By on May 4, 202510 Comments If the voters in Coral Gables thought that the animosity on the commission and the toxic rhetoric from the mayor was going to end with last month’s election Freshly re-elected with a solid 55% of the vote emboldened by his and his slate’s victories is doubling down on the hate and disrespect It’s not just because he’s going to roll back the raises and car allowances that commissioners gave themselves in 2023 There are two items on the commission salary in Tuesday’s agenda One of them will roll the salaries back to what it was  before the trio of Commissioners Melissa Castro Ariel Fernandez and former Commissioner Kirk Menendez But just so that readers know what this means financially: The mayor’s salary will go from $69,000 a year back to $47,400 The vice mayor’s will go from $67,000 back to $41,475 and the commissioners’ pay will go from getting $65,000 annually to $38,500 That’s a total savings of $75,625 a year Read related: Vince Lago, Rhonda Anderson handily coast to re-election in Coral Gables But the other “proposed ordinance” would cut their salaries to $1 a year — starting with the very next paycheck This is more than just “elections have consequences.” It is why Lago doesn’t mention the $1 option in a self-aggrandizing piece he wrote for Community Newspapers And for whoever thinks that is not targeting Fernandez and Castro, a single mother that Lago has repeatedly disrespected in public take a look at the second part of the ordinance: “Beginning October 1 2026 the compensation would revert to the 2022-2023 fiscal year salary and expense allowances including those increases tied to the annual increases in the CPI-W as provided in section 2-29 of the City Code.” the mayor and the commissioners get their old salaries back with regular raises — 17 months from now — and for the six months or so that Castro and Fernandez will have left in office before their term is up That sounds fair and non retaliatory at all some have speculated that Lago is using that option as leverage to get the other items passed which include the elimination of the car allowance a requirement to get a four-fifths vote prior to spending any general reserve monies (unless there is a declared state of emergency) the addition of two new members to the charter review committee to be appointed by the city manager and city attorney and a rollback of commission expense accounts from $10,000 too $5,000 a year — for a whopping savings of $25,000 The resolution also “amends the policy for allowable uses,” it says Those uses include event tickets and donations to schools but it also includes mass mailings and the printing of materials — like the welcome packets that Castro gives to new homeowners with a lot of useful information And certainly not in the best interest of the city There’s also an item to change the rules on public comments. That one may as well be called the Maria Cruz ordinance because it aims to limit public comments to only specific items on the agenda or the public comment period. Maria Cruz is a gadfly activist that speaks on many issues but has become one of his most outspoken critics and led the failed recall against him last year Read related: Vince Lago scores with Richard Lara’s Coral Gables commission runoff win Lago did not return calls and texts to his phone he writes his proposed changes will “bring clarity and decorum back to our public meetings.” Lago also wants to put two questions on the ballot: One would ask citizens if they want to establish an Inspector General and the other would ask them if they want to convene a charter review committee every 10 years beginning in 2035 — which sounds like a way to get rid of the charter review committee for 10 years Aren’t they supposed to convene after every U.S But the mayor won’t risk the election date change on a referendum He will try to do that by ordinance on Tuesday Because he really doesn’t care whether the people of Coral Gables want it or not and he’s not going to take the same chance as he did with the annexation of Little Gables He’s not going to leave it up to them That item on the agenda Tuesday would change the date of the next general election from April 13 and moving all subsequent elections to November This would result in a four-month reduction for everyone It would also expand the runoff period from two weeks to four and move the swearing-in date to five weeks after the election Both the next election and the ballot questions would be on the Nov Coral Gables may change the way it’s elected its commission for 100 years either Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson and newly-elected Commissioner Richard Lara — who Lago thinks he has in his pocket — insist on this going to the voters Lago is not wasting any time testing his loyalty It’s possible that Lara is the only option Anderson was heard telling someone who asked her to let bygones be bygones that “you reap what you sow.” That means Richard Lara could very quickly become the most powerful person on the city commission as the swing vote There’s also a discussion item on the city manager which was a central point of Lago’s re-election campaign — and his revenge tour Read related: Coral Gables Vince Lago may move to bring back City Manager Peter Iglesias Several people have tried to convince Lago not to fire City Manager Alberto Parjus and hire former city manager Peter Iglesias back “But he was my mentor,” Lago reportedly whined to the city clerk in the parking lot at the flag raising ceremony for the centennial where a business leader took Lago aside for a word of advice: Stop it Several city employees and supporters — including his campaign manager Jesse Manzano and former Miami-Dade Commissioner Kevin Cabrera Ambassador to Panama — reportedly asked him to keep his cool and They said he’s not feeling it and would rather “blow everything up.” “He’s off the rails,” is what one Gables insider said L’Ego isn’t letting up on the public meltdowns and personal attacks on Commissioner Castro The incident at El Carnaval de Barranquilla last weekend — where Lago called her names in front of her 8-year-old son and refused to stand on stage with her and the organizers — was not an isolated event at the ribbon cutting for Plenitude Spa on Aragon Avenue Lago made a repeat performance — refusing to stand with and walking away from a group photo with Castro — and even told someone that he was not going to stop behaving like a toddler and disrespecting her “This is the way it’s going to be from now on until the next election,” he is heard saying to someone the city’s Economic Development Director “This is the way it’s going to be.” Ladra doesn’t think this is what the voters wanted when they returned him to office The next election is in 2027 and the mayor just threatened to humiliate and embarrass an opposing commissioner for two years when he was standing at one end of the group photo and Castro at the other and you could almost see him bring the back of his hand to his forehead “Listen, Belkys, Belkys, I will not take any pictures unless they’re…” and the cellphone video sound trails off because Lago is not the focus of the event The mayor is heard again when he raises his voice to direct the show let’s take a picture the three of us and then take a picture with the commissioner after He also refused to cut the ribbon with Castro “There has to be a standard here,” Lago is heard saying “You can either have the actual mayor or you can have the commissioner But you’re not going to have both.” Read related: Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago lashes out at Commissioner Melissa Castro Castro doesn’t know what he’s talking about Lago maybe twice ever — the woman is not as visible as Mrs Francis Suarez — and never uttered a word to her or his daughters “Mayor Lago has made it clear both through his actions and his words that he intends to wear me down,” Castro told Political Cortadito “He even said he was going to have me at ‘pico y pala.’ That phrase is used to describe someone being broken down bit by bit intentional and deeply inappropriate behavior from someone in pubic office “When the mayor says he’s going to have me ‘a pico y pala,’ he’s admitting what so many of us already see: This is about power, not service,” Castro said. “It’s about breaking a woman down, not building a city up. But I was elected by the people and I will not let anyone chip away at my voice humiliate me repeatedly or break my spirit little by little,” Castro said “These public power plays only hurt the very people we’re here to support — our residents and local businesses “It’s upsetting to be treated this way in front of our community when Lago went to say a few words at last week’s ribbon cutting — he went on and on about how much he respects women “I always like to see women entrepreneurs,” he said to the women who own and operate the spa “And as the father of two young girls I’m pushing them to be exactly like you “We need strong women who do the right thing take risks and start a business,” he said Ladra half expected him to be struck by lightning   , , , Post-election Vince Lago revenge tour in Coral Gables = political retaliation added by on May 4, 2025View all posts by Ladra → a new standard of luxury living is coming to life just steps from the iconic Miracle Mile and directly across from The Plaza Ponce Park Residences is the latest residential masterpiece by the Allen Morris Company This boutique development will feature 58 bespoke residences each one thoughtfully curated to reflect the unique sophistication of Coral Gables while embracing the needs of today’s luxury buyer With spacious two- to five-bedroom layouts ranging from 1,900 to over 6,500 square feet the homes at Ponce Park offer soaring ceilings and expansive terraces with summer kitchens for seamless indoor-outdoor living What truly sets Ponce Park apart is the level of craftsmanship and design it will feature led by John Cunningham of Zyscovich Architects pays homage to the classical beauty of Coral Gables while incorporating fresh The design carefully balances old-world inspiration with contemporary execution creating a sense of timelessness that feels both elegant and enduring Internationally acclaimed design firm Meyer Davis is behind the interiors bringing their signature blend of modern refinement and timeless elegance Floor-to-ceiling windows flood each residence with natural light and clean architectural lines create a peaceful and stylish atmosphere Ponce Park has been conceived as a fully immersive lifestyle destination Residents will enjoy access to a Sky Bar equipped with staffing and an elevated level of hospitality that feels more like a five-star hotel than a condo building 25,000 square feet of specialized retail will feature a Michelin-starred restaurant offering the ultimate in convenience and world-class dining the development will be framed by an enhanced Ponce Circle Park furthering the greenery and walkability of an already exceptional neighborhood From quiet mornings with coffee under a shaded canopy to vibrant evenings on Miracle Mile Ponce Park is designed to be a true sanctuary Ponce Park is garnering significant attention among buyers who value privacy In a market where luxury is often defined by scale this development offers something different: an intimate holistic living experience that reflects the very best of Coral Gables Whether you’re a longtime local or discovering “The City Beautiful” for the first time Ponce Park represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to own in one of South Florida’s most desirable communities For more information, please contact info@poncepark.com or call 786.589.7613 look no further than Miami Community Newspapers This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed With topics ranging from local news to community events Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news and local initiatives within its respective community Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com Promote your business to the localized audience you want to reach with Miami's Community Newspapers. Call 305.669.7355 or view our Media Kit. ________________________________________________________________________ For more shows, visit: https://www.communitynewspapers.com/cnewstv Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com The Two Hundred Club of Greater Miami held its semi-annual dinner at the Riviera Country Club on Apr The evening featured guest as speaker Miami-Dade County’s new sheriff and first female to hold that position After her talk she fielded questions for a very appreciative audience whose support has helped so many families of our fallen heroes the club has distributed to families of police officers and firefighter who were killed in the line of duty in excess of $1 million This club does not seek public funds but relies on its club investments Among the record crowd attending the affair with this writer were 200 Club president Ann Pierce Stith; Bill Bermont; Trish and Dan Bell; Ed and Carol Williamson; James and Lorena Hartenstein; Jon and Anne Goldman; Lynn Bauer and Dr Richard Souviron; Jim Skinner; Karen and Richard Hauser; Charlette Seidel; Chief Edward James Hudak Jr.; Bruce Bounds; and Phil Lyons Comic Kids co-founder and fine art dealer Kat Barrow-Horth recently spoke to Coral Gables Rotarians about the non-profit she co-founded with her husband The couple wanted to share their talents with a goal of providing vulnerable youth with access to art by teaching them how to draw comic They work with children in pediatric hospitals homeless shelters and those suffering from abuse and neglect and providing their educators with additional art resources The work has not gone unnoticed. In fact, you may have seen these two amazing people as guests on the Kelly Clarkson Show where they spoke about the non-profit’s start and mission. For info on how you can support this program, visit wwww.comickids.org collaborations have proven to be effective ways for organizations to make valuable connections and strengthen their outreach Fogo de Chão hosted a joint mixer of business groups — the South Dade Chamber and the Greater Kendall Business Association