Call us crazy. But if two people saw Banana Republican approach someone, sucker punch him or her, and then pin our victim to the ground, chances are we’d be taking a ride down to Miami-Dade County jail. In fact, any Joe Schmo would have been arrested for assault or battery…

​Miami Beach’s two towing companies will attempt to hornswaggle the City Commission this afternoon into granting them a rate hike. If commissioners and Mayor Matti Bower cave in, Beach Towing and Tremont Towing will charge people an additional $64 to get their cars back. Obviously, Miami Beach residents are pissed…

A recent New Times article helped convince Miami-Dade commissioners Tuesday to rescind a $3 million grant they had awarded to the family of shopping center developer Yoram Izhak.At the commission’s regular meeting, Commissioner Dennis Moss requested his colleagues reconsider a vote to help pay for the upgrade of Northside Shopping…

Over the weekend, Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez revealed he is entertaining the idea of eliminating the city manager’s position in favor of the strong mayor form of government. His proposal, which would require voter approval to change the city charter, makes sense because it gives residents one top elected official…

Are you looking for taxpayer money from Miami-Dade County for a questionable project, but you’ve been convicted of felony tax evasion and a misdemeanor attempt at boarding an airplane with a loaded gun? No problem! At least it’s not a problem for Yoram Izhak, a commercial property owner who recently…

​A politically connected Miami Lawyer who’s gained fame dispensing advice to Hispanic folks who are losing their homes is in his own financial pickle. John H. Ruiz, who hosts La Ley TV, a popular financial advice program on Spanish-language GenTV, recently had his luxury cigarette boat repossessed. And he also…

An Opa-locka official booted from office six years ago won’t be prosecuted for the crimes that got him thrown out in the first place. Banana Republican has learned that the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office has quietly dropped multiple grand theft and official misconduct felony charges brought against Terence Pinder, Opa-Locka’s…

​Miami City Attorney Julie Bru pulled a sneaky maneuver to ensure City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff continues to receive free legal representation from her office. Near the end of last Thursday’s city commission meeting, Bru requested approval for a “pocket item” — so-called because it was not included in the city’s…

A Liberty City tutoring program is under fire from former employees who say not only has it failed to pay about $50,000 in wages, but also it employs two children of the program’s chief, Anthony Dawkins — both of whom have criminal convictions for fraud. Dawkins is head of Project…

​In the race for the White House, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich don’t seem to have a problem taking money from corporate pirates accused of breaking the law to maximize their profits. Romney has collected at least $100,000 from a Miami-based investment fund that owns run down apartment buildings in…

The four firms representing Miami-Dade County before the state legislature are mired in potential conflicts of interests and ongoing controversies. Yesterday, county commissioners awarded $120,000 each to law firms Ronald L. Book P.A. and Rutledge, Ecenia & Purnell, as well as $50,000 each for Akerman Senterfitt and Ballard Partners –…