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- [00:02]
Fox 1 Announcer
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- [00:30]
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- [01:00]
Billy Corben
I am one of Motunui. On July 10, Maui, you will board my boat and restore the heart of Te Fiti. And here we go. The journey begins. See her light up the night in
- [01:12]
Elaine Devia
the sea she calls me.
- [01:15]
Billy Corben
The ocean chose you.
- [01:17]
Elaine Devia
Let's go save the world.
- [01:18]
Billy Corben
I got your back. Chosen One Disney's Moana Boat's neck His name is Heihei his name is Yum Yum when he goes in my tub. In theaters July 10th. Rated PG.
- [01:29]
Narrator/Reporter
Parental guidance suggested Debbie Wasserman Schultz made it official she will be running in Congressional District 20.
- [01:35]
Elijah Manley
Today I'm announcing my candidacy for reelection in congressional district 20 because we cannot let Trump destroy Broward County's power.
- [01:44]
Narrator/Reporter
The district encompasses the heart of the black community in Broward County. 40% of the district is African American and has been represented by black leaders for more than 30 years. Alcee Hastings and then Sheila Shirflitz McCormick. But after Ron DeSantis redistricting efforts District District 20 was likely the safest seat for Wasserman Schultz to run in. As you might imagine, the announcement elicited strong reactions from some in the black community.
- [02:18]
Billy Corben
Roy, I have to wonder if you have strong opinions about this. You actually were are. It's questionable a resident of this congressional district 20 where you were represented by Sheila Sherfilis McCormick. Yeah, say that 10 times fast.
- [02:32]
Roy
I will not.
- [02:33]
Elaine Devia
But.
- [02:34]
Billy Corben
But you. I think we talked about this unconstitutional mid decade redistricting that Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida legislature with a Republican supermajority enacted to try to reduce potential numbers of blue seats and thus disenfranchising communities through the packed or cracked system. And it seems like you were cracked out of your congressional district.
- [02:57]
Roy
Yeah, that is true. I am now in District 24, which
- [03:01]
Billy Corben
was Frederica Wilson's seat. She's retiring and it seems like that remains a black majority seat. But I think the goal there was to pack black voters into that congressional district and then break up the voting power of black voters. In District 20, for example, which used to be a black majority district. One of the people running in that race is man who needs no introduction to listeners of this show. He is a Broward county substitute teacher and congressional candidate in District 20 in a very packed race now, including Luther Campbell, Uncle Luke, including Sheila Sherfilis McCormick, the incumbent, who when we last spoke to Elijah Manley, was suing him for defamation because you accurately called her corrupt in a campaign ad. And then she was subsequently indicted by the feds for that very corruption which was siphoning why we say misappropriating over $5 million in public money that she accidentally received in like Covid related funds. And then she spent it on a beautiful ring and her hair on bling to get herself elected to Congress somehow. So first of all, I guess we should start there. She was suing you when last we spoke. For defamation, for telling the truth. So what's the status of that bullshit?
- [04:21]
Elijah Manley
Well, the courts threw it out. So we are no longer getting hit with that slapped suit, which strategic lawsuit against public participation, of course threw it out. I always thought this case would be thrown out because there was no merit to it. I have the right to free speech and the right to speak out against public officials who I believe were engaged in corruption. So that is no longer the case.
- [04:43]
Billy Corben
And you are certainly not alone in that assessment that she is engaged in corruption. Federal prosecutors agree with you. And yet she is still running for reelection, wondering whose money she's spending or misappropriating. Now, just a question, just a curiosity, not an accusation to be perfectly clear. But right now it seems though all eyes are on Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who was first elected, became an elected official. Roy, in 1992, I was in the ninth grade. Where were you?
- [05:11]
Roy
1992, I was eight.
- [05:14]
Elijah Manley
I wasn't born.
