Spotted at the Pollo Tropical on 57th Avenue and Northwest 7th Street Wednesday: Miami Commissioners Damian Pardo and Ralph Rosado, who was elected earlier this month to fill the vacant seat in District 4, chatting and bonding over maduros.
Pardo said it was just a chance encounter: Both men stopped for a bite to eat — separately and individually, he said — on the way to the grand opening of the newly-renovated Manolo Reyes Park, which was West End Park before it was renamed to honor the late commissioner, who died in April.
“It was nothing planned. It was totally spontaneous,” said Pardo, who had to be prodded to remember that he even met with Rosado, even though it was four days earlier, the day after Rosado was sworn in at City Hall. “Wednesday? No.” At Pollo Tropical, Ladra asked. “Oh, yes, yes, yes,” he said. It almost seems like he almost got caught lying — same as Rosado during the campaign.
Read related: Ralph Rosado and Joe Carollo beat Jose Regalado in Miami D4 special election
Pardo told Political Cortadito that he was already at the popular fast food restaurant when Rosado walked in. And he invited the new commissioner to join him. Guess it was a bonding opportunity!
“We all just had a quick something and went to the park.”
The park ceremony was to start at 2 p.m. and the lunch was just about 1 p.m. so they talked for almost an hour. What about? “Nothing to do with any city business, that’s for sure,” Pardo said. “We talked about the park, “it’s hot outside,” “what are you eating?”
Really? It wasn’t plainly obvious what everyone was eating?
They talked about the ceremony they were about to attend. “How long does it take to get done and when can we leave?” That kind of thing, he said.
Still, Commissioner Joe Carollo is going to be hurt when he learns that Rosado, who he helped get elected by pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars from his political action committee into the campaign, le pego los tarros. Carollo doesn’t have a heart to break, but he’s got more ego to make up for it.
And Rosado basically cheated on him with Pardo, who is one of Carollo’s enemies on the dais. Hey, at least it wasn’t Miguel Gabela. That would lead to divorce.
Read related: Miami Commission honors the late Manolo Reyes with park, honorary title
But the real issue here is what they talked about, of course. Because discussing anything on the agenda or that could be voted 
upon by the commission is a no-no. It’s a violation of Florida’s Government in the Sunshine laws, which provide that all electeds announce their meetings and allow the public to watch and listen if they want to. They’re not supposed to have a private lunch. It looks messy, even if it is just by chance.
For all of Pardo’s talk about small talk, there’s no way to know what they really discussed. And from the photos taken as they were leaving, it looks like it could have been business.
Pardo could have been making his case for the proposals this week to change the election date to 2026 and put lifetime term limits on the ballot. They could have been swapping votes. “You vote for my lifetime term limits and I’ll vote for the street closures in Silver Bluff.”
That’s a Carollo item but it looks like Rosado doesn’t have any items on the agenda for his first meeting and he’s generally considered a yes vote on the street closures pushed by Beba Sardiñas Mann, who was at his election watch party Tuesday.
Again, why invite another commissioner to your table? Why allow even the perception of something shady? Say hi and let him be on his way.
Perhaps they didn’t think anybody who knew them would see them at a Pollo Tropical.
Read related: Miami lifetime term limits, election year change intertwined, like bait & switch
They weren’t the only ones there. Pardo’s chief of staff Anthony Balzebre and his sergeant at arms — an armed police officer who apparently was securing the parking lot as they walked out — were also at the lunch. So, they are witnesses.
This is something that the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust can easily figure out with subpoenas to those two staffers. Ask them what was discussed. Trust, but verify.
It’s especially important because of the timing. Tuesday’s commission meeting has a lot of things on the table. Ladra can’t wait to see how Rosado votes on the lifetime term limits and the election year change and how Pardo votes on the street closures.
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Pay to Play. Typical Miami. Every politician is out to enrich themselves. Pardo works for developers and he works for concrete companies. What a disappointment.
If Rosado has a craving for Pollo there are many closer to his home. There would be an abundance of food at event for Manolo’s park renaming. Rosado lives in Coral Gate and goes to Biscayne blvd for lunch ALONE. Who are we kidding. – the city needs to immediately handle this and not sweep it under the rug! Will Noriega speak up as City Mgt.! Someone deserved a reprimand immediately or it will continue. Pardo is desperate – he will violate anything to get his way!
Not shocked by this behavior to say the least. Pardina, is a disgrace to say the least, he will come to any excuse to cover his *S*. Not sure where I was lunch on x day, but I don’t recall the guy in pink either. a *UCK*N joke. Ken Russell with a beard. (Pardina)
Sure, the chat was as follows:
We’re alum and need to stick together so let’s do the following, vote for terms and move the election, I’ll support you becoming the Chair to the DDA (downtown development authority) so you can deal with Torres lol. Then we vote, on the election items (since I spoke with king to leave her as chair), so she is SOLD. you want a large drink with your combo lol-
I am sure that it was something like that – and that we fu(* Carollo x 2 you in Rosardo?
So now get your popcorn ready— tomorrow will be a doosie!
Rosado is a disgrace, not even a week in office and already doing this shady shit. Miami is doomed.
Nothing to report. If they had wanted to meet illegally, they would have done it in a more private setting, not in a Pollo Trópical.
Fist off why are Sergeant at arms driving them to get food? This is a waste of taxpayers money, maybe we can save the million dollars a year eliminating the sergeant at arms
Instead of working on hurricane preparedness and flooding – what to do w the homeless and new amount of residents compared to shelters ..plus we have more pets in the city – instead we have to deal with gaslighting of pardo and couch deals of francis . this checker board game the same old crew is playing is just as filthy as the secret gambling at fisher island .
I wanna know who took the pics ! good job sherlock ! now get back to work and actually do something and execute on it !
Nothing to report here. If they wanted to illegally meet to discuss the agenda items, why meet in such a public place. I’m sure they could have found a more private place if that was their intention.
Illegal. That is a Violation of the Sunshine Law. Obviously, they discussed pending legislation.
Ladra: Your political “pay to play” has become the kiss of death for all politicians. If you want to continue being a “journalist” HA HA. change your name and begin writing about sports. You’re done. How many of your candidates have lost this year alone?
“Totally spontaneous!” Just two commissioners, two city vehicles, two sergeants-at-arms, a Chief of Staff… and one unforgettable order of maduros. Nothing says transparency like public officials ‘accidentally’ holding court at Pollo Tropical. WTF!