Developing story: The news that Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago is getting monthly rental payments from a developer with several projects in the city is just the latest in a series of ethical lapses and questionable actions by the top politico in the City Beautiful, once a promising rising star in the local Republican Party.
Lago is part owner of a property that is currently rented by Location Ventures, the same developer who is building a luxury condo on Ponce De Leon Boulevard and who has also offered to pay $9 million for a city-owned parcel in the downtown. Location Ventures CEO Rishi Kapoor‘s payments to Lago’s buddy, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, while navigating permits and approvals for projects in that city is already a subject of investigation by the Miami-Dade Commission of Ethics and Public Trust. Lago’s ties to Kapoor, and questions that raises about a potential quid-pro-quo relationship should be looked at, too.
But this is not the only blemish Lago has acquired in recent months.
In April, Ladra exposed his third mortgage for $616,300 held by former Coral Gables Commissioner Frank Quesada. Records show the loan was satisfied April 21, about a week after it was made public in Political Cortadito — and four months before it was due. Did Lago pay him all at once? And how did he get such a windfall? Or did Quesada forgive the debt in return for some favor?
It is definitely worth looking at.
Read related: Developer who paid Miami mayor also rents from Gables Mayor Vince Lago
And las malas lenguas say Lago is already being investigated by the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust for lying when he said he had no conflict of interest with the annexation of Little Gables. He knew his own brother is the registered lobbyist on record for the owner of the trailer park, the largest piece of property in the unincorporated enclave, for which there are already development plans floating around. Lago intentionally left off siblings from a “sworn affidavit” he made a big dramatic show about.
Ladra can’t help but wonder if Oscar de la Rosa‘s real estate company — who sold the 1505 Ponce building to Kapoor — will have something to do with that deal, also. This is the real estate office where Lago has his license registered — and the same real estate office that took credit for the sale of the 1505 Ponce building to Location Ventures.
More will be added as this story is reported.
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