- [05:16]
Billy Corben
So Debbie Wasserman Schultz became what she was a Florida House of Representatives and the state representative she became. Then she became a Florida State Senator. And then in what, 2004, she first was elected to the United States Congress, where she has been ever since. And now because of this unconstitutional redistricting by the state of Florida, she basically had to start going like district shopping, right, because you Can. In the state of Florida you're allowed, Roy, to run as a United States representative in any. You don't have to live in the district. You can run in any district. And in fact, Carlos Jimenez doesn't live in his district. Mario Diaz Bellard doesn't live in his district. And Debbie Wasserman Schultz, she don't give a shit. She just needs, I don't know, she just can't like go off with dignity into retirement. She wants to be like Alcee Hastings and be a vegetable in bed for months on end while not representing. I don't even know what her plan is, but she will not go quietly into that good night. She is now running in what has traditionally for over three decades been a seat represented by a black leader. So Elijah, what is the latest on this? I know the last I heard, a lot of the candidates in the race, all of whom are black, except for the new candidate, Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Are you guys trying to consolidate the race so you against Debbie Wasserman Schultz so that you don't cannibalize the vote? What is, what is the plan now?
- [06:36]
Elijah Manley
Yes, so we actually had a meeting yesterday afternoon where it was about four hours long where we were talking about consolidating behind one candidate. You know, if there is a head to head race with Debbie, she's a guaranteed loser in that race. And she knows that she's running here because she don't think we will consolidate. And so the conversation is still ongoing. Qualifying deadline is on Friday. We believe we need one candidate head to head to beat her. Or let's bring it down, maybe it ends up being two. But it cannot be four black candidates running against Debbie. That puts us in a position of weakness. And so the deadline is Friday. You know, maybe somebody gets out before then, maybe people get out next week. That's still open. But we need to consolidate so we can beat Debbie. Because Debbie, what she's doing is wrong and she's taking advantage of our district, a district she doesn't know and she's never represented.
- [07:23]
Billy Corben
Let's talk about that. A lot of black leaders have come forward, not just her opponents in this race, but other elected officials have been critical of her. Basically the sentiment being like who needs racist Republicans redistricting when you've got a Democrat who's coming in and trying to steal away what's been traditionally or historically in recent history anyway, a black seat. So that's my question. Why is it important that this district, District 20 be represented by a black congressperson?
- [07:51]
Elijah Manley
It's extremely important that we have somebody with our lived experience representing this district. This district was created in 1992 when she was first elected to the legislature, forcibly created under an amendment to the VRA because they would not create a seat to allow African Americans a seat in Congress, although we had a strong constituency here in South Florida. So they forcibly created this seat to ensure that we had representation and then elected the first African American Congress member from Florida, O.C. hastings, in 1992 and has been represented by an African American since. It's important, especially at a time where the Supreme Court gave a go ahead to Republicans in the south to basically eliminate every black seat they want. They did that in Louisiana, they're doing it in Alabama, they did it in Tennessee and they're moving their way through the south and they're trying to do it. And that's what Republicans are doing. But Republicans in Florida, they didn't eliminate the black seats. This black seat is. The elimination is going to come from a Democrat, a white Democrat running if she wins. And so Republicans, they left, you know, district 20, they left. District 24, Louis Franco seat is now actually a black seat and will be. But we should not expect a white Democrat, somebody who's supposed to be our ally, to literally take away our representation. It's important for the lived experience. It's important in a time where our rights are under attack by Congress and by the presidency and we need to have our voice there. And plus we don't need somebody that's been in Congress for, for a quarter of a century holding onto a seat and representing the district. She doesn't know. She doesn't know this district. She's not from here. She doesn't know our issues. She's taking advantage of us.
- [09:24]
Billy Corben
I do want to counter that with what Debbie Wasserman Schultz has been saying, but first I do want to point out what you had said that we are experiencing right now in the year of our LOR 2026, some real south shall rise again. Shit. As you pointed out, this district was originally created to reverse and undo the discrimination and the lack of representation in our government of the diversity of our population, particularly in South Florida. And now we are seeing the undoing of that by way of Supreme Court edict. We could just say invitation, certainly the enabling of it. And Republicans in the south in particular have been taking full advantage of that. And that's what's happened. And, and yet we have a, as you said, a Democrat here expediting or supporting that dismantling of these rights and this equality. What Debbie Wasserman Schultz has said is that she knows Broward. She knows this district. She has represented a majority of the cities that are now or still located in Congressional District 20. That she has, you know, not only, you know, talks the talk, but walks the walk and has been going around the district. And people want someone who not only knows Broward and knows their communities, but once someone who has experience like you say. We sit here naysaying her for being in. In Congress for almost a quarter of a century and being an elected official since you weren't even born yet. But what she says is what people are telling her is someone in a senior leadership position who is not a freshman as you would be if you were elected, who has some of the sway, some of the clout, some of the ability to, you know, some of the committee memberships and leaders positions to bring home the bacon in the event that the Democrats do take over the majority. Like people are telling her, she says they want her with her seasoned experience and leadership.
