Tag Archives: Miami Dade

During South Florida Visit, Governor Ron DeSantis Blasts Joe Biden For Engagement with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

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From Governor Ron DeSantis’ press office:

DORAL, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by Venezuelan Americans in Miami-Dade County to discuss the Biden administration’s unconscionable resumption of high-level diplomatic contact with the brutal Maduro regime in Caracas and to highlight the failures of the Biden administration’s energy policies which have led to record high gas prices. A recording of the roundtable discussion can be viewed here.

“Many Americans and a lot of Floridians are very angered by the Biden administration‘s recent attempts to legitimize the brutal Maduro regime in Venezuela,” saidGovernor Ron DeSantis. “This is part of a familiar pattern of the Biden administration thumbing its nose at millions of people here in Florida, just like when it took FARC off the terrorism list and didn’t lift a finger to help the democracy protesters in Cuba. Now, Biden is going hat in hand to legitimize Nicolas Maduro, who is responsible for countless atrocities and has driven Venezuela into the ground. The United States should be energy independent, but instead gas prices have been going up consistently since January 20, 2021. Now we’re in a situation where people are really hurting and rather than acknowledge that their policies have been ineffective, they’re going to Maduro and they’re going to the ayatollahs in Iran. The answer is American energy independence, not propping up Nicolas Maduro. We’re saying here today: No, we do not accept Joe Biden legitimizing a murderous tyrant and we stand with the people in South Florida and the people in Venezuela who are seeking freedom.”

Under the Biden administration, there has been sky-high inflation and record high gas prices impacting Floridians and Americans across the country. Governor DeSantis called on the Florida Legislature to enact a gas tax holiday to provide relief to Floridians at the pump and he is looking forward to that legislation hitting his desk. Furthermore, the Florida State Board of Administration continues to refrain from investments in Venezuelan entities and all state agencies are prohibited from engaging with the Venezuelan government or Venezuelan companies.

“The Biden Administration’s secret meeting with the tyrannical despot Maduro legitimizes a cruel regime and is a demoralizing betrayal of those who have risked their lives for freedom in Venezuela and elsewhere,” Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez said. “The U.S. should not rely on our enemies for energy. Instead, we should hold dictators accountable and increase domestic energy production here at home. That is why I am proud to stand alongside Governor DeSantis in condemning the White House for emboldening Maduro’s dictatorship and refusing to pursue US energy independence.” 

“Governor, thank you for bringing us together for such an important reason. The President of the United States is looking for oil everywhere except in the United States of America,” said Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart. “In these talks he is betraying the freedom of Venezuela, which is something that we will not stand for. We have not seen a betrayal like this since the ‘60s, and not only is he betraying the Venezuelan people, he is harming our national security. President Biden, if you think you can continue to betray the Venezuelan cause of freedom with impunity, you are mistaken.”

“Thank you, Governor for your support. I left Venezuela in February 1999 when the whole country was burning,” said Ernesto Ackerman, President, Independent Venezuelan American Citizens. “I am also the son of a concentration camp survivor. I did not see the impacts of socialism in movies or books, I saw it in person. Maduro is an international criminal. Now, secretly and behind our backs, the President of the United States goes and talks to this criminal. Criminals talk to criminals. We do not talk to criminals. Maduro belongs in jail. My concern is that these people are injecting socialism in our community. Let’s go into the schools. Let’s teach our students in the United States how socialism starts, because it starts like this.”

“For my entire life I have remembered my father’s story and how he was rescued from Auschwitz by Americans,” said Dr. Rafael Gottenger, President, Venezuelan American Medical Association. “My mission has been to help Venezuelans who fled to the United States and those still dying in Venezuela. There are still children dying from hunger in Venezuela. This opening from the Biden administration will incentivize more black market operations in Venezuela and will allow the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela to get worse, which is why we are so concerned about what is happening right now.”

“We are now in a fight between principles, values and interests,” said Juan Fernandez, Founder, Gente del Petroleo. “I think everyone here today is fighting for principles. I was working in Venezuela the year that Chavez came to power. We realized in that year that Venezuela could not be a reliable partner in the energy market. That has not changed. We will continue to fight for principles and against Maduro, no matter who is supporting him, whether it is President Biden or anyone else. There are interests around our president who are pushing this narrative but it does not make sense. The oil industry in Venezuela has been completely destroyed. I think if we can ever do something with the country, first we need to get Maduro out of Venezuela.”

“I understood little by little that Venezuela was falling into the wrong hands because it was under a socialist administration with communist ideas,” said Lorenzo di Stefano, owner of El Arepazo restaurant. “To hear President Biden say he is not going to finance Russia — it doesn’t matter if he is going to buy oil from and fill the pockets of Maduro, a terrorist narcotrafficker who has killed his people and keeps tossing political prisoners in jail.”

