Just what are a couple of Miami Beach electeds who are not in contested races this
year going to do with the funds they shake out of city contractors and would-be developers for their political action committee?
That’s the $1 million question.
The two ads produced so far by Relentless for Progress — the PAC chaired by Commissioner Jonah “Pottymouth” Wolfson that is being investigated by the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust after collecting nearly $1 million in funds — seem to be doing two things at once: (1) Laying the groundwork to push the three open seat candidates supported by Mayor Philip Levine so he can get the stacked commission he needs to change zoning and do whatever he wants and (2) reaching further than the city limits.
Read related story: Ethics Commission looks into Miami Beach shakedown PAC
Because, and let’s take the second part first, you can limit your advertising with Comcast to a certain zone or area, but Ladra has seen RFP’s 30-second TV spot at least twice now — in Kendall. Most political campaigns do not waste money on a larger audience that can’t vote in their particular race, adding fuel to the rumors that Levine is eyeing a run for county mayor or a senate seat.
“Here in Miami Beach, we have a new saying, “Just get it done,'” the Levine says, 
walking around a bustling South Beach and like he’s talking to people outside of the city. Hence the word “here.”
He tells them about the street flooding fixed with the installation of new pumps and the local roads repaired “on budget and ahead of schedule,” and boasts about hiring a new police chief “to keep the peace and rebuild the trust” as well as some improvements “underway” at North Beach.
Aren’t improvements always underway somewhere? And is he talking about the 22-story skyrise building proposed for land where two stories is now the maximum?
The ad has to be for outsiders. Because folks in Miami Beach aren’t buying it.
“He goes on about how Ocean Drive is getting better and how our roads have improved. I have yet to see any of that,” Charles Urstadt said at the last commission meeting earlier this month. “What I do see is a ‘new Miami Beach’ that appears to pay for connections and money at City Hall.”
Read related story: Miami Beach $500K+PAC tied to city vendors, contractors
Urstadt, a community activist and former planning board chairman, said he is concerned about the clawed grasp that political hitman consultant David “#@$%&!” Custin has on City Hall.
Custin, he said, not only helped get Levine elected, but Commissioners Michael Grieco and Joy Malakoff, too.
“David Custin also joined with Commissioner Wolfson to form a group that has raised hundreds of thousands if dollars from developers and city contractors. That group is behind those slick commercials the mayor looks so good in.
“David Custin is currently working on the campaigns of three candidates — Betsy Perez, John Elizabeth Aleman and Ricky Arriola.
And David Custin is a consultant for developer who is pushing a scheme for oversized tower on Ocean Terrace,” Urstadt said, making the connections painfully clear.
“There is an appearance of conflict that cannot continue.”
He suggested Levine, Grieco, Malaoff and Wolfson recuse themselves from
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Study all Ladra’s brilliant articles on Miami Beach Election
Read all those Pac Mailers carefully.. The clues are there.
The Relentless Money Pac that he is working so hard for?
Its acting as a Shadow Campaign . For himself.
The cheeky dimpled smiling one . With gelled hair. Doesn’t do
gravitas. A candidate he surely is.. He is the one seriously
promising to deliver a Safe, Sensible, Strong Shining City by the Sea .
With the help of Progressives .
The Mayor only talks about what he’s done. How great and new it is.
He ‘s a very impatient man . Maybe ready for the next thing.
Is that the correct answer to: Whats in store for us?
Whats the answer to: How will this come to pass?
And are Pac methods ethical? The Mayor didn’t much convince
on Michael Putney’s show.
Be afraid, very very afraid for honest government in Miami Beach.
CEO,Mayor Levine made a nice faux apology for July 9th meeting
when Commissioners had that ugly spat.
The one that drew Michael Putney’s “stinky “beach remarks lasts Sunday
At Friday July 31st meeting City Attorney closely coached our
Mayor on how to run an orderly meeting .Even whispered in his ear!