- [11:14]
Elijah Manley
Billy, am I allowed to curse on this?
- [11:16]
Billy Corben
God damn right. Hang on, I have a. I have a whole chart card for that.
- [11:21]
Roy
You're goddamn right, meatball. That's great, Billy.
- [11:23]
Billy Corben
Thanks. Have at it, mother.
- [11:26]
Elijah Manley
With all due respect to the congresswoman, or I guess disrespect, her comments are a crock of shit. She's only represent.
- [11:33]
Billy Corben
Whoa, whoa, whoa. We can't say that word though. No, no, we can't. That's the. That's the one word. That's the one word we cannot say on this, on this program.
- [11:40]
Roy
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
- [11:41]
Billy Corben
You cross the line. We have children watching this in show and we just. We can't have. We don't like the scatological stuff. We don't. We don't do that. We don't. This is a good Judeo Christian program and we don't do. We don't do the scat. The scat shit here.
- [11:57]
Elaine Devia
Almost.
- [11:57]
Billy Corben
Oh, I just did it. So. So. I'm so sorry.
- [11:59]
Elijah Manley
All right.
- [11:59]
Billy Corben
So you're saying Debbie Wasserman Schultz is full of cacao?
- [12:03]
Elijah Manley
Yes, indeed. She's only represented in this new 20th district. Only 5% of her constituents in her entire career are in this district. And so she's making up lies that aren't true. She's represented Weston, she's represented a part of Sunrise, a small part of Fort Lauderdale in the past, and maybe a small part of Will Manners. The vast majority of this district, over 90% of it, she has never represented. And she is trying to trick people the fact of the matter is, yes, experience is great, but what has she used her experience to do for our community? Head of the dnc. When that disaster happened leading to the election of Donald Trump, we lost a thousand seats in state legislatures across the country. We lost the House, we lost the Senate. And we've been fighting our way back from her disaster as DNC Chair for years. And everybody has to start somewhere and be a freshman. She was a freshman at one point. Everyone has to start. And if her argument, her contention is that only somebody who's been in Congress can represent this community in Congress, well, that's not working. People right now, record breaking all across this country. People are upset with the status quo, they're upset with career politicians. And if her argument is, I've been there for 22 years, reelect me to Congress, I don't think that argument is going to work in the year of our Lord 2026, when people are voting incumbents out of office in record numbers and primaries. The truth of the matter is any of us can bring resources back to our district. She isn't the only one who's capable of bringing resources back to this district. And if her argument is, wow, these black people, I can bring money back, this is not going to work. People are not going to fall for that.
- [13:34]
Billy Corben
Roy, I want to give you the last word on this because you were in this district up until like, I don't know, a few weeks ago and very, very much outside of your control wound up someplace else. What do you make of all this?
- [13:47]
Roy
I make it as well, first of all, is racism. All this gerrymandering here in the state and all the states down in the southern part of this country based off this Supreme Court ruling. This is just straight up racism. This is watering down in the black votes. Our voting power is disappearing and that's going to, it's going to be a disaster in these upcoming elections starting in the midterm on through. Elijah, what can we do about this?
- [14:18]
Elijah Manley
We need to vote against people who take advantage of our communities and not let them fool us. We have to vote against Debbie Wasserman Schultz and her careerism. And we have to show her that we're not going to fall for the tricks. But also hold your elected officials accountable to, you know, we can't just say the Republicans are bad when we got Democrats doing the same thing. And what voters are going to see is, okay, we have a two party system that's not working for us. And Debbie Washimon Shultz running in this district will lead to people leaving the Democratic Party if she wins. And that's sad. A lot of people are going to be turned away if she wins the primary. And I think it was selfish of her to do it. And we have the opportunity in August to vote her out of office and send fresh faces to Washington.
