The longtime executive director of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust is retiring after a decade of overseeing local services for the county’s destitute. During his tenure, David Raymond has spearheaded the development of dozens of shelters with over 7,000 beds throughout the county, leading to a sharp decrease in the number of…

Miami Beach’s most controversial resident is ready for his close up. Thomas Kramer, the billionaire German developer who reshaped the South Beach skyline with glitzy condos, has made a reality show television pilot. After watching it on Youtube, we want more.In the episode, the 56-year-old playboy is preparing for one…

Like a lot of Apple fanboys, county Commissioner Bruno Barreiro recently spent big at the silicon superstore — nabbing $6,583 worth of electronics at the Lincoln Road and Dadeland Mall outlets. He also reimbursed himself $4,166 for a computer.He didn’t spend his own money on the gadgets; he dipped into…

Today is the day Miami Marlins President Dave Samson is running 52 miles in honor of the construction workers who built him and his ex-step-daddy Jeffrey Loria the half-billion dollar ball park paid primarily by Miami-Dade taxpayers. We told readers about Samson’s shameless publicity stunt to show off his double…

For Barbara Jordan, blood is thicker than water. How else can the Miami-Dade County commissioner justify the $5,000 her reelection campaign paid to the company owned by her sister Sandy Walker, a once-powerful lobbyist who five years ago pleaded guilty to defrauding the county?In a recent interview with Banana Republican,…

Driving on NE 163rd Street in North Miami Beach, you can’t help but notice that several shopping centers contain sex shops that boldly proclaim their wares. And for 22 years, city officials long ignored a local law that prohibited three strip clubs from serving alcohol alongside naked dancers. Anyone visiting…

Last Monday, Banana Republican came across a glossy flyer on our windshield that featured a photo of President Barack Obama next to the now iconic image of Trayvon Martin wearing his hoodie. Printed below the slain teen’s chin were the commander-in-chief’s statement on March 23, “If I had a son,…

The makers of Marley’s Mellow Mood, a beverage meant to relax the human soul, might want to consider adding a more potent chilling-out agent to the recipe. Because the drink is made in partnership with some members of reggae icon Bob Marley’s family, we suggest something closer to ganja, because…

The Carlisle Development Group sure knows how to show gratitude to Audrey Edmonson. The Miami-based affordable housing developer ponied up $15,000 in contributions to the Miami-Dade County commissioner’s reelection campaign, according to her recently filed campaign finance report. Edmonson has been instrumental in helping Carlisle land a couple of key…

Campaign finance reports for January, February, and March are in for the local county races. So who’s funneling cash to Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and his main opponent, County Commission Chairman Joe Martinez?If money is any indicator, Martinez has a long haul ahead of him. For the past three months,…