"Writing about issues at City Hall has brought about serious opposition from those in office and those in leadership roles. Ariel has always maintained full independence and remained unbought and unbossed."
There happens to be public record video where one can see the unbought and unbossed Ariel admitting to the sale and subservience of the Gables Insider to the Mayor, when they were buddies and Ariel was the Mayor's political consultant. Bought and bossed, is more like it.
The challenge with Kirk, Melissa and Ariel is that they are opportunistic people. We have with them: a failed real estate broker, a failed permit operator, and a failed journalist. Since they cannot make money by creating value to society, ( but they know the rules how the city works ), then they move into becoming political leeches by getting elected in low turn around elections, and themselves giving salary raises. Behind their big rhetoric, they are there for the money ( and not to serve the residents )
At first, I thought your earlier posts were somewhat insightful although I was not sure if I agreed with the majority of your statements. However, the your commentary above is a joke and frankly insulting to every Coral Gables resident. I don't even think you know how condescending you sound in your words, as if we needed you to clarify and dictate what is really happening in the commission and city of Coral Gables. Just because you use fancy words and a particular writing style does not change the fact that your commentary above is clearly an opinionated hit piece at the two new commissioners. You dear sir, are clearly stating your opinion as if it was fact, while accusing the people your write about of the same exact thing. Talk about hypocrisy at it's best.
Upon further reading of this trash piece, it does become quite evident that Ariel and Melissa have struck a nerve not just to you but your puppet master Lago. Are Ariel and Melissa new at this game and have a lot to learn? Clearly they are. However, WE voted them in for a particular reason, and that was because we were NOT satisfied with the status quo that you seem to long for. This commission and the CG city hall has been rotten and dysfunctional for way longer than the two new commissioners have been here, but you choose to state that all these current problems are solely their fault. What you are actually seeing is the death throes of a long established local government run by corruption and clearly in the hands of developers and special interest. Yes, the transformation never is and will not be pretty. There will be difficulties, set backs, and missteps, but I for one and I believe the majority of the CG citizens were tired of the same old "you wash my hands, I wash yours, to hell with the City beautiful and their citizens." I actually commend both Ariel and Melissa for having the vision and cojones to present new things and ideas and most importantly be able to say no when needed. Clearly Lago and his cronies are not used to those words while they trample all over the city and now they are up in arms to hear people disagree or put our city first instead of their own interests.
Are either one of these two new commissioners perfect? No absolutely not, just like all the commissioners before and after them will not be. But it is very interesting to see how you are so particularly bothered by Ariel and Melissa as they shine a light on both the inner workings of the city and then actually trying to do something about it. Even if it is not pretty, us Coral Gables citizens are willing to endure what you call "dysfunction" or "incivility" in order to bring about the long needed change this city deserves. If it hurts your feelings because you want to maintain the status quo, so much so that you compare these two new commissioners to stray cats under a used car, then so sorry but tough luck. You talk about how poorly educated and uninformed the Coral Gables constituents are, but maybe, just maybe, we were so well enlightened that we decided NOT to keep accepting the same old commissioners beholden to other interests but rather vote for people that would rock the system and bring about much needed change. If that brings a bit of temporary upheaval and hurt feelings by the establishment while progress is made, too bad I will bring you a box of tissues so you can wipe away your tears on your way from your laptop to your kitchen.
Regards,
Jeremy Flores
P.S. Next time, instead of spending so much time looking at elected officials old campaign websites trying to find a "aha, gothca" blurb or statement, maybe you and we would be better served if you actually put that effort into suggesting what all the commissioners and our dear Mayor should be doing to make this city better. Or maybe give them classes on function and civility, as you seem to be quite the expert on both.
I guess you only appreciate hit pieces when they support your candidates? Clearly this opinion piece struck a nerve, but it should. That's what good political discourse does. I think it appropriate to have views from both sides in order to make informed decisions.
You make me snort in just the best way
"Writing about issues at City Hall has brought about serious opposition from those in office and those in leadership roles. Ariel has always maintained full independence and remained unbought and unbossed."
