Private investigators surveilling elected officials and their families at schools and restaurants? Vandalism to cars? This is not the Coral Gables we know. There must be zero tolerance for such behavior, no matter how heated the politics have become. Everyone must take a deep breath and turn down the temperature. We call upon those behind these heinous acts to cease and desist immediately.
Yes, public officials must have thick skin. They know that criticism comes with the job. Sharp words on social media, heated debates in the public square—these are part of the democratic process. But slashing tires, stalking officials with their young children, and engaging in organized crime-style intimidation tactics cross the line into lawlessness.
What kind of city are we becoming when threats against elected officials and their families are brushed aside as “politics as usual”? Are we prepared to accept a political climate where intimidation replaces debate, where fear is wielded as a weapon against those who dare to take a stand? All because of a disagreement over how a commissioner voted?
Commissioner Ariel Fernandez put it plainly: “Let me be crystal clear—these mafia-style intimidation tactics have no place in Coral Gables, not today, not ever.” We agree.
Those behind these tactics must stop immediately. Families are off-limits. Political differences should be debated, as they always have been in Coral Gables. Threats, harassment, and violence are never the answer.
Is Coral Gables not better than this?
I find it very convenient that all this is being brought up just before the election. If it has been going on for so long, why hasn’t anyone said anything sooner?
Claudia, you must not have been paying attention…these incidents have been happening for almost two years, and have been reported and documented each time. This was just the final straw which had Commissioner Fernandez call a press conference.
If you didn’t see the entire video, you might be very surprised to hear all the incidents, because what the local news clips showed was not even the tip of the iceberg. It’s a disgrace.
https://coralgables.us21.list-manage.com/track/click?u=39a1e3b7802fd7305fe27d496&id=a3f24f0bbd&e=a942225570
I don’t know what’s true and what isn’t here, but if even half of this is happening, it’s way beyond normal political arguing.
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I couldn’t resist commenting. Well written!
This is absolutely out of control!!! Whatever your politics are, going after someone’s family or damaging their property is way beyond a political disagreement!!!
There’s a big difference between tough political debate and intimidation, harassment, or threats against Coral Gables elected officials and their families!!! If these allegations are true, they need to be investigated and taken seriously, because this kind of behavior has no place in Coral Gables politics or anywhere in our community!!!
I’ve lived around Coral Gables long enough to know that people can disagree pretty strongly about politics, but this is getting ridiculous!!! If people are really following elected officials and their families or messing with their cars, that isn’t political activism, it’s intimidation!!! Leave the families alone and settle political disagreements where they belong, at the ballot box and in public debate.
Exactly. Politics can get ugly, but there is a line you just don’t cross. If what is being alleged is true, following people and their families or damaging property has nothing to do with political debate and everything to do with intimidation, and that’s not something any of us should accept.
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Absolutely. Political disagreements are part of democracy, but intimidation, harassment, and threats against public officials and their families have no place in our community. We can disagree passionately while still treating one another with respect and keeping families completely off-limits.