Another business owner accuses Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo of misusing power
MIAMI – Another business owner accuses Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo of misusing his power.
Esther Alonso doesn’t want the city to turn Virginia Key — enjoyed by nature lovers who rented paddle boards, kayaks, and bicycles from her business — into a homeless camp.
Surveillance video shows when police officers arrived on Friday afternoon at the Virginia Key Outdoor Center to shut it down and threaten Alonso.
“If you refuse to sign this form, then I have to take you to jail, physically,” a Miami police officer said.
Alonso said she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It was outrageous to her that a police officer would threaten to take someone to jail for refusing to sign a form.
The officers were with two inspectors from the Miami Code Enforcement Office who accused her of operating without a certificate of use and of owing more than $140,000 in past due rent.
Ad
Alonso, a city of Miami tenant, denied the accusations.
“I mailed in checks,” Alonso said adding these appeared to have “disappeared” and that as a Cuban-American she was quickly able to recognize “the abuse of power.”
Carollo is spearheading a plan to build tiny homes in Virginia Key city property to move the homeless out of the urban areas. In July, commissioners voted 3-2 in favor of the pilot program. Commissioners Ken Russell and Manolo Reyes were the dissenting votes.
Before Alonso said to her it was obvious that Carollo was misusing his power over city employees, the commissioner faced similar accusations that resulted in lawsuits.
The owner of the Little Havana nightclub Ball and Chain, Bill Fuller, accused Carollo of misusing his power to punish him for supporting his political opponent.
Ad
Former Miami Police Chief Art Acevedo also accused Carollo of misusing the resources of the Miami Police Department “to carry out” his personal agendas.
This Week In South Florida: Aug. 7
Copyright 2022 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
More Stories
Nashville Master Movers Celebrates 23 Years In Business
Nashville-Davidson, Jan. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee -Nashville, Tennessee based Nashville Master Movers is reaching out to their...
A Work of Heart’s contract with the Grand Central Mall will come to an end after 14 years of business
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) - In just a week the 14 year contract of A Work of Heart will come to...
Usain Bolt fires business manager over Jamaica fraud case
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt told reporters Friday that he is baffled over how $12.7 million...
Required business, multi-family recycling service on track for March start
Cam Lewis, general manager at Moe's Original BBQ in Steamboat Springs, breaks down cardboard boxes for recycling in the trash...
Italia De La Cruz, small business owner, files to run in District 6
Italia De La Cruz, a self-employed small business owner, has filed to run in District 6 on Fort Worth’s City...
Bill to classify drag shows as ‘adult-oriented businesses’ clears Arkansas Senate
Arkansas senators on Tuesday voted to classify drag shows as “adult-oriented businesses” under state law, advancing a bill meant to...