- [14:56]
Billy Corben
And when it comes to U.S. house, Florida, District 20, while the Florida Republicans. Roy, did put us in this position, it's Democrat on Democrat violence here that is actually the problem. And so that, I mean, that's the reality, is that Democrats never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. And I think it's presumed, if I'm got this right, Elijah, that effectively the Democratic primary is more or less the general right. It is such a blue. It is still such a blue congressional district that whichever Democrat gets the nod will presumably get the seat, win the seat itself. I know there's a Republican primary, but it's not really people, you know, you've ever heard of or have a real shot, if I'm not mistaken. So this primary is it, right? Basically is the election.
- [15:46]
Elijah Manley
This primary is it. Whoever wins the August 18th primary will be the next member of Congress from Florida's 20th district.
- [15:52]
Billy Corben
So Democrats, man. I mean, that's the thing. If you're going to talk, to talk, you got to walk the walk. And if you're going to defend the Constitution and the rules, rule of law, if you're going to defend equality and civil rights, if you're going to defend free and fair elections, then you got to do it. And I appreciate you being here, Elijah, and I appreciate your other candidates who are coming together and meeting together and trying to. To push back against your own party because it doesn't matter which team is cheating. You got to call them out and defend the rules and defend your rights and try to get everybody to do the right thing. So good luck to you, sir.
- [16:31]
Elijah Manley
Appreciate y' all having me on here.
- [16:34]
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- [17:41]
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- [18:36]
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- [18:52]
Billy Corben
high ranking officials abruptly resigning amid a growing fight over a fuel depot deal. Miami Dade's mayor announces the abrupt retirement of Port Miami Director Heidi Webb and Chief Operating Officer Jimmy Morales.
- [19:03]
News Reporter
Port Miami is one of the county's largest economic engines, contributing $61 billion to the economy and supporting 340,000 jobs. At issue, this 10 acre fuel depot on Fisher island, long since the only fuel source for Port M. Last year, the land's private owner sold it to a developer under the county's nose. That developer wants to turn it into condos on what some call the nation's wealthiest zip code. The Fisher Island Community association does not want the fuel depot to stay. And in a lawsuit alleged the county had agreed to pay a combined $400 million for the land, more than double what the developer paid.
- [19:49]
Billy Corben
So let me be clear. Port Miami, along with the airport, just the economic heartbeat of this community. $61 billion economic impact, 340,000 jobs. That's not just the Miami Dade economy, that's the Florida economy would collapse if there was no gas or fuel for the cargo vessels and cruise ships that employ so many people and make the world go round. You don't have to just work for a cruise line or a cargo company for your job to be impacted by this industry. This industry impacts hundreds of thousands of jobs. It's crazy. And call it incompetence, call it corruption, it's a total failure of leadership. And a few weeks ago, Roy, I participated proudly in a press conference where I called out the county leaders. What's funny about it is the two unelected people who are most responsible for all this, they're the ones that got scapegoated. And by the way, they're totally culpable. But all of the elected officials are like, the buck stops down there somewhere. I mean, Daniela Levine Cava loves to find someone to throw under the bright line. She's done it so many times in the past and not taken responsibility for her own failures, for her incompetence, for allowing the corruption of her political puppeteer and unregistered lobbyist Christian Overt to hijack this community. And now it's happening again. But it also looks like it might be a bit of a grift. Elaine Devia, the founder and intrepid solo investigative journalist@politicalcortadito.com Elaine worked at the Miami Herald for 18 years where she was a part of two Pulitzer Prize winning teams, including one that uncovered widespread election fraud and overturned a Miami election. She's joining us once again on because Miami to talk about this sensational story because the way you put it it, you referenced it as a long con. Because at the end of that clip there, Roy, what we heard was is that Jimmy Morales, who I told Daniela Levine cabin not to hire in the first place and told her that back in 2020 before she was elected that hiring him would be disqualifying. And guess what? Week one she was disqualified. The NAACP came out and said this was a terrible unforced error and now she's forcing him out. And Elaine, he was trying to negotiate. So everybody knew this piece of property was for sale. And the county could have gotten it for maybe 140, 150, 160 million bucks. Instead these private developers bought it out from under the county for 180. And then we're negotiating with the county with Jimmy Morales, the chief operating officer, they were negotiating. Now to be clear, the county knew before this was publicly listed for sale that they had an opportunity to buy it. The receiving a report, they might have put in a bid on it, but then just let it go. And then they were negotiating to buy it for $400 million. Which Roy, if you do the math, between 400 million, 180 million, that is $220 million in the mix there. There must have been a lot of fingers in that pie to get a piece of that action. So what Elaine observed in a really interesting theory is that these were not novices. Elaine. Right. These developers were not just some first time yuz looking to build $2 billion worth of luxury housing here on Fisher island, the nation's richest zip code. These are some pretty sophisticated players. And you suspect that maybe this was the scheme all along? The scheme that cost Jimmy Morales his job was the scheme all along?
