Ariel Fernandez
Founder & Editor
ariel@gablesinsider.com
The 2022 election for renewal of the Coral Gables Business Improvement District (BID) has been a controversial one. Over the last few months, complaints had been filed with the City Commission by property owners who were not provided with the opportunity to cast a vote on whether to continue with the pay-mandated BID.
The way the BID was conducting its election, owners of units in several buildings were not provided individual votes, rather, their condominium associations were provided with a single vote to represent all tenants.
Estrella Sibila, one of the affected business owners explained that she had found that half the property owners within the BID’s zone, were not given the right to vote. She described it as “taxation without representation.”
The Commission took issue with the process and in June, mandated that the election that was underway be scrapped and instructed the City Attorney Miriam Soler Ramos to implement a new election process that was fair to all stakeholders. In the end, these individual owners are required to pay the BID’s annual fees.
In yet another example of how staff does what it wants and does not follow the Commission and/or resident’s desires, at the August City Commission meeting, the Commission was not presented with a viable option by the City Attorney. Her office recommended the current election be certified and that a new process be sought for a future election.
Following this meeting, BID member and Miracle Mile property owner Jackson Rip Holmes filed an Ethics Complaint with the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust against Soler Ramos. (Click here to see Holmes’ complaint).
Gables Insider‘s attempts to contact the Ethics Trust have been unsuccessful.
This all comes from lack of diversity in Coral Gables government. With only one white person and no black people represented in Coral Gables Government, it is time for change.
Well done Mr. Rip Holmes for the ethics complaint & not paying your dues since you dont have a vote.
That man never has anything better to do. Always lying and creating problems. Bet he hasn’t paid his fees and wants to get off Scott free.
Remember WaWa.
She should have a minimum of 20 ethic complaints by now, but the Commission and Mayor are too weak to deal with her and the other autocratic employee, the City manager. We are all calling for these two “know it all” dictators to be removed with of course deaf ears not responding. So ALL of you will be out with them next election. Not a threat but a promise. Worst group of leadership ever.
Ethics complaint is a good start but not enough. Any one with half a brain would fire her immediately. However, the commissioners support her. So, all of them must go.
I am not surprised at the actions of the City Attorney. She and the City Manager operate in like ways. It is all about them, with little to no regard to the wishes of the Commission and residents. I applaud Mr. Holmes with his filing of the ethics complaint.