as well as one of the oldest business networking groups in South Florida It was an electrifying night and hats off to South Dade Chamber’s Rick Alberti and Profit Inc and GKBA’s president Carlos Ribero for giving such value to their membership these groups met in our Miami’s Community Newspapers South Miami Office for another mixer sponsored by Dade County Federal Credit Union Speaking of Profit Inc., the group changed things up a bit in April holding its third Thursday lunch at Mojitos on SW Eighth Street. Profit Inc., which was founded well before any BNI groups, is unique as a category exclusive organization. It does not require members to give or to refer business but somehow it works better because it happens organically. Those interested in learning more may visit www.profitinc.org 600-plus parents and star students representing more than 50 Independent Schools in South Florida (ISSF) gathered at the Miami Airport Convention Center on Apr 9 for the 33rd annual “Star Awards” Luncheon recognizing top all around student chosen by the schools ISSF president Cheryl Rogers with ISSF executive director Dr Teri Logan welcomed the guests and thanked sponsors in particular the Coral Gables Woman’s Club for their support for ISSF’s annual spelling and geography bees Some of the area schools participating in the luncheon with their star students were Carrollton School — Cora Carruthers Anna Tang; Epiphany Catholic School — Lucas Chacon Patrick Pargas; Ransom Everglades — Porter Sanderson Steven’s Episcopal Day School — Nora Centero Thomas Episcopal Parish School — Samantha Cejas Our area women’s clubs are packing the spring calendar with a variety of interesting and fun events Coral Gables Woman’s Club has a monthly Art Club night making everything for painted wine glasses to holiday decorations the proceeds help the club provide free dental services for 500 children of the working poor every year at its Children Dental Clinic The Women Voice Network is growing its membership and volunteer base to help train and economically empower women who are victims of domestic violence and human trafficking founder Iris Garcia reported on some new corporate memberships including the Coral Gables Woman’s Club and a new volunteer and individual member Here are some other events to mark on your calendar May 10 — Coral Gables Woman’s Club Mother’s Day Tea, tickets are $150 perperson, for info visit www.gfwccoralgableswomansclub.org May 16 — Eighth annual Tee Off for a Cause Charity Golf Tournament at Red Tiger Golf Course. Call 305-882-1305, ext. 104 or send email to safehaven@asafehavenfornewborns.com May 16 — United HomeCare’s 30th annual Claude Pepper Awards Luncheon June 28 — Coral Gables Woman’s Club fundraiser, cruise on new ship MSC World America, 7 nights/8 days from $959. For more info, call 954-900-5942 or visit www.HappeningOutTravel/CGWC/ Before an electrifying crowd of 3,307 fans Mark Light Stadium took center stage as the Three Musketeers—Ogden and Cuvet—ignited the emotion-filled atmosphere They captivatingly displayed hitting and baserunning and defeated the Wolf Pack 6-4 Miami asserted its dominance early in the game by finding its game changer in Daniel who crushed his 11th home run of the season launching the ball 424 feet to straight center and giving the Canes a commanding 2-0 lead in the first inning who set the tone with a single up the middle the dynamic duo made their mark again as Galvin delivered a one-out double setting the stage for Daniel’s second homer—his 12th of the season—to extend Miami’s lead to 4-1 the Pack finally made their presence felt in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly to center Griffin Hugus consistently shot himself in the foot during his 5.1 innings on the mound Each of the six innings he pitched presented him with challenges allowing the leadoff hitter to reach base safely while he continually found himself in difficult situations He skillfully navigated these jamming scenarios in the first two innings striking out the final two batters in the first and securing a 4-3 double play in the second an opening double paved the way for the Pack’s first run and both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt Josh Hogue then delivered the Pack’s first score with a sacrifice fly to center the Canes responded impressively with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning highlighted by Daniel’s second home run making two errors and a wild pitch that advanced the runners to scoring positions at 2nd and 3rd Justin DeCriscio started the inning with a single before a strikeout followed A subsequent single to left brought in one run but a wild pitch allowed two runners to reach scoring positions again The situation worsened with a grounder to Ogden conceding a run; his throw to Daniel was also wide Jake redeemed his earlier missteps by forcing a 6-3 double play on the next play but the damage—two errors and a wild pitch—had already tied the score at four Miami broke the tie an inning later when Jake opened the inning with a lead-off double the catcher dropped the ball and elected to throw to third in an attempt to get Jake Jake noticed a laxness from the pitcher and took advantage by stealing home as Griffin allowed his 6th consecutive leadoff batter to reach safely with a double Before exiting the game after just 83 pitches Alex Giroux came out of the bullpen and finished the inning a powerful drive to right was hit off the wall uncertain whether the ball was caught or cleared the fence but Fabio’s throw from right field to Jake (SS) who relayed it to Daniel (3B) and finally to Smith (the catcher) resulted in a dramatic rundown that caught the runner This formidable defensive maneuver effectively squashed the Pack’s last significant offensive effort was called upon to start the 7th inning in the team’s final effort before handing the game over to Brian to secure the victory After six straight innings of allowing the leadoff batter to reach base Carson finally relieved the pressure with a perfect 3-up Daniel contributed an essential insurance run with a sacrifice fly after Jake led off the inning with his second double of the game who seized the opportunity and notched his 5th RBI of the game it was time for Brian to step in and secure the victory Although there was a hint of tension after a one-out double that placed the tying run at the plate A 6-3 groundout advanced the runner to third Brian delivered a decisive fastball at 96 MPH leaving Ossenfort swinging at air and clinching the win for Miami Tonight’s game was filled with outstanding performances from Jake Jake demonstrated his talent with two doubles and even executed a daring steal of home belting two home runs and contributing five RBIs to his team’s success the performance was a bit unsteady tonight where a couple of errors resulted in 3 runs which forced him into a catch-up situation throughout the game Our concerns about our bullpen and the absence of a designated closer at the start of the season have finally been addressed Tomorrow’s call is to AJ Ciscar as we aim for our 10th ACC victory and our 5th consecutive win in the conference series This inclusion marks a significant turnaround for the team which is aiming to rebound from one of the most challenging seasons in its history A sense of preseason promise can be felt for the Miami basketball program as ESPN's renowned bracketologist, Joe Lunardi, has included the Hurricanes in his initial 2026 NCAA Tournament projections setting up a first-round matchup against No assuming the Wolverines defeat Youngstown State in their opening game The ACC is well represented in Lunardi's early bracket While it's still early in the offseason and a lot will change before Selection Sunday Miami's inclusion in this initial bracketology is a testament to the program's potential resurgence and their moves in the transfer portal With Coach Lucas at the helm and a renewed sense of purpose the Hurricanes are poised to make waves in the upcoming season © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Joe Lunardi's first bracketology in 2026 includes the Miami Hurricanes In a strong show of commitment to environmental preservation and community well-being and real estate leader Judy Zeder of The Jills Zeder Group at Coldwell Banker joined forces recently at the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club in Coconut Grove for an exclusive cocktail reception themed “Everglades to Bay: How Everglades Restoration is Saving Miami’s Water,” celebrated Everglades Day and honored the legacy of Marjory Stoneman Douglas whose advocacy transformed public perception of the Everglades and continues to inspire conservation efforts The evening brought together 75 of Miami’s top conservation advocates and business leaders in an intimate setting at one of the oldest yacht clubs in the country led a conversation focused on the vital role of the Everglades He explained how the Everglades replenishes the Biscayne Aquifer “Restoring the Everglades is not only an environmental imperative it’s a lifeline for Miami’s future,” Eikenberg said we are taking critical steps to ensure that our water remains clean and resilient amid rapid urban growth and climate challenges.” Guests enjoyed a relaxed cocktail reception that doubled as both a celebration of the region’s natural heritage and a call to action for ongoing conservation efforts one of the country’s most successful Realtors and an advocate for Everglades restoration stressed the importance of working together to preserve these vital ecosystems “It is our duty to protect the natural assets that sustain our environment and our communities,” Zeder said “Our involvement in this event reinforces our commitment to the communities we serve and the environment that sustains them,” said Donald A “By supporting conservation efforts like these we can help create a lasting impact for future generations.” the discussion highlighted how the Everglades serves as a natural reservoir that filters pollutants and combats harmful saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources The conversation underscored the urgent need for restoration efforts that protect Miami’s water supply a message that resonated deeply given the region’s rapid development and environmental challenges The Everglades Foundation continues to lead restoration efforts through scientific research ensuring that the Everglades will be protected for the benefit of our environment and economy for future generations the foundation remains at the forefront of efforts to restore and protect America’s Everglades For more information on The Everglades Foundation and to learn about their ongoing efforts to restore and protect this vital landscape, visit www.evergladesfoundation.org GableStage Theatre Company will present the South Florida premiere of Fat Ham by James Ijames in a bold co-production with Island City Stage and Brévo Theatre Following its critically acclaimed run in Fort Lauderdale’s Island City Stage this Pulitzer Prize-winning reinvention of Shakespeare’s Hamlet plays in Coral Gables at GableStage’s historic Biltmore Hotel home from May 16 to June 15 Fat Ham takes Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy and flips the script with juicy Southern flair a Black queer young man grappling with questions of identity When the ghost of his father demands retribution Juicy must decide whether to break the cycles of violence — or become a part of them What unfolds is a hilarious and heartfelt exploration of masculinity and full of theatrical mischief — but underneath the jokes and karaoke it delivers a powerful and necessary punch “This production is a testament to the power of reimagining stories through fresh cultural lenses,” shared Brévo Theatre producing artistic director Terrence “TM” Pride “Fat Ham brings a dynamic and relevant perspective to a classic work making it accessible and resonant for today’s audiences.” Originally produced by Philadelphia’s storied Wilma Theatre in 2021 Fat Ham premiered off-Broadway at the Public Theatre the next year to overwhelmingly positive reviews before transferring to Broadway in 2023 three-company co-production marks the South Florida premiere “The thrilling collaboration between the three companies resulted from a shared admiration for this deliciously defiant coupled with a collective desire to reach wider audiences,” said GableStage producing artistic director Bari Newport “That a foundation like Warten Foundation would step forward to make this possible This Miami run is made possible through the generous support of The Warten Foundation whose landmark $250,000 grant funded this historic collaboration Additional support comes from Gene Sulzberger the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners The performance runs one hour and 35 minutes with no intermission and will play from May 16 to June 15; 7:30 p.m matinee performances will be offered on Wednesdays and Sundays Tickets begin at $40, with special rates for artists, military personnel, and groups of 8 or more. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.GableStage.org or by calling 305-445-1119 Students and teachers may attend any performance free of charge through GableStage’s Student/Teacher Rush Arrive 45 minutes before showtime and fill any empty seat The views expressed here are the author's own View ticket Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsChris Gothner CORAL GABLES – Coral Gables police arrested a man Wednesday after they said he burglarized a law firm in the city while armed and issued threats over an ongoing case Leer en español burglarized the Legon Fodiman & Sudduth firm seen in surveillance video carrying a rifle case “videotaped himself in front of the business” and then entered the firm and took a video inside of its file room He then sent an email to the firm threatening it with harm “if they did not settle a case in his favor” and “also included a photo of a black rifle with a SIG Sauer scope,” it states Police said he also left a threatening voicemail The firm had “represented a client in a civil matter” against Reed Authorities said they were able to track him down using license plate reader data and found his car parked near 14th Street and Washington Avenue on South Beach on Wednesday “In plain view on the passenger seat was a rifle bag matching the one previously seen on the incident location’s video surveillance,” the report states was a black rifle with a scope matching the description of the one photographed in the email received by the victim The rifle was readily accessible for (Reed) and had a round chambered in the rifle.” The rifle bag “also appeared to be a match” for the one seen in the video Police arrested Reed on charges of armed burglary threats or extortion and written threats to kill or do bodily injury where a Miami-Dade judge ordered that he be held without bond He was jailed in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as of Thursday morning Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Closed Captioning / Audio Description Contact Us Careers at WPLG Terms of Use Privacy Policy Public File FCC Applications EEO Report Do Not Sell My Info 1.0 Host Exhibit Copyright © 2025 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC. It was a busy Election Day in Coral Gables as voters set out to elect a mayor and two city commissioners that would decide which voting bloc would hold a majority in the 5-person city commission voters elected three candidates for three open seats on the Village Council Coral Gables saw a near 30% voter turnout — the highest in over two decades — with more than 10,000 voters READ MORE: Group launches recall effort for Coral Gables mayor: ‘We have to take the city back’ Vince Lago secured his third term as mayor with 55% of the vote former city commissioner and ally Kirk Menendez Lago also earns one of the five seats on the city commission “I have a body of work that has been accomplished here in the City Beautiful that speaks for itself I am transparent and have open office hours every Friday at 2 o'clock I’m willing to make and dedicate myself as a professional to what the residents of this community want,” Lago said to WLRN The Lago-supported candidates running for the other two seats also fared well Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson kept her seat with 58% of the vote is heading to a runoff as neither Tom Wells reached the 50% plus one threshold needed to win Lara is Lago’s top choice and a key component in his mission to regain control of the city commission that often sided against him and Anderson on legislation including the 101% raise and the hiring of a city manager without a formal search process Group Two Commissioner: Rhonda Anderson 58.24% ; Laureano Cancio 4.47% ; Felix Pardo 37.29% Group Three Commissioner: Richard Lara 47.20% ; Claudia Miro 13.57% ; Tom Wells 39.23% three candidates ran for three open seats on the Village Council Incumbents Neil Cantor and Jerome Charles received the highest share of the vote and will serve four-year terms while third-place candidate Patrick Barry Devaney will settle for a two-year term the top two candidates are also appointed to the mayor and vice mayors positions according to the Miami Shores election page Turnout was less than half of what the municipality saw in 2023 with only 1,017 or 14.2% of voters turning out Village Council: Neil Cantor 36.93%; Jerome Charles 39.88%; Patrick Barry Devaney 23.20% By on April 30, 20255 Comments The seven items that newly re-elected Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago asked the city clerk to put on the agenda for next week’s special meeting of the city commission include “addressing current city manager and protocols for hiring charter officers.” Many have speculated that this means Lago will bring back former City Manager Peter Iglesias who was unceremoniously fired in February of last year at Lago’s loud objections by a new majority on the commission that may have been reversed with this month’s elections Iglesias has been spotted at high profile events lately — like the swearing-in ceremony where he was hobnobbing with the mayor through the crowd Las malas lenguas say that Lago campaigned on bringing Iglesias back It’s ironic because there was a whisper campaign against attorney and Gables activist Tom Wells that said he had made a deal to name former Commissioner Kirk Menendez who lost the mayoral race to Lago in the first round April 8 At the swearing-in Friday, which was at the Coral Gables Police and Fire headquarters while City Hall undergoes renovations, the mayor — who beat Menendez and resident Michael Abbott — thanked his friends and supporters and then told Iglesias to “please stand to be recognized,” which he did and got applauded by the Lago-friendly Then he proceeded to really lay it on thick “You embody everything that is right in government prior to you even being in the city of Coral Gables,” Lago said referring to Iglesias prior job at the city of Miami and Vinnie’s private sector job in construction “But you were always right because you did things humbly and you did things for the right reason “I am honored to be by your side.” Lago had already told City Clerk Billy Urquia to schedule the special meeting Read related: Coral Gables manager fired, MIA Director Ralph Cutie could replace him “Per my conversation with the City Attorney yesterday I would like to call for a special commission meeting on May 6th to take up the following items,” Lago wrote to the city clerk on Thursday two days attorney Richard Lara won the runoff Urquia told Ladra that the agenda will be posted on the city’s website on Thursday Three of those things on Lago’s list are similar to items that he tried but failed miserably to get on a referendum last year via petition — rescinding the salary increases approved in 2023 moving the municipal election from April to November and needing a super majority to dip into the reserves for operational or capital expenses “commission meeting procedures/legislative protocols for sponsorship,” sounds like L’Ego is trying to further control the commissioners he doesn’t like by controlling when and how they can put items on the agenda thinks that Lara is going to be the mayor’s needed third vote to move his agenda along But one of those things was having a process for the selection of the city manager isn’t he doing the same thing he accused rival commissioners Melissa Castro Read related: Coral Gables skips search, hires new city manager Amos Rojas on the spot How many times did he repeat the message that the city “has seen three city managers in two years” Neither Lara nor Lago returned calls from Ladra but several people close to Lago told Political Cortadito that they had advised him not to rock the boat by hiring Iglesias and to tone down the rhetoric The first-time elected said during the campaign that the Gables should have a process for the hiring of a city manager “We have the most qualified city manager that we’re going to find,” Fernandez told Political Cortadito Wednesday citing Parjus’ experience at the county and in the Gables “We’re heading into the budget season We are looking at possibly cutting the millage rate and eliminating or lowering the garbage fee “This is not the time to change city managers.” Kathy Swanson Rivenbark is laughing and raising her martini   , , , Coral Gables Vince Lago may move to bring back City Manager Peter Iglesias added by on April 30, 2025View all posts by Ladra → By on April 26, 202518 Comments Just one day after taking the oath of office and saying that he was ready to extend his hand to his colleagues and work together “not as factions divided by yesterday’s campaign but as neighbors united in tomorrow’s purpose,” re-elected Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago lashed out at Commissioner Melissa Castro at the Carnaval de Barranquilla event in downtown Coral Gables He called her a “venomous snake” in front of several dignitaries and city staffers refused to take a photograph with her and told others present that she was “bad news,” Castro told Political Cortadito late Saturday Read related: Coral Gables electeds sworn in; pledge unity, stability after bitter divisions “He said he was going to ruin my life, that he was going to make sure I’m not elected in two years, that he’s going to get me out,” a shaken Castro said, shortly after she posted this video on her Instagram story “I am walking out of the Carnaval de Barranquilla festivities, where they called me to say a few words because I am the first Colombian commissioner in the last 100 years, and I am in disbelief right now at the disrespect and humiliation that Vince Lago has done to me in front of my child right next to my child.” Castro says breathlessly as she walks away from the event at Ponce Circle Park wearing a team shirt from La Seleccion Colombia goes on the camera and testifies that Lago called Castro a snake a venomous snake,” the 8-year-old corrects himself “He wouldn’t take a picture with you and he pushed you aside,” he told his mother Nice, Vinnie. Looks like you’re learning how to treat women from your friend former Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla “It is not possible that he would treat a woman who has done nothing to him he has attacked me,” Castro said in her Instagram post Castro told Ladra that the Colombian consular officials were shocked and didn’t know what to do They asked her to please go on stage separately from him But sources who were there confirmed what happened and one told Ladra the mayor has never before been to the event The organizers will be lucky if he doesn’t take away the city’s sponsorship because organizers invited Castro to speak This is not the first time that Lago takes digs at Castro and Ladra has wondered if he maybe has a secret crush on her Read related: In Coral Gables, Melissa Castro calls out Vince Lago for his rudeness, disrespect she called him out for his disrespectful actions which include not referring to them at events and cutting them out of photos he posts on social media One might think that winning his election and getting his slate elected which gives Lago back the majority on the commission Turns out he’s just as much a sore winner as he is a sore loser And what can Castro do? People just re-elected this bully with 55% approval. The police chief is on his side. The city manager is on his side, having sent an email to residents five days before the election to say how great the city was doing She was so hopeful at the swearing-in ceremony “These past two years have been rocky but I’m pretty sure that moving forward we will find civility one day before she was “disrespected and humiliated” at Ponce Circle Park I’m looking forward to great days again.” Ladra is pretty sure that she doesn’t feel that way now In an email late Saturday to Police Chief Ed Hudak Castro said “his behavior was not only abusive but also a blatant attempt intimidate me into quitting Despite my telling him that my child was present She seems to ask Hudak for police protection and makes a chilling statement: “Let me know how to document this please and if anything happens to me after this email… let it be known that he is to blame “I am a woman and a harmless public servant who deserves respect and a safe environment This tarnishes the image of Coral Gables and creates a hostile environment for public officials,” Castro wrote “There were numerous witnesses to this outburst and his behavior demonstrates a pater of bullying and vindictiveness including his threats to ruin my life and remove me from my position over the next two years She said that Economic Development Director Belkis Perez and International Business Development Coordinator Leticia Perez witnessed the confrontation “though they might be too intimidated to speak up given the mayor’s known vindictive nature “What’s most alarming is that the mayor felt emboldened to humiliate and disrespect me in front of numerous people Crossing that line shows he has no scruples and is unhinged I fear for my safety and what he might do next,” Castro wrote requesting “immediate measures to ensure my safety at future public events and that the mayor be held accountable for his actions This kind of behavior cannot continue.” Ladra is afraid that this type of behavior is just getting started   , Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago lashes out at Commissioner Melissa Castro added by on April 26, 2025View all posts by Ladra → A proud honors graduate of Coral Gables Senior High School and its Silver Knight in Journalism Lara embodies the values and civic pride that define our community His professional credentials are equally impressive As executive vice president and general counsel at Spanish Broadcasting System—the largest publicly traded Hispanic media company in the U.S.—Lara brings decades of experience in legal leadership He was named the 2022 General Counsel of the Year by the Daily Business Review it is Lara’s longstanding community involvement that demonstrates his readiness to serve He has chaired the Florida Bar Grievance Committee and the Third District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Committee He also served on the Coral Gables Anti-Crime Committee and has mentored students as a mock trial judge and coach for both the University of Miami Law School and Our Lady of Lourdes Academy As development chair for Easterseals South Florida he has also championed causes related to Alzheimer’s and autism care Lara is the father of three daughters and a strong advocate for family values His campaign is rooted in restoring civility and accountability to City Hall—qualities that residents consistently say are lacking in local politics today Lara believes city government should focus less on political grandstanding and more on delivering real results for residents He has committed to cutting unnecessary spending and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are invested directly into the community—not spent on perks for politicians He is also determined to preserve Coral Gables’ uniqueness pushing back against overdevelopment and advocating for smart growth that respects our city’s historic character What sets Lara apart from other candidates in the Group III race is his steady With more than 30 years of experience as an attorney he is a trained mediator and skilled communicator who knows how to build consensus—especially in difficult or divided situations His commitment to inclusive dialogue and respect for due process is exactly what the Commission needs during a period of rapid change and growing resident concerns and dedication to the people of Coral Gables We encourage voters to elect him as their next City Commissioner If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com Show Breaking News BarCloseFeaturesPublished: April 20 known as “The City Beautiful” after one man’s incredible vision for a planned community in South Florida Local 10’s Janine Stanwood shows us the city’s historic charm in the Local 10 special “Celebrating a Century: Coral Gables.” 