Miami’s Joe Carollo attacks Ken Russell to deflect his conflict in redistricting – Political Cortadito
Before the Miami city commission could discuss redistricting at Friday’s special meeting, Commissioner Joe Carollo made a special call to order — and laid into a false narrative attack on Commissioner Ken Russell.
It was unwarranted. Carollo thinks Russell was not only behind the recall two years ago — and he is still butt hurt — but also the one behind the “little blog” story about his house being drawn into his district to protect it from the many lawsuits against him that he is bound to lose.
Sorry, Joe. Ladra didn’t get that from Russell.
Ladra is not in the habit of saying which source did not tell her something because it allows for the process of elimination and that goes against the whole idea, right? But, in this case, I can swear on my future happiness that it was not Ken.
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Also, I can attest to the fact that I never got a single thing from Yoyo Man during the recall, either. In fact, he doesn’t talk much. Probably because he’s running for Senate and keeps his cards close to his chest. But it wasn’t him.
This is how wrong you are — all the time.
Like when you said that Ladra was paid to write about this obvious conflict of interest. First, I wish. In fact, Political Cortadito owes on its mailchimp account so anyone who wants to help can donate here. I can write more Joe Carollo stories, if that’s motivation. Thanks for the fundraising idea, Joe!
Apparently, Ladra hit a nerve with the story about how his $2.7 million house on Morris Lane in Coconut Grove — the one he had to prove he didn’t live in so he could keep his seat when he won in 20`17 — has been drawn very deliberately into his district. It looks like a little dingleberry or hemorrhoid hanging there awkwardly. His house is at the very end of it.
If it is in District 3, Carollo can move back into his house, which would protect it from any future damages that could be awarded in the multiple lawsuits against him. A judge recently ruled that Carollo could be named as an individual plaintiff in a federal first amendment rights suit because abuse of power is not in his job description. Imagine that.
All of that is true. And Carollo can’t deny it. So he deflects.
Read related: Miami redistricting cuts Coconut Grove into three rather than add districts
“But sadly, it is one of my colleagues that has been, since the recall, since this whole campaign, involved with these individuals to see how he can harm me,” Carollo said. “I do believe that I have every right to represent my district and vote like every one of us. But I do need to ask a question. Um, Mr Russell, do you live in the city of Miami? And where do you live, if I may ask?”
“Are you interrogating me,” Russell asked. “It sounds like you’re interrogating me.”
Que pena when Carollo fell flat on his face and learned that Russell still lives in the same house he has lived in for 20 years.
A judge ruled against an injunction trying to block Carollo from voting to get his house in District 3. Carollo abstained from the vote anyway. Because he knows there’s a conflict. He left the dais and didn’t return, which might actually be because he was so wrong and fell flat on his face. He wasn’t missed. Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla took over the crazy clown duties for the afternoon session — and did a good job with it. Carollo should continue to abstain from voting when this comes back March 24.
There’s going to be pressure for Carollo to be allowed to vote. Diaz de la Portilla needs his vote to steal the Wharf Miami area from Chairwoman Christine King. The two amigos can’t do it alone.
Friday’s dog and pony show was pure deflection, one of Carollo’s better talents. He wants us to forget that he’s gotten his huge, fancy house drawn into his district.
And he doesn’t answer calls or texts. Because he’d rather make this public spectacle. He is trying to change the narrative to deflect from the real story, which is that his house should stay in District 2 and he should not vote on the matter. Even though a judge did not rule in favor of a lawsuit filed by the same Little Havana businessmen — or 8th Street Boys as Carollo calls them — that filed the first amendment lawsuit so that he doesn’t vote on redistricting. Because he benefits from it.
Read related: City redistricting falls apart again over border fight on the Miami River
Carollo said at the meeting Friday that he pays rent to a national rental company. He didn’t say how much. He didn’t say who. We are supposed to just take his word for it. Why didn’t he call his real estate agent to the commission meeting like Russell did?
In one of the strangest turns at a Miami commission meeting — and that’s saying a lot — the realtors that sold Russell’s house came rushing to City Hall and testified that Russell still lived there and was renting the house. It’s a common practice, they explained.
They looked shell shocked. Don’t take Ladra’s word for it. Look at the video yourselves where Carollo paints himself as a victim who has had to “endure” so much since he’s been there. Why doesn’t he just go off to Shangrila like he’s been promising to do?
“I’ve reached a point that I have had it,” Carollo said.
Certainly, the residents have had it, too.
