4)The date, time and place at which any prebid conference may be held and whether attendance at such conference is a condition for bidding; and(5)The place where any documents incorporated by reference may be obtained.(c)Bidders lists. Bidders lists may be compiled to provide the city with the names of businesses which may be interested in competing for various types of city contracts. Unless otherwise provided, inclusion or exclusion of the name of a business does not indicate whether that business is responsible in respect to a particular procurement or otherwise capable of successfully performing a particular city contract.(d)Public notice.
Notice inviting bids shall be published in the city’s procurement website and/or via the on-line procurement/bidding platform and/or a free online publication, unless a specified form of notice is required otherwise by Florida Statutes, for a reasonable time prior to bid opening. Such notice shall state the general description of the goods or services to be purchased, the place where a copy of the invitation for bids may be obtained, and the time and place for opening of bids. In addition, the chief procurement officer may solicit bids from all responsible prospective suppliers listed on a current bidders list by sending such bidders copies of the notice to acquaint them with the proposed purchase.(e)Prebid conferences. Prebid conferences may be conducted to explain the requirements of the proposed procurement and shall be announced to all prospective bidders known to have received an invitation for bids. Conferences should be held long enough after the invitations for bids have been issued to allow prospective bidders to become familiar with the proposed procurement, but sufficiently before bid submission to allow consideration of the conference results in preparing their bids. Nothing stated at a prebid conference shall change the invitation for bids unless a change is made by written addendum, which shall be supplied to all those prospective bidders known to have received an invitation for bids.
All prebid conferences shall be recorded, and, if a transcript is made, such transcript shall be a public record.(f)Bid opening. All bids shall be submitted through the city’s on-line procurement/bidding platform no later than the time and date specified for submission. The amount of each bid and such other relevant information as may be deemed desirable, together with the name of each bidder, shall be recorded by the on-line procurement/bidding platform. The record and each bid shall be open to public inspection, to the extent consistent with applicable state laws.(g)Bid acceptance and evaluation. Bids shall be evaluated based on the requirements set forth in the invitation for bids, which may include criteria to determine acceptability such as inspection, quality, technique, delivery and suitability for a particular purpose. Those criteria that will affect the bid price and be considered in evaluation for award, such as discounts, transportation costs, and total or life cycle costs shall be measured objectively. No criteria may be used in bid evaluation which were not set forth in the invitation for bids. The results of the evaluation and tabulation of bid prices shall be transmitted by the chief procurement officer to the city manager.(h)Award. The procurement shall be awarded with reasonable promptness by written notice to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, whose bid meets the requirements and criteria set forth in the invitation for bids except as otherwise provided in this section.
For any procurement, including contracts, a bid to be awarded which exceeds $25,000.00 shall be awarded by the city manager only upon certification of the results of the evaluation and the bid tabulation by the chief procurement officer as being in compliance with competitive sealed bidding methods, except as otherwise provided in this article. Copies of the city manager’s award shall be delivered to the chief procurement officer and all affected department directors.
All bid awards in excess of $50,000.00 must be approved by the city commission upon recommendation by the city manager. The decision of the city commission shall be final. Threshold amounts referenced herein shall include the values associated with potential options of renewal. Awards made by the city manager or by the city commission shall include authority for all subsequent options of renewal, if any. The aforementioned options of renewal shall be exercisable at the option of the city manager if, after review of past performance under the contract, the city manager determines, in his/her sole discretion, that exercise of the option of renewal is in the best interest of the city.
Can someone please tell me why the City of Miami has an inspector general? Gabela isn’t qualified or trustworthy enough to entrust with a Hot Dog cart much less with city taxdollars. The Inspector (Clouseau) Generral is turning out to be just another city boondoggle.
The washing machine in Full force, make ADLP look like one of the best Commisioners district 1 has ever had. When you hire stupid people you get stupid results. Follow the bank account cash withdraws.
The sad angry truth is there are other boards within the city spending up to one million dollars (did the research) a year on non procured invoices and contracts, this is not just Bayfront Park unfortunately. These examples are NOTHING compared to what’s its plain sight. Follow the boards not just the commissioner target of the week. Follow the boards with no commissioners sitting in them as well, these are the easiest to steal public funds from and watch the boards steal from the public thereafter with self serving resolutions.
All you need to do is follow the meeting minutes on their websites and check how city attorneys sit in these meetings and say nothing as these resolutions pass.
The crux of the problem here is that the city or county have procurement departments, these small boards have small staffs, no public notices, no public attendances, with no business working in these illegal boards, no procurement training, that don’t report to these procurement directors or departments. If anyone took the time to print out the minutes of all these boards and reference their procurement procedures as they gift away tax payer funds, this story would be worth while and life changing.
Right now this is just a pimple versus a full blown chicken pox epidemic that goes unreported. Hope this helps.
No wonder Gabela wanted to name a street after Angel Gonzalez, he’s probably tutoring Gabela.
Raul Miro and his lackey, Albert Mora, wanted to get certain emergency infrastructure projects done at Bayfront Park. They found out that, unlike what happened during the Carollo years, they would have to follow City Procurement guidelines and standards. The couple of solicitations started by the City were quickly shelved by Miro and Mora. It was all a dog and pony show to make it look like they cared about following the rules. “Changing” just to keep doing things the same way.
The one hit wounder Miguel Gabela,he will not be re-elected or oops his wife the one that really runs the office and HIM.
He is a disgrace to say the least.