- [23:18]
Elaine Devia
Well, yeah. I mean think about it. You've got scenario A, they purchase the property, they have to fight to get it zoned because it's not currently zoned for high rise, for luxury high rises. It's currently zoned heavy manufacturing and industrial. So you have to fight to get it rezoned. You're going to have to fight environmentalists, you're going to have to fight, fight other opposition. Then you have to assume all the risk of like the construction, the environmental cleanup. You know, it's not going to be something that's just easy blink one eye and, and there you go. You can sell these million dollar condos. No. Or you have scenario B. You buy it for $180 million. You scream that the sky is falling and the county doesn't buy it back from you. And then you put the price at $400 million and you make a quick 220 million dollar profit. You basically it's, it's flipping the property, which Miami's kind of, and it's like the biggest flip ever. But these are people, like you said, who are not novices, they're not newbies. And they're also sort of like our city's fathers. I mean, you can't look at the skyline in Miami without seeing a building that's been built by George Paris of the Related. And Russell Galba probably has owned more property on Miami beach than anybody else or a lot of other people combined. He's also the architect of another deal that's now in front of the school board next week that that's going to be for 1,100 units. And I don't know what, but it's an assemblage also of public property. And a lot of people are wondering if we're getting the best price. You know, the flipping on the port, on the port, the fuel depot for the port, to me just looks very obvious. The county could have had it a couple of years ago, even last year. This was purchased eight months ago. Before that, the county commissioners and the mayor were already talking about it. It was already on the radar. Oliver Gilbert back last September talked about, you know, going to eminent domain back then. Right now we're going to eminent domain, which, you know, is maybe the way we should go, maybe it's not. But there's no guarantee.
- [25:16]
Billy Corben
Right.
- [25:17]
Elaine Devia
You know, eminent domain in Florida is very different in the sense that property rights are very protected.
- [25:22]
Billy Corben
Right. And it's costly and protracted. It's costly, yeah. So, right.
- [25:25]
Elaine Devia
So it's gonna cost us anyway. One way or another.
- [25:28]
Billy Corben
It's gonna cost us, the taxpayers is us. And at the risk of stating the obvious, these developers who are very active for decades and decades in this community, are generous donors, of course, to the elected class of people who are making these decisions, or in this case, failing to make the decision to pull the trigger on purchasing this property prior to its public listing, which they could have gotten for 140 million, I think, was one of the prices that were floated early in the process. And I want to tell you, Roy, the risk of stating the obvious again, you can't have an airport or a port without gas, without petrol, without fuel. And so the Port of Miami is the only port that I'm aware of on the Eastern seaboard from New York to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale that doesn't have its own on site or like directly adjacent fuel depot. This is across the channel at Fisher island, this gorgeous, very exclusive, very expensive island. That's probably why private island. And it's been there for almost 100 years. And it's very, like, not secure. You can kind of roll up on a dinghy and throw shit at it. It's not. And so I don't blame the residents of Fisher island for not wanting this thing there. They also don't particularly want those luxury condos there either. More residents, more traffic on their ferry that literally ferries cars over, obviously construction and all the congestion and inconvenience of that. So the Fisher island residents really don't want anything there, ideally, but they didn't buy the property either, and neither did the cruise line. It's all very, I think Elaine's right. It's very shady, very questionable. Obviously, like everything El else, it's a total real estate scheme and real estate hustle. But now let's talk about this pivot, you said. So Jimmy Morales was trying to buy it for 400 million, presumably not acting alone. He had like, I think Anthony Rodriguez, the chairman of the commission, was in on this. Danielle Cohen Higgins, who chaired the committee that oversaw Port Miami, Eileen Higgins, who was the commissioner for seven years that represented the district that included the port. Now the mayor of Miami, certainly Daniela Levine Cava, and the disaster of an administration that she's been running, I think the worst county mayor in my lifetime. That includes the guy I voted to recall, who he did, Carlos Alvarez, over Marlins park and giving all of his people raises in the midst of the Great Recession. And now we're pivoting to this, as you said, eminent domain scheme, which people generally don't like eminent domain. They like their private property rights. They don't like the government to sweep in and say, even for vital infrastructure like this, say, no, we're taking your property at whatever is determined to be fair market value, quote, unquote. The problem with that is, is as you said in Florida, we're very conservative when it comes, well, to a lot of things, not the least of which is government seizing your private property. And so what. What happens now is lawyers and appraisals and all kinds of shit that's going to cause it could wind up costing $400 million by the time we get through this protracted. Well, there's going to be lawsuits. We've got two lawsuits, I think, against everybody from the Fisher. So what is the game now? What is is Daniela Levine Cava trying to accomplish now with this eminent domain thing?
