Miami, FL

Emails Reveal Miami Mayor’s Aide Wrote Puff Piece About Billionaire

Published

2 years ago

June 17, 2023

A top aide to Miami Mayor Francis Suarez published flattering articles about billionaire Ken Griffin in a popular online newspaper this year, raising questions about the administration’s coziness with the state’s richest man, The Daily Beast has learned.

The aide, communications director Soledad Cedro, assured Griffin’s spokesperson Zia Ahmed after writing the first story that her coverage had been “100% positive,” according to emails obtained through a public records request. She then offered to write more stories if Ahmed wanted “something published for that audience.”

The articles, published by Infobae—a widely read Spanish-language outlet—did not disclose Cedro’s government role. Cedro insisted to The Daily Beast that her work “as a journalist” is independent from her job with the city, even though she sent the messages to Griffin’s representative using her government email account.

Griffin, who relocated his Citadel hedge fund from Chicago to Miami last year, has a close rapport with Suarez, who made headlines this week by announcing a longshot presidential bid. The mayor referred to Griffin as a “friend” last June, and the two men “gushed over each other” during a joint speaking appearance in November, according to The Real Deal. In March, Griffin, who is worth an estimated $32.7 billion, reportedly donated $1 million to a political committee affiliated with Suarez.

Cedro’s first Infobae story, published in February, detailed Griffin’s effort to move a historic home once owned by William Jennings Bryan off his estate. The proposal has been enormously controversial, particularly among a contingent of “appalled local historians and preservationists” concerned that the move “would strip the 1913 home of much of its significance and could cause damage or collapse,” as the Miami Herald reported in December.

Cedro was mentioned several times in the Herald article, speaking on the mayor’s behalf; she told the outlet that Suarez supported making the property available to the public, as Griffin had proposed, though the mayor didn’t weigh in with specifics.

Two months after the Herald story, Cedro covered the situation for Infobae, ostensibly as an independent journalist. Her article opened warmly by declaring that Griffin’s move to Miami had been “celebrated locally,” not only “because of his personal presence,” but also because of Citadel’s relocation. Cedro briefly acknowledged local pushback.

The article appeared to catch Ahmed by surprise. “Is this you?” he wrote to Cedro on Feb. 8, seemingly unaware that she also worked as a reporter. “Yes!” she replied, along with her reassurance about the “100% positive” coverage. “Thanks so much!!!” Ahmed responded. Cedro followed up two minutes later to pitch Ahmed on Infobae’s global reach and offered to publish more stories related to Griffin in the future.

In April, she did just that—though she and Griffin’s team insist that they did not collaborate. The second article focused on Griffin’s $5 million gift to build children’s soccer fields in Miami. The subheadline added that Griffin had already “made significant donations for education and the creation of new parks in the city.”

Cedro’s dual roles raise “troubling conflict of interest questions,” Anthony Alfieri, founding director of the Center for Ethics and Public Service at the University of Miami School of Law, told The Daily Beast. “The subject of her reporting… stands out not only as [a] major campaign donor to the Mayor’s political action committee, but also as a rising economic power broker in the City of Miami with financial interests tied to construction projects under city land use and zoning regulation and oversight.”

John Watson, who researches media law and journalism ethics at American University, was slightly more charitable. The arrangement has “a basic stink to it,” he said, but doesn’t appear to violate principles of public relations, assuming that’s how Cedro viewed her work.

Cedro told The Daily Beast that the mayor was “not aware” that the articles about Griffin were being written and that she’s “authorized by the City of Miami to have outside employment.” She emphasized that the mayor does not directly issue regulations in the city (though Suarez can veto bills and has power over the city manager.) The mayor’s office and Infobae did not respond to requests for comment.

Ahmed said in a statement, “Mayor Suarez has been able to attract incredibly talented people like Soledad Cedro to serve the people of Miami. We have not engaged with her on any of the stories that she has written as a journalist for one of the most widely read Spanish-language publications in the world.”

Cedro is on a leave of absence from the mayor’s office, according to an auto-reply message sent by her email account. She declined to say why but was quoted speaking on Suarez’s behalf as recently as three weeks ago and is still listed as communications director on the Miami government website.

Cedro faced blowback late last month after declaring on Twitter that a “He/His/Him reporter” for the Miami Herald had been “harassing city employees at their homes during a holiday weekend to feed the newspaper’s sick obsession” with Suarez. The reporter’s supposed crime? Leaving his business card and a brief note asking an employee whether they were open to a private conversation.

Suarez is battling unfavorable press of his own. The Herald reported last month that he received at least $170,000 from a local developer “to help cut through red tape and secure critical permits,” which raised “legal and ethical questions.” He has denied wrongdoing.

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Miami, FL

TRANSFER PORTAL: Charlotte Gets Commitment From Ex-Louisville, Miami RB Don Chaney Jr.

Published

1 hour ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

TRANSFER PORTAL: Charlotte Gets Commitment From Ex-Louisville, Miami RB Don Chaney Jr.

Former Miami and Louisville running back Don Chaney Jr. will transfer to Charlotte, as first reported by Pete Nakos of On3 Sports.

A former four-star recruit, Chaney began his career with Miami in 2020 and rushed for 322 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 68 carries, but suffered season-ending injuries in 2021 and 2022.