There happens to be public record video where one can see the unbought and unbossed Ariel admitting to the sale and subservience of the Gables Insider to the Mayor, when they were buddies and Ariel was the Mayor's political consultant. Bought and bossed, is more like it.
The challenge with Kirk, Melissa and Ariel is that they are opportunistic people. We have with them: a failed real estate broker, a failed permit operator, and a failed journalist. Since they cannot make money by creating value to society, ( but they know the rules how the city works ), then they move into becoming political leeches by getting elected in low turn around elections, and themselves giving salary raises. Behind their big rhetoric, they are there for the money ( and not to serve the residents )
I would love to see a RECALL, RECALL, RECALL....Ariel, Melissa and FIRE Kirk Menendez,
All they have done is ruin the City, taken money from tax payers, sneaky sleazy raise...professionalism at its best.
At first, I thought your earlier posts were somewhat insightful although I was not sure if I agreed with the majority of your statements. However, the your commentary above is a joke and frankly insulting to every Coral Gables resident. I don't even think you know how condescending you sound in your words, as if we needed you to clarify and dictate what is really happening in the commission and city of Coral Gables. Just because you use fancy words and a particular writing style does not change the fact that your commentary above is clearly an opinionated hit piece at the two new commissioners. You dear sir, are clearly stating your opinion as if it was fact, while accusing the people your write about of the same exact thing. Talk about hypocrisy at it's best.
Upon further reading of this trash piece, it does become quite evident that Ariel and Melissa have struck a nerve not just to you but your puppet master Lago. Are Ariel and Melissa new at this game and have a lot to learn? Clearly they are. However, WE voted them in for a particular reason, and that was because we were NOT satisfied with the status quo that you seem to long for. This commission and the CG city hall has been rotten and dysfunctional for way longer than the two new commissioners have been here, but you choose to state that all these current problems are solely their fault. What you are actually seeing is the death throes of a long established local government run by corruption and clearly in the hands of developers and special interest. Yes, the transformation never is and will not be pretty. There will be difficulties, set backs, and missteps, but I for one and I believe the majority of the CG citizens were tired of the same old "you wash my hands, I wash yours, to hell with the City beautiful and their citizens." I actually commend both Ariel and Melissa for having the vision and cojones to present new things and ideas and most importantly be able to say no when needed. Clearly Lago and his cronies are not used to those words while they trample all over the city and now they are up in arms to hear people disagree or put our city first instead of their own interests.
Are either one of these two new commissioners perfect? No absolutely not, just like all the commissioners before and after them will not be. But it is very interesting to see how you are so particularly bothered by Ariel and Melissa as they shine a light on both the inner workings of the city and then actually trying to do something about it. Even if it is not pretty, us Coral Gables citizens are willing to endure what you call "dysfunction" or "incivility" in order to bring about the long needed change this city deserves. If it hurts your feelings because you want to maintain the status quo, so much so that you compare these two new commissioners to stray cats under a used car, then so sorry but tough luck. You talk about how poorly educated and uninformed the Coral Gables constituents are, but maybe, just maybe, we were so well enlightened that we decided NOT to keep accepting the same old commissioners beholden to other interests but rather vote for people that would rock the system and bring about much needed change. If that brings a bit of temporary upheaval and hurt feelings by the establishment while progress is made, too bad I will bring you a box of tissues so you can wipe away your tears on your way from your laptop to your kitchen.
Regards,
Jeremy Flores
P.S. Next time, instead of spending so much time looking at elected officials old campaign websites trying to find a "aha, gothca" blurb or statement, maybe you and we would be better served if you actually put that effort into suggesting what all the commissioners and our dear Mayor should be doing to make this city better. Or maybe give them classes on function and civility, as you seem to be quite the expert on both.
I guess you only appreciate hit pieces when they support your candidates? Clearly this opinion piece struck a nerve, but it should. That's what good political discourse does. I think it appropriate to have views from both sides in order to make informed decisions.
Always look forward to your insightful articles. I for one did not drink the juice and did not cast my vote for Larry and Dr. Curly. 😆😆😆