’Twas the day before Christmas Eve, and all through the Gables, a political action committee was stirring — and not in a “peace on Earth” kind of way.
Just as Coral Gables residents were thinking about midnight Mass, Nochebuena prep, and whether the roast would dry out, Coral Gables First, the PAC that Mayor Vince Lago has repeatedly and proudly acknowledged as his, slid into inboxes with a “holiday greeting.”
Only it wasn’t much of a greeting.
Instead, it was a parody of Santa Baby — yes, that song — retooled to mock Commissioner Melissa Castro, complete with 
snarky lyrics, insinuations about corruption, and AI-generated misogynistic cartoon images that many recipients described as sexualized, juvenile, and wildly inappropriate for a city that still clutches its pearls over parking decals.
Nothing says Christmas in the City Beautiful like a “soft porn” email blast portraying a sitting commissioner — and single mother — in tight, suggestive outfits, with exaggerated curves, innuendo-laced lyrics, and winking references that leaned less “political satire” and more middle-school locker room humor.
In Coral Gables.
On the day before Christmas Eve.
Very classy, Vinnie.
Ladra thinks he has an obsession with her. Like she is every girl that ever rejected him in high school and the epitome of what he cannot have.
Read related: Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago lashes out at Commissioner Melissa Castro
The PAC’s email attempted to dress itself up as harmless holiday fun. But beneath the tinsel was a familiar Lago-era pattern: personal fixation masquerading as policy critique, aimed squarely — and repeatedly — at Melissa Castro.
The problem? Much of the content wasn’t just mean-spirited — it was misleading or flat-out false.
The email paints Castro as pro–Live Local development, cozy with builders, and personally benefiting from city decisions. In reality, Castro has been one of the most vocal skeptics of Live Local projects in Coral Gables, often standing opposite the pro-
development bloc that Lago himself has led or enabled. The anti-development, residents-first vote is and has been squarely behind her.
So while the mayor’s PAC was busy rewriting Christmas carols, it also rewrote the facts.
But what really raised eyebrows — especially in a city that still thinks “edgy” means sleeveless at commission meetings — was the gendered and sexualized framing. The choice of Santa Baby alone carries baggage, historically designed to infantilize and sexualize women. Layer that with AI cartoons emphasizing Castro’s body, and the message was clear to many recipients: this wasn’t about policy. It was about diminishing a woman in power.
This from a man with daughters. It should strike everyone as horrible that Castro’s daughter is the one who pointed out to her that the same message had been posted on social media.
This is the same mayor who months ago talked about restoring decorum at meetings and public behavior. It’s pretty obvious that this is just part of his intimidation campaign to silence Castro, who is the only real effective voice against him on the dais.
And the email landed with a thud.
If Lago’s PAC was hoping for fireworks, Melissa Castro didn’t give them any.
“He’s just trying to flip the script because I’m the only one he cannot control,” Castro told Ladra. “He can’t go after the legislation so he has to go after me personally.”
“He’s trying to convince people that I’m someone that I’m not,” she said.
In a measured, pointed email to her supporters, Castro — who has become used to being the mayor’s and his lackeys’ punching bag — acknowledged the attack. And then she calmly dismantled it.
Read related: Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago, allies bully and browbeat Melissa Castro
She reminded residents that Mayor Lago has openly confirmed Coral Gables First is his PAC, and that it has been used repeatedly to target her. She noted the timing: the day before Christmas Eve, a moment of particular significance for Christian families reflecting on motherhood, sacrifice, and humility.
Choosing that moment, she wrote, to demean and sexualize a woman in public service “speaks volumes about the values behind the attack.”
Castro didn’t trade insults. She didn’t parody back. She didn’t meme.
Instead, she did something far more uncomfortable for her critics: she stated facts.
She reiterated that she stopped doing business in Coral Gables long ago, at real personal and financial cost, specifically to avoid 
even the appearance of a conflict of interest. No expediting business. No backroom deals.
And then she drew a line.
Healthy policy debate? Yes. Sexualized caricatures, gendered ridicule, and false insinuations dressed up as holiday humor? Absolutely not.
She closed by pivoting away from the spectacle and back to governance — neighbors, shared values, and the work of protecting Coral Gables for future generations.
Which only underscored the contrast.
Read related: Coral Gables Commissioner Melissa Castro calls out the kickback culture
Several residents reached out to Ladra to express their disapproval of the distasteful missive.
Jack Thompson, a longtime Gables resident and activist, says he is thinking twice about a scheduled meeting with the mayor over the deteriorating maintenance of the Granada golf course, but he was flabbergasted by the email and called it a “soft porn attack.” He asked the mayor to apologize to Castro.
“Why would I meet with him anyway? I don’t trust him about anything,” Thompson told Ladra, adding that the issues with the golf course are well documented and obvious to the naked eye.
“His treatment of individuals is far more important than anything going on at the golf course,” Thompson said. “I want to ask him, ‘Have you not heard of #metoo, Bill Cosby and Trump?’ The email was rude, unkind and doesn’t serve the city.”
Thompson went as far as to call L’Ego “Trump Junior.”
At this point, it’s fair to ask: why the fixation, Vinnie?