11 cities are celebrating their centennials in 2025 and 2026 WLRN News' series "History We Call Home" spotlights the moments ideas and people that made these cities part of our community's fabric over the past century They call themselves the “Church of the Open Door.” It was 100 years ago when the Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ opened its doors after finalizing construction It was the first church and one of the first public buildings constructed in the city of Coral Gables it serves as a hub for spiritual nourishment and progressive advocacy for people across South Florida But the century-old structure is in need of repair and church leaders are raising money for ongoing historic preservation projects — as well as investing in its next century Founder inspired by 'City Beautiful' movement Coral Gables founder George Merrick organized the construction of the church as a means to honor his late father Solomon Greasley Merrick: a congregational minister Plans for the historic structure began in earnest in 1923 The organizing group was known as the Coral Gables Community Church Society the congregation marked its 100-year anniversary with a party was part of that original organizing effort the church society worked out of a small parsonage and a developing congregation was led by a series of temporary pastors until construction was finalized and the building was dedicated in April 1925 — the same year the city was incorporated READ MORE: History We Call Home: How the Great Land Boom shaped South Florida 100 years ago George Merrick became a real estate developer after studying in New York where he likely rubbed shoulders with many burgeoning architects and designers He then became inspired by an American urban planning movement that cropped up between the 1890s and 1920s inspired the well-known nickname for Coral Gables.  The movement took inspiration from urban landscaping in Europe hence the church’s Mediterranean Revival style build Despite the city’s success and quick planning in its early years, the combined pressures of the Great Depression in the late 1920s and 1930s and a hurricane to the Miami-area in 1926 devastated the city crumbling much of Coral Gables' infrastructure and leaving Merrick himself destitute by 1928 the congregational church stepped up to protect its community members hundreds of people were fed out of the church following the 1926 hurricane a non-fiction retelling of the founder’s life — written by Miami historian Arva Moore Parks McCabe the church also served as a meeting space where lots of community institutions were first organized according to a Miami Herald article from the 1970's that commemorated the church's 50th anniversary George Merrick… understood the church as a meeting house,” said the Rev the senior pastor who has been leading the congregation for about 19 years were gathering spaces focused on community engagement education and political discourse at the forefront of programming One of the nation's first 'underground' college newspapers was printed on a press hidden in the church tower during the late 1940s "The paper protested the policies of the University's first President Dr Bowman Ashe who was also a member of the church," wrote Miami Herald reporter Adon Taft the congregation includes around 750 members who join both in person the majority of its membership commutes from outside the city members come from as far south as Homestead and as far north as Boynton Beach in Palm Beach County “A lot of folks travel quite a distance and will pass hundreds of churches on their way in here on Sunday mornings,” Hafner said “Just because this is the community that resonates with them — where they feel at home where they feel like they're getting their spiritual nourishment." it still strives to embody the spirit of a meeting house have regular arts events and provide a meeting space to more than 30 community groups throughout the year including the local chapter of the Sierra Club Ann Stith has been coming to the church since the 1990s After becoming disillusioned with the spiritual denomination of her childhood she began a search for a place to help her then-young children establish strong moral foundations Stith has played an active role in the congregation by sitting on several organizing committees and helping to establish the church’s centennial celebration plans “Every single Sunday when I sit in the pew I'm reminded that I'm not just a single person who thinks the world revolves around [her],” Stith said “I'm reminded of the struggles of other people and that I need to be mindful of my own behaviors and mindful that we're a community and we depend on other people.” The church has a focus not just on spiritual guidance, but pushing for progressive policies as well. In years past, they’ve been outspoken supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement and of the LGBTQ community — even marching annually in Miami Beach’s Pride Parade Hafner said they were the first church to do so when the Pride event was established in 2008 Most recently, Hafner and others from the church rallied in protest against the city’s arrangement between local and federal officials to deputize Coral Gables police as Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers, called a 287(g) agreement the house of worship launched a fundraising campaign with the lofty goal of raising $1 million Much of those funds are being earmarked for ongoing historic preservation efforts “We took a good hard look at what needed to be done,” Hafner said leaks sent water pouring into the building “So we needed to shelter this building,” she said and while we say the church is more than the building the building allows us to do a lot of good work in the community and They’re also in the process of adding insulation cracks in the stucco and adding a coat of fresh paint to the exterior The church’s aging HVAC system needs major upgrades as well is about preserving the heart of the institution “ We're such a music church and music is so integral to our ministry,” she said A beloved Bösendorfer grand piano that was donated several decades ago now sits in the sanctuary with worn-out strings But more than finding ways to preserve structures of the past the ministry is hoping to carve out protections for future generations in the next 100 years of the church’s lifespan Funding will also go toward hiring a youth minister to launch programming geared toward young people a handful of people show up at the church seeking help with different hardships they face who works as a receptionist and social worker for the Gables UCC from Cuba during the Mariel Boatlift in 1980 After being rescued from a sinking vessel and flown to the naval base in Boca Chica Key Hernandez was transferred to a refugee camp in Pennsylvania he became one of the many bilingual people hired in Miami to assist unaccompanied minors that arrived during that time period he’s spent his years working in refugee resettlement programming Hernandez takes calls and opens the church doors to people experiencing homelessness struggling with roadblocks in their immigration status and folks who are unable to pay accumulating medical bills “We hear all kinds of stories,” Hernandez said “People would knock on the door and sit down with us and they pour their heart out and all their pain and all their needs.” walking people through what pathways and services are available to ease their burdens that a vision for a future Medical debt relief program was born About 10% of the funds from the centennial will be allocated for the program. The church plans to partner with a nonprofit organization called Undue Medical Debt which buys up pennies on the dollar of people's accumulated financial burdens every $10 goes toward $1,000 of debt relief The church's donation will go toward Miami-Dade County residents specifically and church leaders are still in the process of meeting with the nonprofit to make the gift “ It doesn't benefit those who are homeless or hungry when you put [up] a new roof,” Hernandez said there is something that needs to be done.” Use the form below to send story to a friend Located in the vibrant center of Coral Gables 255 Alhambra stands as a testament to quality ownership and exceptional management 255 Alhambra features 13 floors of office space and natural light with floor-to-ceiling glass Its interior have been thoughtfully redesigned incorporating a contemporary style that emphasizes striking local artworks 255 Alhambra’s location in the City of Coral Gables offers convenient access to a myriad of dining options and entertainment venues just a short stroll away Why This Matters: Coral Gables holds a unique place in South Florida’s real estate market recognized for its premium appeal rooted in a rich historic character Coral Gables has remained a prime destination for investors and developers looking to leverage its distinctive market dynamics From the recently revitalized Miracle Mile to the expansive projects along Ponce de Leon Coral Gables is actively reshaping its landscape while preserving the qualities that set it apart Understanding the factors driving its market premium and the development landscape is essential for investors and stakeholders who want to make informed decisions in this competitive market Gain a comprehensive view of the area’s development pipeline equipping them with the insights necessary to navigate Coral Gables’ evolving real estate landscape effectively For questions regarding content, speaking and sponsorship opportunities please email our Senior Event Producer, Virginia Baker, at virginia.baker@bisnow.com. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact ariel.fromm@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event Parking entrance is on Salzedo and City Metered parking in front of the building $7.00 for 2 hours Unlock Your Career Potential with SelectLeaders Purchase the post-event summary and get the highlights sent to you in a post-event summary. Purchase here. or click here to copy link to clipboard We will email you a link to reset your password Upcoming regulations in the European Union require us to show this pop-up and ask you to agree to keep using Bisnow.com We want to take 15 seconds to tell you what's going on: © 2025 Miami-Dade Democratic Party | [email protected] Paid for and approved by the Miami-Dade Democratic Party Privacy Policy Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsAmanda Batchelor – A 22-year-old man was arrested last week after he exposed his penis to a woman and her 3-year-old daughter while they were walking in Coral Gables Leer en español the incident occurred Friday night in the 700 block of Valencia Avenue Coral Gables police said the victim told officers that she was walking on the sidewalk with her daughter when the suspect got within arm’s reach of her and then moved his pants to the side exposing his penis to her while making eye contact with her the victim ran away with her daughter as Carter Police said the victim yelled out to a passerby at Valenica Avenue and Le Jeune Road that the man who was following her had just exposed himself to her Police said the victim the continued running with her daughter until they reached her husband in the 200 block of Miracle Mile the passerby notified police and the victim provided a description of the suspect to officers Police said the victim pointed out Carter to an officer and he was detained Carter claimed that he was walking his dog in the 700 block of Miracle Mile when the dog tried to jump into a fountain he pulled up his pants that had fallen down Further statements made by Carter were redacted from the publicly released report was arrested on charges of aggravated stalking lewd and lascivious exhibition on a child under 16 and indecent exposure Carter remained at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $21,000 bond Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com Show Breaking News BarClosePoliticsPublished: April 8 Leer en español Abbott and Commissioner Kirk Menendez with 55.5% of the vote Voters in Coral Gables also voted for Group II and Group III commissioners Rhonda Anderson was elected in Group II but Group III will go to a runoff between Richard Lara Races in Coral Gables go to a runoff if a candidate fails to receive 50% plus 1 of the vote voters made their selection for Village Council A tight race was won by Jerome Charles with 39.8% of ballots cast Election results will be displayed here as they come in Rhonda Anderson won another four years on the Coral Gables Commission defeating two challengers Tuesday for the panel’s Group two seat Anderson had 58.3% of the vote to win her seat outright Candidates Felix Pardo and Laureano Cancio took 37.3% and 4.4% of the vote Tuesday’s election was a referendum on Coral Gables’ elected leaders after two years of increased conflicts at City Hall and growing concerns over development within the Miami-Dade County municipality Tuesday marked the first time they were both on the ballot since 2021 since the Mayor’s term is two years and Commissioners serve four-year terms was active in her community long before she sought public office She ran in 2021 vowing to fight development incongruous with the city’s character and generally kept that promise improve pedestrian safety provisions and expand green spaces She voted with all four of her Commission peers last May to approve what will be one of the city’s tallest buildings, Regency Parc but with a sizable reduction to the project’s proposed density to mitigate traffic impacts Heading into Election Day, Anderson touted the city’s septic-to-sewer conversion program, undergrounding utility lines, increased tree canopy and expanded recreational provisions among her first-term accomplishments She raised $77,500 through her campaign account and had $42,000 left on March 21 boasted a deep and broad history of community involvement He has served on the city’s Planning and Zoning Board Anderson counted Pardo among her supporters in 2021, but he later lost faith in her blaming “unbridled construction” across the city as proof she hasn’t followed through on her commitment to preserve the city Pardo raised $29,500 and spent close to $10,000 by March 21 He carried endorsements from the city’s police fire and general employee unions and the anti-development Coral Gables Neighborhood Association a 74-year-old lawyer specializing in labor law similarly wanted to tamp down on development He told the Herald he also planned to increase arts funding and ensure sufficient school options for resident children To do that, he proposed establishing a city-run school system separate from Miami-Dade County’s the last day for which campaign finance data is available all of it from his or his wife’s bank accounts Coral Gables’ elections are technically nonpartisan Jesse Scheckner has covered South Florida with a focus on Miami-Dade County since 2012. His work has been recognized by the Hearst Foundation, Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Society of News Editors, Florida MMA Awards and Miami New Times. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @JesseScheckner This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL © Copyright by Extensive-Enterprises 2025. All rights reserved. STAFF LOGIN By on April 9, 202517 Comments He has to make sure that his commission candidate who will give him back the majority on the dais that he lost almost two years ago general counsel for the Spanish Broadcasting System network of radio stations which was a majority but not enough to cinch a victory who is Lago’s hand-picked pocket vote heads into a runoff against attorney Tom Wells who sits on the city’s charter review committee “Now we have to get out there and support Richard Lara for the next two weeks. We have a runoff,” Lago said Tuesday night in a short victory speech clip for the A Day In Miami podcast’s Instagram account The mayor already has one vote with the re-election of Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson — who won with 58% of the vote Tuesday — but he needs another guaranteed ally if he’s not going to stay on the losing end of a 3-2 avalanche for the next two years “I’m counting on your support to bring civility trust and respect back to the city of Coral Gables,” Lago said in his short clip a transit lobbyist at Freebee and one-time assistant to former Miami City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff But she’s the darling on Wednesday because both Wells and Lara Throwing her support — and 1,356 votes — one way or the other could make or break either one of the two runoff candidates “I haven’t even thought about that yet,” Miro told Political Cortadito late Tuesday adding that she was proud of her campaign and had no regrets “I would have regretted not running,” she said I had a clean campaign and ran on my own attributes and qualifications sometimes the most qualified candidate doesn’t win.” lots of other people are thinking about her endorsement and speculating that Miro — who was once Anderson’s appointment to the planning and zoning board until she upset the mayor with a vote and got kicked off — was always a spoiler sleeper candidate who will throw her weight behind Lara This could be because she was standing on the same side of the street near Lago during early voting over the weekend Or because she has complained about Wells’ negative campaigning whose motto is “neighbors restoring civility” and who signed a clean campaign promise form — the only one in the race to do so — has taken some digs at Miro Or maybe because Sarnoff and Mason Pertnoy an attorney who represents Lago (and Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo) was more forthcoming in his support for Wells and said in his concession speech Tuesday night that the attention had to be turned to the runoff “We have to do everything we can to help Tom get over the hump,” Menendez told a small crowd of family and friends at Birdie’s Bistro He said he had known Lara for more than 25 years but was voting for Wells because of Lara’s association with Lago Read related: Coral Gables candidate Richard Lara has not voted in the city since 1999 “I don’t endorse anybody but I’m voting for anybody who is not linked to those who don’t have our best interests at heart,” Menendez said and it’s more complicated that it sounds “There is still a fight in us left and it’s fighting for Tom it’s a fight for our community,” Menendez said It’s going to be a hard fight. Lara will certainly have more money and more people working for his campaign. He raised more than $169,000 as of April 3, according to the most recent campaign finance report Wells has financed his own campaign to the tune of $36,000 plus And while the mayoral race is no longer a draw on the ballot Lago will use his organization and campaign machinery The mayor will continue to be powerless without Lara on the commission   , , Coral Gables mayor’s power hinges on runoff — Richard Lara vs Tom Wells added by on April 9, 2025View all posts by Ladra → Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights Katie Chang is a Brooklyn-based travel writer 08:40pm EDTShareSaveComment@font-face{font-family: "Schnyder"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/schnyders/schnyders-bold-webfont.woff2") format("woff2") url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/schnyders/schnyders/schnyders-bold-webfont.woff") format("woff"); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal;} @font-face{font-family: "Merriweather"; src: 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restaurants in Coral Gables The grand lobby of Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables The biltmore still holds court as one of Miami’s best hotels A striking example of Mediterranean Revival architecture the 315-foot-tall property stretched across 150-plus acres commands your attention long before you’ve pulled up the lobby continues to impress with hand-painted barrel-vaulted ceilings you ears will pick up on the cheerful chirps of finches from their nine-foot-tall birdcages A Junior Suite at Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables Thanks to a $25 million renovation that wrapped in 2018 the 271 guest rooms and suites are spacious retreats boldly accented with shades of deep amethyst and classically done up with the essentials for a good night’s sleep All of the accommodations offer breathtaking views whether you’re overlooking the 18-hole championship golf course or taking in the city skyline The Biltmore Spa at Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables a 12,000-square-sanctuary for massages—the Deep Vine Theraputic Massage is ideal after a long day out—and facials delivered with expert care Fontana at Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables an extravagant all-you-can-eat affair of caviar A race for the Coral Gables Commission’s Group 3 seat isn’t settled yet Candidates Richard Lara and Tom Wells are headed to an April 22 runoff after neither received a large enough share of the vote to clinch the job Tuesday With all 16 precincts reporting, Laara and Wells had 47.3% and 39.2% of the vote, respectively. The city’s election rules require a candidate to receive more than half the vote to win outright Tuesday’s election comes amid mounting concerns about construction projects in Coral Gables and tensions at City Hall where a divided Commission has clashed over myriad issues over the past two years all three Group 3 candidates listed a lack of civility in government and overdevelopment as top concerns The winner on April 22 will replace outgoing Commissioner Kirk Menendez Menendez held a swing vote on the divided dais at City Hall Lara, a 56-year-old lawyer who works as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the Spanish Broadcasting System was incumbent Mayor Vince Lago’s preferred candidate and he enjoyed funding support from him and his allies Since entering the race last February, Lara raised $145,000 through his campaign account with hundreds of checks from fellow lawyers and numerous contributions from real estate interests He had spent more than half that sum by March 21 Lara’s community involvement includes several Florida Bar committee memberships and service on the Coral Gables Anti-Crime Committee He told Coral Gables Magazine that and professionalism” while working to bring more consensus to City Hall He also promised to cut taxes “while ensuring world-class city services” and to ensure “taxpayer dollars are invested into the community or given back to residents — NOT used by politicians to give themselves pay raises.” That last bit was a knock against Menendez and Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez, who voted against Lago and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson to hike their salaries considerably in late 2023 a 62-year-old lawyer who serves as Vice Chair of the Coral Gables Charter Review Committee said the conflicts at City Hall inspired him to run Wells ran an almost exclusively self-funded campaign He reported raising $1,000 through March 21 and $6,500 worth of in-kind spending — also overwhelmingly by him — on campaign costs boasted ample experience in government and politics with past jobs including Chief of Staff to the city of Miami’s Chief Operating Officer Director posts with the Republican Party of Florida a communications job with the Attorney General’s Office and numerous local advisory board memberships including Coral Gables’ Planning and Zoning Board For the past three years, she worked as an executive at Miami-based micro-transit company Freebee Miro told the Miami Herald she wanted to be a “true voice” for residents and bring “informed leadership” to the dais She said “irresponsible development,” public safety and a lack of transparency and decorum at Commission meetings are issues she hopes to address if elected She also vowed to strengthen emergency services promote clearer financial reporting and smart budgeting Miro reported raising $34,500 and spending $19,300 by March 21 Her donors listed Miami-Dade County addresses Jesse Scheckner has covered South Florida with a focus on Miami-Dade County since 2012. His work has been recognized by the Hearst Foundation, Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Society of News Editors, Florida MMA Awards and Miami New Times. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @JesseScheckner I hope Coral Gable citizens are not crazy enough to vote for this Democrat We wholeheartedly agree with Commissioner Fernandez’s recent op-ed “The Politics of Intimidation Have No Place in Coral Gables.” Intimidation has no place in our city and we must all work together to foster a political environment built on integrity we must not turn a blind eye to the most egregious example of political intimidation in recent history—the dark-money-fueled attacks against our city’s current Mayor Vince Lago we have witnessed a disturbing rise in intimidation tactics aimed at undermining our city’s leadership an effort to recall Mayor Lago was launched but as a blatant attempt to intimidate him and the residents of Coral Gables who refused to support such underhanded tactics The funding for this recall remains shrouded in secrecy the political committee behind this effort admitted to receiving dark money What we do know is that residents were harassed at their homes by aggressive canvassers desperate to collect signatures—so desperate This fraudulent effort not only targeted Mayor Lago but also threatened the very fabric of our democratic process The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has since launched an investigation into these forged signatures interviewing dozens of outraged residents —  including friends neighbors and relatives of ours — who felt their privacy was violated by unscrupulous political actors willing to trample over the values we hold dear in pursuit of their own agenda Commissioner Fernandez’s op-ed fails to acknowledge this deeply troubling episode yet it stands as the clearest and most dangerous example of political intimidation in Coral Gables’ recent history If we are to truly put an end to intimidation in our city’s politics And who allowed such blatant abuses to occur under the guise of civic engagement If we are serious about stopping the politics of intimidation we cannot selectively call out behavior that is convenient to our own narratives while ignoring the glaring injustices that have already shaken our community and community leaders to stand against all forms of political intimidation—regardless of who the target may be In January, my wife and I had a one-night layover in Miami on the way to a Small Luxury Hotels stay in the Turks and Caicos islands. Instead of staying in one of the plethora of hotels clustered around Miami airport, and armed with an expiring Hyatt Category 1-4 free night certificate we decided to spend the night in nearby Coral Gables at the Hyatt Regency While there’s nothing especially exceptional about the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables it’s a refreshing space to spend the night if you need to be close to Miami Airport (or Coral Gables It’s much smaller than most domestic Hyatt Regencies and dare I say that it almost has a touch of elegance Better-than-average service and good elite recognition round out a solid hotel Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. The $15 daily credit can be used at Market for globalist if you ask we find the breakfast buffet and omelet station to be quite good I enjoyed my stay there this past February but my check-in experience was a bit lackluster the front desk explained nothing about the hotel nor how I can