I
n our latest issue, we highlighted the key lobbyists behind Miami's major developers, including Ron Book, who is often referred to as "the godfather of Miami-Dade's lobbyist industry." Book represents a variety of clients, including billionaire developer and Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross, Bal Harbour Shops owner Whitman Family Development, multifamily developer Atlanta Pacific Communities, and the Florida Apartment Association. He also represents local governments in Tallahassee, such as Bal Harbour, Coral Gables, Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Despite some disputes over conflicts of interest, Book maintains a firewall to ensure he remains impartial.
Iris Escarra, an attorney at Greenberg Traurig, is another prominent figure in Miami's lobbying scene. Her clients include 13th Floor Investments, Mast Capital, Related Group, and NR Investments, all of which are active in the city of Miami. Escarra's experience as a former Miami assistant city attorney for three years gives her valuable insights into potential sticking points in projects.
Former Miami city commissioner Humberto Hernandez, known as Bert, has also made a name for himself as a lobbyist despite his past conviction for voter and bank fraud. His connections have helped him represent clients such as Hyatt Hotels Corp., which is working with Gencom to develop a $1.7 billion, three-tower project in Miami, as well as Miami Freedom Park, a partnership including billionaire Mas brothers and soccer superstar David Beckham.
In other news, venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, which manages $7.6 billion in crypto-related assets, recently exited its South Beach office lease, fueling interest in companies expanding to South Florida.
In residential real estate news, financier Donald Sussman sold his 20,000-square-foot, 10-bedroom, 15-and-a-half bathroom estate in Fort Lauderdale for a record $70 million. The buyer plans to demolish the main house and build a smaller home on the lot.
In commercial real estate news, Publix paid $50.7 million for the shopping center at 4601-4777 South University Drive in Davie. Southeast Centers and PGIM, the real estate arm of Prudential, sold the property. It's one of seven centers that Publix acquired in Florida recently for a total of $224 million.
On the market now is a 11,606-square-foot, five-bedroom estate in Stuart, Florida, listed for $47.5 million by minor league baseball team owner Bruce Quinn and his wife Susan. The estate includes a bowling alley, game room, theater, koi ponds, and a lazy river pool and spa.
In other news, Chinese weightlifter Guo Lingling broke her own record and the world record twice at the Paralympics in Paris, earning a gold medal by lifting 122 kilograms and 123 kilograms, equivalent to 269 and 271 pounds respectively.
In Florida news, a whistleblower who leaked information about the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's plan to build golf courses, hotels, and more at nine state parks was fired. Additionally, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's plane was seized in the Dominican Republic and extradited to the U.S., where the Department of Justice alleges it was illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Nicolás Maduro and his cronies. Twenty-seven people, including John Robert Strama Jr., the owner of a powerboat racing team in South Florida, were arrested by the FBI and face charges of trafficking cocaine primarily from the Florida Keys and Miami-Dade County.