Commissioner Castro has been talked down to, censured, mocked, sidelined, and now turned into a Christmas parody — all while consistently challenging the mayor and his allies on elections, transparency, and development policy. Disagreeing with her votes is one thing. Turning her into a recurring character in a political PAC’s content calendar is another.
In a city that prides itself on decorum, discretion, and dignity, the email left many residents wondering who, exactly, lost the holiday spirit — and who lost the plot.
Because if the goal was to make Melissa Castro look unserious, the result may have been the opposite. Lago looks like the ridiculous one.
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Every time I hear him tell someone he’s Catholic, or his “God bless you” or “we are blessed”, in his fake sanctimonious manner, it makes me want to vomit.
True Christians don’t act the way Lago does. He talks out of both sides of his mouth.
A father of daughters who gives no consideration as to how his actions will affect them is evidence of his narcissistic personality. A married man who gives no consideration as to how his actions will affect his wife is just doubling down on his narcissistic personality. He needs therapy.
This latest attack is worthy of condemnation and removal from office. Hopefully someone will be able to rid us of this pestilence that has tarnished our City.
Those who are asking where Anderson is, are wasting their time. She’s right behind Lago, smelling his you know what.
You have been humiliating your employees long enough, especially women. Basta ya! We work so hard for this City and represent it with pride and then you, Mr. Lago, turn around and embarrass us, stump on our pride. You truly are an embarrassment to most of us. Grow the fuck up!
Vince Lago and his lobbyist brother Carlos Lago betray citizens. Anyone notice their buddy Francis Suarez kept his $1 Million per year taxpayer funded security / chauffeur detail AFTER he left office in Miami? One of Suarez’s chauffeurs costs taxpayers $300,000+ per year in pay and benefits. Dude had 3 chauffeurs 24/7.
Trump Jr he most have been with Epstein at one point? so he prints sexist innuendos about people against him just like Sr.
One of the biggest mysteries of Miami which till this day blows my mind as so confusing is why so many Cubans who came here in 1950’s / 60’s UNLIKE plenty of Cubans who came when I came ( sadly ) have concept of time , responsible , get things done , many self made business savvy , etc continue to vote for mierda they would have fired first day if one of their employees .
It truly blows my mind .
”este comemierda Vince Lago, is he Cuban? is he one of ours?”
si el es cubano but not like you nor I but the Cuban vote in Miami is no longer a unified vote and THANK GOD .
I might be fooling myself and not first time if so but I think changes are taking place .
I do not mean this to be offensive as born in Cuba but my motto is we are only screwing ourselves with Cuban politicos so ‘ No Cubans ,no problems ” is my motto .
I thought it was the City of Miami who was responsible for infantile, insulting behavior courtesy of their elected officials. I would hate to think that Coral Gables, historically known for it’s refined decorum, is now going full-on-chusma to compete.
Say it ain’t so.
I am a City employee, and a young woman. This is disgusting to see. I hope all the officials see this comment. Total disrespect. If it was not for the bad economy, total employee turn-around would be at a higher percentage.
Lago and his brother the lobbyist and their buddy Francis Suarez are all creeps. They all love stealing from taxpayers.
Filthy Lago. Wow how disgusting and he has daughters of his own???
My biggest question is Andersen when will you speak up and show some spine as a woman for the other female commissioner ? How do you align yourself with this garbage ? And Lara steer clear while you can and don’t go down the road of Lago.
Manscaped little prick.Has no clue how many people just held their nose and voted for him because he was the least objectionable
Just as we’re all hoping and praying for a bit more Peace on Earth, we receive this email reminding us that cruelty reigns. Despicable!
The mayor’s obsession with attacking Commissioner Castro shows a complete lack of respect for women. The way he targets her over and over is disturbing and embarrassing for this city. When will he stop this foolish behavior? Castro, stay strong! You’re the only voice on the commission that represents us.
This makes me angry as a resident. A mayor who hides behind a PAC to personally go after a commissioner has no business talking about integrity or leadership. This is disgraceful behavior
This makes my blood boil as a resident. The mayor’s relentless attacks on a woman commissioner show blatant disrespect for women and an unhealthy fixation. Honestly, the obsession is so intense it makes you wonder if he’s in love with her because this goes far beyond policy.
I’m absolutely enraged by this. The mayor should be focused on serving residents, not spending his time attacking and ridiculing someone who actually stands up for us. This crossed a serious line.
este comemierda Vince Lago, is he Cuban? is he one of ours? so I can freely tell him que se vaya a casa del carajo? you’re not improving the race, Vince, give it up. you’re embarrassing us. you think you have a mandate and all of us in CG love you. WRONG, buddy. you ‘re confusing winning elections with being liked. rookie mistake. you just have batter funding. again, not to be confused with being liked. CG is not better today than before you came along. it’s just more developed. you hate Melissa & Ariel because they call out your BS. Leaders handle, don’t suppress, dissension. they persuade, don’t diminish. you wouldnt know you’re not a leader. youre a bully.
He goes after her because he is a misogynistic bully who would never go after a man so much. I wonder if his little prince helped him with the lyrics. I also feel sorry for his daughters and the sad example of a man they have to see daily. You’re pathetic, Vinnie.