use the Globalist benefits without asking about every little thing It just felt odd and parking was not explained at all so I had to go back and ask how to do it right and they still almost charged me at check out I didn’t get upgraded but it looked like the hotel was booked one night because of some Burger King conference The room worked really well for a family of five since the standard room included a large pull out sofa Isn’t the free parking a globalist perk rather than award stay benefit it’s only free for Globalists on award stays Booked three nights next month after researching all Hyatt hotels in Miami We stayed there for the same reason last year I was pleasantly surprised by how stunning the hotel was We will stay there again if we get the chance and if Hyatt doesn’t move it to a Cat 5 (eye roll) Good timing on the helpful review Tim as I am staying there this weekend look forward to reading the Turks & Caicos SLH property review This is a great use of a FNC prior to a connecting flight or a cruise out of Miami I entered with a “you get what you pay for” mentality and was very pleasantly surprised The Two Sisters restaurant sure lacks an atmosphere I’ve found this true across most Hyatt properties Hyatt just doesn’t have a good F&B operation And you almost never earn points for buying on-property drinks or food We had the same suite you did (but missed breakfast because I flight out to the Caribbean left early) but I feel like it could use a bit of a more modern refresh in the rooms(if you take a good look at the furniture in your pictures It is just that from the pictures on the web site spot on review and excellent use of 1-4 Cert We stayed here before a flight and our thoughts mirrored yours We really enjoyed the Little Havana area and found amazing Argentinian empanadas nearby Read more here… Our Resources Page has a collection of our most useful complete guides and posts Here are a few complete guides to get you started… Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsBridgette Matter – A restaurant owner said his manager performed a kind act for a man who said he was in need But he said the good deed did not go unpunished: The man stole from the workers’ tip jar while they made his food — and he went back for seconds Leer en español pocketing the cash and then taking the food he was given for free It happened at Hermanos Cantina Grill at 2209 Ponce de Leon Blvd One of the restaurant owners says the man came in claiming he was looking for work It was just an excuse to make her go back there and steal the money,” said Dennis Fernandez out of the goodness of her heart and wallet While she was distracted making his free meal he made sure no one else was around so he could swipe the cash “She paid for it and that is even worse and that is what makes me really sad,” Fernandez said she and the other employees were being swindled in the process Dennis Fernandez says the restaurant has been open for one year and workers do what they can to help the community He also believes this was not the first time this has happened What the man failed to realize is a camera above the register recorded his every move They have now taken steps to make sure this doesn’t happen again “We ordered a tip jar with a lock,” Fernandez said The owner says he plans to reach out to police and to warn other businesses in the area to beware Bridgette Matter joined the Local 10 News team as a reporter in July 2021 Indiana and spent six years in Jacksonville as a reporter and weekend anchor – Coral Gables firefighters rescued a man Monday who suffered a medical episode after getting trapped on a building’s elevator Leer en español Roig said the elevator car had gotten stuck in the blind shaft He said firefighters were able to communicate with the man who was trapped inside and he reported that he was experiencing a medical emergency the Coral Gables Fire Department Technical Rescue Team initiated a specialized rescue operation,” Roig said in an email to Local 10 News Tuesday “Utilizing advanced technical rescue equipment and techniques a rescue technician was safely lowered into the shaft to access the patient.” Roig said the man was then safely removed from the elevator and was “transferred to Coral Gables Fire Department paramedics for medical evaluation and treatment.” Further details about the medical issue the man was experiencing were not released Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago didn’t enjoy nearly as clear a path to re-election on Tuesday as he did two years ago but the result was the same: Voters again picked him to serve as the city’s top elected official With all 16 precincts reporting, Lago had 55.5% of the vote to defeat challengers Kirk Menendez and Michael Anthony Abbott. Menendez, an outgoing City Commissioner who has increasingly sided against Lago on pivotal votes, took 37.7% of the vote. Abbott, a first-time candidate who has an open lawsuit against the city Lago told Florida Politics he viewed his victory as a “mandate” on rising incivility at City Hall showed that residents want leadership at City Hall my friends in the business community and I worked hard this year “Enough with the ridiculous circus that’s been happening over the last year where you have three different City Managers in 10 months where Commissioners are giving themselves 101% salary increases and voting against an Inspector General and moving elections to November People are looking to get back to a sense of normalcy which isn’t what the people elected two years ago brought.” Lago said he hopes voters elect Richard Lara, his preferred candidate for the Group 3 seat Menendez must vacate, in an April 22 runoff Lara’s win would realign the City Commission the Mayor’s way after two years of it leaning conversely The Mayor carried the advantage of incumbency and a significant funding edge into Election Day. But he was also more politically vulnerable than before due to a power shift following the 2023 election, when two outspoken critics of his — Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez — defeated Commission candidates he supported it’s been battle after battle at City Hall with Menendez frequently siding with the five-member Commission’s newest members against Lago and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson who also faced a pair of challengers Tuesday Lago and Anderson voted against both decisions and vowed to donate their extra pay to charity, though neither provided proof of doing so when asked by the Miami Herald Lago came under further negative light this week after Coral Gables Police confirmed a private investigator, a former city cop, tailed Fernandez while he drove his son to school Fernandez said he suspected Lago was behind the surveillance He and Menendez also said their cars had been vandalized with the latter intimating Lago was involved Lago denied involvement and said he’s repeatedly been the target of smears over the past two years. He is suing over one such incident involving Fernandez and is threatening to sue a local blog for reporting his lawyer called “false These and other hostilities incensed some residents and spurred five non-officeholders to run this year on variously worded promises to restore decorum and respect at City Hall But municipal issues also were top-of-mind including the evergreen subject of overdevelopment slander and were very disingenuous about the Vice Mayor and me and the people of Coral Gables saw through it tonight,” Lago said a 48-year-old construction executive in private life has served in the Coral Gables government since 2013 though the city’s elections are technically nonpartisan he promised to increase government transparency and public safety support “smart development” commensurate with Coral Gables’ character expanded green spaces and trolley services and effort to move elections to November among his accomplishments As in past elections, Lago proved a formidable fundraiser this cycle, racking up $472,500 by March 21 through his campaign account with ample contributions from developers Another PC backing Lago, Accountable Coral Gables A former Assistant Miami City Attorney turned public relations and real estate pro Menendez won his City Commission seat the same year (2021) that Lago secured the mayoralty He’s enjoyed having the swing vote on the panel since its membership changed in 2023 Menendez told the Miami Herald that he wasn’t beholden to developers and other special interests and, as such, he could confidently back policies that “reinforce the pillars of our city government from attacks that undermine and destroy our community.” reported no campaign finance activity through New Year’s Eve Abbott, a 60-year-old without party affiliation, is an accountant, logistics entrepreneur, and founding member of the Coral Gables Action Committee, which previously sought Lago’s resignation He told the Herald he wanted to tighten the city’s budget “eradicate corruption,” and support development that doesn’t diminish the city’s special qualities Improving civility at City Hall was also a priority According to Political Cortadito Abbott was initially charged in 2020 with assault and battery on a law enforcement officer A confiscated memory card containing video he recorded of the encounter disappeared Abbott argued that the city infringed on his First and Fourth Amendment rights and sued he raised about $2,400 and spent most of it The preponderance of his campaign funds came from his and his wife’s bank accounts Jesse Scheckner has covered South Florida with a focus on Miami-Dade County since 2012. His work has been recognized by the Hearst Foundation, Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Society of News Editors, Florida MMA Awards and Miami New Times. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @JesseScheckner Kirk Menendez is vacating his Group 3 seat on the Coral Gables Commission Claudia Miro and Tom Wells — are competing to replace him All list a lack of civility at City Hall and overdevelopment as major concerns Lara, 56, is a lawyer by training who works as Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the Spanish Broadcasting System He’s Mayor Vince Lago’s preferred candidate and has enjoyed funding support from him Since he entered the race last February, Lara raised $145,000 through his campaign account He spent more than half that sum by March 21 Lara told Coral Gables Magazine that as a City Commissioner He also promises to cut taxes “while ensuring world-class city services” and ensure that “taxpayer dollars are invested into the community or given back to residents — NOT used by politicians to give themselves pay raises.” That last bit was a knock against Menendez and Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez, who voted against Lago and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson to hike their salaries considerably in late 2023 Lara’s community involvements include several Florida Bar committee memberships and service on the Coral Gables Anti-Crime Committee boasts ample experience in government and politics with past jobs including Chief of Staff to the city of Miami’s COO a communications job with the Attorney General’s Office and numerous advisory board memberships For the past three years, she has worked as an executive at Miami-based micro-transit company Freebee She also vows to strengthen emergency services transactional and estate planning lawyer who also serves as Vice Chair of the Coral Gables Charter Review Committee He too said incivility at City Hall inspired him to run Wells is running an almost exclusively self-funded campaign Jesse Scheckner has covered South Florida with a focus on Miami-Dade County since 2012. His work has been recognized by the Hearst Foundation, Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Society of News Editors, Florida MMA Awards and Miami New Times. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @JesseScheckner I just received $6618 working off my Iaptop this month my divorced friend has twin toddlers and made 0ver $­15781 her first m0nth It feels so good making so much money when other people have to work for so much less In My Opinion: The Miami Herald’s recent article about the vitriolic attacks on public officials is yet another painful reminder of the toxicity that has seeped into our politics this is more than just an unfortunate trend—it’s an everyday reality I’ve been in public service for most of my life I had the privilege of working for Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen a trailblazer who taught me the value of mutual respect even in the face of deep political disagreement So when I was elected to the Coral Gables Commission I was excited about the opportunity to bring real change to my city on behalf of residents What I never expected was the level of sheer malice that would come my way Mayor Vince Lago made his intentions clear “I will destroy Ariel.” And from that moment on he worked tirelessly to make those words a reality Political committees usually spring into action during election season But Mayor Lago’s Coral Gables First PC has functioned as a permanent smear machine it has spent over $600,000—not on city improvements To divide our community and tear down those who dare to challenge the Mayor Lago has amplified these attacks from his official city accounts using taxpayer-funded resources to spread hate No social media post goes unnoticed by the Mayor’s network of anonymous trolls Commissioner Castro has endured repeated vile sexual harassment Commissioner Menendez has been falsely and outrageously accused of being a pedophile they were coming after those closest to us who passed away this summer—have all been targeted online some of these anonymous accounts are followed by Mayor Lago himself The intimidation quickly left the digital world and entered our real lives there have been exactly two reports of tire slashings in Coral Gables Commissioner Menendez’s wife and Commissioner Castro Commissioner Castro was recently out at a restaurant—outside the city—with her seven-year-old son when a woman approached her table spewing the same venomous rhetoric that Lago has spread for years We were having breakfast outdoors