Sen. Marco Rubio, the son of pre-Castro Cuban immigrants, has added a new amendment to his immigration bill that strengthens requirements that immigrants be proficient in English before being granted permanent residential status, also known as a green card. “On the day we announced the principles that would shape the…
In 2011, he brought the Sexy Sax Man to a city commission meeting, pot decriminalization to the debate, and a surprising 23 percent of voters to the polls. Steve Berke, a comedian and YouTube marijuana advocate, came in second to incumbent Matti Herrera Bower in that campaign. Now, with Bower…
Florida has been without a lieutenant governor now for 86 days, the longest stretch the position has been vacant since it was reinstated in 1969. Gov. Rick Scott, however, is in no particular rush to fill the seat. When Jennifer Carroll resigned form the job on March 11 amidst a…
In a bid to stir up some PR and reaffirm his party’s opposition to Obamacare, Florida Senator Marco Rubio proposed a constitutional amendment today that would effectively eliminate the personal mandate section of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The thing has about zero chance of actually going anywhere,…
Even though both were elected into their respective mayorships thanks in large part to their opposition to the Marlins Park deal, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez and City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado aren’t on the same page on much else. As Regalado’s reelection efforts heat up, Gimenez now has…
The actual gubernatorial election is more than a year and a half away, but Republicans have already dug in their heels by attacking Rick Scott’s presumptive Democratic challenger. Mostly that’s involved throwing barbs at former Republican Charlie Crist, who may or may not actually run, and who may or may…
Don’t expect Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to make a shopping spree at Urban Outfitters anytime soon. Bondi has joined 22 other state AGs in criticizing the entry-level hipster clothing chain (which has three locations in Miami-Dade) for selling merchandise that they feel makes light of prescription drug abuse, a…
Miami is full of strange structures with odd stories, from foreclosed upon mansions to ancient burial grounds — not to mention $2 billion baseball boondoggles. No building boasts a bio as bizarre as 540 NW 7th Street, however. Once bought by a Colombian politician for $1.6 million, the Overtown apartment…
Lincoln Gabriel Diaz-Balart, the 29-year-old son of former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and a member of one of Miami’s more politically powerful and connected families, passed away over the weekend. No official cause of death has been released. The family is asking for privacy at the time, but noted that the…
Allen West’s entire four years in Washington were essentially a giant performance art piece aimed at Fox News viewers. The Republican rep would bluster at a Muslim constituent that “you attacked us,” or claim that 80 sitting Democrats in Congress are secret communists or blabber about gays “breaking down” the…
Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” may have been one of those politically radical songs to crack the American mainstream, but apparently Rep. Trey Radel (R-Naples) thinks that, “really, if you really get down to it, in many ways reflects the conservative message.” Yes, Radel has decided to join Marco Rubio…
Throughout his rocket-ship ride to the top of the GOP, Marco Rubio has fought to keep some financial skeletons from tumbling out of his closet. There were thousands in questionable credit card charges, a six-figure student loan debt, the Tally house (shared with David Rivera) that went into foreclosure. These…
Apparently Jesus doesn’t have as much sway at the polls as you would have imagined. After trumpeting her supposed endorsement by Mr. Jesus H. Christ himself in campaign material, Anna Pierre still came in dead last out of seven candidates in yesterday’s North Miami mayoral primary. So she’s responded by…
When the House spiked a bill two weeks ago to let the Miami Dolphins raise bed taxes to fund a stadium renovation, team owner Stephen Ross went ballastic, lashing out at Speaker Will Weatherford for taking away Miami voters’ chance to have a say on the project. He shouldn’t have…
How badly are Republican’s efforts to win over Hispanic voters in Florida going? Well, the man once in charge of the effort announced that he’s quit the party and is now a registered Democrat. Pablo Pantoja, the former State Director of Florida Hispanic Outreach for the Republican National Committee, announced…
Anna Pierre has apparently picked up the biggest political endorsement ever in her quest to become mayor of North Miami. She claims that she has the backing of none other than Jesus Christ himself, and is trumpeting the endorsement in campaign material…
Florida’s new law aimed at cracking down on maquinitas and other forms of computerized pseudo-gambling found at so-called “Internet cafes” is so far-reaching it actually outlawed several games found at places like Chuck E. Cheese and Dave & Buster’s. However local authorities aren’t so keen on enforcing the law at…
Dear Francis X. Suarez, It was with great optimism and endearing faith in the potential of our elected politicians that I clicked on your recent “Open Letter to Miami” in the Huffington Post. Then I read this sentence: “With our magical coast and most enviable weather, a patch work of…
The plan to steer millions in public money to renovations for Sun Life Stadium is dead. It died Friday in the Florida house. There will be no public vote. No deal with the County. It’s dead. But what about the millions the Dolphins planned to invest in the project? Will…
The Miami Dolphins’ quest to secure public funds to upgrade their stadium might have gotten good news out of Tallahassee last night, but their chances of getting the public to approve a referendum remain slim. According to a new poll, only 22 percent of Miami-Dade citizens support the plan, making…
Polling sites will open today in Miami-Dade for an election that might not actually come to pass. Yes, you can head to several early-voting sites beginning today to cast your ballot on the contentious Dolphin Stadium renovation referendum, but the election might end up just getting cancelled…
Florida lawmakers don’t want you to relax with a hit off your bong, but apparently they don’t mind you winding down with wine. Lots and lots of wine. For the first time ever wine kegs will be legalized in Florida, assuming of course Rick Scott signs the bill into law…
