Voter’s Guide to Coral Gables Election 2025

People have been asking me if I have recommendations for the upcoming Coral Gables elections. The problem is that local politics have become depressing, and given the state of national politics I don’t have much energy left over.

But. Yes, I do. Two of the races are easy, one a bit less so but no less important.

TL/DR:
Kirk Menendez for Mayor,
Felix Pardo for Group II, and
Tom Wells for Group III.

OK, here’s how I got there, for those who might care.

There are a few obvious points to make. The first is that every single member of the current Commission is a problem, although some are worse than others.  At present there are two factions on the Commission: One is the Vince Lago faction; the other is for the lack of a better term the anti-Lago faction. Two years ago Lago and his slate ran a well-funded pro-development campaign and were shocked when the voters didn’t hand them a majority, leaving Lago and (to my surprise) Rhonda Anderson on an island. The anti-Lago core is Ariel Fernandez  & Melissa Castro, both half-way through 4-year terms, and they’ve pulled in Menendez as the swing vote; it seems Menendez was repulsed by Lago’s nastiness and what seems from a distance as under-handedness and over-friendliness to development.

The second is that some of the new candidates are every bit as bad as the incumbents they want to ally with.

The third is that we have a fundamental cleavage between the nasty-verging-on-evil candidates on one side and the incompetent-verging-on-destructive candidates on the other side.  For me, though, this election is really a referendum on Vince Lago as much as anything else. The reason for saying this is that the errors the Lago faction would make–like over-development–cannot be corrected. The errors the anti-Lago faction make are mostly due to incompetence, and they can be corrected. Indeed with the right new blood I think they will be much improved.

Let me restate my priors here: the traditional dividing issue in Coral Gables has been how much development to allow. I’ve always opposed the hard-core NIMBYs but also the parties who take developer money in exchange for letting oversize development run wild. But, as the old Texas saying goes, in politics like in highways the only things in the middle of the road are a yellow stripe and a dead armadillo.

I think we’ve gone quite a bit too far in allowing monster complexes to take over downtown and elsewhere. They have changed the esthetic character of the city towards overpowering and ugly. They’re putting, or will put, a lot of small businesses e.g. on Miracle Mile, out of business. And while that ship may have largely sailed, we can stop making things worse and not allow it to spread further.

On the other traditional campaign issue – crime – I say that this is almost entirely demagoguery designed to frighten older voters and excite bigots.  Between those two groups, however, the perennial crime “issue” gets traction. But not with me. On the whole we have pretty good cops, at least when the Commission isn’t busy messing with them.

There are also some new issues surfacing this year.  One is the issue of whether it was wrong for the Commission to vote themselves salaries.  I have always believed that even part-time Commissioners deserve a salary, and that all of us benefit it the pool of potential candidates is not limited to the independently wealthy, business owners, the well-salaried, and perhaps those in the pay of interests that have business with a city. I think Lago & Co’s harping on this is just more demagoguery; it’s not only patrician and exclusionary, but it’s a tiny fraction of the City’s budget.

On another issue, I think Lago is actually right: I’ve said for years we should move the date of the city’s elections to when we elect other offices.  For the last 30 years or more, the Coral Gables establishment has steadfastly rejected this, arguing in public that voters get tire of long ballots so there is too much drop-off before they get the Commission races. In private I used to hear them say the real issue was keeping students at UM from voting.  Moving the date would save the City money; but the real issue is what best serves democracy. The Lago people having lost an election on the unique date, it seems they think their chances would improve in a more general election. I say so be it; more participation is a good thing. But this is not a deal-maker or deal-breaker in the grand scheme of things.

This takes me to an element of the current scene that I find particularly offensive. The Lago team has its tame PAC, “Coral Gables First”.  The name alone is offensive in two dimensions. To start with, if Coral Gables is “first” who is it who is “second”? Kendall? South Miami? Everyone else? This is not neighborly, and it’s not sensible. We’re in this together.  Second, Coral Gables First is a clear dog-whistle to MAGA politics. That is about the last thing we need in an already over-polarized political community.

Unfortunately, the MAGAfication of our local politics is of a piece with what has become the Lago M.O.: when Lago ran first ran for office he looked me in the eye and said he had no ambitions beyond serving on the Commission, and giving back to the City. To my shame, I believed him. Perhaps it was even true back then, but now there is no question now that Lago has the bug.

The amassing of a huge war chest, the creation of a formal slate in the last election, and the early embrace of “critical theory” as an enemy were all signs of someone who had drunk the MAGA Kool-Aid and had ambitions for greater things,  perhaps even Congress. After all, it worked for Marco Rubio didn’t it?  In any case, losing his majority on the Commission must have been a great shock, and what there was of Lago’s civility vanished.