one morning when a drone hovered nearby two photos of me appeared on a troll account—taken from different locations at the event face to face.” A photo of my car at City Hall posted online with the clear implication: We know where you are We’ve turned over all documentation to the State Attorney’s office but Florida’s laws are still woefully inadequate when it comes to protecting elected officials and their families things got so bad that police had to escort Commissioners Menendez and me to City Hall due to a credible threat Just think about that—elected officials needing police protection simply to do the job we were elected to do It is not the Coral Gables my colleagues and I swore an oath to serve But dissent should never lead to destruction And leadership should never be weaponized to sow division and fear As Speaker Danny Perez and Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo said just this week This piece was authored by Commissioner Ariel Fernandez; his views and opinion are not necessarily those of Miami’s Community News Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com A holistic partnership with JLL supports developer’s goal to create a dynamic mixed-use ecosystem and a healthy investment return Your browser doesn't support speech synthesis LLC is a private investor and innovative developer of office and mixed-use projects in the United States and Mexico Agave purchased and developed at least five million square feet of properties across three U.S Agave had visionary ambitions for a community-focused transformational development in Miami’s Coral Gables submarket Plaza Coral Gables was quickly proving to be Agave’s most complex and ambitious project to date The developer started the mixed-use project with a $1 billion capital commitment despite no pre-leasing or contractual revenue in place Agave first purchased the seven-acre site out of foreclosure in 2011 and kicked off a nearly 15-year journey to bring Plaza Coral Gables to life Plaza Coral Gables consists of a 174-unit luxury multifamily property two large high-rise office towers totaling 455,000 square feet dining and entertainment space across multiple levels and extensive common areas including open green space interactive amenities and public art installations As an established developer but one that was new to the unique challenges of creating a cohesive Agave needed resources and support to strategically manage the various parts of this ground-up development The size and scale of the project is the largest in Coral Gables history and the entitlement process alone took four years and six individual city permits “When you start with something of this size and you begin to think about how it will work as a business the focus is on what structures will fit on the site and be physically built,” said Greg Schwartz you must think about allocation methodology vertical subdivisions and the way that a shared expense flows through different profit and loss centers and then back up to one that’s consolidated JLL’s involvement with Plaza Coral Gables began in the early phases of the project delivery with elements of development and planning still unfinished “We advised Agave on management considerations and how to properly establish operations during the development process in advance of each elemental delivery” said Hans Okerstrom senior general manager of Plaza Coral Gables Agave found value in the ability to add JLL services as they were needed throughout the many development stages and project stabilization One of the biggest challenges with onboarding and executing the property management phase of the project was getting alignment between the individual asset classes and embedding a “one team The launch of JLL’s mixed-use advisory platform coincided perfectly with Agave’s needs at Plaza Coral Gables and was instrumental in achieving this alignment “It is always challenging when these assets classes are commingled on a single site sharing resources and common grounds,” said McNamara “Our mixed-use platform coalesces all our business line services in a very cohesive and altruistic way for multiple asset types we brought the teams of all the assets together worked toward common goals and ultimately changed an outdated service paradigm.” Both Agave and JLL acknowledge the value and trust that resulted from their physical proximity onsite and how it also played a starring role in building a unified culture “With Agave moving its headquarters to Plaza Coral Gables there’s an opportunity to interface in person We quickly built a level of mutual comfort and trust operating and capital improvement decisions side by side,” said Okerstrom While the project was operationally humming, Agave understood that there was no point to placing buildings on a site without a plan to activate the amenities and spaces in and around them, delivering a consistent experience at every turn. JLL’s experience management and marketing services were folded into the property management offering providing a one-stop-shop for placemaking and tenant engagement JLL leveraged its relationship with the Loews Hotel as an important part of the experience-building process The team worked closely with the hotel to ensure that their guest experience isn’t lost when a patron leaves the hotel Plaza Coral Gables benefits from the elevated hospitality presence that the hotel’s presence affords Another critical element underpinning the entire property experience has been the team’s approach to retail leasing The project’s appeal to a wide array of restauranteurs and retailers was without question rather than signing a lease with any interested and able retail tenant Agave insisted that the property's mix of retailers and restaurants be cohesive and relevant to residents and visitors It’s this carefully curated vision that amplifies the experience of the entire development and makes it more profitable JLL’s 10Twelve retail leasing team was entrusted to deliver that boutique approach Sweet Paris Creperie & Café and more are setting the tone for the development national and global reach has played an important access point to reach others Agave has transformed an underutilized infill location into a daily destination for thousands of people all around South Florida Agave had the foresight to understand that single-service delivery in a mixed-use project breeds efficiencies The response to this community-oriented project has been overwhelmingly positive “Agave is a very talented and brilliant group of real estate investors and developers,” said Okerstrom “It works well when we have an investor client that has so much working knowledge of the project the day-to-day operations and long-term strategy And the importance of Agave’s commitment to developing a partnership with the City of Coral Gables can’t be understated.” The Plaza Coral Gables will officially wrap construction in early 2025 and the last of the commercial tenants will take occupancy This generational project will provide a dynamic live-work-play destination for decades to come As a result of the success of this project JLL is now providing exclusive property management services to Agave Holdings across its U.S and Mexico portfolio with future projects to include leasing and marketing services insights and opportunities from global commercial real estate markets straight to your inbox (CBS12) — The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) intercepted more than two dozen Chinese nationals The interception was a collaboration between FDLE the Coral Gables Police Department and other regional law enforcement FDLE says law enforcement responded to a tip from a citizen about vehicles that were suspected of carrying undocumented individuals from China who were allegedly criminals See also: DeSantis slams TRUMP act, says agriculture commissioner office unfit for immigration role we have seen two major criminal alien arrivals in Florida What we saw today is a perfect example of how the actions of law enforcement are crucial to stopping the human smuggling we so frequently see coming into our state," said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass FDLE says the interception comes 11 days after more than 20 undocumented people were detained in Coral Gables Three of them facing human smuggling charges a very alert resident saw suspicious activity which was later determined to be illegal entry into our country They called the Coral Gables Police and within minutes our police units arrived in the area and detained 26 Chinese nationals and two men (one Puerto Rican and one Cuban) in two separate vans,” says Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak “Richard Lara is the right person to help lead the Coral Gables Commission into the future,” said Miro “It’s time to turn the page on the last two years of unnecessary salary increases and decisions that ignored the will of the people—like denying residents the opportunity to vote on having an independent Inspector General in our city Richard will bring back the focus on residents and real solutions that our city desperately needs That is why I am asking all the people who honored me with their support to vote Richard this April 22nd .” For more information on the Richard Lara campaign By on March 31, 20257 Comments The commission race in Coral Gables Group 3 could — an open seat after Commissioner Kirk Menendez moved to the mayor’s race — offer voters a great choice between two good potential leaders who have proven their commitment to the City Beautiful But that’s only after attorney Richard Lara the mayor’s handpicked candidate who hasn’t voted in the Gables since 1999 Freebee transit lobbyist Claudia Miro and attorney Thomas “Tom” Wells make the runoff This is clearly the best case scenario for Gables residents who would not make a bad choice either way Lara isn’t really interested in the job. He hasn’t voted in the Gables in 25 years, and misleads people about his longtime residency and activism. He doesn’t have either. And maybe he should stick to his real job as general counsel at Spanish Broadcasting System though records show he’s not a star there either less than six months after Lara came on board Lago threw Lara into the race last year when he was trying to unseat Commissioner Menendez and regain his majority rule Lara is a Seguro Que Yes vote for the mayor Menendez later switched to the mayoral race to challenge Lago and bring back real transparency and civility to City Hall the commissioner’s appointment to the city’s charter review committee who ran in a crowded race for an open seat in 2021 against current Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson he would still need Lara to get his majority Neither of the other two are likely to be controlled by him Wells has been a vocal critic of the mayor’s policies and proposals most notably Lago’s advocacy last year to cut the tax rate by a tiny bit which would really benefit developers and owners of the large projects and his efforts to move the city election to a November date which he says would result in a fat ballot with the Gables issues and candidates at the end increased campaign cost to compete with federal state and county elections and voter fatigue “The increased November election campaign cost for a candidate prevents self-funded campaigns to ensure that you are hearing the candidate’s message rather than the message of $1,000 campaign donors,” Wells says on his website But he also supports a referendum to allow voters to decide And Miro is certainly not going to be super friendly She was on the city’s planning and zoning committee removed her for “lack of attendance.” Coincidentally it was after Lago blasted Miro in a series of text messages for voting against his interests in the naming of a new committee member so he could stack the board while there’s a whisper campaign that Lago is hedging his bets with silent support to Miro Read related: Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago blasted Claudia Miro via text after P&Z vote She swears she is independent and not aligned with any of the commissioners on the dais She told Political Cortadito that she hopes that independence from either camp sets her apart which said the candidate “demonstrated a grasp of the big picture but also displayed granular knowledge of the city’s issues.” In addition to the city’s P&Z board Miro has also served on the Miami Herald Community Advisory and the Miami-Dade County Interfaith Board She also boasts a strong background in public policy and communications a master’s degree in public administration and her experience working with other cities and lobbying in Tallahassee “I’m actually doing the job,” Miro told Political Cortadito “I’m the only one of the candidates who can draw upon work experience and education from the dais.” who is officially vice president of business development at Freebee has the same baggage as she did four years ago namely that she once worked with former Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff she has a secret weapon of sorts: Her campaign manager is Tania Cruz Gimenez a relentless workaholic who also ran in that same 2021 race and last year helped newly-elected Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz win that historic race Both Miro and Lara end in vowels and that still resonates in the Gables especially “Old Gables,” which tends to be a large voting chunk Wells does have the support of the active Coral Gables Neighborhood Association — which helped elect Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez in 2023 — and also the Coral Gables Democratic Club which has done canvassing for him in North Gables But Wells has pointed out that he is not their guaranteed vote, either. He has spoken at city commission meetings against issues that the two and Menendez One good example is the hiring of the new city manager in which Wells wanted to have a search and a selection committee He was also against paying former City Manager Peter Iglesias $105,000 in severance and believes he should have been fired for cause And Wells is against “wasting” $2.6 million on Lago’s proposed mobility hub He’s been to the city commission 14 times in the last 18 months and