Well, that didn’t fly.
The Israeli flag will not be raised over Coral Gables City Hall this week for the anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, despite Mayor Vince Lago’s push to do just that. After a wave of opposition from residents—and the painfully obvious lack of support from his fellow commissioners — the idea was quietly shelved last month in favor of more neutral, unifying gestures.
But those got shelved as well, possibly because they were all-inclusive. And, instead, the city’s police department has folded an Israeli homage into their National Night Out event Tuesday night — complete with bounce houses and carnival games.
Isn’t that appropriate?
To be clear: National Night Out in the Gables was always going to be on Tuesday, October. 7. It was always going to be at Temple 
Judea, which is a community gathering spot. But it wasn’t always going to be about Israel. There was no mention of the dark anniversary in the early flyers and announcements. Only a DJ, bounce houses, carnival rides and a police K9 demonstration.
“National Night Out provides our first responders the opportunity to build stronger ties with the community. It also provides a great opportunity for residents to meet their neighbors,” said Police Chief Ed Hudak in a community announcement sent last week.
Now, a new press release from the police department reads: “The event is being held at Temple Judea to provide support for the affected community, and to ensure a secure and supportive environment for all. On this two-year anniversary of the Hamas attacks, we stand in solidarity with our Jewish community.”
Where did that come from?
Read related: City raising an Israeli flag causes fuss and fury at Coral Gables City Hall
The city commission voted Sept. 25 to forgo the hoisting a foreign flag over a public building — which many saw as the city siding with Israel in the current conflict in Gaza, which has been denounced as genocide by multiple world agencies — and, instead, commemorate the tragedy with a banner, an interfaith vigil, and possibly lighting up City Hall in white and blue.
You know, stand in solidarity with all the community.
That last idea was scrapped because people could see right through those colors — it was a different way to present the flag — and demanded that red be added for all the victims of political violence. It’s the colors of America, anyway. But that would defeat Lago’s purpose. So there will be no lighting at City Hall. Basically, if it can’t be blue and white, they don’t want to do it.
Also, the interfaith ceremony apparently fizzled out when city leaders realized they had to invite an imam, too. After all, the whole idea was likely presented by Lago to appease a pro-Israel base that could help fund his future political ambitions. And they did not want to share the stage with those people. That’s what it looks like.
The city has said it was postponed due to a Jewish holiday and the unavailability of rabbis to attend, but las malas lenguas say they were faced with backlash from the Jewish community and an email to Ladra from Gables Spokeswoman Martha Pantin didn’t mention the holiday. “A new date and further details have not yet been finalized,” she wrote Oct. 2. She never did respond to a question asking why the date had been changed. Some kind of “interfaith ceremony” at some point — though nobody seems to know when, where, or what that will look like — is the kind of vague non-answer that usually means everyone’s trying to move on without saying so out loud.
What started as a supposed symbolic gesture from Lago has turned into a full-blown political headache — and, in the end, the city just decided to skip the whole thing. No flag. No blue-and-white lights. No vigil. Just the lingering tension of a community reminded that even the City Beautiful isn’t immune to global divides.
Is there even going to be a banner? Because Ladra knows there was a lot of concern about the date on it.
Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, perhaps sensing the consistent heat, asked staff before the Sept. 25 meeting to design a banner that could be 
hung instead of the Israeli flag. What they came up with is two white doves over the Earth and underneath the date Oct. 7. The messages “In Remembrance,” “May Peace Prevail” and “Honoring those who lost their lives” are also on the banner.
Anderson said it was a way to “honor all individuals that were victims of war … and to support peace.”
But if that were true, she might have left the date off. While the terrible attack of Oct. 7 killed somewhere around 1,200 people and led to the taking of more than 200 hostages by Hamas, the reaction by Israel has already led to the deaths of more than 65,000 Palestinians, including children who are being starved to death because humanitarian aid doesn’t make it to the refugees.