Admittedly it must be hard for Lago, who at least understands how the city works, to be consistently outvoted by a group which follows Ariel Fernandez’s lead and sometimes give the impression that it is at sea. Fernandez has lived down to his political history as an aide to the corrupt David Rivera.  But even so, stupid—even when it messes up hiring a City Manger–is better than evil. And in any case Fernandez is not the ballot this year, but Lago is.

Lago’s chief opponent is Kirk Menendez.  Of the current governing majority on the Commission, Menendez is the least troubling, but mostly in the nonentity sense.  He came into office, I thought, prepared to ally with Lago but at least from out here it looked like he got offended by Lago’s high-handedness and pro-development stance and switched sides. I’m not going to argue that Menendez is wonderful.  But he’s better than the alternatives.

Before she got elected Rhonda Anderson seemed like a classic good government candidate, one who came up through the ranks and had grass roots interests at heart.  I’ve been bitterly disappointed by her voting record, which is to support Lago in all he does and what limited leadership we’ve seen has not been in the direction of listening to or empowering residents. Felix Pardo seems like a far better choice.  He’s been around a long time, and served his time on numerous city boards. He’s endorsed by the Police, the Firefighters and (yikes?) the Teamsters (solid waste collectors).  He sounds like the sort of candidate who used to run things in the good old days.  Maybe they were a bit clubby for my taste, but sometimes you don’t know when you are well off.

In Group III the leading candidate is likely Richard Lara, who might make Lago look good.  Our only hope here is Tom Wells. One of his big issues is reopening Burger Bob’s about which I personally could not care less. And I think he’s on the wrong side of the election date issue. But he won’t be in the pocket of developers, he credibly claims to be not just an advocate but a practitioner of civility, and being a lawyer we can expect him to be more punctilious about following rules than some of the folks not on the ballot. Please please don’t vote for Lara.

So, bottom line:

Kirk Menendez for Mayor,
Felix Pardo for Group II, and
Tom Wells for Group III.

Posted in Coral Gables | Leave a comment

John Lithgow Reads Timothy Synder’s 20 Lessons On Tyrrany

Twenty Lessons, read by John Lithgow by Timothy Snyder

Key selections from On Tyranny, for viewing and sharing

Read on Substack

Shared by permission:

  1. Do not obey in advance. Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do.

  2. Defend institutions. It is institutions that help us to preserve decency. They need our help as well. Do not speak of “our institutions” unless you make them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions do not protect themselves. They fall one after the other unless each is defended from the beginning. So choose an institution you care about — a court, a newspaper, a law, a labor union — and take its side.

  3. Beware the one-party state. The parties that remade states and suppressed rivals were not omnipotent from the start. They exploited a historic moment to make political life impossible for their opponents. So support the multiple-party system and defend the rules of democratic elections. Vote in local and state elections while you can. Consider running for office.

  4. Take responsibility for the face of the world. The symbols of today enable the reality of tomorrow. Notice the swastikas and the other signs of hate. Do not look away, and do not get used to them. Remove them yourself and set an example for others to do so.

  5. Remember professional ethics. When political leaders set a negative example, professional commitments to just practice become more important. It is hard to subvert a rule-of-law state without lawyers, or to hold show trials without judges. Authoritarians need obedient civil servants, and concentration camp directors seek businessmen interested in cheap labor.

  6. Be wary of paramilitaries. When the men with guns who have always claimed to be against the system start wearing uniforms and marching with torches and pictures of a leader, the end is nigh. When the pro-leader paramilitary and the official police and military intermingle, the end has come.

  7. Be reflective if you must be armed. If you carry a weapon in public service, may God bless you and keep you. But know that evils of the past involved policemen and soldiers finding themselves, one day, doing irregular things. Be ready to say no.

  8. Stand out. Someone has to. It is easy to follow along. It can feel strange to do or say something different. But without that unease, there is no freedom. Remember Rosa Parks. The moment you set an example, the spell of the status quo is broken, and others will follow.

  9. Be kind to our language. Avoid pronouncing the phrases everyone else does. Think up your own way of speaking, even if only to convey that thing you think everyone is saying. Make an effort to separate yourself from the internet. Read books.

  10. Believe in truth. To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is no basis upon which to do so. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle. The biggest wallet pays for the most blinding lights.

  11. Investigate. Figure things out for yourself. Spend more time with long articles. Subsidize investigative journalism by subscribing to print media. Realize that some of what is on the internet is there to harm you. Learn about sites that investigate propaganda campaigns (some of which come from abroad). Take responsibility for what you communicate with others.

  12. Make eye contact and small talk. This is not just polite. It is part of being a citizen and a responsible member of society. It is also a way to stay in touch with your surroundings, break down social barriers, and understand whom you should and should not trust. If we enter a culture of denunciation, you will want to know the psychological landscape of your daily life.

