Stadium finance plan hinges on vote AND Super Bowl pick

Stadium finance plan hinges on vote AND Super Bowl pick

So, let’s get this straight: Not only does the public have to vote in favor of any tourist bed tax increase that would help finance renovations at the Miami Dolphins arena, but the NFL also has to pick Sun Life Stadium for its Super Bowl 50 as well? No game, no play? And we don’t pay? […]

Dolphins stadium Referendum Day: More ‘surprises’ in store?

Dolphins stadium Referendum Day: More ‘surprises’ in store?

What makes today any different than last October, when voters polled overwhelmingly, by more than 80 percent, rejected the notion of public funds — yes, even a bed tax — going to yet another sports arena owned by yet another millionaire? We’ll find out in a couple of hours, when Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and […]

Dolphin stadium’s $$ referendum: Mayor’s new ‘tack’?

Dolphin stadium’s $$ referendum: Mayor’s new ‘tack’?

A voter referendum. That must be the different “tack” Mayor Carlos Gimenez told his friend about when talking about the Miami Dolphins’ stadium a couple weeks ago. Gimenez bff and campaign driver Ralph Garcia-Toledo said the mayor told him this at his house the Sunday after the Dolphins got a yes vote from the commmission […]

Carollo jumps into Miami race — for his own re-election

Carollo jumps into Miami race — for his own re-election

Well, he’s in. Miami City Commissioner Frank Carollo jumped into the race Friday — finally turning in his paperwork for re-election to his seat and ending any speculation that he might run for mayor, too. Ladra guesses the fierce battle brewing between Mayor Tomas Regalado and Commissioner Francis Suarez, who wants to be mayor so […]

Marco Rubio gives State of Union response from West Miami

Marco Rubio gives State of Union response from West Miami

CNN better not get in my way. West Miami is my home turf. But we can expect national news crews out there on Tuesday night when U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio — a close consideration for VP last year and a name often heard in the same sentence as “first Hispanic U.S. president” — gives the […]

Mayor Gimenez has game Plan B on Dolphins stadium

Mayor Gimenez has game Plan B on Dolphins stadium

Even before it came out in the Miami Herald today that the state legislators who represent us (at least this time) are not so hot on the Miami Dolphins stadium renovation penny tax request (Well, what do you know? Miami-Dade Commissioner Esteban Bovo was right) — and while there is a longshot bill in the stack for […]

Ex Mayor Manny Diaz backs Rosado, Suarez in Miami races

Ex Mayor Manny Diaz backs Rosado, Suarez in Miami races

In the three days after Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez announced — very ceremoniously since it was no surprise to anyone — that he would run for mayor, three candidates filed to run for commission in his place. But the first was the heir apparent: Ralph Rosado, a non-profit director and one-time House candidate who has been patiently waiting for another opening after losing […]

Frank Carollo mulling a mayoral run? Ladra likes a threesome

Frank Carollo mulling a mayoral run? Ladra likes a threesome

Well, Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo, whose term is up, has not yet filed to run for his own seat, fueling more speculation that he could run for mayor instead. Wouldn’t a three-way be fun? Get your mind out of the gutter! But Ladra is drooling at the idea of a third candidate to route for, since I can’t get […]

Smile! Hernandez lines up his photo ops

Smile! Hernandez lines up his photo ops

Was the recent visit by Attorney General Pam Bondi to Hialeah this week for some bogus national mortgage fraud settlement anything more than a photo op for Mayor Carlos “Castro” Hernandez, who is facing re-election this year and, while has not yet been challenged, is ripe for a fight? Expect photos of Castro with Bondi […]

Joe Garcia running hard – like, against a clock or something

Joe Garcia running hard – like, against a clock or something

Poor Joe Garcia. He becomes a congressman, finally, after trying twice unsuccessfully and now seems to be running — against the clock, perhaps? — to get things done. While he is busy earning our public dollars and voters’ confidence, our 26th district’s newly-sworn U.S. Congressman hasn’t even been in office for a month and already names are lining […]