Joe Martinez

Souto, on a Trash Tear

Cup and Joe

Bay of Pigs Museum the Latest to Devour Green Space

Give Money, Get Contracts, Part III

Jose Canseco Bashed By County Commission

Odebrecht Is Portuguese for "Big Money Donor"

For the past two days, I've noted all the work Miami-Dade County awards Brazilian engineering and construction firm Odebrecht. Despite a history of completing jobs behind schedule and over budget, the company continues to get the nod to build county-funded projects worth hundreds of millions of dol ... More >>

Stadium Approved, Good Friggin' Riddance

My favorite moment in yesterday's nine-hour discussion of the new $2 billion Marlins Stadium came at 9:27 p.m., when Commissioner "Space Cowboy" Javier Souto began defending himself from concerns that Mayor Carlos Alvarez runs him like an Italian train: "My vote is not for sale, rent, or lease," Sou ... More >>

Exclusive: Marlins Construction Group Gave Thousands to Commish Who Approved No-Bid Deal

Joe Martinez seems a forthright and resolute guy. He was the first Hispanic elected by his peers to be county commission chairman. He publicly supported the highly unpopular John McCain for president. And he pushed to strip Jose Canseco's name from a stretch of SW 16th Street after the slugger admit ... More >>

Fishy Business

They gave thousands to a commissioner and then won the Marlins stadium contract.

Elected Officials Reward Their Campaign Contributors

Give money, get contracts.

Arsht Loves the Kids

Don’t be fooled by the stick figures; these artists have talent.

The Name Game

County commissioners named a street for a drug dealer. Then there’s this.

Bruno the Absent

He's not around much and he doesn't sponsor many bills, but this chairman's for you

The Plucky Mr. Clucky

"Every kid on Lincoln Road wants to hold Mr. Clucky. It fucking weirds me out!"

His Satanic Majesty's Request

Close down every church so the true church can begin.

Miami Gun Rhapsody

Who's packing heat in the Magic City? You don't have to conceal your curiosity a second longer

In His Own Words

Who's packing heat in the Magic City? You don't have to conceal your curiosity a second longer

Commission Quest

Miami-Dade's most coveted political prize is the chairman's Throne of Power. Those who dare to seek it must navigate the Swamp of Secrecy, endure the Guild of the Greased Palm, and avoid exposure by the Orb of Light

Fear? No, Evil

The battle continues

It's Broken, So Fix It

Corrections department investigators want an investigation -- of their department

The Thick Blue Line

Max Rameau switches gears on how to get a civilian investigative panel focused on county cops

The Hot Seat

Pepe Cancio faced big trouble on his first day as a county commissioner, but no one likes trouble

Now Entering Miriamville

Miriam Alonso may be under criminal investigation but that hasn't distracted her from creating her own city

You Are Cordially Invited

So you weren't among those lucky few who dined with the king and queen? Consider it a compliment.

And a Child Shall Lead Them

So you weren't among those lucky few who dined with the king and queen? Consider it a compliment.

The County Budget Hearings Have It Backward

For several weeks, I've been reading passionate plea emails to save the $11 million in funding for Miami-Dade cultural programming, all of them written by the heads of well-established, reputable organizations such as the Miami Art Museum, the Wolfsonian, and Vizcaya. Because the funding they r ... More >>

Is Watson Island the New Overtown (With a Mega-Yacht Club)?

Miami.fly me via Flickr CC​Watson Island is the redheaded stepchild of Biscayne Bay. Star Island gets Shaquille O'Neal and Madonna. Fisher Island has its own private ferry. And poor Watson is stuck with a field of dry grass and a theme park full of restless parrots. Sure, it's home to the Japane ... More >>

Return to Sender: Commissioners Mail Holiday Greetings on Your Dime

Miami-Dade Commissioner Javier Souto.​Every year, they arrive punctually on the same festive stationary, and every year, they're tossed out faster than stale fruitcake. Well, dear reader, by throwing out your commissioner's holiday newsletter, you're trashing your own cash. Each newsletter costs y ... More >>

Miami-Dade commissioners mail holiday greetings on your dime

Miami-Dade Commissioner Javier Souto.​Every year, they arrive punctually on the same festive stationary, and every year, they're tossed out faster than stale fruitcake. Well, dear reader, by throwing out your commissioner's holiday newsletter, you're trashing your own cash. Each newsletter costs y ... More >>

Port of Miami tunnel is a waste of taxpayer money

Miami-Dade Commissioner Javier Souto.​Every year, they arrive punctually on the same festive stationary, and every year, they're tossed out faster than stale fruitcake. Well, dear reader, by throwing out your commissioner's holiday newsletter, you're trashing your own cash. Each newsletter costs y ... More >>

Port of Miami Tunnel Project Could Be South Florida's Big Dig

Miami-Dade CountyTrucks waiting at the Port of Miami​Trucker Jose Martinez heads to the Port of Miami every day on his 40-foot white Freightliner. By the time he gets downtown, traffic is a breeze. "It's like going from the bed to the kitchen," he says.Twenty years ago that wouldn't have been poss ... More >>

Commission Renames Miami-Dade "Wade County" for One Week in July

​Miami's rainmakers are stopping at nothing to keep Dwyane Wade in town. In May, the Miami Heat and a slew of corporate sponsors launched an online campaign -- wewantwade.com -- to convince the NBA MVP from fleeing to another team when he becomes a free agent in July. The website encourages reside ... More >>

Miami Cabbies Don't Want to Pick Up the Tab for New Security Cameras

Kyle T. WebsterCameras could prevent crime, but cabbies say they can't afford them​Tipsy beach bunnies routinely barf in their back seats. Robbers put guns to their heads, demanding cash. Crack addicts try to beat them to death for no reason.Life is tough for Miami's 4,500 cab drivers. Now it's ge ... More >>

