No politician in recent years has been hit harder by the press than county mayor Alex Penelas. Even banished former commissioner Joe Gersten and recently arrested former commissioner Miriam Alonso were not subjected to the allegations of such widespread influence peddling at Miami International Airport that so enriched a few of Penelas’ pals.

Even the Miami Herald’s Carl Hiaasan began his December 22 column with, “Once again we learn that airport riches are flowing copiously to friends and political cronies of Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas. Once again he claims to know nothing about it.”

While other politicos and public officials under far less documentation and allegation of wrongdoing are forced to step down from their office of power or led away in handcuffs, it’s quite enlightening how Penelas manages to hold on year after year. If ever the county had a Teflon kid, Penelas is it.    

The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) threw their little holiday soiree for several hundred friends and supporters at the newly renovated Maze (formerly Salvation), last week. Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle stopped by the party to visit with her union-friendly Beach cops and city officials. The county’s chief prosecutor always seems a bit more relaxed on this side of the bay. Make your own conclusions. 

Standing in front of the newly completed and successful children-friendly public swimming complex in Flamingo Park, Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Smith deserves another hand for navigating the city through the completion of the newly named Miami beach Golf Club, formerly known as the Bayshore Golf Course.

The recent and heavily attended grand opening unveiled one of the most beautifully laid out golf courses in all of South Florida, where the City of Miami Beach can now offer its residents and visitors a world class facility that will challenge golfers of all playing levels. Already celebrity tournaments and other events are being considered for the very near future. Next up, the North Beach Youth Center. Congratulations to Kevin and to assistant director of recreation Sugar Firtel, assistant director of parks John Oldenburg, assistant director of administration Julio Magrisso and, of course, captain of beach patrol Vincent Andreano, well…just for being Captain Vince.           

Another positive project for Miami Beach that deserved the coveted visit of the city’s big scissors to cut the grand opening’s ribbon of red, the Courtyard by Marriott, the “downtown Miami Beach hotel” striving for that special urban feel and the latest neighbor to the ever-improving Washington Avenue. The ceremony also included the presentation of a Key to the City by Mayor David Dermer to the father/son development team of Richard and Bobby Finvarb, followed by a tour of the hotel and a party on the rooftop terrace around the beautiful pool.

Other city officials that joined the proud Finvarb family to celebrate the opening included Commissioner Jose Smith and wife Sara, and Commissioners Luis Garcia and Richard Steinberg.