- [28:39]
Elaine Devia
I think that she's going to try to convince a judge or the courts that the land is indispensable to the like you said, the economic engine, you know, that is Miami Dade, like you also said the state. It is the fifth largest economic engine in the State of Florida. So it is going to have a big impact if it's suddenly found without gasoline. I don't know what the solution is. The solution was long way past. I don't know if you remember that last year, a couple of years ago, they spent $125 million putting shore to ship power, you know, so that they wouldn't have to use the gas. Maybe they had this in mind. Maybe they already knew that they weren't going to be able to fill up at the old fuel depot. I don't know what they do now. I've heard that there's some possibility of relocating the fuel depot to Dodge Island. That's also going to cost millions and millions of dollars. So. So, you know, no matter what happens now, it's going to end up costing us. You're right. There's two lawsuits. One is from the Fisher island residents trying to stop the deal between the developers and Miami Dade because they don't want, they rather have anything there. You know, they don't want more condos, but they'd rather have anything there than the fuel depot. And also what I'm hearing also from my sources and I'm following up on another story is that they also got somewhat of a deal deal. They got four acres for themselves to do something with amenities, a park, something. And $10 million in future dues from future members who are going to live in those condos up front. $10 million up front from the developers. So the, the Fisher Island Community association, because there's two organizations, the Fisher Island Club and the Fisher Island Community association. They're suing because they want those four acres and they want those $10 million.
- [30:26]
Billy Corben
So there's like 10. However, there's these giant tanks above ground tanks just filled with gasoline on this island. It's so rare. Obviously diesel, obviously diesel. Obviously it predates Fisher island as this luxurious billionaire bunker. But like the whole thing, like you can't just put that someplace else. Just as you said, the remediation of that existing property for an and the rezoning for any future development on it is crazy and onerous and lengthy, inexpensive. And then if you just, you can't just pop up a bunch of drums or tanks on Dodge island where the cruise where the port is located on a moment's notice. The again the environmental review and the years that that could take, they were talking about putting it somewhere else and then shipping in maybe north, further north in the county and shipping in via rail. You know, activating rail by. I mean the whole thing by the way the whole thing. I don't like any of these moving bombs at all. Like, it's crazy. The whole thing's crazy also because, like, the terror risk, you know, the safety, it's giant bombs that they have just sitting there.
- [31:32]
Elaine Devia
It is crazy. The whole thing is crazy. So what's the solution? What are they going to do? Because we can't lose. You know, according to everybody who knows this, the fuel industry, the county officials, the business interests, you, yourself and everybody who protested with you, we can't lose the fuel depot to luxury high rises. So what do we do? Yeah, I mean, obviously eminent domain is the way to go, but we should have bought this more than eight months ago. It's an epic failure on the part of everybody involved, not just poor Jimmy Morales and Heidi Webb, who took the fall for everyone. I don't know if you heard, but today, well, you did. Frederick Wong, the interim director took, decided that he's going to retire.
- [32:13]
Billy Corben
He already quit. He already quit on the same day he was hired.
