Weak Mayor Francis Suarez begs for respect from Crazy Joe Carollo

To show how far he’s fallen from a bright future to a powerless present, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez turned into a sniveling baby begging Commissioner Joe Carollo for respect at a public meeting last week.

This was right before the commission approved the first chunk of the $400 Miami Forever bond approved by voters in November of 2017. They voted 4-1 for $58 million to go to:

$10.3 million to fight sea level rise, including a redesign of Brickell Bay Drive and the installation of 50 new one-way valves
$15 million for new affordable housing projects and a single-family home rehabilitation program
$420,000 for upgrades to Fire Station No. 10 located at 4101 NW 7th Street
$7.6 million to improve nearly 4 miles of roadways
$25.3 million to enhance public parks, including upgrading playgrounds, repairing sidewalks, and enhancing accessibility.

Carollo had an issue with the way the money was carved out and, sources say, didn’t get what he wanted, which was basically to wait a little longer so he could get some housing project proposals worked up by his pals for properties he recently convinced the city to buy in his district (more on that later).

That’s why his cries of foul Wednesday were so disingenuous.

“I know what’s happening here,” Carollo said. “I see the sharks sitting right back there, the guys that raised three and a half million for the strong mayor…just waiting to get some of this money.”

As far as anyone can tell, he was referring to Mike Llorente, Baby X’s former chief of staff — and, Ladra believes, cousin — who joined his brother Marcelo’s lobby firm with Alex Heckler, LSN Partners, in 2016.

Funny thing is, though, the Virginia Key redevelopment project on which Llorente is a paid lobbyist did not get any of the bond funds Wednesday. None of the clients he’s registered lobbying for got anything from the pie. But that won’t stop Carollo from casting scurrilous aspersions that work for his convenience.

That said, Baby X didn’t have to throw a hissy fit with his point of order. You can see the mayor acting like a battered wife on this video clip posted by longtime Miami blogger Al Crespo. Diehard Suarez fans might want to sit down first.

“Again, I’ll ask the commissioner — I’ve asked in private, I will ask in public — to please respect me,” Suarez said, almost babbling. “I’ve always respected you.

“I’ve never said anything disrespectful to you or have ever implied any decision you made or haven’t made is based on anything other than what you think is best for the city so I would respectfully request that you do the same.”

Suarez begging Carollo for respect like that has got to be one of the signs of the apocalypse. It is so unnerving.

And really? He has never implied that any decision Crazy Joe has made is not in the best interest of the city? He may be the only one who can say that.

Here is some unsolicited advice to Suarez, who doesn’t return Ladra’s phone calls anymore: So, you lost the stupid strong arm mayor proposition you should never have put forth? So what? Move on, man! Yes, it was a political bruising and your stock went down some. Get over it. You have three years to do the good shit we know you can do and make voters forget about this in 2021. Don’t dwell. Come up with something spectacular.

And kick the bullies where the sun don’t shine. Especially when you have the votes. Take the win!

Don’t beg. It is not becoming. And it’s fruitless.

Carollo is not going to respect you no matter what, because you don’t tow his line. So if you want his respect, then coddle to him. If you want the voters’ respect, stand up for yourself next time and tell him what’s what. Call his bluff and tell him that you will give his friends’ housing projects a fair shot.

But if you want Carollo to bend you over some more — and secure your one-term fate — then keep begging for his respect.

Francis Suarez, Joe Carollo

Weak Mayor Francis Suarez begs for respect from Crazy Joe Carollo added by Ladra on December 17, 2018
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