Lago first proposed the hair-raising flag raising at the first meeting in September but deferred after some residents pushed back and even Commissioner Richard Lara, in a rare show of independence, seemed resistant. Lago said he wanted other ideas. But he didn’t really.
Read related: Op-Ed by Michael Rosenberg: KFHA ‘In One Room – Together’ was a success
“If it was up to me and it was only me going to vote on this issue, I would raise the flag,” the mayor said Sept. 25, clearly still standing by his original proposal — even if nobody else was. He claimed the move was “not about marginalizing any community,” though many residents said that’s exactly how it felt. Commissioners heard from multiple residents at the meeting, and every single one who spoke on the flag issue said they were against raising it.
“Raising a foreign flag is inherently political,” said one resident who identified as Catholic and Palestinian. “Imagine if you only raised a Palestinian flag — some residents would feel upset and excluded. And they would be justified.
“I would be here speaking on their behalf.”
Attorney Jalel Shehadeh, a member of both the Florida Muslim Bar Association and the Palestinian American Bar Association who lives on North Greenway Drive, was more blunt about this “totally unnecessary endeavor.
“A vote for this is an endorsement of genocide… and would be a public statement from the city that it differentiates between its 
residents,” Shehadeh said.
In his defense for the indefensible, L’Ego said he had heard from both Jewish and Catholic residents. “They didn’t see this as anti-Palestinian,” he said. Interestingly that he didn’t say Muslims or Palestinians, but he had also heard from them.
Martha Schoolman, an FIU professor who said her father was a rabbi, called the proposal “an act of deeply offensive war mongering out of touch with the views of many in this community,” that ignored how many Jewish families are being torn apart over the issue. “This is a genocide — a nearly completed one. Who is this commission to rub salt in the wounds of our community?”
Some residents seemed dismayed that the mayor, after having gotten so much pushback, would still want to move forward with the flag. “Despite dozens of emails and calls from residents to reconsider, here we are again,” said Katherine Shehadeh.
It’s worth repeating that not one speaker supported the flag-raising. Not one. In two meetings, the only person who spoke in favor was South Miami Javier Fernandez, a land use attorney at City Hall to lobby on something else, who just came back from an all-expense trip to Israel paid for by the Jewish Federation of Broward. Katie Shehadeh called him a “paid propagandist.”
Maybe Lago is angling for a free junket?
Read related: Miami-Dade still deep in Israel bonds despite budget woes — and genocide
Well, he may not get it. Because the commissioners listened to the residents and decided that foreign policy doesn’t belong on the flagpole at City Hall. The city has previously raised flags for other causes, like LGBTQ+ pride and autism awareness. But those 
were, arguably, local and inclusive, not a stance on an international war that’s left more than 65,000 Palestinians dead since Israel’s military response began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Still, Lago tried to frame the flag-raising as apolitical, a simple gesture of solidarity with a country that shares American values. And he wasn’t happy with the backpedalling. He went on W Radio last week to defend his idea and take a few jabs at his colleagues.
“We are not talking about Palestine and Gaza,” Lago said. “We are not talking about the problems we all know are happening in the Middle East. We are talking about 1,200 Jewish people who lost their lives to Hamas, 1,200 human beings.”
Because, apparently, the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed in the Israeli response are not human beings?
Then Lago accused Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez — who had supported the compromise lighting — of “politicizing the issue.” He even tossed in a mention of their vote to raise commissioner salaries, because why not?
But he forgot to say that Lara was also uncomfortable with it. And Anderson worked on the compromise banner. The mayor is all alone on this hill.
Asked about Palestinian suffering, Lago said his heart goes out to all victims, “but a lot of the 65,000 were soldiers with Hamas.”
That’s not going to help heal any wounds, Mayor. It’s also another blatant mistruth from Lyin’ Lago. But that ignores leaked classified documents that say the Isreali military intelligence database indicates 83% of Palestinians killed in Gaza are civilians.
Coral Gables, like many communities grappling with how — or even whether — to acknowledge global tragedies, found itself walking a tightrope in the past few weeks. This time, at least, it looks like commissioners chose balance over bluster.
