Miami Commissioner Carollo makes light of mafia ties and Godfather moniker

In an editorial titled “Carollo unfit to serve again on Miami Commission,” the Miami Herald calls Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo’s behavior “abominable” and adds that reelecting him next Tuesday to the city commission would be “four more years of him running the city — possibly, into the ground.”

Carollo, chief architect of the firing of former Miami police chief Art Acevedo, sold the idea that as a Cuban American he was insulted when this past summer the former chief said that “Miami is run by the Cuban mafia.” Carollo and others in this badly run city rid themselves of the chief because he would not bow to their every wish — legal or not. Acevedo, in fact, has stated numerous times that he has turned over information to federal agents asserting corruption in the administering of the city. He has also said that commissioners, led by Carollo, interfere with police department investigations. 

As I wrote in a column several weeks ago, Miami IS run by a Cuban mafia. In the Miami commission that mafia is led by Carollo and at least two others who currently serve as “Crazy Joe’s” commission jesters. 

Further proof of Carollo’s lack of respect of Miami voters, and himself, was demonstrated this week by the Miami Herald. Immediately after the new interim chief of police was sworn in, Commissioner Carollo, equipped with a small recorder, hit the play button to the theme from the Godfather movie. There’s also a Godfather poster in his office with a super-imposed photograph of his face that replaces the original — Marlon Brando.

Joe Carollo has been a cancer that has afflicted South Florida for forty years. Cancers in the body must be removed or the body dies. In the case of Miami, reelecting Carollo, as the Miami Herald rightly states, would amount to running the city into the ground.

Now it’s up to the voters. It reminds me of a quote by Thomas Jefferson, who long ago said: “The government you elect is the government you deserve.”