- [32:16]
Elaine Devia
He doesn't want. He doesn't want any of this shit show. He doesn't want to touch this. And there's more to come. This is a time bomb. There's more to come. The seawall is not. Not in good shape. The cranes there, I mean, the seaport has been ignored for far too long. It's not just the fuel depot. It's, you know, has just been, you know, not paying attention.
- [32:36]
Billy Corben
I always talk about, you know, this is third world government and fourth world infrastructure. But it's insane to me that we don't take care of the basics like our airport, which is notoriously one of the worst airports in the world. Totally not ready for FIFA, by the way. It'll be a total and utter collapse, by the way. That is if they let anybody into the country who's flying over here with a visa to, you know, referee or play in any of these games, which. Which is already a shit show at the like, this is. How do you not take care of the essential. I mean, because we're a tourism economy still. So if the airport doesn't function, which it doesn't, if the port doesn't function, which it doesn't like, what do they expect to do? I mean, and then with the reduction in Homestead property tax exemptions and reductions that are going to be on the ballot in November, it's going to take a huge hit to property tax revenue, which is the major source of revenue for county governments and municipal governments. Like, everybody's just going to go bankrupt. All these governments are just going to go bankrupt. And the fact that they waited till now to take care of vital infrastructure that literally makes the economy go round. Like you said, it's a time bomb. This could be utterly catastrophic for not just the county, but the state of Florida.
- [33:48]
Elaine Devia
And that's why I wrote that. It smells to me more like a business plan than, than anything else. The whole flipping of the sale and everything. It just, it doesn't, it doesn't smell like it was there was ever a legitimate, legitimate plan to put luxury high rises on that contaminated site. This was always a flip and it's a grift and that, you know, it's the same thing with, like you said, the other properties that they, the airport, why do they let it go into disrepair? Because then they can award some multimillion dollar bid for repairs and for maintenance. You know, they're all moneymakers and these are enterprise funds. So it doesn't come out of the general fund, but it's still, it's the taxpayers airport. It belongs to us. It doesn't belong to them. It's the taxpayers port. It belongs to us. So that money is, is, you know, misspent. And now I don't know where we go from. Well, oh, and today five commissioners, Miami date commissioners were elected without a single vote.
- [34:41]
Billy Corben
Passed automatically because nobody challenged them. Nobody challenged nobody. Yeah, it's not un American. It's anti American and anti democratic and undemocratic. It's just crazy. All these people doing. Some of them do a terrible job job. We're just automatically renewed for the gig for another four disastrous years after nearly. Are they on the verge of sinking the ship? Elaine, we got to run. But I know that we say where do we go from here? I know where you go from here. You're going to continue digging, find out who knew what, when, who was in on this. Griff. Because somebody's going to make a lot of money even from the eminent domain scheme, whether it's lawyers and outside law firms. Ultimately the developers are going to get paid some absorbitant, exorbitant, rather amount of money for this. So the grand grift does go on. And the question of, like I said, which elected officials were in on it, which bureaucrats were in on it. They blame Jimmy Morales and Heidi Webb, who I think again are probably the most responsible unelected officials. But there were elected officials responsible. There are probably lobbyists and consultants and unregistered lobbyists who are responsible here. And we got to get to the bottom of it. And I know you will. And everybody should follow along the whole novella on political cortad. Thanks Elaine.
- [35:50]
Chime Legal Disclaimer
Thanks.
- [35:51]
Elaine Devia
Thank you Billy.
- [35:52]
Billy Corben
It was fun.
- [35:55]
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- [36:58]
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- [38:25]
Billy Corben
Weaponization of government against his enemies, real or imagined. Misappropriation of public money to family, friends and cronies. Using the Bayfront Park Management Trust as a personal piggy bank or political slush fund. No, I'm not talking about our old friend Joe Carrillo. I'm talking about Miguel Gabella, the commissioner who I endorsed, who's been on this program in years past, who has been acting up and acting out. And I have been calling him out on social media as a result of this misconduct. I watched him live in a commission meeting actually apparently violate the city charter by directing the police chief, which he has no business doing by charter. That has to all go through the city manager directing him to investigate who at the police department leaked to me, I'm using the term leaking quotes that his former former sergeant at arms allegedly lied to police about a car accident that he was in. And I got the public records and the evidence and made a video about it. And he was very upset about the truth. The truth is an anathema to people in power. So on one of these posts, I not wasn't entirely sure which one, I'm still not. Gabella claims and has filed a police report to this offense fact that there have been threats made against him on his life in the comments section of one of my Instagram posts. Now I think we all know that.