But the tension may not be over yet. Castro has said that she may try again at the next commission meeting to promote some type of event that will unite the community instead of dividing them.
Good luck with that.
If you like this kind of independent watchdog journalism, please consider making a contribution here to Political Cortadito. Thank you for your support!
Coral Gables commission backs off Israeli flag at City Hall after backlash added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →
[…] Read related: Coral Gables commission backs off Israeli flag at City Hall after backlash […]
[…] Read related: Coral Gables commission backs off Israeli flag at City Hall after backlash […]
[…] Read related: Coral Gables commission backs off Israeli flag at City Hall after backlash […]
[…] Read related: Coral Gables commission backs off Israeli flag at City Hall after backlash […]
Thank you Elaine and thank you Free Mohammed zahir for your comment.
Thank you, Ladra for your brave coverage. This is exactly why we need independent journalism in this country. Outlets like the Herald, etc. don’t even attempt to get to the core issues and just mindlessly repeat the talking points of those in power and coddle their weak egos. Coverage of the genocide has been abysmal both nationally and locally, aside from our independent journalists (which is why more young people are turning away from corporate, legacy media).
When this is all finally over, your work will be proof that there were good people in the world who knew exactly what atrocities were being committed against Palestinians and who spoke out, despite people in power trying to shut them down. Thank you, thank you.
Nothing says Zionist Neocon like bold, all caps. It’s like a caricature shouting at people with common sense who have evolved with time and asking for commemoration of all lives or simply staying out of a geo political issue.
As a friend put it :
– Today, Israel is like a serial killer. We do not ignore the actions of a serial killer because they had a traumatic childhood.
Let’s talk churches, since the start of the 2023-2025 conflict Israeli has destroyed all three of Gaza’s historic churches.
Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius: This church, one of the oldest in the Gaza Strip, was hit by an Israeli airstrike in October 2023, which killed at least 18 people.
Catholic Church of the Holy Family: Israel launched a strike on this church in July 2025, killing 3 people, including a woman, and injuring the parish priest and other Christians sheltering inside.
Gaza Baptist Church: This church has also been destroyed by Israeli bombing.
In addition to these direct attacks, human rights organizations in Israel have documented numerous instances of damage to other places of worship in the region.
Widespread destruction of mosques: Israel has also bombed and destroyed a significant number of mosques in Gaza.
Damage outside Gaza: Between 2009 and 2017, the NGO Rabbis for Human Rights reported that approximately 43 churches, monasteries, and mosques were set on fire or desecrated in Israel and the West Bank. The Christian Armenian Quarter is under constant attack by Israeli settlers. Spitting incidents are rampant. State report shown below
https://www.state.gov/report/custom/7dccc5dc7b
Zionism is narcissism/ where any criticism of Israel is considered completely flawed or unqualified, it is based on trauma-supremacy inversion whereby Zionism has institutionalized a “militarised narcissism” that weaponizes Jewish historical suffering to justify the persecution of Palestinians. It inverts the roles of victim and perpetrator by framing Palestinians as an existential threat always and an obstacle to Jewish redemption. The price Palestinians pay for a Holocaust the Germans committed.
Horrible things happened on 10/7. And horrible things have happened to Palestinians since 1948 and continue to this day. Rapes of Palestinians, pillaging, prison for children, illegal settlements etc. this goes for Christian and catholic Palestinians. Israel’s hands are not clean either. Bottom line, we are America and we are not part of Israel. American flag please.
ELAINE, REPLYING IN CAPS TO THE RELEVANT PARTS OF YOUR RESPONSE
“Your tunnel vision is what is disappointing. FLIPPANT, LETS CONTINUE
It’s imam, not Inman. You’re welcome. THANKS, I AM A PRODUCT OF THE DADE CTY SCHOOL SYSTEMS, AND GET THAT, ISRAELI, SUBPEONA, AND OTHERS WRONG WITHOUT SPELL CHECK–BUT NEVER ANTI-SEMITE.