  13. Practice corporeal politics. Power wants your body softening in your chair and your emotions dissipating on the screen. Get outside. Put your body in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people. Make new friends and march with them.

  14. Establish a private life. Nastier rulers will use what they know about you to push you around. Scrub your computer of malware on a regular basis. Remember that email is skywriting. Consider using alternative forms of the internet, or simply using it less. Have personal exchanges in person. For the same reason, resolve any legal trouble. Tyrants seek the hook on which to hang you. Try not to have hooks.

  15. Contribute to good causes. Be active in organizations, political or not, that express your own view of life. Pick a charity or two and set up autopay. Then you will have made a free choice that supports civil society and helps others to do good.

  16. Learn from peers in other countries. Keep up your friendships abroad, or make new friends in other countries. The present difficulties in the United States are an element of a larger trend. And no country is going to find a solution by itself. Make sure you and your family have passports.

  17. Listen for dangerous words. Be alert to use of the words “extremism” and “terrorism.” Be alive to the fatal notions of “emergency” and “exception.” Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary.

  18. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. Modern tyranny is terror management. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that authoritarians exploit such events in order to consolidate power. The sudden disaster that requires the end of checks and balances, the dissolution of opposition parties, the suspension of freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Do not fall for it.

  19. Be a patriot. Set a good example of what America means for the generations to come. They will need it.

  20. Be as courageous as you can. If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die under tyranny.

Posted in Civil Rights, Politics: US, Trump | Leave a comment

AALS Letter on “Standing Together in Support of Higher Education and the Legal Profession”

The Association of American Law Schools today issued a strong letter on standing up for the rule of law.

AALS Letter on Threats to Law and Legal Education.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

You Should Subscribe to ‘Heads Up News’

My brother’s new project is Heads Up News, a weekly newsletter summarizing landmarks of the resistance.

There’s only so much there that will be new to doomscrollers, but even for them the totality of the content has value. For other people, those with lives, there’s a lot there they may want to know.

Posted in Dan Froomkin, The Resistance | Comments Off on You Should Subscribe to ‘Heads Up News’

UMiami Law AI Event Wednesday, Jan 29, 12:30-1:45

Join us for a Lunch & Learn session on AI regulation and its impact on legal practice.  This session, sponsored by Miami Law & AI (MiLA) Lab, will explore the complex frameworks governing AI technologies and their implications for cross-border legal work.

Registration is free but required. Lunch will be served.

Date & Time: Wednesday, January 29, 2025 | 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM
Location: In person, Miami Law Campus, Room E352

Speakers:
Dr. Falk Schöning, Partner at Hogan Lovells, bringing vital insights from EU and German practice
Logan Breed, Partner at Hogan Lovells, offering the US regulatory perspective
Dr. Or Cohen Sasson, University of Miami School of Law

Moderator:
Prof. Michael Froomkin, University of Miami School of Law (via Zoom)

CLE: Earn 3.0 CLE Credits (1.5 General, 1.5 Technology)

Posted in AI, U.Miami | Comments Off on UMiami Law AI Event Wednesday, Jan 29, 12:30-1:45

Research Assistant Needed (2025)

Copright 'brizzle born and bred' Some rights reserved, https://secure.flickr.com/photos/brizzlebornandbred/I would like to hire a UM 2L to be my research assistant for 10-15 hours/week during the coming semester. If things work out we might continue into the summer, and/or next year.

The work primarily involves assisting me with legal research and other academic work relating to artificial intelligence, but also helping out on other random things.

I need someone who can write clearly and is well-organized.

The pay of $15 / hr is set by the university, and is not as high as you deserve, but the work is sometimes interesting.

If this sounds attractive, please e-mail me a note with the subject line RESEARCH ASSISTANT 2025 (in all caps), followed by your name and including the following:

  1. Where you saw this announcement
  2. How many hours you would ideally like to work per week (10-12 is quite normal)
  3. When you are free to start.
  4. Your phone number and email address.
  5. Several times you would be free to meet for a zoom interview in the next week or so.
  6. If you happen to have any experience with programming, Unix, or system administration, please mention that, as I can use that; I may even have a second job available for someone with these skills.  But please don’t be deterred from applying if you don’t happen to know about those.

Please attach:

  1. A copy of your resume (c.v.).
  2. A transcript of your grades (need not be an official copy).
  3. If you have one handy, also attach a short NON-legal writing sample. If you have none, I’ll accept a legal writing sample (whatever you do, though, please don’t send your L-Comm memo as it’s too hard to tell how much they’ve been edited by your instructor).

I look forward to speaking with you.

Posted in Law School | Comments Off on Research Assistant Needed (2025)