much as we can. That said, Good Sunday morning to you. I’m Glenna milberg. This many voters
, miami’s political universe
this week replacing 2/5 of the
city commission. A potentially
seismic change in the voting
math in priorities in a city of
scandal. Businessman Miguel
Gaballo replace Alex Diaz de la
Portilla is currently suspended
after his arrest on corruption
charges and civil rights
activist Pardo will replace
Sabina Cobo ousted after her
first term days later on
Thanksgiving. We connected
Miami’s mayor, who also some
scrutiny and to his business
relationships. He could hardly
contain his optimism that former
commissioners who have hamstrung
his efforts in the past in many
ways may no longer have the
numbers to do so. Look, I think
it’s always good when you have,
you know, fresh perspective,
fresh people. I get along with
both of the candidate. I’ve
known him for a long time, and
they’ve been community activists
for a long time. Have you spoken
to them at all. I texted with
both of them. I spoke to them
before the election and I’m
excited to work with them when
the text say congratulations
congratulations. Both Miami
commissioners elect Miguel
Abella and Damien Pardo are with
us today. So happy to have you
both. One right here in the
studio, one on Zoom. Good
morning. Pleasure to be here. I
want to start Miguel Abella on
Zoom. I want to start with you.
You actually have not only
fought a race here. This is your
second time. This is kind of
rematch that you now have won
against Alex Diaz delivered to.
But you also had a fight. Court
fights over your residency,
which you and is outgoing
parting shot the former
commissioner Alex Diaz still a
party up filed again. How What’s
the status of this residency
case for you again? First of
all, thank you for the
invitation. And I want to
congratulate Commissioner Damien
Pardo, who I hope to work with
the in the in the commission.
Commissioner, what? Look, this
is more of the same that they’ve
been doing for the past months
to try to put obstacles in, my
candidacy. And now that I’m
elected, we’re doing the same
thing. And basically he’s going
to lose this lawsuit. And, you
know, I will, you know, sworn
in. And that’s the end of that.
So you’re going steam ahead. And
I just want to point out that
you both, our commissioners
elect and have not been sworn in
yet. So we no sunshine violation
here. Any potential sunshine
violations? For the record,
Damien, district two, you won
this seat from Sabina Calvo is
in her first term. What do you
think did wrong that voters
re-elect her? Well, I think
voters actually expected a
change, meaning that something
was going to change on the
commission, or at least that
there would be discussions about
the corruption that was
constantly in the headlines. And
I think that’s what they were
looking for. That lack of
change, I think, is what led to
the acceptance of my candidacy
and my campaign. And this was, I
mean, all the way around this
was a really dirty, negative
race. I’m just going to go there
and say that hardly one in ten
Miami voters put you both
office. Miguel, what do you
think of? That voter turnout.
Where was everybody look? They
were turned off. We all did
negative campaigning. I think
it’s my job our job to bring
some of the belief again in our
elected. And I’m going to try to
do it as hard I can. At the end
of the day, the voters spoken.
I’m Just going to follow their
will. And I think it’s a new day
for Miami and the past is the
past. And I will try to work
with all the commissioners on
the day as well. But look, there
have honestly, there is
corruption going on in the city
of Miami and that needs to be
weeded out. You to go there, you
throw out a line like that. I’m
going to ask you for details.
Well, as you’ve known during the
last months and years, you know,
I feel the of the city
commission has been incorrectly
led, not Led. But let’s see.
Council has not been adequately
been given to some of the
commissioners. We’re all and
we’re in this lawsuit maze of I
don’t how many millions by the
time we sit and don’t. And I
just want put a stop to that.
And I think city attorney needs
to go. I’m going to take that.
There’s a there’s five votes on
the commission. City Attorney
Victoria Mendez certainly is
under scrutiny at moment for
what may be her part or not
innocent. And proven guilty in a
some business dealings that her
husband has vis a be real estate
from senior citizens sold at a
profit for anyone not following
the in the weeds of Miami
politics. Pardo do you agree
does the city attorney for
either that or others should be
going. I do agree. I think you
just mentioned the turnout
issue. When we talk about
turnout and lack of turnout,
it’s because voter and residents
are just tired. You have a
commissioner with a verdict that
down two and a half million
dollar legal bill. You have
another one arrested on the
commission investigations right
, left. And they don’t see other
people talking about it on the
dais, don’t see our government
working for. And that simply
doesn’t feel like a democracy.
