Early on in my ongoing tour of duty for New Times, I had the pleasure of telling the story of Fane Lozman, a Miami native who made a small fortune as a Chicago software engineer before coming home in 2003. That year Lozman settled into a nondescript houseboat off the waters…
Cash Is the Word: Local businessman Robert Word duped the Metro-Miami Action Plan Trust
In case you missed it, during the early hours of July 1, the Miami-Dade County Commission approved a revision to the financing plan for the Marlins baseball stadium that is going to end up costing us $2.4 billion — a number that somehow eluded the intellectual prowess of financial guru…
Maxi Ratunuman will soon be a free man. The Indonesian ex-lover of Ruhama Canellis, wife of celebrity clergyman Rev. Alberto Cutie, was arrested this past June 6 by the Village of Biscayne Park Police Department. Ofcr. Raimundo Atesiano and Capt. Antonio Sanchez arrested Ratunuman for trespassing and for not having…
He didn’t win the mayor’s seat in 2005, but Spanish-language radio host Enrique Santos is considering a second run at public office.The popular shock jock, who mans the morning show for La Kalle 98.3, is looking to join the already crowded race to take over Miami City Commissioner Joe Sanchez’s…
Because I penned two posts on corrupt businessman Antonio Junior earlier this week, former New Times scribe Kirk Nielsen turned me on to an opinion piece he wrote for Poder magazine last year. My sometime wingman suggested that tainted political campaign contributions be returned to taxpayers. And when I say “tainted,”…
Antonio Junior, a local businessman who last year admitted to accepting and giving bribes, was full of information the day he debriefed anti-public-corruption law enforcers about his involvement in ripping-off Miami-Dade taxpayers. In addition to dropping a dime on his pal and ex-county Commissioner Barbara Carey-Shuler, Junior revealed his connection to…
Parking in South Miami Just Got More Interesting
Well, at least Antonio Junior can take solace in knowing he made a killing as a minority partner in several deals involving Miami-Dade taxpayer money. And even though he ratted out his political godmother — ex-county Commissioner Barbara Carey-Shuler — and some of his other politically connected buddies (according to a…
Laz Parking is a local firm that contracts with the City of South Miami to issue parking tickets and operate meters. That means nobody likes ’em. And if you believe a recently canned meter maid (meter butler? meter macho?) named Michael Perdomo, that contempt is deserved. The 27-year-old former Laz…
In my nocturnal travels, I’ve come across some very cool, easygoing, wonderful fellow Banana Republicans — you know, us locals who can lay claim to being raised in Dade and are proud of it. One of these chums is Maria Teresa Goobs, a gregarious local porn magazine editor who is a…
This past April, I wrote about ethics complaints filed against Myron Rosner, who was recently elected North Miami Beach mayor. Two female NMB residents accused Rosner of abusing his official position to get away with making renovations to his house without obtaining necessary approvals from the city council. They filed complaints…
Cigarette and Black-N-Mild smoke wafted throughout the already stifling hot warehouse at 19100 SW 106 Ave. in unincorporated Miami-Dade. It was shortly after 9 p.m. this past June 20 when more than 100 relatives, friends, and members of the street gang Latin Syndicate filed into Bad Dog Fight Club, aka…
So I just had a Scooby Doo WTF? moment. This past June 10, at its annual Orchids & Onions Awards Presentation, the Urban Environment League recognized Miami-Dade County Commissioner Natacha Seijas for her efforts to make sure foreclosed houses don’t get trashed. Earlier this year, Seijas sponsored legislation that requires…
This past May 31, after renouncing Catholicism, international celebrity priest Alberto Cutié delivered his first sermon as an Episcopal minister. TV cameras and tabloid reporters filled the parking lot of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Biscayne Park. The scene was played repeatedly on television screens across Latin America…
When rich married couples in Miami break up, you can bet both spouses will make a mad scramble to be the first one who enlists the services of family law attorney Maurice Kutner. His client roster has included Spanish radio mogul Raúl Alarcón Jr.; local television anchor Eliott Rodriguez; Kerry…
This past May 31, after renouncing Catholicism, international celebrity priest Alberto Cutié delivered his first sermon as an Episcopal minister. TV cameras and tabloid reporters filled the parking lot of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Biscayne Park. The scene was played repeatedly on television screens across Latin America.Father…
This Thursday, June 11, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., Miami Art Museum has a special treat in store for architecture enthusiasts and the green movement contingent. MAM — located at 101 W. Flagler St. in downtown Miami — is kicking off its Summer Nights, held every second Thursday evening of…
Robert Ruano, Miami’s director of grants and sustainable initiatives, spends a lot of money dining out and traveling on the taxpayers’ dime. According to copies of the reimbursement forms and receipts Ruano has submitted to the Miami’s finance office between 2006 and January this year, the city has picked up his…
After 11 years away from elected office, Luis Morse is ready for a comeback. The 69-year-old Bay of Pigs veteran is one of seven contenders looking to take the Miami City Commission seat vacated by Joe Sanchez, who is running for mayor. From 1984 to 1998, Morse held sway in…
Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones Beats Corruption Charges
In the crowded race to for the city commission seat being vacated by Joe Sanchez, perennial candidate Frank Carollo has amassed $95,275 in campaign . The guy’s run before.Vitals: A 39-year-old certified public accountant with a perfectly symmetrical pompadour. Qualifications: Ran three times for the state House of Representatives –…
