Richard Lara was bound to remember his first meeting as a Coral Gables city commissioner regardless. But this one on Tuesday, May 6 is a rare special commission meeting—only the second in recent memory. The last such meeting was held in August to debate a proposed reduction in the city’s millage rate.
For Lara, there will be no warm-up. No ceremonial easing into the role. Instead, Commissioner Lara will step onto the dais and immediately face some of the most complex and contentious decisions confronting the city—issues that could shape the direction of Coral Gables for years to come. It is, in every sense, a baptism by fire.
We wish him well.
And we hope he fully understands the weight of the moment. With the commission now split, his vote may well be the deciding one on critical matters. What’s needed is a temperament rooted in independence, restraint, and long-term thinking. The public deserves nothing less.
What remains puzzling is the urgency with which Mayor Vince Lago has called this special meeting. Yes, we understand the mayor’s desire to advance changes he has long advocated for—and now, perhaps, has the votes to enact. But most of the matters on the agenda could have waited until the next regularly scheduled commission meeting in just two weeks on Tuesday, May 20.
That Mayor Lago chose to convene a rare special meeting just days after the new commission induction feels performative. It may be legal; it may be strategic; and it may even reflect deep concern, but it also smacks of showboating.
Still, the responsibility now shifts to Commissioner Lara. His constituents—and the entire city—will be watching not only how he votes, but how he carries himself. On his first day in office, he has the opportunity to demonstrate the independence and judgment that distinguish a public servant from a political surrogate.
Good luck, Mr. Lara.
This Post Has 6 Comments
Major Lago* is in a hurry to collect! After all he has
spent a lot of money on Mr Lara.
* Developers
Maybe the majority of the residents (who didn’t vote) will wake up one day. They complain and complain about over development and then fail to show up to vote these developer puppets out! Get the word out people!
Mayor Lago mentioned no more grandstanding at today’s special commission meeting. I guess he means by others, but it’s still allowed for him?
His repetitive “How did we get here?” was the theme for the day. And it’s appropriate, because regardless of his perception that he’s been handed a mandate, there are a great many voters who are asking themselves the same question…”How did we get here?”
Today’s spectacle was a continued embarrassment. It made me sick to my stomach.
I was sorry to see Albert Parjus resign. I don’t know whether he was made an offer he couldn’t refuse, or he just didn’t want to stay and be a part of the upcoming mess. However, I firmly believe you don’t know what you have until you lose it. The city lost an extremely experienced, qualified, respectful professional who was more than capable of doing his job. It’s a shame.
The heads that need to roll are still stuck in place.
Mayor Lago is simply trying to get ahead of Ariel’s “grandstanding memo” last week with his new found epiphany.
This CG Gazette sounds to me like the Gables Insider that Ariel Fernandez used to write and now Imrhink he writes via C G Gazette.
I voted for all three and would vote again and again for Lago, Anderson and Lara.
ML, You get what you deserve, if you voted for those three. Good luck.
I voted for Lago once, years ago, but I learned my lesson.