State Rep. Javier Fernandez (D-Coral Gables) announced Wednesday that he will run next year in Senate District 39, where Anitere Flores (R-Kendall) is termed out and Democrats have a real opportunity to pick up a seat. But first, he has to move there. There is no other Democrat in the race now. Pinecrest Councilwoman Anna Hochkammer, another carpetbagger who announced in […]
The Coral Gables City Commission could ask their county and city of Miami counterparts on Tuesday to ban hourly rates at motels and hotels, like the Miami Executive Hotel in Little Gables, on the City Beautiful’s border. “It is well established that hotels/motels that allow for the hourly rental of rooms, are frequented by individuals […]
After eight public meetings that were scantily attended — one person went to the Hialeah town hall — the public will have at least three opportunities to comment on the $9 billion 2019-2020 Miami-Dade budget before the commission votes on it next month. The first look comes courtesy of Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, who has her […]
It wasn’t a secret. Everyone expected Miami-Dade Commissioner Xavier Suarez, who is termed out this year, to run for mayor to replace Carlos Gimenez, who is also termed out, causing an open seat dash. And some of the other wannabes reacted to the announcement better than others. Former Commissioner Juan Zapata, who was the first […]
As expected, Miami-Dade Commissioner Xavier Suarez made his mayoral dreams official Friday when he announced publicly that he was going for the top county post vacated by his nemesis, the termed-out Carlos Gimenez. “I want to put the resources of this county to work for the residents and taxpayers in a way that is both […]
Miami Commissioner Ken Russell may finally have a serious challenge: Jim Fried, a radio show host for 10 years and the uncle of Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikky Fried, filed paperwork last week to run in District 2. Another candidate, Javier Gonzalez, has been in the race since December. But he’s been running since 2015, when he […]
News this week about soil contamination found by an environmental study at the Melreese golf course near Miami International Airport — which developers want to turn into condos, offices, a hotel, shopping complex, restaurants and, oh yeah, a soccer stadium — was not a complete surprise. In fact, the head environmental official in Miami-Dade says the […]
Miami-Dade firefighter Omar Blanco is not new to politics. The 15 veteran of the department and president of the International Association of Firefighters local union has campaigned both for and against candidates on both sides of the aisle. He has tousled with Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and House Speaker Jose Oliva — and won. Now, […]
Residents in the Allapattah neighborhood of Miami know Commissioner Willy Gort. who is termed out after serving since 2011, and also from 1993 to 2000. But, with the exclusion of former Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, many voters don’t really know the clusterbunch of wannabes in line to replace Gort. So the Allapattah YMCA […]
Last year, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez scolded county commissioners for plans to protect the environment, reduce crime in South Dade, create programs for children and fund fare-free circulators, like the trolleys in many cities, in unincorporated parts of Miami-Dade. We ain’t got the money, honey, the mayor told them. He complained of a five-year budget shortfall […]