“Thank you Governor DeSantis for being the retaining wall between patriotism and capitalism and socialism and communism,” said Carines Moncada, Journalist, Venezuelan Radio Talent. “Why would you take the business from one dictator and give it to another dictator? Sitting down with the Venezuelan regime, [Biden] was endorsing Maduro as a leader of Venezuela and hurting the people of Venezuela [who] are dying because they have no medicine, because they have no food, because they can’t afford to live the way they should be living.”

“Three weeks ago I was in Venezuela and yes, it’s very pretty, but the truth is the hospitals are in crisis, the economy is in crisis, so many have lost their businesses, and they haven’t been able to rebuild,” said Lesly Simon, President, Venezuelan-American Chamber of Commerce. “I don’t see how this secret meeting [between the Biden administration and the Maduro regime] will help the people of Venezuela.”

Broward PAC Operated By Relatives Of Miami-Dade Commissioner Keon Hardemon Received More Than $111K In Days Before Controversial Calusa Golf Course Vote

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A Broward political committee operated by relatives of Miami-Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardemon received more than $111,000 from Miami based special interests just days before a vote rezoning the Calusa Golf Course, records show. In June, REDBROWARD exposed the growing “unholy alliance” between Keon Hardemon and controversial Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness. Records showed Hardemon’s aunt, Barbara Hardemon formed the “Better Leadership” political committee in May. In its first five months, the Hardemon political committee pulled in just $12,000 in contributions.

But in October, Better Leadership reported a whopping $111,500 from twenty-one contributors. Nineteen of the twenty-one contributions came from Miami-Dade County. One contribution came from Palm Beach while another was made by a construction company based in New York City. Not a single contribution to the Broward-based Better Leadership political committee came from Broward County.

Zero, zip, nada.

Why were so many Miami developers, architects, construction companies and lawyers giving money to a Broward PAC?

In June, REDBROWARD reported the creation of the Better Leadership PAC appeared to coincide with Alexandra Davis’ campaign for a seat on the Broward County Commission. Miramar Commissioner Alexandra Davis filed her campaign paperwork for the District 8 seat on the Broward County Commission on May 3, 2021. She is a close ally of Dale Holness.

On May 7, 2021, Barbara Hardemon filed the “Better Leadership” paperwork with the Broward Supervisor of Elections office. Hardemon stated the committee would “support local issues” in Miami-Dade and Broward. REDBROWARD revealed Barbara and her husband Billy were already supporting Alexandra Davis’ campaign.

In her first campaign treasurer’s report, Alexandra Davis lists a $1,000 contribution from B&B Professional Consultants Inc. State business records show B and B Professional Consultants, Inc. is owned by Barbara Hardemon. Davis reports another $1,000 contribution from Barbara Hardemon.

But with the County Commission nearly a year away, would these Miami special interests flood a pro-Davis PAC with so much cash?

The timing of these large contributions suggests they may be related to issues before the Miami-Dade County Commission not the Broward County Commission.

BETTER LEADERSHIP IN BROWARD OR MIAMI-DADE?

Broward Supervisor of Elections records show twenty of the twenty-one contributions were made on October 28, 2021. On November 17, 2021 Keon Hardemon and the Miami-Dade County Commission voted to allow construction of 550 homes on the Calusa Golf Course in Kendall. Residents objected to turning the golf course, a nature preserve in a existing community, into a giant development.

The developers were represented by the Bilzin Sumberg law firm. On its website, Bilzin Sumberg brags how it worked to get a restrictive covenant removed which paved the way for the 550 homes.

Election records show Bilzin Sumberg and eight of its lawyers made $9,000 in contributions to Better Leadership on October 28, 2021.

REDBROWARD reached out the the lawyers at Bilzin Sumberg to ask about the contributions to the Better Leadership political committee. Anthony De Yurre, a partner at Bilzin Sumberg said he could not recall why he gave the Broward PAC a $1,000 contribution. When asked if he spoke with Barbara Hardemon about the contribution, De Yurre said, “no.”

When asked if the Bilzin Sumberg contributions were tied to their work on the Calusa Golf Course matter, De Yurre said, “no comment” and ended the call.

Who asked for the Better Leadership contributions? Why did Miami lawyers give their hard earned cash to a Broward PAC? Giving money to a Better Leadership is perfectly legal, so why is it so hard to recall the specifics from one month ago?

Attorney David Winker, who represents residents opposed to the Calusa redevelopment plans, did not seem shocked by the contributions. “Listen, Commissioners [Joe] Martinez and [Sally] Heyman openly spoke about knowing that the fix was in,” Winker said. “Democracy is not working when Commissioners are openly speaking about the fact that the hearing is a waste of time because approval was a foregone conclusion.”

Winker said Commissioner should disclose any money received before they vote. “At the end of the day, everyone in favor of this was paid,” Winker said.

Calls to the Better Leadership political committee went unanswered.

Do Broward voters want this Miami style of government coming here?

Is the Hardemon family really offering Better Leadership to Broward residents?