So they lose will to vote. They
feel like no matter what they
do, nothing’s going change.
That’s why I think our election
so monumental, because it
represents that hope and change
momentum that we haven’t seen in
a long time. So you mentioned
the also commissioner remaining
commissioner Joe Carollo was
very recently with a $63 million
civil judgment for essentially
accused using Miami’s government
as a weapon against his
political opponents, in this
case, businessmen run Southwest
Eighth Street businesses. So
what you do with a city staff
who at a civil jury feels is
being used like that and how for
out of fear of to speak to the
actual people who work for the
city. Well my case I think there
, are a lot of good people that
work for the city and I believe
you lead by example. And I think
when there’s a different message
, a different tone in the city,
people are going to be relieved
and are going to flock to it.
And in some ways, I think that
will become the new consensus
and the new majority. Miguel
What do you think? I agree
wholeheartedly. I think there’s
sigh of relief right now with
lot of city employees because
morale low and it’s like
Damien’s, you know, we need to
go in there and restore morale
in that starts at the top I
can’t ask to jump off the bridge
of I’m not going to jump off the
bridge myself first and that’s
that’s for my part that’s what I
intend to do in City of Miami.
We have to bring some some
decency, some civility, some
will. Business like atmosphere,
you know. But the residents know
that the work is being done,
their behalf and this, you know,
thing going on, we’re, you know,
commissioners used the city
attorney, for example, wasted
tax dollars that could have been
used on projects, you know, for
our district to do better. The
district infrastructure, so on
and so forth. And I think at the
end of the day, the voters again
have spoken. And I think we have
a clear mandate to do our job.
So you are two of five. That’s a
huge chunk, but certainly not
majority. Commissioner Manolo,
who was an incumbent, resounding
Lee, won his race. So another
you still have Commissioner Joe
Carollo, very popular. His
district obviously he keeps
getting reelected. And Christine
King, who is the this year,
makes up the fifth. Have you
spoken to any of the other three
yet about any issues no, I have
not. Miguel I have I not. But I
suspect that the you know, when
only and more in the
commissioner KING I’ve seen the
writing on the wall they no
longer have Mr. 40 who you know
contend with and Caruso as a
team. And so I think now the
dynamics changes and I think
commissioners will realize this
and this is just the reality of
the situation. So what I want to
do is we have quick break. We’re
going to take a quick break. But
want to get into some of Miami’s
biggest issues because some of
Miami’s biggest issues are all
of South Florida’s biggest
issues. No matter part you live
in. So quick break. And we will
we will back for a little bit.
But what we want to do now is
can we go to a shot of Gaza
right now? We can. And at the
checkpoint here between Gaza and
Israel, right at that
checkpoint, hostages we speak
are being released underway.
This is something we are
continuing to watch via our
network partners. Information
coming. The IDF mostly being
vetted through our network
partners. So stay with us. We
partners. So stay with us. We will be right back. But our pop up. We are back with
Miami’s newest elect, Damien
Pardo, and Abella for the very
first conversation. All since
the election. And I do
appreciate that. So let’s get
into a couple of issues of.
South Florida and one of them as
Damien Pardo reminded me of, was
the influence of money. Not only
elections, but in everything
that happens. So Damien, let
let’s a look here. We’ve we’ve
already gotten. I’m just going
to talk off the top of my head
there was this Rickenbacker and
, the lobbyist for the
Rickenbacker Marine Rickenbacker
Marina project is already saying
that Alex Diaz de Portilla was
trying to shake them down.
There’s a lawsuit now, whether
that’s true or not, we don’t
know. But it just is one example
of how money plays into what’s
done in the city. How are you
going to change that? Well, I
would love to see campaign
finance reform. I would love to
see an independent body, the
authority to investigate
corruption charges, more
disclosure, more transparency, I
think is critical. And I
actually think this is the first
election where the voter tying
the undue of money with the
consequences, experience like
traffic and flooding and the
changing character their
neighborhood and the changing
quality of life. So how do you
why do you say that? Because if
that were true, wouldn’t many
more voters have voted? Well
ones that were passionate and
went out there who I think I
mean, this almost felt like a
movement in some points made the
biggest difference. They clearly
saw that connection. And as
people talk and people more and
more. I think this is going to
be a bigger issue as we continue
in Miami-Dade politics. Miguel
take take that one. How How do
you get money out of politics as
long as we’re talking about that
Rickenbacker deal? The man we
spoke about, Manny Pacquiao,
guess who brought the suit was a
big funder of your campaign. So
you know how do you tell someone
like that? No if a no is
warranted after getting that of
funding I have a call and why I
would love to have been in
person with you guys at the
studio, but I have a bad call.
