The Miami Herald reports:
A developer quietly paid Miami Mayor Francis Suarez at least $170,000 over the past two years to help cut through red tape and secure critical permits for his stalled real estate project in Coconut Grove, according to internal corporate records exclusively obtained by the Miami Herald.
Notes of company meetings held last summer and fall by the development firm Location Ventures indicate that CEO Rishi Kapoor was having difficulties getting plans approved for his URBIN Coconut Grove complex as he tried to assure jittery investors that Suarez would help resolve the problem.
The meeting notes, which were provided to investors to appease their frustrations over repeated delays on the $70 million mixed-use project, made his role clear: “Mayor Suarez to assist in pushing this along.”
Read the full article. Suarez has made multiple national media appearances in recent weeks promoting a possible bid for president.
Exclusive: Developer paid Miami’s mayor $170K to push his project, company records state https://t.co/Iu0eHtWNAh
— Miami Herald (@MiamiHerald) May 24, 2023