has advocated for Birdie’s Bistro Fritz and Frantz and more pickleball courts He is also self-funding his campaign, paying for signs, events and a postcard as needed, out of pocket. As of March 25, Wells had spent about $16,500 of his own money, according to the campaign finance reports  filed with the city Wells says that ensures that he is not beholden to anybody who is not self funding but has a fat $129,280 in his campaign account since March of last year Almost half of Lara’s 269 individual contributors are from outside Coral Gables and many of his donors — lobbyists and development interests — mirror Lago’s Read related: Town hall on tiny tax cut in Coral Gables shows residents don’t want it “Both my opponents have mansions on Coral Way,” Miro told Ladra “It makes it seem as if in order to run for office in this town you have to be rich and have $20,000 in disposable income The hardest part of running for office is doing the fundraising and seeing who is willing to stand behind you.” Miro has raised more than $35,000 just since January for her campaign bank account but a whopping 49 of the 62 individual contributions come from outside the Gables And voters won’t know how much she raised in her political action committee who has represented both Lago and Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo Wells says he is self funding because he is committed to the city “I care about this because it’s my money,” Wells told Political Cortadito He also says that Miro has a conflict of interest in that city has a contract with Freebee for its services None of the employee unions have endorsed anybody in this race but they are all pretty much ABL — Anybody But Lara Because even they know it would be good for everyone if the election were really just between Wells and Miro   , , , A Coral Gables runoff between Claudia Miro and Tom Wells would be nice added by on March 31, 2025View all posts by Ladra → Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson is running to keep the Group 2 seat on the Coral Gables Commission that she won in 2021 with 73% of the vote All three candidates agree that tempers on the five-member panel need cooling They’re also opposed to overdevelopment in the city The Group 2 race and a pair of others for Mayor and the Commission’s Group 4 seat will realign power at City Hall after two years of turmoil there Tuesday will mark the first time they’ve been on the ballot since 2021 and voters can either reaffirm their belief in the pair’s work or replace them was active in the community long before she sought public office She ran in 2021 vowing to fight development incongruous with the city’s character and has generally kept that promise She did vote with all four of her Commission peers last May to approve what will be one of the city’s tallest buildings, Regency Parc Anderson counts the city’s septic-to-sewer conversion program, undergrounding utility lines, increased tree canopy and expanded recreational provisions among her first-term accomplishments She raised $77,500 through her campaign account and had $42,000 left on March 21 has a deep and broad history of community involvement He’s been a member of the city’s Planning and Zoning Board He supported Anderson’s candidacy in 2021 but said he’s since lost faith in her He carries endorsements from the city’s police a 74-year-old lawyer who specializes in labor law similarly wants to tamp down on development He told the Herald he also intends to increase arts funding and ensure there are sufficient school options for resident children To do that, he proposes establishing a city-run school system separate from Miami-Dade County’s the last day from which campaign finance data is available Jesse Scheckner has covered South Florida with a focus on Miami-Dade County since 2012. His work has been recognized by the Hearst Foundation, Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Society of News Editors, Florida MMA Awards and Miami New Times. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @JesseScheckner I never imagined that it was honest to goodness yet my closest companion is earning $27 thousand a month by working on the web Coral Gables voters have the opportunity to re-elect a dedicated who currently holds the Group II seat on the Coral Gables City Commission has earned our enthusiastic endorsement for another term Anderson’s leadership has been defined by her commitment to the residents and her thoughtful approach to complex city issues A longtime Coral Gables resident with a legal career spanning nearly four decades she brings both professional expertise and a community-first mindset to every decision she makes First elected to the Commission in 2021 and appointed Vice Mayor in 2023 She’s helped Coral Gables make measurable progress on issues that matter most: public safety and quality of life enhancements for all residents One of her most significant contributions has been on public safety She supported adding 15 new police officers and 15 firefighters helped fund a new fire station to better serve South Gables and backed competitive wages to ensure Coral Gables retains its talented public safety professionals Her work on development oversight and transparency is equally impactful Anderson pushed for expanded public notice requirements for large projects and zoning changes launched a “Development Projects” portal on the city’s website and ensured residents have the right to submit input early in the planning process These reforms have made the city’s review process more open Anderson has also led efforts to curb overdevelopment She supported new rules limiting the size of townhomes and championed stronger architectural requirements for projects seeking Mediterranean bonuses Coral Gables is seeing a return to thoughtful design and a greener Infrastructure has been another cornerstone of her agenda From initiating the septic-to-sewer conversion plan to launching sidewalk replacements and resurfacing city streets to pushing for improved traffic calming and ADA accessibility Anderson’s practical and proactive approach stands out She’s also championed environmental policies including ordinances to reduce light pollution promote carbon-sequestered cement in construction Anderson’s deep roots in the community are evident she and her husband raised their family in Coral Gables Her volunteerism is extensive—serving on the Public Safety Board she has run her own law practice since 1987 She earned her Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern School of Law as well as a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Miami and responsive leader who listens to her constituents and follows through and more transparent—without losing sight of the city’s charm or its future We proudly endorse Rhonda Anderson for re-election to the Coral Gables City Commission Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsChristina Vazquez Ryan Mackey MIAMI – Three of the four defendants named in a grand jury indictment appeared in federal court Wednesday, pleading not guilty to charges related to Chinese migrants found in vans in Coral Gables last month. Leer en español police confirmed receiving 911 calls around 8 a.m about two vans possibly transporting migrants and later found a total of 26 Chinese migrants inside on Jan One van was stopped outside Gables Estates at the corner of Southwest 88th Street and Old Cutler Road while the other was stopped along Kendall Drive Jail records show that Joel Eusebio is facing federal charges of transporting illegal aliens and conspiracy to transport illegal aliens federal criminal defense lawyer Paul Petruzzi emphasizing that he was simply doing his job “He is one of several defendants who was driving a van and his job is to drive a van,” Petruzzi said people really outta be very concerned about who they work for and don’t get caught up in somebody else’s crime.” When asked whether Eusebio knew the migrants were in the country illegally there are plenty of Chinese people in the United States and plenty of them in Florida The government has to prove that my client knew that they were either in the United States illegally or they had entered the United States illegally and hadn’t legalized themselves Attorneys for the defendants requested a jury trial Local 10 News has requested a copy of the grand jury indictment Christina returned to Local 10 in 2019 as a reporter after covering Hurricane Dorian for the station Murrow Award-winning journalist and previously earned an Emmy Award while at WPLG for her investigative consumer protection segment "Call Christina." Ryan Mackey is a Digital Journalist at WPLG As part of a broader sister cities celebration highlighting the partnership between cities Aix-en-Provence and Coral Gables plan to renew their bond and continue their cooperation in the years to come the City of Coral Gables is continuing its celebration of French Month at a French Market on Feb which will be presented by the French American Association of Crafts and Trades The cultural tour de force culminates with a Cezanne Conference at the Coral Gables Museum on Feb chair of the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Miami The panel discussion will focus on the life and works of Paul Cezanne will provide a unique opportunity to gain insights into Cézanne’s enduring influence on the worldwide art scene “Coral Gables was founded 100 years ago with a vision of being an international city we proudly continue that legacy,” Mayor Vince Lago told Miami Today “The visit from the mayor of Aix-en-Provence and our French delegates is a testament to the enduring relationship between our two cities and the importance of cultural exchange.” The two cities have a long-standing sistership thanks to a partnership agreement signed in 1997 The visit of seven members of the delegation of Aix-en-Provence led by Mayor Sophie Joissains will cover culture and economy with a strong interest in innovation and research Aix-en-Provence has established a comprehensive Smart City system and hosts numerous research centers most notably at the Technopole de l’Arbois The tech hub is recognized for its innovation core and its scientific excellence The French delegation will also meet with local economic organizations including representatives of Select Florida and the International Trade Consortium as well as members of the French American Chamber of Commerce in Miami the French Tech Miami community and the French Trade Advisors to get the pulse of the local economic trends learn more about the assets of South Florida and comprehend the common advantages shared by both cities “Our sister city relationship with Aix-en-Provence has strengthened our global ties “This visit is not just a celebration of history but a reaffirmation of our commitment to international collaboration which enriches the lives of our residents and strengthens the spirit of Coral Gables.” Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsTrent Kelly – The 26th annual Carnaval on the Mile kicked off in Coral Gables Saturday morning organized by the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana and Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino three main stages with 25 live music acts and a plethora of family-friendly activities Leer en español “We are just happy to have everybody here to have some food have some fun and enjoy the crafts and the day together here in Coral Gables,” Yazmin Navarro Several longtime Local 10 News personalities will be there handing out swag and goodies including Chief Certified Meteorologist Betty Davis and “This Week in South Florida” host Glenna Milberg The Local 10 booth is just west of Galiano Street Visit the Carnaval Miami website for more information about the event Trent Kelly is an award-winning multimedia journalist who joined the Local 10 News team in June 2018 he attended the University of Florida in Gainesville where he graduated with honors from the UF College of Journalism and Communications PROFILEmiami - Your Premier South Florida Real Estate & Lifestyle Guide PROFILEmiami is a leading source of Miami and South Florida Residential and Commercial Real Estate News and Content EVENT MAY 21: Secure your spot Royal Retreat - Hospitality Real Estate in Miami at Queen Alta Developers has broken ground on Cassia Coral Gables a new condominium located in Miami’s fashionable Merrick Park District at 4011 Salzedo Avenue fully furnished turnkey residences in a chic cosmopolitan setting Cassia is designed by the award-winning architectural firm Behar Font & Partners Each masterfully designed and furnished by RH and three-bedroom units spanning between 662 and 1461 square feet and Italian cabinetry by Italkraft that will define daily living at Cassia “Today marks an exciting milestone for our team We are beyond excited to see construction begin to take shape,” said Raimundo Onetto “Cassia will bring a new level of sophistication and convenience to Coral Gables and we look forward to seeing our vision evolve and come to life we expect a fairly quick construction timeline.” Cassia offers an array of world-class amenities designed by IDDI to elevate everyday living From a welcoming front desk reception to resort-style offerings every detail ensures convenience and comfort and a state-of-the-art wellness center featuring a treatment room Cassia residents enjoy a premier shopping and dining experience with over 100 retailers and restaurants including luxury brands such as Neiman Marcus Merrick Park features esteemed fitness and wellness establishments such as Equinox Fitness with sales exclusively managed by Cervera Real Estate For more information about Cassia Coral Gables or to inquire about purchasing a unit please fill out the form below: Sign up to stay up to date with the latest in Miami residential and commercial real estate news and content Sign up to receive PROFILEmiami’s Bi-Weekly Newsletter to stay up to date with the latest in South Florida residential and commercial real estate news and content Actively read by 15K+ of South Florida’s Top Real Estate Industry Professionals Fort Lauderdale and the Palm Beaches since 2016 Privacy Policy PROFILEmiami takes no ownership of any imagery unless otherwise noted.