No, it’s not a resignation letter. A missive sent to Coral Gables residents by Mayor Vince Lago Thursday starts like he might be announcing his swan song.
“Before anything else,” it starts, “I want to thank you for everything you do to make The City Beautiful the greatest place in America.”
Tun, tun, tun! Lago is going to resign!
But, no, it’s not Christmas.
Instead, the letter seems like an attempt to, once again, fend off the recall effort against him. There’s nothing new here. Lago isn’t saying anything new about what the Three Amigos — Commissioners Melissa Castro, Ariel Fernandez and Kirk Menendez — have done. They gave themselves raises. Check. They voted against a tiny tax cut that wouldn’t help anyone but the millionaires and could have hurt services. Check, check. They voted to fire the city manager. Check, check, check.
Read related: Coral Gables activist forms PAC to recall former friend, Mayor Vince Lago
He brought up the campaign three issues that scare voters in the Gables every two years: development, taxes and first responders.
The only new thing here is that Lago now blames out-of-town developers for losing the majority.
“Four years ago, and with your support, I led the charge to stop the massive upzoning of Miracle Mile demanded by out-of-town developers with commercial interests in our downtown,” Lago wrote. “Now, those same out of town developers are back, trying to upzone Miracle Mile again.
“The only members of the commission standing in their way are Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson and me. This is why they are, once again, attacking me,” the mayor said.
What developers is he talking about? What project to upzone Miracle Mile? What attacks?
How unhinged is Mayor Lago? Does he need an intervention?
That was a nice shout-out to Anderson, who has been carrying Lago’s water for a year. Ladra hopes he didn’t scold her too harshly for smiling at Castro in that photograph published by The Miami Herald Thursday in their story about Castro’s win at the Miami-Dade Commission of Ethics and Public Trust.
Read related: Ethics opinion clears Melissa Castro but could hurt Vince Lago in Coral Gables
“Despite our progress, there is a faction on the city commission relentlessly engaging in self-serving, petty political games that threaten our way of life and the ethics of what makes our community so unique,” Lago says, and this is a textbook example of projecting. The one playing self-serving, petty political games and waging war is the mayor.
“Coral Gables’ future is in your hands,” Lago’s letter ends, “and at the next city election, you can ensure that we can continue working together to protect the integrity and heritage of our city beautiful.”
The next election is in April of 2025, even though the mayor wanted to move it to November, 2026 (and prolong his term). Lago and his lackeys have already recruited someone to run against Menendez. Neither the mayor nor Anderson have any challenge — yet.
Two things that stand out in the letter, which was sponsored by his political action committee Coral Gables First: (1) He is missing a bullet point on the city manager item (sloppy typing) and (2) it painfully shows how narcissistic L’Ego is: “I have fought tirelessly,” “my efforts,” “I led the charge,” and “they’re attacking me.”
Me, me, me.
Read related: Vince Lago recall canvassers stopped, harassed by Coral Gables Police
Political observers say there are only two valid reasons for this ridiculous letter, which, again, doesn’t really say anything new. Anything new that is real, anyway. There is no application for any development on Miracle Mile.
The first is that Lago is increasingly desperate about the recall and trying, yet again, to thwart the effort. This time, by muddying up his villainous colleagues and painting himself as the city’s only hope. The second possible reason is that he’s setting Anderson up to succeed him if the recall is successful.
One thing is certain: He didn’t send it because out-of-town developers are controlling the Three Amigos.
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Lladra & G. Lo. I appreciate you taking the time to provide reasoned responses to my comments. I do not mean to disparage anyone, especially you, Lladra, because you do provide a valuable service. Reasonable discourse, which is getting harder and harder to find these days, is all I seek. Thank you.
G. Lo, mi amiga. Thanks for the support.
Brash? Okay. Full of venom? Maybe. But hate? I don’t hate anybody. Not even Lago. Not even Carlos Gimenez or Carlos Hernandez. Not even… okay, maybe I hated Fidel Castro. but I’m over it now that he’s dead. I do hate the arrogance and corruption and behavior unbecoming an elected official. I do hate graft and the gravy train. And, sometimes, I even feel sorry for these clowns when I have to call them out.
But, hey, somebody has to do it. I might hate that, too.
Love, Ladra
When I first saw this letter I thought it was a joke. Any Lago supporter or hater knows that the letter is comical. The fact that it went out can only me two things.
1. Lago believes his own press clippings (only the positive ones).
2. The recall effort is getting more traction that he thought it would and is now scrambling.
Recall or no recall.. Lago is a dead man walking.
