New claims about Michael Pizzi is tip of federal iceberg

New claims about Michael Pizzi is tip of federal iceberg

Thank God for the feds coming to the rescue. I’ll call them the cavalry. The scandalous claims that came out Sunday about former Miami Lakes Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi wanting three years ago to plant cocaine on former Councilman Richard Pulido or take him out more permanently — as in hire someone to whack him […]

Manny Maroño plea deal may mean handing over bigger fish

Manny Maroño plea deal may mean handing over bigger fish

Former Sweetwater Mayor Manny “Maraña” Maroño was facing federal extortion conspiracy charges for his role in a bogus grant application scheme in which authorities say he intended to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the U.S. government in exchange for thousands of dollars in kickbacks. But Friday, Maroño — once on a rumored shortlist […]

Joe Carollo goes off the reservation, naming names in Doral

Joe Carollo goes off the reservation, naming names in Doral

Doral City Manager Joe Carollo might want to get a bodyguard or some protective custody from the FBI, maybe. That’s because he went on a verbal rampage Tuesday night and threw everybody under the bus in an effort to defend himself against allegations of acting unprofessionally with a business associate and friend of Mayor Luigi […]

Michael Pizzi mocks election turnout, says ‘I’ll be back’

Michael Pizzi mocks election turnout, says ‘I’ll be back’

On the day before the Miami Lakes special election Tuesday to replace him, former Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi — who was suspended after his August arrest on public corruption charges — said, Fear not, supporters because he would soon be their leader again, regardless of the results in the race. “When I am exonerated of […]

Frank Mingo: A trade for Nelson Hernandez? One theory

Frank Mingo: A trade for Nelson Hernandez? One theory

Granted, Ladra has been accused of being slightly overly suspicious before. I haven’t met too many conspiracy theories I didn’t like. One of my favorite former senators says that I am way too jaded. But what some people call paranoid, others might call vigilant. Astute, even. So, here’s the latest conspiracy theory that occurred to […]

‘New & improved’ Nelson Hernandez runs as the anti Pizzi

‘New & improved’ Nelson Hernandez runs as the anti Pizzi

In his quest to be the next Miami Lakes mayor in the whiplash election that ends today, Councilman Nelson Hernandez is trying hard to set himself apart from the last Miami Lakes mayor, who was arrested last month on charges of public corruption. Almost too hard. Some might think Hernandez is running against former Mayor Michael […]

Early voting ends today in Homestead, Miami Lakes election

Early voting ends today in Homestead, Miami Lakes election

More than 1,100 people have already voted in the Homestead primary as early voting opens today for the last chance to cast a ballot before Election Day Tuesday. That includes 810 absentee ballots returned as of Friday and 169 and 154 early voters casting in person on Thursday and Friday. That’s already more than the […]

Fraud alert: ABs drop in Homestead, Miami Lakes

Fraud alert: ABs drop in Homestead, Miami Lakes

While all eyes are on the Miami-Dade County Commission and its budget hearing today, there will be phones ringing off the hook at the homes of voters in Miami Lakes and Homestead, where there are city elections Oct. 1. That is because absentee ballots drop for voters in both cities Tuesday and Wednesday. Miami-Dade Elections […]

Miami Lakes campaign cash: slow and mostly self-propelled

Miami Lakes campaign cash: slow and mostly self-propelled

There’s a crowded ballot in the race to replace suspended Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi, who was arrested last month on charges of bribery and extortion after a two-year FBI sting in which he allegedly accepted kickbacks for facilitating a bogus grants application. But only two of the hopefuls are experienced candidates with money to […]

Mayoral mailer makes mockery of mafia endorsements

Mayoral mailer makes mockery of mafia endorsements

A couple of mailers in the lickety split Miami Lakes election are causing a little bit of tension among two one-time allies who are now running against each other in the crowded five-point race. David “Doc” Bennett has already sent out two mailers with photos of him and his family and him with two legislators […]