Miami-Dade Commissioner Chairman Esteban “Stevie” Bovo may not be so bobo after all.
Bovo acted quickly after he recognized the same mantra coming up in the pro Kendall Parkway speakers on Thursday, after questions were raised about paying for testimony, and moved to stop it before others noticed.
After the first few people stood up and provided what seemed like a scripted speech — name, address, in so-and-so’s district and I support this — he suddenly offered them the option to wave in support.
Just wave in support? Shouldn’t they have to provide testimony as to why?
Read related: Kendall Parkway to nowhere is an intentional slippery slope for UDB
This is important because on Thursday morning, the Miami Herald reported that an FIU student had been recruiting pro Parkway speakers o
n Instagram.
“Are you or any of your friends available tomorrow 9/27 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in County Hall,” read the text message invitation posted on Instagram by FIU student Leo Cosio, according to a story by Doug Hanks. “Will get paid $75 to attend and speak in favor of the Kendall Parkway.”
Cosio, president of the student government association on FIU’s Biscayne Campus, posted a screen grab of a text message, with bold-faced lettering offering more details. “If you’re interested DM me,” the headline of the post said. “Script provided.”
That’s what the pro Parkway people, some of whom didn’t live in the affected area either, started sounding like. Like they were scripted. Ladra noticed it. But then Bovo noticed it, too.
Law enforcement should get the names of those people who “testified” at Thursday’s meeting and talk to them about why they went there. I am sure they will find paid speakers on behalf of the MDX, which had already spent at least $400,000 on a slick PR campaign for the Parkway, or any number of other people, including builders and developers who stand to make millions in contracts. It behooves the state attorney’s office to nip this in the bud.
Read related: MDX spent $400K on PR, including $60K for mayor’s daughter in law
They should also talk to Cosio, who took the post down after the Herald inquired about it and has since said he is against the Parkway. If he is so against it, why did he refuse to say where he found it originally or who offered to pay. “Not at liberty to share,” he told 
a reporter in a direct message on Twitter. Not at liberty to share? Someone subpoena that guy.
And then they should talk to Bovo about what he knew and why he waved them off. Sketchy.
Does Bovo think that the approval of the Kendall Parkway is going to help his 2020 mayoral bid? Or is he just helping his buddy, Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who sneaked his way into chairman of the MDX board and whose lobbyist son works for MDX contractors?
Stevie Bovo urged “wave in support” to avoid repetitive and likely paid mantra added by Ladra on
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