In Miami Beach, a storm is brewing over accusations that city officials strong-armed the New World Symphony to give them free tickets to concerts. But Beach leaders aren’t the only politicians accepting free seats.Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and city commissioners have accepted thousands of dollars worth of tix to Miami…
After Tuesday’s unambiguous recall of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Commissioner Natacha Seijas, could you even imagine what would happen if county commissioners decided to exercise the option to appoint a new mayor themselves? If not a full-out voter revolt and more recalls, at least certainly pain for those commissioners…
State agencies close every year on Veteran’s Day, yet schools remain open. Some Florida lawmakers want to change that with the altruistic day that kids will spend the day visiting veterans and watching parades. Note to politicians: kids who get the day off from school just play Wii and watch…
The 29th floor of County Hall had all the ambiance of a funeral procession on Wednesday afternoon. Staffers with puffy eyes hid in cubicles, and an uncomfortable silence reigned until County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Manager George Burgess walked into a room packed with reporters.The day after getting overwhelmingly recalled…
“Tea Party Revolt: Miami Mayor Recalled,” proclaims Fox News’ Fox Nation website, while other Tea Party segments of the world wide web take glee in the ousting of Carlos Alvarez. True some of the politics involved share similarities: raising property taxes was the deed that caused Norman Braman to organize…
Recall financier Norman Braman emerged victorious in last night’s recall election, firmly hoisting Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez’s political scalp above his head, but the auto-magnate billionaire isn’t done yet. Calling the recall “not an end in and of itself,” Braman has set off on his next step to bring change…
Hours after voters tossed out the bums (ahem, Carlos Alvarez and the vile Natacha Seijas), County Manager George Burgess got the hint as well. Burgess is set to resign his post today at a 2 p.m. news conference.In memorium, we’ll just toss out two things about Burgess: $422,118 (yup, that’s his salary), and…
The people of Miami-Dade have spoken, and they were not ambiguous about it: County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Commissioner Natacha Seijas are out of a job. The total vote count isn’t in just yet, but as of now, both were ousted with about 88 percent of voters checking “yes.”…
State Sen. Jim Norman, a Republican from Tampa, is very concerned about a farm’s right to privacy, while showing little regard for the First Amendment. He has filed a bill in the Florida Senate that would make it a first-degree felony to photograph or videotape farms without express written consent…
President Barack Obama will return to Miami next month to deliver the commencement address to Miami Dade College’s class of 2010 on April 29. As the largest nonprofit institution of higher learning in America, MDC has a history of snagging big-time commencement speakers. Former President Bill Clinton delivered the address…
Don’t line up that tag-team wrestling job just yet for Carlos Alvarez — even if voters recall the county’s strong mayor today, Alvarez says he’s seriously thinking about running in the special election. Alvarez tells a Wall Street Journal reporter that if he’s booted from office, rerunning for the seat…
It is about time Florida politicians take up one of the most pressing issues of our time: horny teenagers sending naked pictures of themselves to each other on their cell phones. Technically, if a minor gets caught “sexting” they could be charged with child pornography charges and forced to register…
Surfside town attorney Lynn Dannheisser gets paid royally for her work representing the tiny hamlet just north of Miami Beach: $177,656 a year plus an automobile allowance, full benefits, and a pension. She’s required to work only three days a week, and she’s allowed to use her town hall office…
Federal Republicans were forced to back down from a controversial bill dictating that federal money could only be spent on abortions for woman who were “forcibly raped,” where as current language allows for some public spending on abortions for woman who are victims of rape or incest. They backed down…
With a recent poll showing 57 percent of Floridians favoring legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, state Rep. Jeff Clemens (D-Lake Worth) has introduced a resolution to put an amendment on the 2012 ballot that would do just that. Clemens claims that the move could bring in $5 to $12 million…
Last time Sen. John Cornyn, head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, tried to recruit someone from Florida to run for U.S. Senate, he chose Charlie Crist, and we all know that didn’t work out so well. Now, for 2012, he’s going after another Republican with possible cross-party appeal: MSNBC host Joe…
A few Republicans in the state legislator and the NRA wanted to push a law that would allow anyone with a concealed weapons license to carry their gun openly on public university campuses. Of course, guns and the atmosphere at Florida public universities don’t really go together, as a tragic…
The election to recall Carlos Alvarez is in five short days, but the County Mayor has done little in the way of mounting much of a public campaign to save himself. But it’s not too late, there are still plenty of communities within the county rich with potential voters. It’s…
It takes a lot to scare Stephen King, the master of horror fiction, but apparently the author is plain old terrified of our new governor, Rick Scott. King, who spends his winters in Casey Key near Sarasota, spoke at an “Awake the State” rally yesterday and joked, “Maybe my next…
Former Gov. Charlie Crist gave out his personal cell phone number to journalists and kept their favorite beers stocked in his office. In stark contrast, current Gov. Rick Scott and his staff seem to have an unhealthy amount of disdain for the press corps. It all began with the proposal…
With an election set next week to recall Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and County Commissioner Natacha Seijas, the air of reform is steadily streaming through county hall, but two state lawmakers don’t just want a change in leadership. They want to see the powers of Miami-Dade commissioners greatly reduced…
Rev. Jeremiah Wright became a household name during the media circus that was the 2008 presidential election. Barack Obama’s former pastor became known for a few cherry picked anti-American seeming sentiments in some of his sermons and resigned form his post at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago in…
