Tim Elfrink

Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower Needs to Go

Memorial Day Police Shooting Victims Are Suing Miami Beach

Remember last Memorial Day weekend on South Beach? Yes, that was the one when Miami Beach cops unloaded more than a hundred rounds into the car of Raymond Herisse, a Palm Beach resident police say tried to run them over on Collins Avenue. Not all those bullets hit Herisse, though. At least five ... More >>

Reader Mail: Metta World Peace Is a Scumbag

Remember last Memorial Day weekend on South Beach? Yes, that was the one when Miami Beach cops unloaded more than a hundred rounds into the car of Raymond Herisse, a Palm Beach resident police say tried to run them over on Collins Avenue. Not all those bullets hit Herisse, though. At least five ... More >>

Reader Mail: Pain and Gain Screws Over Extras

Remember last Memorial Day weekend on South Beach? Yes, that was the one when Miami Beach cops unloaded more than a hundred rounds into the car of Raymond Herisse, a Palm Beach resident police say tried to run them over on Collins Avenue. Not all those bullets hit Herisse, though. At least five ... More >>

Reader mail: Rapist cop Michael Ragusa could have been stopped

Remember last Memorial Day weekend on South Beach? Yes, that was the one when Miami Beach cops unloaded more than a hundred rounds into the car of Raymond Herisse, a Palm Beach resident police say tried to run them over on Collins Avenue. Not all those bullets hit Herisse, though. At least five ... More >>

Marlins Traffic Disaster: We Raced by Bus, Car, Bike, Kayak, Rickshaw, and Potato Sack (VIDEO)

For months, anyone writing about the Marlins' new ballpark has had to mention the catastrophe sure to ensue whenever 37,000 fans descend on Little Havana's tiny side streets, only to find that Miami's finest civil engineers included only 5,000 new parking spots. But how bad would it really ... More >>

Protesters Outside Marlins Park Call for Ozzie Guillen's Firing (Video)

Inside Marlins Park, Ozzie Guillen apologized for "betraying his Hispanic community," but outside the front gates, a sizable crowd of Cuban-American protesters made it clear they were in no mood to forgive or forget his statements praising Fidel Castro."We never can forgive what he said," Blanco Gar ... More >>

Pit Bull Ban Lives On in Miami-Dade As Repeal Falls One Vote Short in Tallahassee

​A full month before the season kicks off, Mark Buehrle is close to taking his first loss in Miami. The new Marlins ace is celebrity spokesman number one for pit bulls and the activists trying to overturn Miami-Dade's two-decade ban on the dog breed. Along with his wife, he's vocally pushed for la ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Bills Introduced In Florida Senate and House

​Miami-area State Sen. Larcenia Bullard has fired up a big ol' blunt of legislative reform this morning, as her proposal to give Florida voters a chance to legalize medical marijuana was introduced in the Senate. Bullard's bill joins a similar proposal by Lake Worth Rep. Jeff Clemens in the House ... More >>

Reader mail: "Republicans love socialism, but only for themselves"

​Miami-area State Sen. Larcenia Bullard has fired up a big ol' blunt of legislative reform this morning, as her proposal to give Florida voters a chance to legalize medical marijuana was introduced in the Senate. Bullard's bill joins a similar proposal by Lake Worth Rep. Jeff Clemens in the House ... More >>

Reader mail: Go medieval on unprosecuted criminal bankers

​Miami-area State Sen. Larcenia Bullard has fired up a big ol' blunt of legislative reform this morning, as her proposal to give Florida voters a chance to legalize medical marijuana was introduced in the Senate. Bullard's bill joins a similar proposal by Lake Worth Rep. Jeff Clemens in the House ... More >>

Carlos Noriega Is Done As Beach Chief; Bid Him Farewell By Remembering His Biggest Screw Ups

​The reign of Miami Beach Police Chief Carlos Noriega is all but officially over. The chief was scheduled to retire on December 31st, but City Manager Jorge Gonzalez has announced that the chief will use his leftover vacation days, and has now officially relinquished control of the department. As ... More >>