The 5-foot-10, 208-pounder bounced back to finish third on Miami’s roster in rushing yards in 2023, rushing for 478 yards and two touchdowns before transferring to Louisville following the season.

Chaney never found his footing with Jeff Brohm’s club, being used primarily as a reserve this past year. He rushed for 178 yards on 50 carries with three touchdowns and hauled in seven receptions for 62 yards.

For his career, the Miami native has rushed for 1,030 yards and nine touchdowns.

First-year Charlotte head coach Tim Albin takes over the 49ers’ program after former head coach Biff Poggi was relieved of his duties following a two-year stint in the Queen City that saw Poggi amass a 6-16 record with the team.

Miami, FL

Stephen A. Smith Once Referred To Ex-Miami Heat Player As ‘Steal Of The Draft’

Published

10 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Stephen A. Smith Once Referred To Ex-Miami Heat Player As ‘Steal Of The Draft’

Let’s be honest: no one is perfect when it comes to making predictions.

You win some, and you lose some.

So cut media personality Stephen A. Smith some slack for his now cold take during the 2015 NBA draft. While ripping the New York Knicks for drafting Kristaps Porzingis with the fourth pick, Smith rattled off three players they should have taken instead.

They were Willie Cauley-Stein, Stanley Johnson and Justise Winslow, who he all called “NBA ready.”

Posted by REVOLT Sports on Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Smith boldly called Winslow “the steal of the draft.” He was taken by the Heat at No. 10. Fans fell for it, too, because they cheered loudly at Kaseya Center when the pick was announced. The result was Winslow having five forgetful seasons in Miami before he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Heat fans forever link him with All-Star Devin Booker, who was taken three spots after at No. 13. Others drafted later were Kelly Oubre Jr., and Terry Rozier.

Smith was actually wrong about all the players he mentioned who should have been taken ahead of Porzingis. Cauley-Stein was out of the league after seven seasons, averaging 8.7 points and 5.9 rebounds for his career. Johnson made it eight seasons before exiting to play overseas.

Meanwhile, Porzingis is still going strong as a key cog for the defending champion Boston Celtics. And Heat fans are still sulking about Winslow never panning out.

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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Miami, FL

Agent Sheds Light on Hill Situation

Published

17 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Four days ago after Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s headline-grabbing comment “I’m out” that followed his pulling himself out of the season finale against the New York Jets, his agent shed some light on his client’s mind-set but left unanswered the biggest question of all.

Appearing on the Pat McAfee Show, Drew Rosenhaus said Hill showed his dedication and commitment to the Dolphins in 2024 by playing the entire season through a wrist injury that doctors said required surgery, but declined to say whether Hill did or did not want to be traded because he hasn’t spoken to the wide receiver yet.

Hill hasn’t written anything on X in the past couple of days that would indicate his preference, though he did change back his avatar to a picture of himself in a Dolphins uniform after having for one day his head shot superimposed on the barechested Antonio Brown as he walking out on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the middle of a game at MetLife Stadium.

What Rosenhaus did say from Hard Rock Stadium is that Hill broke his wrist during a joint practice with the Washington Commanders.

“We have top-risk doctors saying to Tyreek, ‘You need to get this operated on, you’re going to miss the season,’ ” Rosenhaus said. “Tyreek says to me and the Dolphins, ‘I’m not going to miss the season. I’m going to play, I want to be here for my team.’ The doctors all said it’s going to be painful. It could impact your entire career. If you don’t get it done now, you may not be able to fix it all the way. Tyreek said, hey, the heck with it. I’m a team guy. I’m going for it. This hampered him all year long. He deserves a lot of credit.

“Tyreek is very passionate. Anyone I’ve ever represented that was great was passionate. They cared. What you see with Tyreek is very genuine. He wants to win. It’s not good enough for him not to make the playoffs. He’s very passionate. I think at the end of the day, he’s committed to this Dolphins football team. He had an excellent meeting with Chris Grier, Mike McDaniel. I believe that Tyreek is a great asset to the Dolphins. And I think he’s the least guy that people should be worried about for this organization. They have many more worries. Tyreek Hill is not one of them.”

GM Chris Grier said during the Dolphins’ end-of-season press conference that both he and head coach Mike McDaniel had productive conversations with Hill the previous day in their exit meetings and that Hill never asked to be traded, even though he didn’t take back anything he said after the game.

This was a really tough year all around for Hill, with off-the-field turmoil (most notably being detained by police officers outside Hard Rock Stadium on the day of the season opener), the wrist injury, and on-field results that included his first season without being selected to the Pro Bowl (though Rosenhaus said Hill was a second alternate), his first season without 1,000 receiving yards when making at least 13 starts, and his first time missing the playoffs since he entered the NFL in 2016.

For the Dolphins, having a healthy and happy Hill is the best thing for them in 2025.

Trading him would be a last resort because they would not get equal value in return because of Hill’s age, recent injuries, salary and checkered past. Check out suggested trades online over the past couple of days and they usually involve something like a third-round pick.

More importantly, for the Dolphins to rebound and return to the playoffs in 2025, having Hill would make that task a lot easier to accomplish.

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