Latest news with #Pardo
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Texas Floods: Viola Davis, Ariana DeBose, Anjali Menon and more salute Mexican president for rescue effort
Actors, artists, and filmmakers from around the world are honouring Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo for her decision to send rescue personnel to help Texas flood victims. Actor Viola Davis led the way in saluting Pardo; she shared a post featuring Pardo's endeavour on her Instagram Stories and wrote, 'Much respect Madam President,' besides posting a Mexican flag as well as clap and love emoticons. Singer-actor Ariana DeBose shared Davis' Instagram Story, thereby endorsing her views on the matter. Filmmaker Anjali Menon shared the original post lauding Pardo for the decision. Actor-writer-producer Gretza Merced Cruz liked the post, as did some digital content creators. Mexico's decision is getting plenty of appreciation for the humanitarian values it propagates, especially in view of the long-standing tensions between the country and the USA. Under President Donald Trump, the USA has been adopting strict policies against immigrants from Mexico. The post that Davis and DeBose shared called the policies 'anti-immigrant' and called out hatred and 'racism toward brown people'. Earlier this month, actors from Texas, led by Matthew McConaughey, rallied for financial support for those affected by the calamity.
Newsweek
08-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Florida Condo Reform Could Open 'Floodgates' of Litigation
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Florida condominium law reform, which took effect on July 1 after being signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, could open the "floodgates" for litigation and audits that had previously been impossible to pursue, a local attorney told Newsweek. The legislation, HB 913, was introduced to provide immediate relief to condo associations and owners struggling with rising fees resulting from new safety requirements introduced in the wake of the Surfside collapse in 2021. However, it also aimed to create more transparency in processes that have, until now, been murky and difficult to navigate for many condo owners, as has been the case with the setting of fees paid by those living in condo-hotels. More Transparency for Florida Condo-Hotels Condo-hotels are properties where individual units are privately owned, but the entire building is operated as a hotel, a common setup in Florida, especially along the coast. This type of arrangement offers several benefits to owners, including the opportunity to live in a luxurious vacation property while paying a more affordable price and potentially making a profitable investment. However, it is also plagued by problems, including limited control owners have over the building's management and the financial burden of paying common area fees. Luxury hotels and apartment buildings in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, as seen on March 8, 2022. Luxury hotels and apartment buildings in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, as seen on March 8, 2022. CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images The new law aims to increase transparency in the management of condo-hotels, requiring financial reports on the cost of maintaining shared areas to be provided to condo owners within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year. Crucially, it has introduced changes that, according to Stevan J. Pardo, founding partner at Pardo Jackson Gainsburg & Shelowitz and a leading authority on Florida construction and corporate hospitality law, "may represent the only opportunity for many condo associations, particularly those in mixed-use hotel/condo projects, to revisit years of potentially improper shared facility assessments." A Looming Explosion Of Litigation The new law provides a clear statutory basis for unit owners to seek accountability from developers and hotel operators who have historically retained disproportionate control over shared expenses, according to Pardo. "Associations can now seek declaration of their condo unit owner rights and seek damages for over-assessments caused by these unlawful structures," Pardo told Newsweek. Under HB 913, condo associations now have a three-year statute of limitations from the effective date to bring claims related to financial overcharges and the improper classification of common elements. Failure to act within this window could permanently bar associations from asserting their rights or recovering unlawful assessments. These new requirements, including this relatively tight deadline, could trigger an explosion of litigation across the state as condo associations begin to reassess governing documents, assessment structures, and recorded declarations, Pardo said. "We do expect the floodgates to open now that the governor has signed HB 913 and allowed associations and its members to once again sue developers/hotel owners who control all of the common areas of condominium properties and who unlawfully assess unit owners," he said.
