A Cuban coffee stop in Pinecrest turned into a political dispute this week after Democratic congressional candidate Eliott Rodriguez and U.S. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries visited CAO Bakery & Cafe on Friday, Oct. 16.
The visit drew criticism on Instagram from Miami political commentator Josue Alvarez, who questioned why a bakery founded on the legacy of Cuban exiles would host Democratic leadership. Alvarez pointed to Jeffries’ willingness to work with members of the Democratic Socialists of America, a group Jeffries has publicly rejected in part.
On Sunday, CAO partner and chief marketing officer Yvette Cao said the bakery does not discriminate based on politics and did not expect the stop to become a press conference. She said opening its doors was not an endorsement, and the business also said it condemns socialism.
Rodriguez, who is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar in Florida’s 27th Congressional District, said Monday that Salazar’s supporters were trying to intimidate a small business. He did not provide evidence that Salazar or her campaign organized the backlash. Salazar’s campaign was not quoted in the report.
The backlash also reached Vicky Bakery, which said it is a separate business with different ownership and that the event did not happen at its location.
Many customers defended CAO on social media, saying that supporting the Democratic Party does not make someone a socialist. The bakery is at 12505 S. Dixie Hwy. in Pinecrest.
