New Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine thanked former Mayor Matti Bower and Commissioner Michael Gongora — who he ran a nasty campaign against — for their service to the city.
Newly-elected Commissioner Michael Grieco thanked his predecessor, Commissioner Jorge Exposito.
And newly-elected 
Joy Malakoff, who beat Bower in the runoff, said some words in Spanish to assure those who are concerned about the fact that there are no Hispanics on the dais that she would represent everyone.
Some might think these are signs of the Apocalypse.
But, no, it was the setting of the stage for a “new day” in Miami Beach that seemed marked by messages of unity when the mayor and three new commissioners were sworn into office Monday in front of a standing room-only crowd.
In fact, there were people outside and on the first floor, in “spill-over” areas watching the swearing in on TVs.
“I’m not Hispanic. I’m not Jewish. And I’m not gay,” Grieco said to resounding applause and laughter. “My voter base is five people in the PTA.
“People are trying to fracture this community,” Grieco added. “This is an exciting time for the city and we’re all one. We’re all Miami Beach residents and it’s time to get to work.”
Everyone talked about healing from the negative campaigns and unifying the Beach. So much so that newly-elected Commissioner Micky Steinberg, who beat activist Elsa Urquiza despite the latter being on the Levine slate, told Ladra that she did not feel like the odd woman out or an outsider, something her supporters worried about.
She was only joking when she said her office “must be in the broom closet,” said Steinberg, who wins the prize for the most “awwww” moment when her 4-year-old Chloe brought her a trophy for her win.
“I’m hoping we will work well together. They are all talking about unity,” she told Ladra as she searched simultaneously for her daughter (who was with Daddy) and her office.
Steinberg was unifying as well, when she thanked her opponents for “a spirited campaign.”
Malakoff had a message for those in Miami-Dade who are concerned about the fact that there are no Hispanics on the dais for the first time in almost 20 years.
“Estamos unidos en Miami Beach,” she said to applause.
“I owe my 20 point victory to the thousands of Hispanic voes who gave their trust to me,” Malakoff said, though everyone is pretty certain she owes it to Mayor Levine. “I will serve you and represent you as if I was born in Latin America,” she added, mentioning that her parents were engaged at the Hotel Nacional in Havana.
She promised that “Hispanics will play a prominent role” in city government.
Levine, too, offered a “very special thanks” to Latino voters.
“I would not be standing up here today nor would my colleagues without the incredible support from Hispanics,” the mayor said.
He also was not standing anywhere, however, without this tall, silent, salt-and-pepper haired, good-looking gringo in a lavender shirt hovering over him. Does the new mayor feel like he needs a bodyguard? Or is that because he’s also a millionaire? The guy sure acted like a bodyguard, shadowing Levine the whole time, standing at the entrance of the dais when Levine went up.
But Levine’s Chief of Staff Alex Miranda — who must be getting paid out of the mayor’s pocket since he is not on payroll yet — has not returned several emails asking who the guy is.
Stay tuned.
Kumbaya! New Miami Beach electeds start with unity call added by Ladra on
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