Michael Pizzi & his legal dream team — at what cost to who?

Michael Pizzi & his legal dream team — at what cost to who?

Former, suspended, acquitted Miami Lakes Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi really, really, really wants to be mayor again and is going to court one more time to try to get back into his office at City Hall. You know, the one with that closet he likes so much. Pizzi was suspended by Gov. Rick Scott in […]

Michael Pizzi to Rick Scott: ‘Read the law and unsuspend me’

Michael Pizzi to Rick Scott: ‘Read the law and unsuspend me’

UPDATED: Miami Lakes former Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi, who has been rebuffed twice now by Gov. Rick Scott‘s refusal to lift last year’s suspension, has basically told Gov. Rick Scott that he needs to read the actual Florida law, not what he wants the Florida law to be and revoke the suspension that followed his […]

Rick Scott must explain snub on suspended Michael Pizzi

Rick Scott must explain snub on suspended Michael Pizzi

Former Miami Lakes Michael “Muscles” Pizzi may like to say he’s half Cuban and may sound like the name of an Italian mafia enforcer, but he’s got the luck of the Irish. Suspended last year after he was arrested in an FBI bribery string, Pizzi let off last month by a jury that was simply […]

Questions linger a year after FBI arrests two mayors

Questions linger a year after FBI arrests two mayors

It came and went without much fanfare — the first anniversary of the arrests of both Miami Lakes Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi and Sweetwater Mayor Manny “Maraña” Maroño in separate snags on the same August day last year and in the same FBI sting — bogus economic development grant approvals for kickbacks. Maroño is serving […]

Michael Pizzi thinks he is still mayor, throws town party

Michael Pizzi thinks he is still mayor, throws town party

Former Miami Lakes Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi — who was suspended in August after he was arrested on federal bribery and extortion charges — seems to think he’s still the town’s fearless leader. He’s been sending emails to his virtual constituents for months — one this week included a link to a fairly positive Miami […]

As bad mayors go down, where and who is Michael Kesti?

As bad mayors go down, where and who is Michael Kesti?

The question still hangs in the air like a thick fog? Where is Michael Kesti? And who exactly is Michael Kesti? The South Dade lobbyist and paid FBI informant is really the only reason why former Sweetwater Mayor Manny “Maraña” Maroño is facing three and a quarter years in the slammer for bribery and extortion […]

Holiday hellos from busted Homestead, Miami Lakes mayors

Holiday hellos from busted Homestead, Miami Lakes mayors

Both former Mayors Steve “Shhhhh” Bateman of Homestead and Michael “Muscles” Pizzi of Miami Lakes — who were arrested in August on separate public corruption charges — sent holiday greetings via email to their friends and supporters. Pizzi, who has used Gmail to communicate with his peeps before, sent his note Dec. 31, and it […]

A New Year’s toast to Top 10 political characters of 2013

A New Year’s toast to Top 10 political characters of 2013

The Miami Herald appropriate calls it the year of the bust. That’s because 2013 was particularly packed with political corruption — or at least the kind we found out about, anyway. But it was also the year of disgust as electeds promoted corporate welfare for the millionaire owner of the Miami Dolphins, another millionaire bought […]

New Miami Lakes Mayor Wayne Slaton wants new attorney

New Miami Lakes Mayor Wayne Slaton wants new attorney

DEVELOPING STORY: Looks like Miami Lakes Mayor Wayne Slaton is going to try to make good on his threat to fire Town Attorney Joseph Geller. It comes as no surprise. One of the first things Slaton told people he would do as the new mayor of the small town was change the city attorney. On […]

Public corruption in Miami-Dade: Is something in the water?

Public corruption in Miami-Dade: Is something in the water?

The political bomb that exploded in Doral last week has had its aftershocks. Already, there is an investigation into the campaign office rental of Mayor Luigi Boria and another inquiry on his links with a friend and property owner who bought the property from Boria’s children with money the mayor may have lent him and […]