Joe Carollo on Running for Miami Mayor in 2025

Motivation for Running for Mayor

• 🎯 Joe Carollo is running for Miami mayor in 2025 because he believes the city is at risk of falling into the hands of individuals who do not care for it and lack the understanding to lead.
• 💡 He emphasizes his record of accomplishments over mere words, stating it surpasses that of all other candidates combined.

Personal Journey and Message to Youth

• 🚀 Carollo's journey began at six years old through Operation Pedro Pan, becoming the youngest police officer in Florida at 18, and a commissioner at 24.
• 📚 He stresses the importance of education, urging young people to study, get degrees, and stay out of trouble, particularly highlighting the issue of drugs in urban cities.
• 🎓 To combat declining reading and math rates, he secured $2 million for a foundation to provide free tutoring twice a week for elementary to high school students in Miami.

Addressing City Hall Dysfunction and Media

• 🗣️ Carollo dismisses accusations of being part of city hall dysfunction, citing past Miami Herald endorsements that recognized his ability to unite a dysfunctional commission.
• 📰 He criticizes certain media outlets for being part of the problem by not being impartial, investigative, or fair, and instead hiding or protecting information.

Affordable Housing Initiatives

• 🏠 Carollo highlights his accomplishment of passing a resolution for the city to borrow $250 million to build affordable housing.
• 🔑 The plan aims to provide homes at 40-50% below market rate by lending money to buyers who will secure mortgages, ensuring the city recoups its investment.
• 🏗️ He has also amassed enough land to build over 2500 affordable homes, with construction already beginning.
• ❓ Carollo questions the allocation of $100 million from the Miami Forever Bond for affordable housing, stating that other commissioners could not account for where the funds went.

Accusations of Corruption and Mismanagement

• ⚠️ Carollo points to former City Manager Emilio Gonzalez, alleging he only worked four hours a day while making a high salary and hiring a sexual predator who later molested a child.
• 🚫 He criticizes the lack of accountability, stating that when the city discovered the predator's convictions, the record was simply altered instead of addressing the issue.