Reader mail: "Andre Pierre made the mistake of being a clean-cut black dude"

​The reign of Miami Beach Police Chief Carlos Noriega is all but officially over. The chief was scheduled to retire on December 31st, but City Manager Jorge Gonzalez has announced that the chief will use his leftover vacation days, and has now officially relinquished control of the department. As ... More >>

Regalado Must Go: Miami Declares Financial Morass Again

​To sidestep union demands and deal with its burgeoning financial crisis, the City of Miami declared a situation of financial urgency. It is the second straight year the city has done this. The idea stinks. (The text of Martinez's declaration follows the jump.) It gives the union 14 days to nego ... More >>

Regalado Should Think Twice Before Calling New Times Anti-Cuban

​Okay. I'll be honest. It was hard logging onto my computer last week and having Mayor Tomás Regalado's face pop up on my screen accompanying an article listing ten reasons why he should be recalled. Every time his kindly mug cycled on the homepage rotator, I thought of my uncles and older cousi ... More >>

Reader mail: "Nepotism is how you get a job in Miami"

​Okay. I'll be honest. It was hard logging onto my computer last week and having Mayor Tomás Regalado's face pop up on my screen accompanying an article listing ten reasons why he should be recalled. Every time his kindly mug cycled on the homepage rotator, I thought of my uncles and older cousi ... More >>

Reader comments: Judge screwed over Miami Beach's vigilante cyclist

​Okay. I'll be honest. It was hard logging onto my computer last week and having Mayor Tomás Regalado's face pop up on my screen accompanying an article listing ten reasons why he should be recalled. Every time his kindly mug cycled on the homepage rotator, I thought of my uncles and older cousi ... More >>

Letters from the issue of July 7, 2011

​Okay. I'll be honest. It was hard logging onto my computer last week and having Mayor Tomás Regalado's face pop up on my screen accompanying an article listing ten reasons why he should be recalled. Every time his kindly mug cycled on the homepage rotator, I thought of my uncles and older cousi ... More >>

Letters from the issue of May 12, 2011

​Okay. I'll be honest. It was hard logging onto my computer last week and having Mayor Tomás Regalado's face pop up on my screen accompanying an article listing ten reasons why he should be recalled. Every time his kindly mug cycled on the homepage rotator, I thought of my uncles and older cousi ... More >>

Letters from the issue of May 5, 2011

​Okay. I'll be honest. It was hard logging onto my computer last week and having Mayor Tomás Regalado's face pop up on my screen accompanying an article listing ten reasons why he should be recalled. Every time his kindly mug cycled on the homepage rotator, I thought of my uncles and older cousi ... More >>

Letters from the issue of April 21, 2011

​Okay. I'll be honest. It was hard logging onto my computer last week and having Mayor Tomás Regalado's face pop up on my screen accompanying an article listing ten reasons why he should be recalled. Every time his kindly mug cycled on the homepage rotator, I thought of my uncles and older cousi ... More >>

Families of Shooting Victims to City Commission: "Exposito Must Go"

photo by Tim ElfrinkThe message in black and white at Thursday's commission meeting.​Police Chief Miguel Exposito slumped silently against a wall, his hands clasped tight behind his back, as a parade of family members of men killed by his department petitioned the City Commission last night for on ... More >>

Marlins President David Samson 'Tops Off' Last Piece of New Stadium's Retractable Roof

photo by Tim ElfrinkDavid Samson talks after signing the last piece of the Marlins Stadium roof.​Wielding a thick black marker, Marlins President David Samson flourished his signature onto a gray steel beam. Moments later, a massive crane hoisted the girder high above the new Marlins stadium and g ... More >>

Letters from the issue of March 17, 2011

photo by Tim ElfrinkDavid Samson talks after signing the last piece of the Marlins Stadium roof.​Wielding a thick black marker, Marlins President David Samson flourished his signature onto a gray steel beam. Moments later, a massive crane hoisted the girder high above the new Marlins stadium and g ... More >>