Michael, I agree Elaine (Ladra) can be a pill (brash, full of venom & hate, but frankly, someone has to keep these clowns on theirs toes. I only see Ladra & Maria Cruz doing it. I’m 60 years in Miami, 2 in The Gables (lifelong aspiration to move here finally fulfilled, and what a disappointment!). dealing with City Services is always an adventure, permitting a mystery, Iglesias was (as my Dad liked to say) a zero to the left of the decimal point. The 3 amigos (love or hate them) got elected Fair & Square, and every commision meeting since, Lago has been nothing but condescending and arrogant. his slate lost – but he could not accept the will of the people. Developers get away with all they can get because they’re developers. shocker! Lago can not be trusted to moderate them. [note: I’m generally pro-develpoment, have 10yrs in CRE). so Elaine >> keep at it!
Dearest Michael. Welcome back.
I am definitely biased against Mayor Vince Lago. It is not because of any contributions or advertising dollars. That is one of the many lies that L’Ego has spewed. I am biased against him because he lies and has definitely done some shady things. The affidavit is bad enough. How can anybody let him get away with that kind of crap? Renting an empty space to Rishi Kapoor, a developer who bought a multimillion building from his boutique firm? Securing a handicap space in front of an office building for another client? Retaliating against a business owner who called Commissioner Castro to get help with an issue? Knocking on doors to tell people to remove the signs of other candidates so he could place the signs of his puppets? This is what makes me biased. This is what makes him a terrible public servant, if I can even use those words.
I do agree that the Three Amigos have made some mistakes. I did write about the “surprise” raises in the budget and how that was not the correct way to go about it, but I am not sure I am against the increases because there is an argument for not having only rich people run for office and not having it be so tempting for them to be bribed. I don’t think the raises were huge. I did take issue with the expense allowances. And I have also written about Castro’s learning curve, Ariel’s abrasiveness and, when Menendez was running, about his hard press to upzone the Crafts Section where he had three houses. So, it’s not really bias as much as observations. And everybody is fair game.
What I write is true. It is usually documented. My opinion is often included because many people value it. It comes from analysis and more than 20 years of experience covering government (much of that in Coral Gables, in fact) as well as very good sources and institutional knowledge. If you dont want to read something that is going to have some opinion an analysis, I am sorry but you are in the wrong place.
But please never think or infer that my opinion is bought. If I could be bought, wouldn’t Lago pay me off as he does that anonymous blogger? For me, there’s not enough money in the world.
Love, Ladra
it is clear that the “cuban dna” in miami politics is autocratic and power hungry at all costs – all municipalities in miami-dade need to start voting for democracy rather than these 2nd/3rd generation imigrants who long to have or be a dicator – this recall needs to happen!
I read your blog whenever there is a post about Coral Gables, because I live there. I also try to read the comments. However, the comments, with few exceptions, are hard to read or take seriously because they are so nasty and hate-filled. Sometimes people use pseudonyms because, for various reasons, they do not want to put their real name behind their words, whether they are accusatory, nasty or, quite frankly, dishonest.
Turning to your writing, I can only say that you are an important source of information for me, but I do not like it when you take sides so obviously, which was the case with this post. Maybe my memory is going with age, but I don’t recall Vince Lago being as bad as people describe him. He has not lived up to the promise of his campaign, and he has even done things which make him look very bad (the affidavit). But it really is not fair to judge him so harshly because, at some point, you (and your commentators) are being just as dishonest.
I voted for him when he ran for commission and mayor. I will not sign the recall petition or vote to recall him because we have an election next year anyway. There is very little point, and there is a fairly solid 3-2 majority against him. So I really don’t think residents need to do damage control here. If he had a majority and continued to act differently than he advertised in his first mayoral campaign, I would reconsider. But I feel the Gables is fairly safe given the gradual political neutering he has undergone since April, 2023.
But the new majority also cannot be trusted. They did do the things Lago’s supporters complain of in their comments, and, while reasonable minds can disagree over the propriety of those acts, I tend to believe the new majority acted rashly and not in the city’s best interests in many ways. I really don’t think it is in the city’s best interests to increase their majority. After all, look at the terrible history of Florida when there is no balance in government, both when Democrats controlled Tallahassee (decades ago, yes, I know) and then since Republicans took over.
My point is that everyone on the dais is tainted in some respect. So it really is irresponsible for commentators and you to be so one-sided for or against anyone on the commission. It shows a lack of critical thinking. It shows tribalism. It’s the “my team” mentality that causes people not to think and just react: I’m supporting my team no matter what, and I can excuse any misconduct as long as it’s my guy or my gal who committed it.