County Commissioners Joe Martinez and Sally Heyman Want Red Light Cameras

The great money maker for cash-strapped local governments​Looking for ways to screw taxpayers even more, county commissioners Joe Martinez and Sally Heyman want to introduce red light cameras for unincorporated Miami-Dade. Several cities, including Miami Beach, Hialeah and Miami Gardens, have alre ... More >>

Commissioner Carlos Gimenez Purposely Delayed Recall Meeting

Carlos Gimenez​Today the Miami-Dade County Commission was supposed to meet to set a date for the election to recall Mayor Carlos Alvarez. Problem was only six commissioners showed up, because Commissioners apparently find it OK to act like school skipping children. Which means the commission fell ... More >>

Hialeah's Julio Robaina In Front For County Mayor, But Scandals Could Derail His Ambition

City of Hialeah​In this week's metro story, New Times explores Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina's chances to succeed his Miami-Dade County counterpart Carlos Alvarez. Talk about who will follow Alvarez has grown louder with a recall election against the county mayor to take place later this year. Count ... More >>

Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina To Run for County Mayor

via Facebook​In a story in last week's issue, we painted Julio Robaina as the front runner in the 2012 Miami-Dade County mayoral race despite the fact he hadn't officially announced his intentions yet. Well, right on cure Robaina has announced that he will seek the office. The second term mayor of ... More >>

Luther Campbell Calls For Special Election

Michael McElroy​Mayoral candidate and Miami New Times columnist Luther Campbell wants to get it on. At the ballot box. Not the champagne room. Now that voters have shown Carlos Alvarez the exit door, the onetime raunchiest man in hip-hop is calling on the County Commission to set a date for anothe ... More >>

Miami's cop school stinker

Michael McElroy​Mayoral candidate and Miami New Times columnist Luther Campbell wants to get it on. At the ballot box. Not the champagne room. Now that voters have shown Carlos Alvarez the exit door, the onetime raunchiest man in hip-hop is calling on the County Commission to set a date for anothe ... More >>

County Commissioners Deny Ron Book's Waiver

No waiver for Ron Book. ​Maybe Ron Book is losing his touch. On Monday, Miami-Dade County commissioners denied Book's request to lobby on behalf of a private client pushing a state bill the county is against. The ultra influential lobbyist represents Miami-Dade before the Florida Legislature. But ... More >>

Miami-Dade commissioners are rich!

No waiver for Ron Book. ​Maybe Ron Book is losing his touch. On Monday, Miami-Dade County commissioners denied Book's request to lobby on behalf of a private client pushing a state bill the county is against. The ultra influential lobbyist represents Miami-Dade before the Florida Legislature. But ... More >>

Six lies about the Marlins stadium

No waiver for Ron Book. ​Maybe Ron Book is losing his touch. On Monday, Miami-Dade County commissioners denied Book's request to lobby on behalf of a private client pushing a state bill the county is against. The ultra influential lobbyist represents Miami-Dade before the Florida Legislature. But ... More >>

County Shutters Major Food Truck Roundup; Food Truck Listings for Tonight

Grill Master Cafe and others can't roll at T.O.W. Friday​For the past month or so, Miami food trucks have been rolling out in relative peace without incident -- until now. Ray Delgado, owner of Grill Master Cafe and organizer of T.O.W. (Truckers Out West) at Mother of Christ Church, told Sho ... More >>

"Gunshot Detection System" On Its Way to Miami-Dade, Raising Privacy Concerns

shotspotter.comA gunshot detection system like this would require sensors -- even cameras -- all over Miami neighborhoods​The gunman squeezes the trigger on his Glock. His victim slumps to the ground. And without a cop in sight, the murderer thinks he's in the clear. But the light poles are liste ... More >>

Miami-Dade PD could spy with gunshot detection system

shotspotter.comA gunshot detection system like this would require sensors -- even cameras -- all over Miami neighborhoods​The gunman squeezes the trigger on his Glock. His victim slumps to the ground. And without a cop in sight, the murderer thinks he's in the clear. But the light poles are liste ... More >>

Letters from the issue of July 7, 2011

shotspotter.comA gunshot detection system like this would require sensors -- even cameras -- all over Miami neighborhoods​The gunman squeezes the trigger on his Glock. His victim slumps to the ground. And without a cop in sight, the murderer thinks he's in the clear. But the light poles are liste ... More >>

This Week's Day by Day Picks

shotspotter.comA gunshot detection system like this would require sensors -- even cameras -- all over Miami neighborhoods​The gunman squeezes the trigger on his Glock. His victim slumps to the ground. And without a cop in sight, the murderer thinks he's in the clear. But the light poles are liste ... More >>

A Guide to Trashing Taxpayers

shotspotter.comA gunshot detection system like this would require sensors -- even cameras -- all over Miami neighborhoods​The gunman squeezes the trigger on his Glock. His victim slumps to the ground. And without a cop in sight, the murderer thinks he's in the clear. But the light poles are liste ... More >>

Dummies Guide To Trashing Taxpayers: The Port Tunnel

​This week, Miami New Times published a guide to the eight of the worst public works projects in Miami-Dade, where bureaucrats and elected officials take pride in wasting millions in taxpayer dollars on crap residents have little-to-no use for. As we reveal each one of these boondoggles on Riptide ... More >>

Carlos Gimenez Is No Longer Looking Out For Akerman Senterfitt, Lobbyists Who Funded His Campaign

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez has vetoed a controversial lobbying contract that included a law firm that has generously supported his political campaign for the county's top elected position. Citing the county commission's failure to cut the cost of Miami-Dade's lobbying services, Gimenez killed t ... More >>