Miami Herald
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
No veto on controversial election change. Miami mayor already signed it into law
Within hours of the Miami City Commission approving a controversial measure to postpone the upcoming November election to 2026 in order to move the city to even-year elections, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez had already signed the legislation into law. Suarez does not have a vote on the City Commission, nor is he required to sign commission legislation, which automatically goes into effect within 10 days if it's not signed or vetoed by the mayor. But a copy of the legislation obtained by the Miami Herald shows that Suarez signed the document on June 26 — the same day as the City Commission meeting. Suarez did not respond to questions asking why he opted to sign the legislation. But his decision to do so tracks with Miami Herald reporting that the mayor had been quietly lobbying behind the scenes in favor of the legislation, which was sponsored by Commissioner Damian Pardo. Pardo has argued that the change is a reform measure and that by moving the city to even-year elections, voter turnout will increase drastically while also decreasing election costs. But a side effect of the change is that it gives city commissioners and the mayor — who is termed out at the end of the year — an extra year in office. Commissioner Joe Carollo, a Pardo adversary who voted against the election date change, alleged that Suarez's involvement went beyond simply lobbying for Pardo's legislation. 'There's been a tremendous amount of backroom dealing on this whole thing, led by the mayor of the city,' Carollo said. 'It's not just that he was backing it, it was his idea originally — he got Pardo to play lapdog … to present the ordinance for him.' Pardo has denied that, saying the idea originated with him. Moving the election without voter approval has been a source of controversy in recent weeks, drawing condemnation from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier. 'The citizens of Miami deserve and are entitled to the right to make this decision, directly,' Uthmeier said in a June 25 letter to the city. 'Home to thousands of patriotic Cuban Americans who know better than most about regimes that cavalierly delay elections and prolong their terms in power, the City of Miami owes to its citizens what the law requires.' Uthmeier concluded his letter with a warning. 'If you nevertheless move forward with the proposed ordinance,' he wrote, 'my office reserves the right to consider taking all available actions to prevent this violation of law from occurring.' The state has not yet announced any formal action against the city.
Black America Web
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Black America Web
Black Miami Man Could Sue City Over Canceled 2025 Election
Source: felixmizioznikov / Getty Miami elected officials messed around and might be about to find out after delaying the city's November 2025 election by one year. At least one candidate for mayor has threatened a lawsuit, with state officials calling the move unconstitutional. Nearly two weeks after Miami commissioners voted to delay the 2025 election, mayoral candidate Michael Hepburn announced on social media he was prepared to take legal action. Citing alleged concerns around voter participation, city of Miami Commissioners voted 3-2 to delay the upcoming election a year. Commissioners Joe Carollo and Christine King, along with current Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, will have their terms now end in 2026 instead of this year. Terms for Commissioners Ralph Rosado, Damian Pardo, and Miguel Angel Gabela run through 2028, instead of 2027. Local reporting indicates the delay will save the city nearly $1 million. King, Rosado, and Pardo voted in favor, with Gabela and Carollo voting against. Despite claims by the Miami city attorney that the move is legal, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a stern warning to city officials Regardless of where the commissioners land ideologically, in many ways, this vote seems like an unforced error in an attempt to allegedly do some civic good. Also, city officials may have violated the state's constitution by circumventing a ballot referendum. Hepburn tagged Pardo in an Instagram post last week, urging him to amend his bill to create a ballot referendum that would allow Miami voters to amend the city charter to change the election. During a recent commission hearing, Hepburn called out alleged concerns about voter participation in odd-year election cycles, citing what he called a 'civic empowerment gap' in the city. After about two minutes, the video shows Hepburn being forcibly removed from the podium. 'We have a Civics 101 problem in the city of Miami,' Hepburn said. 'But we use voter turnout, or receiving money for changing elections as buzzwords.' While some social media users have expressed concerns about resurging fascism nationally, it isn't a one-to-one comparison. Expanding opportunities for people to vote and increasing voter turnout are notable causes, but process and democracy should matter in that pursuit. A January 2025 article in SSIR outlined the considerations for election consolidation, including addressing turnout disparities between odd and even year cycles. Cities have different rules concerning their governance and matters, such as when to hold elections. The rules around municipal elections are often determined in part by the city's charter and other governing laws. Some cities could decide to change their election system by passing an ordinance. But doing so, less than five months before an election, isn't a good look, particularly as communities fight back against anti-democratic policies at the state and national level. The Miami election situation also highlights the importance of public participation at the local level. Groups like Local Progress advocate for collaborative governing as a way of building community power. This also requires people to be brought into the process of co-governance and not simply being turned out when something goes wrong. 'For everyone that has came up here and talked about changing selection, but do not understand the value of my 15th Amendment—how dare you,' Hepburn said. 'But then again, you have not marched for it. You did not die for it, and damn sure didn't protest for it.' SEE ALSO: Oakland Voters Say 'Barbara Lee Speaks For Me!' Op-Ed: Atlanta's 'Cop City' Is Undermining Democracy SEE ALSO Black Miami Man Could Sue City Over Canceled 2025 Election was originally published on