And how telling is it that you just assume I am Palestinian? I DID NOT ASSUME. ONE NEED NOT BE OF A GROUP TO ASSOCIATE WITH IT. IN PRIOR POSTS, COMMENTARY YOU IGNORED, YOU PUT IN NARRATIVES, AND LINKS TO PRO-PALESTINIAN GROUPS–NOTE TO PRO-JEWISH/ISRAELI GROUPS…It is none of your business what I believe in, but I am neither Palestinian nor Jewish/Israeli. AGAIN, NOT MY BUSINESS, BUT YOU MADE IT THE PUBLIC’S BUSINESS BY TAKING A ONE-SIDED POSITON AND EDITORIALIZING AN INFLAMMATORY ISSUE BY WEARING AWAY FROM THE LOCAL ISSUE AND MAKING IT A RELIGIOUS ISSUE. FOR CLARITY, I DON’T THINK THE CITY SHOULD FLY ANY FLAG, BUT THE STATE AND US, FLAG, WITH THE OCCASIONAL FLAG FOR UNIVERSAL ISSUES (FOR INSTANCE, BREAST CANCER, UM WINS A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, ETC.. YOU WERE THE ONE WHO USED THE ISSUE AS A SOAPBOX FOR PALESTINIANS. PUBLISH AN ARTICLE THAT CRITICIZES THE FLYING OF A FOREIGN FLAG, AND I WOULD HAVE SENT A HIGH FIVE TO YOU. BUT I am but a world citizen watching what is happening in horror. BUT NOT THE HORROR OF HAMAS KILLING 1200 JEWS, RAPING AND KIDNAPPING 100’S OF OTHERS. A WISE MAN TAUGHT ME– SILENCE IS THE MOST DIRECT FORM OF COMMUNICATION. NOT COMMUNCATNG BOTH SIDES AND THE RELEVANT HISTORY, IN MY OPINION, STRIPS THE VENEER OF THE LEGITIMACY OF YOUR RESPONSE TO ME. NOTHING PERSONAL, WHEN I SAY YOU ARE A PALESTINIAN, IT’S THAT YOU ARE AN ADVOCATE OF THEIR CAUSE. I WAS NOT BORN CATHOLIC, BUT RAISED BY A CATHOLIC STEPFATHER, AND I GO TO CHURCH MOST SUNDAYS WITH MY GF. I EQUALLY HORRIFIED BY WHAT BOKO HARAM (CORRECT MY SPELLING PLEASE) AND WHAT IS HAPPENING TO CATHOLICS AROUND THE WORLD.
You should be too,
Ladra
Stephanie says “disease of antisemitism has infected the City of Coral Gables”
As you know Israel under Netanyahu is experiencing same as the USA under Trump .
Give or take as swings a bit every month or so half the country likes / loves him the other half dislikes / hates him .
Another Republican pledge allegiance to a foreign country motto .
======================================
” I am an American. I do not want a foreign flag flying over city hall, or city hall displaying the colors of a foreign flag. Thank goodness this proposal failed.”
Agree .
My advice is stay out of Hialeah .
Sounds like reason and common sense ruled the day!
Never again means never again for anyone. Current genocide included.
All lives should matter everywhere. Why the exceptionalism ? And why the exceptionalism for one foreign country. We have allies in other countries too and countless horrific massacres in all the world. Why is everything anti semtism? Speaking against a genocide is not anti semitism. Why is the fact that some of the comments here are blatantly racist being ignored. Most of the emails sent and speakers were not Muslim or Arab or Asian. Even a rabbi’s daughter spoke against raising the flag in the current environment. Irish Americans and Latin Americans spoke up for fair treatment. Every war crime agency, WHO, UN, Doctors Without Borders, Journalists including humanitarian agencies in isarel have deemed what is happening a genocide and ethnic cleansing.
Coral gables should never raise the flag of any other country for exceptionalism. Stick to local issues.