Maybe you get contributions or advertising dollars for being unfair and incendiary. Maybe commentators get a rush from coming up with clever, mean-spirited quips. But it really should stop because what happens in Coral Gables is important to all of us who live in Coral Gables. From the mayor and commissioners to every city employee, these are real people with feelings who, I hope, are just trying to do their best job for the city and its residents. Maybe that’s a naive hope, but I like to think that we’re all just a little better than the unnecessary nastiness and oftentimes outright falsity that gets posted here (and in both of those other Gables-only blogs). It’s really disappointing.
Oh dear, Lago just can’t help himself with the lies. It is almost comical at this point. His opening is too much! “Fought against large scale development”, UNLESS you pay me “rent”.
“Ensures funding for first responder”… what an egregious liar. I personally how grotesquely false that statement is. If residents saw his actions and behavior – EVERYONE would sign that petition immediately.
Vince Lago, can you just resign already? Read the writing on the wall. We The People do not want you here anymore.
Maria Cruz, I believe I have been a target of Code Enforcement. I placed his political opponents’ signs in my yard last election cycle and since then have been receiving more violations in this last year than in the past 20 years. I did not know there were “lists” being used by him in this way. Please advise what actions we residents can take regarding this. It seems illegal. Is there legal action that can be taken?
I’ve already signed the Petition. I hope everyone realizes Vince Lago needs to go, for multiple and varied reasons.
As I mentioned in previous comments, it seems that Ariel Fernandez is following the Banana Republic Dictator Handbook by the letter.
Now, this initiative to recall Mayor Lago is a scripted version from the Lenin Communist Revolution handbook: create uncertainty about the current leaders, combine facts with lies, advocate higher moral principles, promise a better future, propose to take down the current leaders, take power, enrich the new political class, spend in highly visible projects with low economic value, target business people and entrepreneurs as greedy parasites, squeeze money from everybody until everything collapses and everybody is much worse.
This is the story of the Soviet Union. It could be the story of the future of Coral Gables.
The time has come for those who have complained about the Mayor’s misuse of his “power” to take a stand and decide whether or not they would like to continue living under his autocratic “self made up” rules.
I’m speaking directly to those who have been impacted by his politicizing of the Code Enforcement Department. Those who have been cited as a result of his infamous lists! Those lists sent to Code Enforcement demanding. and expecting, residents to be cited for such “violations” as having placed a cardboard box on their swale/trash pit or perhaps using plastic bags to keep the loose leaves from flying around and going all over the place until the next scheduled “green matter” pick up.
What about those who were bullied and even threatened for daring to support the candidates that were not the Mayor’s choices! Those of you who heard his knock on your doors to demand the removal of your candidates’ signs and then observed their replacement with his candidates’ signs!
Those of you who have witnessed his disrespectful/bullying/abusive behavior while chairing the Commission Meetings.
Need to say any more?
You have a choice. if you are tired of what our City has become under his time as Mayor, and have not signed the petition to recall him, but would like to do it, feel free to contact me at [email protected] or at my number, 305-323-2154. I will be honored to make a petition available to you!
This is your time to stop his shenanigans. Seize the moment!! Let’s get our City back to what it used to be, our City Beautiful!
L’ego votes against development when he knows it will pass based on the other commissioners’ votes. Developers fund him. He voted to lower property taxes because he knew that had no chance of passing. Again just posturing.
Great reporting. Thank you again!!!!
… lago’s letter is a prime example of a “self-serving, petty political game” that “threatens our way of life and the ethics…” questionably, the letter says nothing of his corrupt schemes… it blames the 3 amigos to distract from his own shortcomings… and falsely claims he aims to work for the city… as his actions made clear to all who want him out… he is in this for himself, for the side dealings he gets, and for the narcissistic thrill he derives… read the room brother….
He is a pathetic loser. Total dirtbag. An egotistical maniac. That guy has done nothing for first responders, in fact, him and his buddy, the Chief of Police, have destroyed the police department. The police and fire employees cannot stand him.
Ask Lago why big name developer Boschetti “bought” a building at 1159 NW 8 Ave with him under the obviously named LLC, “JBVL 1159” in Highland Park, an area that Black Salmon’s Camilo Lopez is going to soon develop just after Boschetti and Lopez built Offizina in CG, exceeding the height restrictions. Lago isn’t against overdevelopment, although he may vote against it when it passes…he helps it in other seedy ways. LAGO is scum – bought and paid for right in front of us.