In Miami, political season isn’t officially underway until the Spanish-language jingles start making the rounds — and this year, the first catchy tune hitting the airwaves takes direct aim at none other than City Commissioner Joe Carollo.
The jingle, already spreading across local WhatsApp chats and Spanish-language radio stations, plays off the nickname “Crazy Joe” — a label Carollo’s fiercest detractors have long thrown around. Another nickname making an appearance? “Local Joe,” a Miami twist that paints him as a relic of a bygone era of city politics. But what makes the jingle unmistakably Miami is how it weaves in Cuban cultural humor, suggesting Carollo might just be living under a Santería curse.
One of the standout lines from the jingle captures the Miami political flavor:
“Peligro—El Loco Joe está desorbitado. O le está chupando el rabo a la jutía o está embrujado—le han hecho brujería. ¡Cuidado!”
(Translation: “Danger—Crazy Joe is out of control. Either he’s sucking on a jutía’s tail or he’s been cursed—someone has cast a spell on him. Watch out!”)
For the uninitiated, in Cuban slang, “chupando el rabo a la jutía” — sucking on a jutía’s tail — is a colorful way of saying someone’s been drinking heavily. Coupled with the nod to brujería (witchcraft), the jingle paints Carollo as a man spiraling between bad decisions and even worse luck.
And in Carollo’s case, the material could practically writes itself:
•A Jury Verdict for the Ages: Last year, Carollo was hit with a staggering $63.5 million civil judgment in a federal civil rights case. A jury found he violated the First Amendment rights of Little Havana businessmen William Fuller and Martin Pinilla by weaponizing city resources against their businesses in retaliation for their political support of his opponent.
•Bayfront Trust Scrutiny: Carollo has faced scrutiny over his oversight of the Bayfront Park Management Trust, with concerns raised about questionable spending and political interference. While specific audits and investigations have been reported, details remain under review.
•Mounting Legal Bills: Carollo’s legal troubles have already cost Miami taxpayers millions in legal defense costs. Despite the lawsuit being filed against him personally, the city has spent over $2 million on his legal representation.
•Federal Investigations Whispering Louder: There’s persistent chatter in legal circles that federal investigators are keeping a close watch, particularly over misuse of power allegations stemming from his long tenure in office. While a criminal investigation into allegations that Carollo harassed a developer concluded without charges, civil lawsuits related to these accusations have resulted in significant monetary awards against him.
•Public Embarrassment at Every Turn: Add to that the steady drip of viral moments — from Carollo getting shouted down at community meetings to residents openly mocking him at city events — and it’s easy to see why talk of “bad spiritual energy” has become campaign trail comedy. Notably, during a city commission meeting, Carollo played the theme from The Godfather before the swearing-in of a new police chief, referencing a previous controversy.
•Criminal Charges Dropped, But Admissions Made: In April 2025, the Broward State Attorney’s Office concluded its investigation into allegations that Carollo misused his office to target businesses in his district, including the Ball & Chain lounge. The office determined that while Carollo admitted to certain actions, the evidence did not rise to the level of criminal conduct. As a result, no charges were filed, though the matter has been referred to the Miami City Commission for potential further review.
The jingle doesn’t miss a beat, setting Carollo’s string of misfortunes to an upbeat salsa rhythm that would make even the most seasoned political consultants wince.
In a city where political theater often feels like a telenovela, this latest jingle feels like the opening theme song — and Carollo, whether he likes it or not, has been cast as the tragicomic star.
As Miami barrels toward election day, one thing is clear: the race is officially on, the gloves are off, and if the early Spanish-language air war is any indication, this will be a political season for the history books.
And for Joe Carollo, it might be time to find a good babalawo — fast. Miami-Dade.
Here is a clip of the jingle:
.@CityofMiami elections are in full swing when the political jingles begin to launch
This one is about Commissioner Joe Carrollo
Its in Spanish, so here is the partial translation:
“Danger—Crazy Joe is out of control. Either he’s sucking on a jutía’s tail or he’s been… pic.twitter.com/58QeQhBv1c
— The Floridian (@Floridianpress) April 28, 2025