The Irish Sun
15-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Furious anti-tourist protesters blast holidaymakers & hotel workers with water guns & hurl smoke bombs in Barcelona
HUNDREDS of fed-up locals have descended onto the streets of Barcelona - blasting holidaymakers with waterguns and launching smoke bombs. Under the slogan " homes , and future ", the demonstrations in the Spanish capital came amid a huge wave of anti-tourism protests across the country. Advertisement 11 Protesters shoot toy water guns during a demonstration against mass tourism in Barcelona, June 15 11 A hotel worker reacts as demonstrators shoot water pistols and coloured smoke 11 Protesters use water guns as a symbol against mass tourism 11 A protester holds a banner that reads 'Tourism is killing Barcelona' Credit: Getty 11 The march in Barcelona come amid a wave of similar protests across the country Credit: Getty Similar protests occurred this time last year, with both demonstrations being organised by the Assembly of Neighbourhoods for Tourism Degrowth. A spokesperson for the group said they had encouraged members to bring water pistols, which he said had become "a popular symbol of resistance against the Daniel Pardo Rivacoba added that the tourism industry was "incompatible with life", and demanded " Astonishing images showed scores of furious activists calling for the decline of tourism in their city and across Spain. Advertisement READ MORE WORLD NEWS Pointing their loaded water guns in the air and at holidaymakers, they called for the boycott of AirBnB and the end of rampant tourism. Some were seen refilling their weapons using public water fountains, while others even taped up hostels in an attempt to keep tourists locked in their accommodations. Riot police lined up to monitor the situation and keep the marches in check. Demonstrators also used smoke flares and vandalised shops such as the Louis Vuitton store in Passeig de Gràcia. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive The march set off from Jardinets de Gràcia just after 12:30pm local time. Workers rights amid soaring Anti-tourist protesters take over sightseeing coach in Majorca with smoke bombs ahead of mass march tomorrow Unions representing migrant workers, street vendors and cleaners took part in the huge protests. Spokesperson Pardo also said that the tourism industry "subjects the people who work in it to the worst working and salary conditions". Advertisement He cited the housing crisis as another devastating impact of mass tourism. The controversial expansion of Barcelona-El Prat Airport has also been a flashpoint for locals. A spokesperson for one of the campaigns against this expansion, called Zeroport, emphasised that this message was being delivered to politicians and not to tourists. Ariadna Cotèn said: "Tourists are not really to blame for this situation happening in Advertisement But her message didn't stop the hundreds of raging tourists who shouted in English for tourists to "go home". 11 Demonstrators gather during the protest against mass tourism Credit: Reuters 11 People attach stickers against tourists during the demonstration Credit: Alamy 11 Riot police keep watch on in the demonstrations Credit: Getty Advertisement They held placards with messages such as "one more tourist, one less neighbour", and "tourism is killing Barcelona". Anti-tourism protests also unfolded on Sunday in holiday hotspot Ibiza, Donostia-San Sebastián, Palma, Granada, and the Pyrenees. But they have also spread across Europe - with some taking place in Lisbon, Portugal and across Italy this weekend. It comes just one day after Advertisement The raging locals said the popular Spanish island is overwhelmed by tourists and driven by profit over local needs. These demonstrations came after Majorca, one of the centres of the protests last year, hosted the first mass protests of the year. Nearly 40 organisations from the Balearic Islands are believed to have marched in Palma. Advertisement What is overtourism? Overtourism refers to the phenomenon where a destination experiences a volume of tourists that exceeds its manageable capacity The term is often used to describe the negative consequences of mass tourism, which includes overcrowding and environmental issues As a result, popular destinations have become less enjoyable for both visitors and locals Local communities, in particular, bear the brunt, facing rising costs and a depletion of resources In response, national and local governments have started to implement measures to reduce overtourism Some solutions include: Safeguarding historical and heritage sites Promoting off-peak travel Tourism caps and regulations Promoting lesser-known destinations Later, in May, thousands Spain 's third wave of protests of the year. The march carried the slogan: "The Canary Islands are not for sale, they are loved and defended." Other banners read: "The Canary Islands have a limit and so does our patience" and "Enough is enough!" Advertisement Spain 's anti-mass tourism movement began gaining serious momentum in April 2024 - particularly in popular tourist destinations. Locals have been demanding an end to the problems associated with mass tourism, including pollution, traffic chaos, the lack of affordable housing and low wages for tourism workers. 11 Red smoke bombs were used in the capital Credit: AFP 11 Protesters fill water guns on a fountain Credit: Getty Advertisement 11