Burgess and Alvarez Bid Dade Voters Adieu With Teary Farewell Speeches

Photo by Tim ElfrinkGeorge Burgess watches Carlos Alvarez's farewell speech.​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 Manag ... More >>

Norman Braman Casts His Ballot to Recall Mayor Carlos Alvarez as Early Voting Picks Up

photo by Tim ElfrinkBraman leaves the North Shore Branch Library after voting.​As Norman Braman walked out of the North Shore Branch Library -- fresh off casting his vote to recall Mayor Carlos Alvarez -- volunteers in yellow T-shirts greeted him like a hero. "This is the man!" exclaimed an older ... More >>

Letters from the issue of February 24, 2011

photo by Tim ElfrinkBraman leaves the North Shore Branch Library after voting.​As Norman Braman walked out of the North Shore Branch Library -- fresh off casting his vote to recall Mayor Carlos Alvarez -- volunteers in yellow T-shirts greeted him like a hero. "This is the man!" exclaimed an older ... More >>

Letters from the issue of February 17, 2011

photo by Tim ElfrinkBraman leaves the North Shore Branch Library after voting.​As Norman Braman walked out of the North Shore Branch Library -- fresh off casting his vote to recall Mayor Carlos Alvarez -- volunteers in yellow T-shirts greeted him like a hero. "This is the man!" exclaimed an older ... More >>

Letters from the issue of February 3, 2011

photo by Tim ElfrinkBraman leaves the North Shore Branch Library after voting.​As Norman Braman walked out of the North Shore Branch Library -- fresh off casting his vote to recall Mayor Carlos Alvarez -- volunteers in yellow T-shirts greeted him like a hero. "This is the man!" exclaimed an older ... More >>

Nevin Shapiro's Sentencing Postponed Until Valentine's Day

photo by Tim ElfrinkShapiro's autographed UM helmet inside his palatial Miami Beach mansion.​Nevin Shapiro, the South Beach architect of a $880 million Ponzi scheme, will have to endure another few weeks of Jersey lockup before learning his punishment. His sentencing, which was originally schedule ... More >>

Letters from the issue of December 16, 2010

photo by Tim ElfrinkShapiro's autographed UM helmet inside his palatial Miami Beach mansion.​Nevin Shapiro, the South Beach architect of a $880 million Ponzi scheme, will have to endure another few weeks of Jersey lockup before learning his punishment. His sentencing, which was originally schedule ... More >>

Letters from the issue of September 2, 2010

photo by Tim ElfrinkShapiro's autographed UM helmet inside his palatial Miami Beach mansion.​Nevin Shapiro, the South Beach architect of a $880 million Ponzi scheme, will have to endure another few weeks of Jersey lockup before learning his punishment. His sentencing, which was originally schedule ... More >>

Letters from the issue of July 29, 2010

photo by Tim ElfrinkShapiro's autographed UM helmet inside his palatial Miami Beach mansion.​Nevin Shapiro, the South Beach architect of a $880 million Ponzi scheme, will have to endure another few weeks of Jersey lockup before learning his punishment. His sentencing, which was originally schedule ... More >>

Marlins Preview: That Silence You Hear Is Miami Preparing for Another Baseball Season

Wikimedia Commons via user Djh57. If Hanley Ramirez does some amazing shit but nobody's there to see it... it's still amazing.​They live, as quietly as cloistered monks, among us. They wash our dogs, write our blogs, prepare our taxes, and, you know, do other things people do for a living. ... More >>

Letters from the issue of February 4, 2010

Wikimedia Commons via user Djh57. If Hanley Ramirez does some amazing shit but nobody's there to see it... it's still amazing.​They live, as quietly as cloistered monks, among us. They wash our dogs, write our blogs, prepare our taxes, and, you know, do other things people do for a living. ... More >>