So good Commissioner Tobin tried yet again, but was not allowed
to ask Mayor Levine’s sidekick,Commissioner Jonah “Gimme the money’
Wolfson to be transparent and accountable.
I can’t wait to find out what this Relentless Money for
Progress Pac is really about.
What’s in store for us?
Hope the conspiracy will be revealed after the summer break.
.
Here’s another reason not to vote for a Commission of lackeys in November.
Commissioner Joy Malakoff proposed that Conflict of Interest rules to qualify for a place on an important Board be changed.
Her reason is expediency . Forget about the principle.
According to her, Miami Beach is enjoying such a boom that its impossible to get a qualified architect ,for example, to accept a seat on the Design Review Board, because they can’t afford to lose work .
In my opinion, the true reason Boards and Committees haven’t had full complements is because the Mayor stalled from Commission meeting to meeting until the perfect crony could be selected.
Absolute Power . Is that what’s required to “Just Get It Done !”?
I am one of the many residents of Miami Beach who is concerned about cronyism — or the whiff of same — on the power boards, but this is by no means a new issue. In Sins Of South Beach, former mayor Alex Daoud talks about being bribed and pressured to appoint a son of the banker Abel Holtz to the Zoning Board of Adjustment…which Daoud does. Then, as Daoud recounts it, he says he is pressured to appoint yet another Holtz son to this board, and this time he says no. (See another person’s opinion on this matter at )
None of this was unusual, according to Daoud. Does it still happen? Perhaps it does. There have been some odd nominations to power boards in the opinion of more than a few people — I include myself here — and this is discouraging to citizens who want transparency in government.
Well-respected newsman Michael Putney spoke out on what is sadly happening on Miami Beach this Sunday on television. It was re-posted on the blog Random Pixels. Please read:
http://randompixels.blogspot.com/2015/07/michael-putney-blasts-miami-beach-mayor.html?m=1
You can sense that Miami Beach is having buyer’s remorse.
We are stuck with Mayor” I Don’t Need A Penny From Anyone” Levine.
He used to be ever so humble when he needed our votes.
At the recount he got FOUR votes to confirm his majority.
That was his mandate!
Mayor” I Don’t Need a Penny From Anybody”Levine’s grip on the Commission must not be allowed to turn into a chokehold stifling
all dissent.
This will happen if the three candidates he supports , get elected.
His Boards are stacked. His Blue Ribbon Committees in place.
His side- kick on the dais,who plays bad cop to his good cop ,
Commissioner “Gimme The Money” Wolfson is doing more damage to Miami Beach, before he leaves ,with proposals to change our admirable City Charter,with measures that will favor incumbents in elections,and strengthen the Mayor’s role.
We must say NO to that.
We must support candidates who will work for us,the residents.
And we should not allow our now very cocky Mayor to get away with it.
Support quality of life issues for residents, attend Land Use meeting, July 29th, 11am , 3rd floor city hall where 3 commissioners will be voting on an ordinance sponsored by Commissioner Malakoff which restricts outdoor hours of operation for alcohol beverage establishments located next to residential neighborhoods in Sunset Harbour, South of Fifth, Palm View, North Beach, and West Ave.
It is essential that residents come to this July 29th Land Use meeting! We have to show City Hall we are serious about saving our city. Please show up!
From the moment that Levine took office, it was apparent that he had big plans that did not consider the greater good of the community. His enormous greed is and has been completely transparent. His disregard for the community is blatant and glaring. I had that gut feeling about him from the start of his campaign, and my fears were solidified when I attended some of the first City Commission meetings of his tenure by the way he treated citizens with something to say about issues that he does not care about. He is an insincere shark and is destroying all of the charm of this city. Levine and his commissioners have a warped view of progress, and no regard for the very people and things that got Miami Beach back up on it’s feet in the first place. It is sickening. As a resident of Miami Beach for more than two decades, I am so down hearted about what is going on that I am considering moving to the west coast of Florida because I barely recognize this city that I have loved for so long. I’m hoping for change beginning with getting rid of Levine and his posse.