Remarks by Richard D. Lara
47 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 2
- Play at 1:51:05
“We have a second. Thank you. Well, before I second it, I wanted to welcome you as well, Marte Terez Rojas, the chair of Miami-Dade School Board. And also, I want to welcome you as well and congratulate you for the amazing work you've done. So I can't add much more to what my colleagues have said, other than just to put it very simply, that it's a beautiful thing when the City Beautiful collaborates with the Miami-Dade County School Board in helping polish even more such a A brilliant diamond. Coral Gables Prep is an amazing institution. And another little point of personal privilege, right? I…”
City Commission · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 2:50:39
“Well, first of all, Thank you for those comments, Commissioner Castro. But I need to correct you. Due process is what you said this vote is about. It is certainly not about due process. Let's be clear, due process is the legal principle that a government cannot deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without following fair procedures and respecting fundamental legal rights. So decidedly, this is not about due process. This is all about making sure that we vote based on competent evidence that we are going to be appointing the best person to be the next city manager for the city of…”
City Commission · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 3:02:00
“Some points were made earlier about that there were exigent circumstances that caused someone, well, three former commissioners, one former two currently, to vote without conducting a national search, claiming that it was due to exigent circumstances. Well, I believe then and I believe now that the firing of Peter Iglesias was not only uncalled for, wrongful, it was also an emergency created entirely by a majority of the commission with no support for same. So you can't create the urgencies and then claim that that's the reason why you had to hire a... A former U.S. Marshal with not one day…”
City Commission · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 3:13:14
“So my daughter was just commenting that she wishes there were some more women's clothing stores in or around the Maricopa area. So I'm thinking, yay, this is perfect timing. So again, when is it open?”
City Commission · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 5:17:56
“And it was Kevin casa reside at 1, 2, 0, 8, South street, apartment, 18, 3, 3, 1, 3, 4.”
City Commission · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 5:41:29
“Commissioner. Well, I think that the Vice Mayor really put everything quite well and won't repeat all the very well laid out bases that she laid out. and the somewhat tortured journey over the last five years to get this development to where it is right now. But I will just address that if there was false testimony given, there are appropriate agencies and individuals who could look into that. I'm certainly not condoning anybody coming here and saying I You know, I dye my hair, you know, or I had some work done or anything like that when, in fact, they didn't or vice versa. But if somebody…”
City Commission · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 6:55:35
“Well, first of all, I want to say congratulations to Chef Pass for not only a comprehensive and educational but very entertaining presentation i uh i must say you know jeff and i go back a little ways we both served on the judicial nominating commission with the third district court of appeal many years ago that's why i was first wowed by mr bass and his command of the language because he's a very erudite guy and very very um studied and very studious person, but he has a flair all to his own. And so what you did for the university today was commendable to be sure. I want to recognize the…”
City Commission · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 7:51:26
“I'll second. Mr. Clerk? Commissioner Lara? I want to say thank you all for being so engaged. I echo the Mayor's sentiments, and you can count Mr. Mayor on my support when we finally get it all going. And again, thank you. Yes, it's my vote. Vice Mayor Anderson?”
City Commission · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 9:23:22
“Through the mayor? Yes, sir. Yeah, so this is the kind of event, great idea that will bring what I think we need is like a wow factor. We need a few wow factors to drive some traffic, but traffic, no pun intended, to Miracle Mile. I think the weather's going to be great, I'm sure. I can predict it. And it's going to become something that I have a feeling is going to be an annual event. So great idea. I think it's going to be a big hit.”
City Commission · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 9:25:51
“Well, through the mayor, I think it's been a... a historic day on many levels, both with Lee Lincoln, with Joe Gomez being named now, come January 8th, new city manager, even a historic day on many levels. And then the surprise right now of having a park named after you is – Well, it's just really the cherry on top. So I'm highly supportive of it. You know, you've earned it, Peter. I'm hoping for the unanimous support also of our commission. I'll move the item.”
City Commission · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 9:27:05
“Well, when we, the commission, have voted to name parks in the city after those still with us, you know, David Lawrence, right? Dorothy Thompson, Bill Kurdike. These are the most deserving folks, and it's not without precedent. And I definitely think you belong in those ranks as well. So my vote is yes.”
City Commission · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 9:30:17
“Okay. Commissioner. Yeah. So I mentioned it briefly, uh, or during the meeting earlier today, and I'm going to continue to harp on it because I think it's really special, and I think it'll be a lot of fun. So for all of you Coral Gable Senior High School grads who either graduated with me in 1980 or want to come join anyway to a great night, it'll be at Bay 13, and that's on September 19th. And there's still tickets available from 6 to 10. Music will be provided by the Tall Boys, who were a band that I remember back in the day when I was a young lad. And if you buy a ticket, you also get a…”
City Commission · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 1:23:52
“Mr. Mayor? Yes, sir. Yeah, so I love this idea, you know, as a general concept. I'm not just, we're not going to have the conversation or the debate today regarding it, but I'm not particularly in favor of a Blue Ribbon Committee for the sake of just being inclusive and larger, right? you know, then I think we're yielding too much to potentially too many differing voices, right? What I liked is the way that the mayor had teed it up first, right? He first made a reference to the Charter Review Committee. Now you're referring to a form of like a blue ribbon committee akin to the Charter Review…”
City Commission · Jul 8, 2026
- Play at 1:35:07
“I'm sorry, Paula. Would you mind, if you can recall, go back to the previous slide, the funding of the pension plan, the annual pension contributions? A couple of slides back.”