Feel better. We hope you feel
better. I didn’t want to expose
you guys, but Look, you got to
look at my campaign. We had Alex
stood up to spend $2 million
against us and what we had was
$200,000. Granted Manny previews
produced. Yes, he Was a big
factor in this but the man I
think is honest because of look
what he’s doing with the with
the with the Rickenbacker marina
I think it will. I think what’s
going on here is that we the
good guys understand what’s on
here and we want to change it
like Commissioner Pardo just
said, you know we I think I be
open to what the commissioner
part was was a talking about
maybe do think tank on that.
There needs to be more a little
scrutiny. I think, you know,
when you’re up against, you
know, Tommy, you know, you need
money to run a campaign. At the
end of the day, this the fact of
life. This was the real you
know, and again, you look at the
$2 billion that you spent
against us with $200,000, you’ve
got to you got to wonder what
all that wants. Look And so at
the end of the day, I think
there needs to be some kind of
at least some kind of campaign
reform. And so, you know, that
that’s not a miami problem,
although maybe it’s a more Miami
problem just because Miami is
going to Miami. But Damien
Pardo, when somebody comes to
you says, listen, here’s what
I’m doing I support you, here’s
a check to show my good faith,
hey, can you do this for me
because I’m actually Miami’s
mayor is actually being
scrutinized for exactly that.
What do you tell these people?
Well, I come from background
that falls under. The FCC and
FINRA is highly regulated. So
there are very strong
guardrails. And I probably react
the same way. I don’t react well
in those situations. That’s my
training. But that’s exactly why
I insist. We need those kinds of
guardrails, the city of Miami,
because then becomes part of the
culture and. The culture starts
changing and really just makes
life easier for everyone, from
employees to electeds to the
residents and the voters. So
what is your biggest, you know,
housing flooding or two that
just come to top of mind what is
your biggest issue? You go
first. For me it’s definitely
bringing back the to the
residents. That’s what I ran on
the net. Offices were closed
couple of years ago. The
commission budgets increased by
about $1,000,000. We need to
dissent. Lose our services.
That’s very important.
Affordable housing is very
important. Me, I’ve worked a lot
with it in the industry. A As a
banker. At one point in my life
and I think that even beyond
affordable housing there’s
displaced residents that
specific needs that affordable
housing simply doesn’t doesn’t
meet. So we really need to
rethink is happening our
investment in housing as a city
is very low. So I would love to
see us make a commitment and
really collaborate with the
county and other players where
we haven’t in the past. So I
think all of that is very
important and you’re going to be
operating under the new state
live local act, which which
could be beneficial, could be a
real albatross depending on how
that plays out. Miguel Gabelli,
your your biggest priority day
one besides trying to oust the
city attorney. No, no listen
look I say about the city
attorney because we’re speaking
about corruption. I want to
understand it with a positive
message. And look, what are the
main things in our areas is the
funding issues, you know, and we
have to tackle my job. I have to
check what job and what
district. It’s a big one among
the services. I also ran on you
know that I was going to provide
the services were not given for
the last four years. So very
important to me to put the right
people in my office, for example
I have said to everybody that’s
going to work for me that this
is just a that, you know, you
know, 9 to 5 and that this you
have to do job you’re we need to
you know if I’m going to go you
know go and campaign on a you
know on a on a services for the
residents you know I have to
make it a reality and that’s one
of my priorities would be that
the know and restore the
confidence that I am going to be
, you know, holding everybody
office accountable, including
myself, to the voter, to the to
the taxpayer. And we’re going to
be getting things done in the
short time we have Damian. Miami
City Commission meetings are,
sometimes jam packed with people
just for what is the show and
that’s that’s not really a
positive thing is so what do you
do to keep decorum and
profession ism at those
meetings. Well I think starting
on time bringing greater
organization to the process,
allowing people to speak to
their line when the line item
comes up, as opposed to making
everyone show up at 930 and
speak to line items that aren’t
considered till later in the
day. So I think there are a lot
of issues for to consider in
that way. We all will be
watching. I’m going to guess is
the last time we have you both
together once you’re sworn in,
that’s a sunshine violation. So
I sure do appreciate rocking and
rolling on this Thanksgiving
weekend. Great to have you both.