Category: Opinion
OPINION: LAGO MUST GO!
On March 13, 2024, Mrs. Maria Cruz, Chair of the “End the Corruption, Political Committee,” filed to begin a recall petition to remove Mayor Vince Lago from office in Coral Gables. In the Committee’s webpage, lagomustgo.com, it outlines the various…
Opinion: (Un)enhanced Mediterranean Design Requirements
This letter is in response to the proposed “enhancements” to Coral Gables’ Mediterranean Ordinance, which I do not believe will “enhance” Mediterranean design in the City. On the contrary, the proposed measures sponsored by Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson could encourage…
Opinion: SAY No to 130 Almeria Avenue
(By Maria Cristina Longo) Update: The presentation of 130 Almeria Avenue in front of the Planning and Zoning Board was rescheduled for Wednesday, March 13 at 6:00 p.m. in city Hall. The developer of 130 Almeria Avenue is duplicating his “business model” from…
OPINION: Height and Context are part of the BOA Design Review Criteria in our City’s Code
At the November 14 Commission Meeting Vice Mayor Anderson presented to the community proposed enhancements to the Mediterranean Bonus (Med Bonus) which were reviewed and approved unanimously by the BOA, in order to strengthen the intent and purpose of the…
Ethical Scrutiny in Coral Gables: The Controversy Surrounding Mayor Lago and Commissioner Castro
In a heated meeting on October 10, 2023, one that saw the censuring of Mayor Lago, a significant remark was leveled against Commissioner Melissa Castro. The Mayor accused her of unethically conducting business with the City of Coral Gables. At…
The City’s Muted Response to the Demolition of Historic Property
The Alfred Browning Parker Foundation for Historic Preservation recently wrote to the City of Coral Gables requesting the involvement of our government in the preservation of the 140 Arvida Pkwy historic property. The email and letter state as follows: Mr. Juan Riesco,…
OPINION: A dagger into the heart of Alfred Browning Parker’s legacy
A recent article mentions Alfred Browning Parker as one of the modernist architects that became famous for his sustainable designs “maximizing shade and airflow and aimed to work with nature.” The irony is that the story comes at the heels of…
OPINION: SAY NO TO A BAD PROJECT
On Thursday, October 19 at 8:30 a.m. the proposed project at the Garden of Our Lord located at 110 Phoenetia Avenue will be presented in front of the Board of Architects for the fifth time. The proposed design remains the…
A Message from Commissioner Castro on the Budget Hearing for September 26, 2023
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for a candid conversation about the state of affairs in Coral Gables, our beloved community. What I’m about to share is more than just facts. This is an “un-masking”. And it’s a passionate plea to…
The Battle for Coral Gables: Protecting Your Voice in Elections
Melissa Castro is a City of Coral Gables commissioner and a Specialist in Behavior Analysis and Industrial Organizational Psychology. This Opinion Item from Commissioner Castro has been previously published in the Miami Herald and Community News Papers. In April 2023,…