Letters from the issue of January 14, 2010

Wikimedia Commons via user Djh57. If Hanley Ramirez does some amazing shit but nobody's there to see it... it's still amazing.​They live, as quietly as cloistered monks, among us. They wash our dogs, write our blogs, prepare our taxes, and, you know, do other things people do for a living. ... More >>

Moron of the Week: The Confused Airplane Racist Screamer Takes it in a Landslide

​As always, there were plenty of undeniably idiotic contenders for this week's title, a couple of whom might have even taken top honors on a different week. Take, for example, this Totally Cliche South Florida Medicare Scammer, who allegedly blew millions on exotic cars- who's to say ... More >>

Letters from the Issue of December 3, 2009

​As always, there were plenty of undeniably idiotic contenders for this week's title, a couple of whom might have even taken top honors on a different week. Take, for example, this Totally Cliche South Florida Medicare Scammer, who allegedly blew millions on exotic cars- who's to say ... More >>

Letters from the Issue of November 19, 2009

​As always, there were plenty of undeniably idiotic contenders for this week's title, a couple of whom might have even taken top honors on a different week. Take, for example, this Totally Cliche South Florida Medicare Scammer, who allegedly blew millions on exotic cars- who's to say ... More >>

Liberty City Seven's Sentencing Starts Wednesday

An iPhone buzzes inside a Wynwood restaurant, and Naudimar Herrera's bright brown eyes light up when he sees the caller: the downtown Federal Detention Center. Photo by Tim ElfrinkNaudimar Herrera in front of his parents' Midtown apartment.​"Patrick, what's up, my brother?" he barks into the phon ... More >>

Whilly Bermudez Thanksgiving Food Drive For Miami Rescue Mission

via whillybermudez.com​Whilly Bermudez is a right-handed, right-leaning, right-of-way, righteous republican, and as Tim Elfrink reported Monday on Riptide, he's got the support of Tubbs from Miami Vice in his run for a seat in the Florida House of Reps for the 116th district (unincorporated West D ... More >>

Marlins Aren't Firing Fredi Gonzalez

Maybe Jeffrey Loria took Tim Elfrink's advice, and stopped acting like "a world-class moron." Because according to Associated Press sources Marlin manager Fredi Gonzalez's job is safe for now.The AP is citing an unnamed AP source. The Marlins might not be ready to make the official announcement, but ... More >>

Letters from the Issue of June 25, 2009

Maybe Jeffrey Loria took Tim Elfrink's advice, and stopped acting like "a world-class moron." Because according to Associated Press sources Marlin manager Fredi Gonzalez's job is safe for now.The AP is citing an unnamed AP source. The Marlins might not be ready to make the official announcement, but ... More >>

Letters from the Issue of June 4, 2009

"I've seen racing greyhounds covered in mud, fleas, their own feces, and sores and gashes that would horrify even a vet."

Florida Judges Turn Into Debt Collectors

As Tim Elfrink reports in today's paper, the Miami-Dade Public Defender's office is so overworked and under funded that they've stopped accepting new 3rd degree felony cases, a move that may or may not be legal. In the meantime, the PDs office is leaning on top-dollar corporate law firms to take on ... More >>

Chuck Rules, Bill Bites

Today Bill Cooke at Random Pixels took a shot at New Times and editorial jefe Chuck Strouse. He wrote: I used to love Miami New Times. When I lived in Coconut Grove I knew where the paper was delivered on Wednesday and usually snagged a copy by early afternoon. Since editor Jim Mullin's departure a ... More >>

Letters from the Issue of February 5, 2009

"Pastor Spann is not perfect, but before people start running their mouths, they need to ask themselves: What am I doing for the community?"

Letters from the Issue of December 25, 2008

"He has managed to buy the majority of his support with false promises of better lives for the population."

Letters from the Issue of October 16, 2008

"I was thinking about letting my daughter enroll at Barry University but have changed my mind big time."

Letters from the Issue of September 25,2008

"He entered a new country and effectively told the immigration services: 'I don't care about your laws, catch me if you can.'"