The possibility that Miami-Dade Aviation Director Ralph Cutié would become the next city manager in Coral Gables was very short-lived. On Tuesday, Cutié — who oversees operations at the beleaguered Miami International Airport — was named as a potential (preferred?) replacement for City Manager Peter Iglesias, whose third vote for termination from Commissioner Kirk Menendez […]
‘Mafia-like thuggery’ is tied to vote on city manager The three Coral Gables commissioners who voted to fire City Manager Peter Iglesias on Tuesday said they had been threatened or followed in recent days and felt genuine concern not just for their safety but for the safety of their families. Threats reportedly made against Commissioners […]
Assistant City Manager Alberto Parjus is in charge meanwhile This story has been updated from its original. Surprise, surprise. A discussion on the succession plan for the Coral Gables City Manager turned into a new potential role for Miami-Dade’s Aviation Department Director Ralph Cutié, a 32-year veteran of the county government — who oversees operations […]
Can you imagine a sports bar without TV screens? Neither can Fernando Yanes, the owner of Bar77 on Giralda, where fans can almost always find a football or futbol game to watch. Yanes has been working to make the TV screens up against his windows legal since code enforcement cited him last year. The city […]
The Coral Gables commission decided not to jump on the lawsuit that 12 cities have joined to challenge a new law that requires all municipal electeds to submit a Form 6 financial disclosure instead of a Form 1 — with much more information about income and sources of income than before. Passed with overwhelming bipartisan […]
The city of Coral Gables wants to terminate the lease with Fritz & Franz Bierhaus — a German restaurant that has become very popular, especially for soccer games — but has given the owner three weeks to come up with a proposal at market value rent so he can stay. This is the restaurant where […]
Coral Gables City Manager Peter Iglesias can count. Only because he knows he has three votes, can the manager lash out at Commissioner Ariel Fernandez like he did at Tuesday’s city commission meeting. Se puso feo. “You are the most disrespectful person,” the manager told him. They were talking about the lease at Fritz & […]
The city of Coral Gables could join other municipalities in a lawsuit against the state to overturn legislation passed last year that requires municipal electeds to submit a more detailed financial disclosure document known as Form 6. It’s a war against transparency. Currently, city commissioners have to file Form 1, which has far less information […]
Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago does not like to be challenged or criticized. He has recently taken to calling his critics — which include award-winning documentary filmmaker Billy Corben, award-winning journalist Roberto Rodriguez Tejera and yours truly — mercenaries paid to smear him. That’s old news. He’s again copying his idol, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, […]
Everybody is waiting for the other shoe to drop. By other shoe, Ladra means the tired, old, stinky loafer that is Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago, who would follow his BFF, mentor and role model, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, anywhere. Maybe even to jail. Last month’s exposé of Suarez’s private life and public service conflicts […]