Chatty Michael Pizzi claims innocence, blames Michael Kesti

Chatty Michael Pizzi claims innocence, blames Michael Kesti

It’s been almost a month since he was arrested and charged with federal bribery and extortion charges, and suspended Miami Lakes Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi has been more chatty than ever about being an innocent bystander in the FBI sting and questioning the motives behind the lobbyist-turned-informant he said poisoned him. He talked to New […]

Post-scandal Miami Lakes candidates qualify, 5 for mayor

Post-scandal Miami Lakes candidates qualify, 5 for mayor

Miami Lakes Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi decided not to run, after all, for the seat from which he was suspended earlier this month, after he was arrested on federal bribery and extortion charges in an FBI sting where he allegedly and knowingly facilitated bogus grant applications in exchange for kickbacks and campaign contributions. The race to […]

Another mayor goes down: Homestead’s Steve Bateman

Another mayor goes down: Homestead’s Steve Bateman

Another day, another local mayor arrested: Homestead Mayor Steve Bateman was taken into custody Wednesday on charges of taking unlawful compensation. That’s police code for bribes and kickbacks and, in this case, taking secret jobs to use your political influence on other government officials. The mayor has been under investigation for a multitude of things […]

Rep. Jose Oliva lends juice for Miami Lakes sprint election

Rep. Jose Oliva lends juice for Miami Lakes sprint election

Qualifying hasn’t even started yet in the spring Miami Lakes election, set for Oct. 1, and already there are candidates with signs and handouts, knocking on doors and sending mailers. Council candidate Frank Mingo — who is seeking to replace the outgoing Councilman Nelson Hernandez, who is seeking to replace the suspended Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi, who […]

Big week: arraingments, budgets and Miami Lakes deadline

Big week: arraingments, budgets and Miami Lakes deadline

Look like it’s going to be a busy week in the 305 for political intrigue, what with a caliente county commission meeting, the arraignments of two allegedly corrupt elected leaders, a hearing for a Hialeah boletero and the qualifying deadlines for the suddenly open seats in Miami Lakes due to the mayor’s arrest. Ladra expects […]

Arrested Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi may run again

Arrested Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi may run again

Former Miami Lakes Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi — suspended by Gov. Rick Scott earlier this month after he was arrested by the FBI on bribery and extortion charges –misses his office and want’s his seat back already. At least that’s what we have to think after his son picked up a candidate packet for him […]

Spies, lies and audio tape: Manny Maroño’s ‘charisma’

Spies, lies and audio tape: Manny Maroño’s ‘charisma’

Don’t they say that it’s always the cover-up that gets you? Of the two local mayors that went down a couple of weeks ago in an FBI sting that nabbed them on charges of bribery and extortion, the best case seems to be the one against suspended Sweetwater Mayor Manny “Maraña” Maroño. We have all long […]

Ceasar Mestre drops from Miami Lakes mayoral race

Ceasar Mestre drops from Miami Lakes mayoral race

Miami Lakes Interim Mayor Ceasar Mestre — who was vice mayor until the arrest last week of Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi on bribery and extortion charges after an FBI sting operation — has dropped out of the race to replace Pizzi permanently. In a text message to his friends and other council members, Mestre said […]

First Miami Lakes mayor jumps into post Pizzi replace run

First Miami Lakes mayor jumps into post Pizzi replace run

Add one more name to what looks like a quite crowded special mayoral ballot for Miami Lakes to replace the suspended Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi, who was arrested Tuesday for his role in a federal grants kick-back sting set up by the FBI. Despite rumors that Miami Lakes Mayor Wayne Slaton, who lost to Pizzi […]

Graft in Miami Lakes: A tale of 2 council members, A & B

Graft in Miami Lakes: A tale of 2 council members, A & B

The federal kick-back sting that led to the arrest this week of two Miami-Dade mayors and two of our local lobbyists also sheds light on some stark differences between two council members in Miami Lakes. The feds call them Councilmember A and Councilmember B in the affidavit that supported the arrest of Miami Lakes Mayor […]