“Trump immigration crackdown puts Doral Republican in political bind” via Verónica Egui Brito of the Miami Herald — Doral Council member Rafael Pineyro, a Republican and Trump supporter, is increasingly criticizing the administration’s immigration crackdown as arrests rise in the Venezuelan-American stronghold. Pineyro called some enforcement actions “inhumane,” arguing authorities should distinguish criminals from families and immigrants with pending cases. Doral recorded 17 immigration arrests in July, up from three in December, while residents report increasingly visible ICE and Border Patrol activity. Pineyro disputes claims that Doral police are collaborating directly in arrests, saying officers haven’t received required training under the city’s 287(g) agreement. With roughly 40% of Doral residents of Venezuelan origin, Pineyro is calling for comprehensive immigration reform while urging residents to vote in November. 
Rafael Pineyro finds immigration enforcement increasingly difficult to ignore in heavily Venezuelan Doral. Image via Miami Herald. “Mike Caruso remains on November ballot despite felony charges” via Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Suspended Palm Beach County Clerk Caruso will remain the Republican nominee on November ballots despite facing five felony counts related to alleged sexual abuse of a young child. DeSantis, who appointed Caruso in August 2025, suspended him exactly one year later when charges were filed. Elections officials say Caruso has not withdrawn, and ballot preparation is underway. He could still quit the race and allow Republican leaders to select a replacement, but his name would remain on the ballot, with votes for Caruso counting toward the substitute candidate. Democrat Yvette Drucker, a Boca Raton City Council member, is challenging him. Military and overseas ballots begin going out Sept. 18. “Palm Beach County warns property tax cuts could sink cities” via Abigail Hasebroock of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Palm Beach County officials are sounding alarms over the property tax amendment headed to voters in November, warning the revenue losses could threaten basic services and even the survival of some municipalities. County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo told a recent community meeting that “multiple municipalities will fold” if the measure passes. Officials say the county could lose hundreds of millions of dollars, potentially forcing employee layoffs and service cuts and putting upward pressure on rents. They also fear local governments across Florida could become increasingly dependent on Tallahassee for financial support. The warnings underscore the potentially sweeping local consequences as voters weigh the option of reducing property taxes in the General Election. "Fort Lauderdale voters face 10 charter questions in November. Here's what each would do" via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Beyond picking candidates in the General Election, Fort Lauderdale voters will also decide whether to rewrite large portions of the document that dictates how their government operates. Ten questions are on the Nov. 3 ballot, with the potential to rewrite 21 sections of the city charter, ranging from the cosmetic — deleting stray hyphens — to substantive shifts in who hires the city's top public safety officials and how easily City Hall can transfer parkland. Amendment 1 would tighten residency requirements for Commission candidates, requiring a full year as a permanent resident of the District itself. Amendment 9 would create a new charter position of Police Chief appointed by the City Commission. “Coral Gables taps insider Joe Gómez for $305K City Manager post” via Michelle Marchante of the Miami Herald — Coral Gables is promoting Deputy City Manager José “Joe” Gómez to its top administrative job, bypassing a national search after Commissioners voted 3-1 for the longtime civil engineer. Gómez will succeed Peter Iglesias in January with a $305,324 starting salary, a 25% raise from his current post. Mayor Vince Lago, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson and Commissioner Richard Lara argued Gómez’s experience overseeing infrastructure and city departments made an outside search unnecessary. Commissioner Melissa Castro dissented, citing inconsistency with earlier calls for a national search. Gómez, 70, fled Cuba with his family in 1961 and previously worked for Miami Beach and the Florida Department of Transportation. 
José ‘Joe’ Gómez gets the keys to Coral Gables City Hall after Commissioners skip the national search. “North Miami Council trio broke city charter, judge rules” via Raisa Habersham of the Miami Herald — Three North Miami Council members violated the city charter by using third parties to pressure the City Manager over the firing of the public works director, a Miami-Dade County judge ruled. Resident Eileen Bicaba sued Council members Pierre Frantz Charles, Mary Estime-Irvin and Kassandra Timothe, arguing their actions improperly interfered with city administration. The judge agreed that a charter violation occurred but found insufficient evidence that the three violated Florida’s Sunshine Law. The decision comes after a years-long legal fight and is being hailed by critics of municipal government as a victory for residents seeking to hold elected officials accountable to their own governing rules. The ruling could also raise questions about the Council members’ continued service. "Grand Theft Miami-Dade: County pitches 'Vice City' marketing deal for video game" via Douglas Hanks of Miami Herald — Grand Theft Auto's fictional Miami backdrop may make the jump from video game to real life under a marketing deal floated by Miami-Dade County. The administration of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has held several meetings with executives from the company behind "GTA" about briefly transforming county buildings and facilities into homages to the drug-dealing video game's hometown, Vice City. A proposal that Levine Cava's Office confirmed Miami-Dade had submitted to Rockstar Games lays out how the county could temporarily serve as a real-life Vice City, including having parts of Miami International Airport serve as the Vice City airport. “Florida immigration arrests surge as enforcement reaches deeper into Keys” via Ted Lund of Above the Fold — Florida has become a center of the nation’s expanding immigration crackdown, with ICE averaging more than 230 arrests a day — up by more than 100 since Spring and second only to Texas. The surge is increasingly reaching immigrants without criminal records; fewer than 4% of those arrested nationally in July had previous violent-crime convictions. Key West and Monroe County law enforcement participate in ICE’s 287(g) program, which now accounts for roughly 14% of ICE arrests nationwide. Florida has recorded at least 15,000 arrests through those partnerships since Trump returned to office, more than any other state. Recent Keys cases include longtime Key West resident Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, whose immigration case was dismissed after his detention drew national attention. |
