County commission says adios to local Cuban consulate

County commission says adios to local Cuban consulate

Hey, President Obama: We don’t want your stinkin’ Cuban consulate here. Okay? Let the spies go to Tampa or Key West. That’s what Miami-Dade Commissioners told the leader of the free world last week when they voted to approve a resolution that urges the federal government to seek another location for a consular office to […]

County moves special taxing district funds to cities’ control

County moves special taxing district funds to cities’ control

As part of the effort to right the ship with the special taxing districts that were getting charged too much or too little, county commissioners will consider on Wednesday a move to put the control of those neighborhoods — and their special taxing monies — in the hands of municipalities.  Not only will cities and […]

A tale of two Uber laws — and the main differences

A tale of two Uber laws — and the main differences

Two competing ordinances to finally regulate “ride sharing” services or “TNEs” like Uber and Lyft will likely dominate the already full-agenda Miami-Dade County commission meeting Wednesday. We know taxi cab drivers are already a staple in commission chambers whenever this comes up (and sometimes when it doesn’t). And now, Uber has rallied riders to flood […]

As regulation looms, Uber goes mafioso with ad campaign

As regulation looms, Uber goes mafioso with ad campaign

For about two years, Uber has been operating its alleged “ride sharing” service illegally throughout Miami-Dade, picking  passengers up and taking business from taxis and causing a ruckus at County Hall. And now that there is going to be a serious consideration of rules they might have to adhere to, the company has launched a […]

Bruno Barreiro to speak at Beach Tuesday Breakfast Club

Bruno Barreiro to speak at Beach Tuesday Breakfast Club

This week’s speaker at Miami Beach’s first Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club of the new year is Miami-Dade County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro, whose district includes the seaside city. Barreiro has been the commissioner for District 5 since 1998, when he won a special election after then Miami-Dade Commissioner Bruce Kaplan was arrested for mortgage fraud and […]

Carlos Gimenez to speak at Kendall homeowners meeting

Carlos Gimenez to speak at Kendall homeowners meeting

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez will give us a sneak preview of his State of the County address Monday when he speaks at the Kendall Federation of Homeowner Associations meeting. The rare face-to-face also comes on the heels of his administration’s controversial announcement that the county is considering a terminal for a ferry to Cuba on […]

Longtime COS leaves Ileana Ros-Lehtinen — to lobby her

Longtime COS leaves Ileana Ros-Lehtinen — to lobby her

There has been a changing of the guard at the congressional office for U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Miami) as her longtime friend and most trusted adviser becomes a federal lobbyist. Longtime Chief of Staff Arthur “Art” Estopiñan — who has been with her for 26 years, or almost the beginning — is leaving for the […]

It was a ‘Florida is Marco Rubio country’ weekend in Miami

It was a ‘Florida is Marco Rubio country’ weekend in Miami

Taking a cue from his yard signs, South Florida became Marco Rubio country for real over the weekend with four back to back events. Two were official campaign events and two just sorta happened. The first was a barbecue and pot luck Saturday organized by Facebook supporters at Tropical Park. Called Marco Rubio’s Hometown for America […]

It’s official: Ladra is all in with Team Raquel for mayor

It’s official: Ladra is all in with Team Raquel for mayor

There comes a time when it’s no longer enough to sit on the sidelines and just report what you know and hope people see the wizard behind the curtain for the failed traveling salesman he is. There comes a time when you have to put your blood and sweat and guts where your big mouth […]

Carlos Gimenez’s latest giveaway: Our bed taxes to Havana

Carlos Gimenez’s latest giveaway: Our bed taxes to Havana

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez couldn’t backpedal fast enough from his plan to put a ferry to Cuba at PortMiami, which was announced Tuesday, although it’s obviously been on his plate for weeks, at the very least. He must have heard the collective gasp because Gimenez held a hastily called press conference Thursday afternoon to say […]