Miami Lakes voters say ‘yes’ 10 times, and cut mayor’s power

Miami Lakes voters say ‘yes’ 10 times, and cut mayor’s power

Miami Lakes voters were in a giving mood this week, saying yes to and overwhelmingly passing every single one of the 10 charter amendments proposed to them — most of which take powers away from the mayor, making it a mostly ceremonial position. They also made Mayor Michael Pizzi‘s re-election pretty much a pipe dream. […]

Miami Lakes charter changes aim at mayoral power

Miami Lakes charter changes aim at mayoral power

Close to 19,000 voters in Miami Lakes will get a ballot in the mail in the next couple of days that could change the way the city governs for years to come. Ten charter amendments — not one, not two, but 10 — are on the ballot that are due back by May 17. It almost […]

Miami Lakes: Manny Cid becomes #3 to file for mayor

Miami Lakes: Manny Cid becomes #3 to file for mayor

Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi can’t step left or right at City Hall without running into a challenger. Last month, Town Councilman Ceasar Mestre filed to run for the mayor’s seat now held by his one-time friend and ally. On Monday, Manny Cid became the second council member to file paperwork to run in what […]

Wayne Slaton, Ceasar Mestre go for Miami Lakes mayor

Wayne Slaton, Ceasar Mestre go for Miami Lakes mayor

Miami Lakes Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi may have gotten his seat back after a protracted court battle. But he’s going to have to campaign hard to keep it. Pizzi, who is widely expected to file for re-election, already has two challengers — former Mayor Wayne Slaton, who was removed from office after Pizzi was acquitted […]

Michael Pizzi wins Round 1 vs Miami Lakes for legal costs

Michael Pizzi wins Round 1 vs Miami Lakes for legal costs

Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi is having a tremendous run of luck in the courts. First, he was acquitted of federal bribery charges after being caught in an FBI sting applying for grants he allegedly knew were bogus. Then he got the court to agree with him on having Gov. Rick Scott lift his suspension […]

In Opa-Locka: Steve Shiver is in; Michael Pizzi is out

In Opa-Locka: Steve Shiver is in; Michael Pizzi is out

The city of Opa-Locka apparently is not big enough for two political crooks. Last month, former Homestead Mayor and Miami-Dade County Manager Steve Shiver — who has been accused of squandering millions in CRA funds for Homestead redevelopment after Hurricane Andrew, some of it going to clients he represented after he left the city — […]

Miami Lakes: FDLE won’t look at Mayor Michael Pizzi’s crash

Miami Lakes: FDLE won’t look at Mayor Michael Pizzi’s crash

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has passed on a request from the Miami Lakes council to open an independent investigation into the May car accident involving Mayor Michael Pizzi and a tree. FDLE Director Scott McInerny told Miami Lakes Town Manager Alex Rey in a letter dated Aug. 3 that they reviewed the investigation by […]

Michael Pizzi scares off second town employee, his assistant

Michael Pizzi scares off second town employee, his assistant

The second employee to resign from the Town of Miami Lakes in recent weeks because they’d rather be unemployed than work for Mayor Michael Pizzi is his handpicked assistant, the daughter of a longtime Pizzi supporter. Lissette Molina resigned from her position as Pizzi’s assistant just before 10 a.m. Friday. “Due to the unfortunate work […]

Miami Lakes asks FDLE to investigate Michael Pizzi crash

Miami Lakes asks FDLE to investigate Michael Pizzi crash

Miami Lakes Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi played the class clown in council chambers for about an hour Wednesday night at a special call meeting where the council later asked for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the mayor’s very own hit-and-run crash last month. “I ask God to protect all the council members and help […]