Remarks by Richard D. Lara
47 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 2 of 2
- Play at 5:40:57
“Right, that's important because, I mean, A linchpin of this, right, is that this space be provided for the 99-year period, but there must be a crystal academy to take occupancy.”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 5:41:24
“SO I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE ON SO I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FROM THE DIAS, SEVERAL OCCASIONS FROM THE DIAS, THAT AN INFIRMITY THAT WE HAVE THAT AN INFIRMITY THAT WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH ON THE PNZ BEEN DEALING WITH ON THE PNZ WAS DELAY, DELAY, AND DELAY. WAS DELAY, DELAY, AND DELAY. AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES IT AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES IT TAKES ON THE APPEARANCE IF NOT THE TAKES ON THE APPEARANCE IF NOT THE ACTUAL FORM OF WEAPONIZING IN ACTUAL FORM OF WEAPONIZING IN ORDER TO KILL NOT IRRESPONSIBLE ORDER TO KILL NOT IRRESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT So I am not in favor of that. I…”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 6:00:46
“Thank you. Commissioner Lara. So my vote is for responsible intelligent development or helping to drive the economic engine. in the Ponce area and it's for Crystal Academy. So I'm a yes.”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 6:05:05
“So my vote is in furtherance of the clear will of the people who live in that area So my vote's a yes.”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 7:09:54
“ANYTHING ELSE? THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. SO WHAT CAN BE SAID ABOUT THE JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL THAT HASN'T ALREADY BEEN SAID AND WELL DESERVED? Other than to say, I want to direct my comments to you, Mimi Balaam. As the executive director, I want to thank you on behalf of myself, my colleagues on the dais in the city, for your tireless leadership, your vision, and your dedication to this worthwhile and longstanding organization. Thank you, your force, and we're very, very, very lucky to have you at the helm. Thank you.”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 7:14:37
“Right. I guess you can look at it in a strained way using a weird set of filtered glasses. I choose to see it as we're once again supporting you, the Junior Orange Bowl, and its leadership for one more year. And I look forward to one year from now, seeing you as well up there, accepting another year from us. So I choose to see things a little bit more positively. So I'm an enthusiastic yes.”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 7:25:51
“Our next team is- Through the mayor, if I can, real quick. We had a lot of presentations, so you know. I'll be real quick. Dominic and Isabella, you guys did an amazing job. Isabella, I want to say that you really knocked it out of the park, and you're making Coral Gables Senior High School very, very proud.”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 8:47:59
“Mayor, why don't you tell us what it is that they're showing tonight?”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 9:15:40
“Just to the mayor, if the clerk would maybe mind sending, I know you do this periodically, but just before the next meeting, as soon as practical, to send each and every one of the commissioners I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN E-MAIL IDENTIFYING ANY OPEN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN E-MAIL IDENTIFYING ANY OPEN POSITIONS. POSITIONS. I HAVE BEEN ASKED BY PEOPLE, I HAVE BEEN ASKED BY PEOPLE, DO YOU HAVE AN OPENING IN THIS? DO YOU HAVE AN OPENING IN THIS? THIS IS AN EXTRA STEP. THIS IS AN EXTRA STEP. MAYBE SEND ONE OF THOSE BEFORE MAYBE SEND ONE OF THOSE BEFORE THE NEXT ONE SO WE CAN KEEP THEM THE NEXT ONE SO…”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 11:04:48
“Commissioner Lara. Right, so if this was anything other than taking it to the voters, if it had to do with just the disposition of any property, I would vote no. But since this is strictly limited to, well, what it calls for, right, parks, green space, golf courses, yeah, it's as close to a no-brainer as I can imagine, right? We kill ourselves to try and add to the green space, to add to parks, to add what's so precious and so limited. So I would have assumed an hour ago we all would have just been unanimous. So my vote's yes.”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 11:09:08
“We would like to make it even more difficult. Maybe that's trying to see what ironclad really could look like. So before it could, I'm just talking out loud, before it could be proposed on a ballot, if you wanted to sell a green space, then you would need a four-fifths vote before it could be even considered for being put on the ballot. Would that make it even more strict?”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 11:09:38
“Guys, this is a friendly suggestion there.”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 11:20:34
“Yes. Sorry to be the contrarian, but I think the better course would be that we vote, right? Can't we take care of the details in the ordinance?”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 11:20:52
“I would prefer today, or tonight, or just bring a cot. Just before bedtime.”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 11:21:22
“Your record is clear. I don't know if the city has ever sold a park to anyone. I don't even know the answer to that question. There's no basis if what you believe is that people are making accusations that have any sort of basis to them. There is no basis to it. And all the effort you've just spent, and this commission has spent, debating how we're going to make this as ironclad as practical, right, is more than enough proof against anyone. And I just, personally, I don't give power to people.”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 11:22:43
“Your point is very well taken. I would suggest that our attorneys craft away while we can finish out the agenda as much as we can right now. I'm all in favor of that.”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 11:23:28
“So as the sponsor of this item, I think that this is one of those that I don't think is particularly complicated. It's one that I experienced when I knocked on doors during the campaign last year that came up often of how we could, take meaningful steps to try and simplify the permitting for those items that are simpler than a complicated structural renovation or improvement to one's home. So what I'd like to do is ask the city staff to evaluate and bring back recommendations for a same-day or an expedited permitting program for eligible programs here in Coral Gables, because this is the type…”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 11:26:26
“That's great to hear. I mean, I can almost hear the peals of hallelujah from the hills of Coral Gables, you know, if we can get this thing through.”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 11:32:19
“Anyone else? Yeah, I got to say that I'm not supportive of this, and it's kind of bewildering to me. Why in particular, Commissioner Kessler, why are you selecting Val Harbor? Do you have any particular connection to Val Harbor or have any particular insight into Val Harbor? Perhaps in your permitting days, when you used to be a permit expediter, is there any connection to Val Harbor that we should be aware of?”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 11:33:53
“If I can finish answering or providing my comments then, Mayor. I agree with you, and that's exactly why I was running, is to do everything I can and take all available time, resources, and support that the city has and direct it to the promotion of the city only. I mean, this is almost akin to wanting to find a way to increase affordable housing outside of the city of Coral Gables. I wouldn't spend one minute doing that as a commissioner, maybe in my private life, you know, but not as an elected official with finite time on this dais. and charged with the singular responsibility to promote…”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 11:48:09
“Yes. It seems to me from looking at this that, and like you said, this night it was super explosive with the turnout, that far more families, visitors, and seems like a far more inclusive event was held at Ponce Circle than one would imagine would be held in one single private establishment, you know?”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026
- Play at 11:48:59
“So it was more inclusive for anyone of... People want alcohol. Somebody who have kids. Everybody had something for, and then it benefited a far larger group of businesses as well.”
City Commission · Jul 7, 2026