The big news this week is on Hump Day, when the county 
mayor gives his annual State of the County address (more on that later). Expect it to be a full house with every elected under the sun — not just the county ones but the municipal council or commission members and Ladra will even throw in a congress member and a state rep or two.
After all, this is Carlitos’ first big public to do since he beat former Miami-Dade School Board Member Raquel Regalado in November, solidly winning another four years — people will want to gain favor.
All the lobbyists will be there, too, jostling to kiss the ring. Look and listen for the cheering and applause on cue.
The rest of the week will be ho hum in comparison.
But, hey, help me keep the Cortadito Calendar populated if not entirely always relevant. Please send any news about meetings, campaign rallies, powwows and other events to edevalle@gmail.com.
MONDAY — Jan. 16
8 a.m. — There are no public meetings because it’s Martin Luther King Day. But there is the 34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 5K Run Walk, which starts at the MLK Plaza Metrorail station, 6205 NW 7th Ave., and the annual MLK Day parade in Liberty City (along NW 54th Street, from 10th to 32nd avenues. You can bet that Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado with his kids, especially Raquel and Tommy Regalado, who many say is dead serious about running for commissioner. All the Miami commissioners will be there, but so will all the candidates. Or all the serious candidates, anyway. If you can’t be there, stalk the Regalados and Commissioner Francis Suarez on twitter.
6 p.m. — Newly elected State Rep. Daisy Baez (D-Coral Gables) will open her district office Monday night at 5542 SW 8th Street. Baez beat Republican John Couriel 51 to 49% (a difference of 1,336 votes) to replace former Rep. Eric Fresen who was termed out and could be running for state senate in two years against newly elected Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez. Why didn’t she just keep the same district office Fresen used on 62nd Avenue and Bird Road? Ladra doesn’t know but will ask tonight.
6 p.m. — The future of Little Haiti will be the topic of discussion at a roundtable townhall-like meeting that begins at 6 p.m. Two proposed developments will be discussed. One is a mega development that would rise where moderate housing is now. Another is an “innovation center” proposed for the abandoned trailer park on the north side of the neighborhood. Activist Grant Stern is moderating the panel. Newly elected Miami-Dade Democratic Party Treasurer Francesca Menes, policy and advocacy coordinator for the Florida Immigrant Coalition — and a Little Haiti native, born and bred — will be there as will several community activists. Stern will produce a podcast for those of us who found out about it late. Ladra will post a link later.
TUESDAY — Jan. 17
7 p.m. — South Miami City Commissioners will meet to discuss an amendment to the land use code that would 
permit medical marijuana facilities in the industial and residential/office districts and only with a special use permit. They’ll also talk about a contract for consulting services with Redevelopment Management Associates (RMA) for Phase I of a business improvement district plan. The most curious item on the agenda, however, is the resolution consenting to a potential conflict by hiring Brett Schneider as their outside counsel for labor matters, even though his firm, Weiss Serota, represents developers and other clients that may or want to do business in the city. Basically, they’re saying that they know there’s a potential conflict and they’re not concerned, so long as Mr. Schneider doesn’t directely represent anyone else. Really? The meeting is at City Hall, 6130 Sunset Drive.
7 p.m. — State Sen. Jeremy Ring (D-Margate) will be the speaker Tuesday at the South Dade Democrats meeting at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Miami, 7701 S.W. 76th Ave. What? Were all the local Democrats busy or just too embarassed? The club meets for social time until 7:30, then does business until 8 when Ring speaks.
WEDNESDAY — Jan. 18
10 a.m. — The much anticipated State of the County address comes Wednesday when Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez gets to pound on his chest
about how great a job he’s done and tell us about what he wants to leave as his legacy. After all, to the victor go the spoils! The speech, if you want to watch it in person, is open to the public for free at the South Dade Cultural Center, 10950 SW 211th St. Or you can watch it online here. Or you can follow county spokesman and chief Gimenez cheerleader Mike Hernandez on twitter and get the gist. But it’s a fun place to people watch — if you like watching lobbyists and insiders rubbing elbows with electeds from all over. There’s no other reason to go, really. His pat-on-his-own-back speech will be published and analyzed (sorta) in the news media. If you go, it’s because you like the dog and pony show. Admit it.
6 p.m. — The Homestead City Council will get a visit from Miami-Dade Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava Wednesday. She will be at the next meeting to provide a summary of the last two years of what she’s done and tell council members what her priorities will be for the second half of her first term, (which still has not yielded all it promised). Homestead will also be the next city to consider a moratorium on medical marijuana facilities. It’s the city 
where any cannibusiness makes the most sense, right? Agriculturally? The city council will discuss a 12-month moratorium at its meeting Wednesday at the Taj Majal of City Halls, 100 NE Civic Ct. Other items on the agenda include hiring Greenberg Traurig to do the city’s special tax credit counseling and several board appointments (congrats to Ladra’s pal and good guy Stephen McDuffie , who has worked for both Republicans (Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen) and Democrats (Rep. Kionne McGhee) for getting named to the city’s Community Affairs Board).
THURSDAY — Jan. 19
6:30 p.m. — The Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works is having a community meeting on the roadway improvements scheduled for Southwest 142nd Avenue, from Coral Way to 8th Street. The event is to provide area residents and businesses with information about the constrution phase of the project, which includes roundabouts, sidewalks, curbe and gutter, signatliation and pavement markings, signage and improved storm drainage. Funds for the project come from road impact fees. Plans will be available for review during the first half hour of the meeting at Joe Hall Elementary School, 1901 SW 134th Ave. Staff presentation begins at 7 p.m. with a question and answer period promised afterwards, but the meeting is expected to end about 8 p.m.
FRIDAY — Jan. 20
9:30 a.m. — It’s the first meeting for the Miami-Dade County Unincorporated Municipal Services Area Committee 
with Commissioner Javier Souto as chairman. Among the items on the agenda is a resolution directing the mayor to find funding sources for a $3 million community center to be built next to the county’s Ronald Reagan Equestrian Center at Souto’s beloved Tropical Park (also the site of a kick-off rally last year for Sen. Marco Rubio‘s failed presidential bid). He also wants the mayor to provide a summary of all Building Better Communities GOB funds provided by district and by municipality. The committee will also talk about amending the county rules for annexation, requiring municipalities to provide a comparison of county and municipal land use regulations before any annexation. The meeting is in commission chambers at County Hall, 111 NW 1st St.
The MLK episode of the Cortadito Calendar, week of Jan. 16 added by Ladra on
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