Carlos Gimenez is back from Europe tour of Spain, Switzerland

Carlos Gimenez is back from Europe tour of Spain, Switzerland

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez got a few more stamps on his passport this month during a nine-day European jaunt that took him to Spain and Switzerland. Like always, his wife Lourdes went along. So did the mayor’s Chief of Staff Alex Ferro, Port Director Juan Kuryla, Aviation Director Lester Sola, Manny Gonzalez, who runs the county […]

For strong mayor, soccer, Miami Riverside Center — just say no

For strong mayor, soccer, Miami Riverside Center — just say no

While this year’s Florida ballot is long on state amendments, city of Miami voters only have to remember three little words when it comes to their city questions: Just say no. None of the Miami referendums put to voters should pass because none of them pass the smell test. Ladra will dissect them one at a […]

Lawsuit to shed light on soccer stadium deal, land taken by eminent domain

Lawsuit to shed light on soccer stadium deal, land taken by eminent domain

Thank the political gods that millionaire Miami pioneer heir Bruce Matheson also smelled something fishy about Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez‘s special no-bid deal to sell a county-owned parcel in Overtown to the Beckham United group that wants to build a soccer stadium there. Matheson — who has the money and gravitas that comes from a track […]

King Petty Carlos Gimenez gets goofy over soccer stadium

King Petty Carlos Gimenez gets goofy over soccer stadium

So there is finally a doable plan to build a stadium and bring a David Beckham‘s dream Major League Soccer team to Miami and everyone can celebrate. Well, almost everyone. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez aka “King Petty” isn’t as excited as the rest of us. In fact, he’s pissed off. You might be, too, if after […]

Mayor’s meeting on cellphones, not soccer… yeah, right

Mayor’s meeting on cellphones, not soccer… yeah, right

Monday’s meeting between Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Mr. Giveaway” Gimenez and one of the investors in the David Beckham Major League Soccer team expansion that they want to bring to Miami was not about the stadium that they’ve been talking about for more than a year now, the mayor’s deputy and his spokesman each said. It was […]

Miami-Dade to woo Beckham back with temp soccer site

Miami-Dade to woo Beckham back with temp soccer site

It doesn’t have the seaside view they wanted, or be in the downtown core served by public transportation, but Miami-Dade commissioners want to reach out to retired British fútbol star David Beckham and his investors, again, about establishing a Major League Soccer team in Miami, using the Florida International University Panthers’ football field in West […]

Chip Iglesias: Negotiator to lobbyist on Beckham soccer

Chip Iglesias: Negotiator to lobbyist on Beckham soccer

It escaped me Wednesday, but Genting isn’t the interesting client represented by the lobby firm that stole Miami-Dade Deputy Mayor Genaro “Chip” Iglesias from the county. David Beckham is. Iglesias has been the county’s lead negotiator on the talks with Beckham and his group of investors to bring Major League Soccer to Miami — and […]

Xavier Suarez draws plans for Little Havana soccer stadium

Xavier Suarez draws plans for Little Havana soccer stadium

First, he backed the idea on the dais. Then he sent an email pushing for signatures on a petition to “bring the UM Hurricanes home” by having the Major League Soccer stadium located at the Little Havana site where the Miami Marlins live. Now, Miami-Dade Commissioner “Mayor Sir” Xavier Suarez has gone as far as producing […]