I am an American. I do not want a foreign flag flying over city hall, or city hall displaying the colors of a foreign flag. Thank goodness this proposal failed.
This is another shining example where our do as I say and not as I do MAYOR gets his way AGAIN. The dais needs to focus on our city, our residents and stay within the geographical bounds. Don’t worry though because that will never happen as VL greases his path to his next political office of his choosing.
Stephanie says “disease of antisemitism has infected the City of Coral Gables”. What an absolute load of nonsense. The disease of common sense and a desire to recognize wrong doing on both sides is what’s happened here. To slander someone simply because they have an alternate viewpoint is unacceptable. I’m sick and tired of members of our community calling their fellow neighbors antisemitic. Hard Stop Stephanie…HARD STOP.
Mr. Lago is experiencing the “Peter Principle.” Mayor L’ego has reached as far as he can in his political career. He can’t manage a community remembrance without backlash. His limit is clearly speed bumps, traffic calming, mandating pressure cleaned sidewalks and temper tantrums from the dais. Illusions of serving on a 13 member county commission or a 120 member Florida House of Representatives is way beyond his reach. A five member city commission is a handful for him already. Pobrecito.
Dear Saul, your continued tunnel vision is what is disappointing.
It’s imam, not Inman. You’re welcome.
And how telling is it that you just assume I am Palestinian? It is none of your business what I believe in, but I am neither Palestinian nor Jewish/Israeli. I am but a world citizen watching what is happening in horror.
You should be too,
Ladra
Dear Stephanie, thanks for chiming in. You know I appreciate you.
But I find it a little disingenuous that you continue to call this antisemitism. Isn’t it obvious and just a tad insensitive to many people — Catholics, Christians, Presbyterians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Episcopalians — that a politician wanted to turn this tragedy in the Middle East into brownie points with the Jewish community for future political ambitions despite some concerns from his very own constituency? Not one single resident from the “huge Jewish population” came to speak in favor of the flag raising. Many residents came to speak against it. In fact, the daughter of a rabbi thought it was wrong. Is she antisemitic?
Also, I find it unjustifiable to compare this situation with 1933 Germany. Unless you are talking about what is happening in Chicago and Portland. But you’re not.
And, finally, the only instances where “municipalities all over Miami-Dade County” celebrate other cultures by “flying flags from all over the world” that I could find were Cuban and Haitian flags flown on the country’s flag day and a Cuban flag flown in 2022 to express solidarity with protesters. There was no ongoing war in those countries at the time. The municipalities were not taking sides, which is what this would look like to many people. Not a side against Hamas, which is easy to take. But a side against all of Gaza, which is not as easy.
But I still love ya,
Ladra
I never thought I’d see the day when the disease of antisemitism infected the City of Coral Gables, or any other city in South Florida where there is a huge Jewish population.
Municipalities all over Miami-Dade County celebrate and honor other cultures by flying flags from nations all over the world. Why is Israel being singled out for disrespect and worse?
Obviously, it’s because of vile Jew-hatred.
It really is beginning to feel a lot like 1933 Germany right here in the United States. The only difference is that this time, we are more than familiar with the evil that Jew-haters are capable of, and we will fight back.
“Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.”
Your continued sensationalization and partisan commentary are really disappointing, baiting anti-semitism and finger-pointing. For instance, why do you conclude that because an Inman would be invited, it was a no-go? Jews have no issue with Muslims, and for the most part, Gazan, you call Palestinians– we have a problem with Hamas, terrorists, and those trying to eliminate us for the river to the sea. As far as the regrettable loss of Gazan lives–every single one of them, how many were Hamas fighters– the same ones who killed, tortured, and raped, then held hostage innocent people regardless of nationality? It is reported that it was more than half. These Gazans chose their political footprint, which turned the area into a Hamas battlefield. You talk a lot about “healing wounds,” but you take joy in inflicting them. You are Palestinian, and have a right to voice your opinion– but not to use your blog as a feigned shield for patent anti-semitism and community divisiveness.