- [40:05]
Roy
Well, you're not liable for that, are you?
- [40:06]
Billy Corben
Of course not. But I think we know that like people act a fool in the comments. All right, yeah, I've seen it. And apparently what somebody said, this sort of faceless, nameless Instagram handle, they said, quote, kill the commissioner, end quote. Now the reason why I didn't see this comment is apparently because according to the Miami Herald, there are 800 comments under this particular video. And I want to say right now, clearly and unequivocally that if that's a real comment, that is absolutely terrible and disgusting. And I completely and totally condemn any and all political violence of any kind. And that includes threats or calls for violence. I am a free speech advocate, but violence and calls for violence are totally out of line and outside of the scope of the kind of First Amendment government engagement that I participate in in and that I approve of. And that being said, if I filed a police report every time I was threatened on social media, I would spend most of my days filing police reports. But it's Hard to know who's a keyboard cowboy and who's a real threat. So I understand if someone wrote kill the commissioner, then I understand the commissioner's concern. It is out of line, inappropriate, inappropriate and disgusting. But equally out of line, inappropriate and disgusting is Commissioner Gabella in the Miami Herald accusing me of lying and inciting violence. And he does so with absolutely no evidence whatsoever of a single untruth that I have told in any of my videos, which are carefully, they might look a little sloppy or slapdash. They are carefully researched and written, written and edited to ensure that they are fair and that I'm bringing receipts if I make an accusation or an allegation. There are receipts, there is video, there are public records. So the idea that there are any lies or any incitement of violence is total nonsense. I'm a little disappointed and surprised that the Herald published those allegations and didn't say, okay, tell us where I lied. Tell us where. Where there's an incitement of violence. Talking to officials, I should say talking to public officials in public meetings about public money and public activities is fundamental to the First Amendment and to having a functional government of the people, by the people and for the people. And Gabella, you might remember Roy was a big fan of the kind of accountability journalism that we do here, here when I was talking about his political opponents like Joe Carollo and Alex Diaz La Portia, who he won. Gabella won his election because Alex Diaz Lortillo was running against him and had just been arrested for bribery and money laundering and removed from office by Governor Ron DeSantis. But now that Cabela is an elected public official and I'm asking questions of him, requesting public records about his activities, now he seems to take issue, issue with it. And I want to say if they want to come after me or they want to investigate me for any alleged made up leak or for doing anything inappropriate or out of line. This is some straight up Joe Carollo shit. I mean, this guy's out here, like I said, weaponizing government, weaponizing the police department. He is covering, covering up public records. He is defending possible corruption in the government and he's complaining that because Joe Carollo is gone that I now shifted my focus to him. I'll say this, if Gabella doesn't want to be treated like Carollo, he should stop acting like Timu Carollyo is what he should do. Another crazy thing he did was say I was not in the car during the car accident that his sergeant at arms got into when he hit a palm tree. Hitting a palm tree in Miami and then allegedly filing a false police report about it is about the most hashtag because Miami thing you can do. But Gabella started yelling, I wasn't in the car. What do I have to do with it? Here's the thing where nobody said that he was in the car.
- [44:40]
Elaine Devia
Car.
- [44:41]
Billy Corben
Nobody. The thought never even crossed my mind. I didn't even think he was in the car until he said he wasn't in the car. Now I can't stop thinking about it. Nobody thought he was in the car until he said he was in the car. Now everybody thinks he was in the car. It's really weird. I don't. Again, I still don't think he was in the car. But why would you say that? Like, why would you sort of feel like you're denying something that you weren't accused of? It's very weird. Weird. And I will say that going to the police and reporting this, totally legit. If there was a threat on his life in the comments. But this idea of accusing me of wrongdoing, if he's looking to silence dissent, if he's looking to shut me up, I assure you it's going to have the exact opposite effect. Cocaine.