The Miami Beach mayor’s runoff is not what most political observers expected to see. Former Commissioner Michael Góngora will face Commissioner Steven Meiner on the Nov. 21 ballot. Many, including Ladra, expected the runoff to be between the two Mikes — Góngora and former commissioner and former State Rep. Mike Grieco, who really should have […]
All four candidates in the race to replace termed out Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber are expected to participate in a forum Monday sponsored by Miami Beach United, an influential activists organization. Leading the pack are the two Michaels — former city commissioner Michael Góngora and former State Rep. Michael Grieco, also once a city […]
Former Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Góngora has waited. And waited. And waited. Góngora has skipped several elections, waiting to run for mayor when he felt he had a better chance. Not against Philip Levine. Not against Dan Gelber, who is finally termed-out. But certainly now in the open seat. Most observers thought Góngora would coast […]
Miami Beach Commissioners Micky Steinberg and Michael Góngora will say their goodbyes to the dais Monday morning as the newly-elected Kristen Rosen Gonzalez and Alex Fernandez are sworn in and take their respective places. But we aren’t really rid of them, yet. Góngora, who wanted to run for re-election but was told by a judge […]
There are 16 people running for four seats in Miami Beach, but many of them are somewhat known to voters already. They include incumbent Mayor Dan Gelber and Commissioner Mark Samuelian, former Commissioner Kristin Gonzalez Rosen, who left her office to run for Congress, and repeat candidates Stephen Cohen, Blake Young, Raquel Pacheco, Michael “Mike […]
Despite issues with labor, blacks, he gets a key No. 2 post When Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales said early last month that he was leaving the city for greener pastures, he claimed he didn’t have another job option. But Ladra and many others didn’t believe him. Nobody leaves a $306,000-a-year job with nothing […]
The very same developers whose plans for an oceanfront highrise on North Beach were quashed by voters in 2015 have gone another route: They got the city to vacate public streets and sidewalks so they can unify a development site and use the FAR to build the condo tower anyway — and a hotel, street-level shops, […]
Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales will likely get a four-year contract extension at Wednesday’s meeting and a salary increase to $305,736. In a move that is largely a rubber stamp vote, Morales — who was hired in 2013 for $255,000 a year — will also get an increase in retirement contribution, from $7,000 to what […]
UPDATED: Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales got a three to four year extension on his contract at a secret meeting Tuesday in his own conference room. Commissioners also voted 6-1 to have the finance chair Commissioner Ricky Arriola negotiate a raise to bring back to them. The only dissenting vote was Commissioner Michael Góngora, who […]
Someone is at it again in Miami Beach — and everyone thinks it’s Michael Grieco. A campaign mailer arrived in mailboxes last week telling voters about the sweet deal $50,000 job that former Commissioner Joy Malakoff had gotten offered to her by Mayor Dan Gelber. Except that there was no disclaimer on the anonymous piece. […]