City Commission · Jul 8, 2026
- Play at 1:35:23
“Where it goes through 2027, right? Yes. So based on what our investment managers are predicting and projecting, and given if we maintain contributions where we're making the extra payment, can you tell us a couple of things, like number one, when is it estimated then there will be fully funding?”
City Commission · Jul 8, 2026
- Play at 1:36:25
“Okay, so that's if everything holds, right? We certainly can't predict with a crystal ball, but these are some of the smartest people in the room. That's what they're giving us, as I would say, a reasonable or conservative estimate, right? So towards the end of 2031, right? Correct. So what impact would that have then on our available funds, having been relieved of having to make the extra payment, can you just kind of, this is for, you know, the residents to get a sense of like, when you tighten your belt, you make those extra payments, you hope for the best, you plan for the worst. What is…”
City Commission · Jul 8, 2026
- Play at 1:37:57
“Almost $25 million. Yes. That we don't have now, but we will have available if we maintain the sort of fiscal responsible way of handling the unfunded liability. Am I right?”
City Commission · Jul 8, 2026
- Play at 1:38:10
“So, think about it. You know, think about what we can do for the city with that additional money that we don't have now. and in light of the rather drastic and material changes that are going to be coming our way with respect to revenue we depend on based on property taxes. Thank you.”
City Commission · Jul 8, 2026
- Play at 1:53:15
“Commissioner Lala, anything for the good of the order before we take on this resolution? I also have a question for the city attorney. Is it a quasi-judicial proceeding when we're convening to discuss matters involving, for example, Crystal Project?”
City Commission · Jul 8, 2026
- Play at 1:53:36
“So I don't know if... And the zoning changes. If you as the city attorney should caution anybody on the dais when they're expressing a personal opinion, prejudging, I would say, the issue by saying that if entities associated with the Crystal Project are making donations to a PAC that that is considered by that commissioner to be an expression of prejudging issues sitting in a quasi-judicial capacity that could give rise to recusal. I don't know if that's something that you think you would need to caution people from revealing that you consider making a contribution, a material, having a…”
City Commission · Jul 8, 2026
- Play at 1:54:43
“No, I could not agree with you more. That's why I'm mentioning that there may be cause to caution It's the city attorney. Maybe even to caution Commissioners from expressing a clear bias from my cheap seats here Clear bias that the Commissioner Castro is against the crystal project For the reason she just stated here on the record For the mayor, I think the honey, but if you may I'd like to hear from the city attorney I”
City Commission · Jul 8, 2026
- Play at 1:56:03
“Through the mayor? Yes. I disagree. It's not for you to decide or any one of us decide whether or not a bias exists. The record speaks for itself. And I would not want you and my recommendation to the city attorney is to avoid leading you into clear error before the next meeting. Because to me, when you said what you said clearly on the record, expresses clear bias. If it were up to me, I would say you need to recuse yourself. I don't even know how you could possibly walk back your statements unless you're not being honest or genuine. So anyway, just trying to keep an eye out for you and for…”
City Commission · Jul 8, 2026
- Play at 2:00:12
“I echo the Mayor's observations of the importance and the need, I would say, to have not only more residents come speak during the budget meeting, but we really need to see the commercial Business operators in the city appear because not only are they important in any given year since they are vital to the tax base and the continued Success of the city whether you live or you work or both here or you visit Now, given the changes that we think are going to be coming down from Tallahassee affecting our property tax revenue, they are most important during these conversations involving the…”
City Commission · Jul 8, 2026
- Play at 38:30
“Through the mayor, so you don't get too singled out. You know, I've been there many times, and my wife is a huge fan as well. And you did come in with the save. As well, the pastries are excellent. I'm a big fan of the coffee. You've got that beautiful machine that's very well administered by your barista. So everyone should check it out on Alhambra right by the Globe, not too far from there. Yeah, I appreciate that.”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 5:34:13
“COMMISSIONER LOVELL. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR EXPRESSING THEIR VIEWS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE AS COMMISSIONERS TO REPRESENT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. to the best of our ability, but not all people share the same thoughts, views, or opinions at the same time. So we're not here to make the easy decision, we're here to make the difficult decisions. I happen to respect very much all the sides that were represented here today, but for me, one of the most important things to consider, and it's not, as many have said so far, it's not about Crystal Academy, That's not the main focus here, even though…”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026