It escaped me Wednesday, but Genting isn’t the interesting client represented by the lobby firm that stole Miami-Dade 
Deputy Mayor Genaro “Chip” Iglesias from the county.
David Beckham is.
Iglesias has been the county’s lead negotiator on the talks with Beckham and his group of investors to bring Major League Soccer to Miami — and a soccer stadium that apparently must be built on public, waterfront land — since they began late last year. He’s been entrusted with representing the best interest of us taxpayers.
Now, he’s joining the firm that represents Beckham’s Miami soccer stadium dreams.
Read related story: Rumors true — Chip Iglesias leaving Mayor Carlos Gimenez
The two lobbyists in the Ballard Group’s Miami office, Mike Abrams and Sylvester Lukis, are registered at the county as lobbyists for Miami Beckham United to work on the Miami soccer stadium deal — which went fast from a site at the Port of Miami to a boat slip they’d have to fill in at Museum Park to absolutely nowhere. Or worse: Broward.
Maybe Mr. Soccer Star should have hired this A Team earlier, when they had what most consider a second tier of lobbyists — Niesen Kasdin, Roly Marante and Francois Illas (aka Al Lorenzo) — working on what many thought was a deal way above their pay grade.
Read related story: Go west Beckham — strike 2 for waterfront soccer stadium
Sure, Iglesias can’t (cough, cough) lobby for two years (bull, cough) according to county rules that are broken all the time. But even if he stays clear of the 111 building that long — and he says he might drop by just to say “Hi” — the soon to be former deputy mayor and longtime Gimenez confidant will still be working in Beckham’s firm. The guy who, basically, knows what they need for the county to bite and how to jump over the obstacles in the labyrinth, who knows how to get the mayor and commissioners on board, will be in the same office with the two main lobbyists for Beckham. You’re going to tell me he’s not going to participate in the conversation on how best to get what their clients want?
Cough, cough.
“Yes, I’m going to be on the Dark Side,” Iglesias joked with Ladra by phone Wednesday afternoon, shortly after the announcement was made. By the time I made the joke, he had heard it too often.
But how true is it? I mean, when during the negotiations did Syl Lukis lean over to the Deputy Mayor that was supposed to be getting us the best deal possible and say, “Hey, Chip, you are such a great negotiator. Why don’t you join us?”
Iglesias would not confirm that he was going to Ballard Wednesday, but Ladra now has it from five solid sources. He did admit that the rumors he was eyeing the Coral Gables City Manager position were true and that he had been thinking about moving out of the county for a bit.
“It’s been a while. It’s not abrupt,” he told Ladra, who suspects it’s been since he was replaced as Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez‘s chief of staff by Lisa Martinez in March. Sources say it was a riff caused by labor negotiations and/or the intrusion of lobbyists in the mayor’s decision-making. Iglesias says the job was just too big for him to do and be deputy mayor at the same time.
Read related story: Miami-Dade mayor cuts 21 jobs while he pays 520 ghost workers
“I was very interested in the Gables position. It’s a great community and a good fit with my career path,” Iglesias said. “Just that life is funny. A conversation came about and opportunities just take you in a different direction.”
Life is funny, indeed.
Wouldn’t it be funny if the Port of Miami or some other waterfront site was resurrected? Or some other sweetheart deal started trickling its way back to County Hall after the budget is passed?
Because the general consensus is that Beckham is going to come back to the table on the 29th floor eventually, just like the Miami Dolphins did after they lost their first stab at the tourist tax dollars last year. They got them this year without a public referendum like they originally wanted. And Broward? Well, that’s just part of the negotiating tactics to scare Miami-Dade a little.
Ladra wonders if it was Chip’s idea.
Chip Iglesias: Negotiator to lobbyist on Beckham soccer added by Ladra on
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Does any one know were Roly Marante @ Francois Illas started in politics? Do you really believe they are dealing with the big guys? Call Herman Echeverria he has mentor them since childhood (the puppet master, at his best);)
Hanky Panky , The Normal Breaking the Rules at County Hall.This is from the Moment” El CAO ” County Attorney Office Writes The law it is already full of Discrimination and Protection for” LOS AMIGOS ” The Friends,WE will see this in September 27 Transportation Board when LYFT & UBER will bring their lobbyist to 111 n.w. 1 st. and EL CAO will Have a parallel Code made JUST for them and Forgotten the LIMOS For- Hire License Again that been Waiting for 6 YEARS , Moss & Barreiro Protecting The Taxi Owners and Not The Rest Of The TAX PAYERS IN METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY .
Corrupt politicians and government officials destroy free societies. The same sickness that is eroding our trust in government is occurring in cities and states throughout our nation. Opportunistic individuals see no wrong in destroying our values in order to make a buck or to appear as prominent and powerful members of their communities in society pages. We must fight this illness if we are to remain a nation of laws.
Here in Miami Dade County we have two great corrupted officials that must be removed from public office at all cost. The number one corruptor in State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle. All corruption cases are handled by her and she decides on what cases to file. Needless to say that only her political enemies are prosecuted. All of her trappings about “corruption task forces” are a veneer intended to fool the uninformed. She must go for the sake of our families.
The second individual is Mayor Carlos Gimenez. This corrupt individual and his Cqosa Nostra “strong mayor” format are a form of turning a republic into a tyranny. County department directors no longer have the power to do their tasks out of fear of losing their jobs. This has led to chaos in the county work force and to the forming of an organized scheme to defraud to includes the mayor, former gate keepers such as Chip Iglesias and a slew of lobbyists and consultants the likes of Jorge Luis Lopez, et al.
This State Attorney mayor was elected to office by fraud. A fraud perpetrated by Al Lorenzo, Jose Luis Castillo, Viivan Cassals Muniz, Commissioner Esteban Bovo and dozens of absentee ballot collectors throughout our community.
Do not be fooled by the tactics utilized by these officials. Expose their greed and corruption at every turn. Our country was founded on principles of liberty and honesty . Send these two rotten apples and their entourage packing and allow sensible government to return to this county.
So, this person, and his master, negotiated for land (Museum Park) that wasn’t even under their domain – without first contacting the actual owner, the city of Miami. Really, what kind of professional does such a pushy, arrogant stunt? Oh yes, Gimenez. The English equivalent – He Menace.
Sunshine Law? What Sunshine Law? This is part of the master plan of county corruption and politics. For all you dreamers that Chip left because of a riff between him and rotten mouth (Gimenez), you guys are wacko. Chip is going to be the “negotiator,” ehhh bagman, for the deal. He’s gonna come back to the firm after he’s discussed the details of the waterfront stadium with the corrupt mayor and commissioners and go back to the firm with a dollar figure of how much each commissioner and the mayor will cost them in bribes. Yes, bribe money. That is how business is done in Miami-Dade. That’s why this firm hired Sylvester Lukis also. It’s disgusting and repulsive and it happens every day.
The Dade County PBA is on the right track. They should offer another $10K for information leading to an arrest and conviction in a corruption case.
In the old days we would hire ladies with short skirts, deep cleavage and too much makeup as plans processors. I don’t understand why but they always seem to be able to get our county permits processed more rapidly.
I guess Chip thinks he’ll look good in heels.
The fact that chip is now working for Beckham gives me another reason to double down against a free give away of land.