Miami Beach’s Phil Levine raises funds for Carlos Gimenez

Miami Beach’s Phil Levine raises funds for Carlos Gimenez
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Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine is having a fundraiser for Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Levine, GimenezGimenez Tuesday. Also hosting: Beach Commissioner Ricky Arriola and lobbyist Alex Heckler, who is partners with former State Rep. and original G-man Marcelo Llorente.

The event is at Levine’s company offices, Royal Media Partners at 960 Alton Rd.

Gimenez and Levine have been buddy-buddy almost since the latter was elected in 2014. They did an ice bucket challenge together (photo left). And even though the two disagreed on funding for the BayLink leg of new rail, they joined forces on battling Zika and flew to Washington together (even though Gimenez repeatedly says we have to solve our problems here) to lobby Congress for more funding.

The Beach mayor even has a cameo in a Gimenez campaign ad (so does Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez, the admitted loanshark).

Levine’s support means a lot to Gimenez, who needs Anglos (read: non Hispanic white) voters and cagbeachfundsDemocrats to gain the edge over Miami-Dade School Board member Raquel Regalado, who forced him (surprise!) into a runoff in the August primary.

But what does Levine want from Gimenez? The torch, maybe?

It is no secret that Levine originally planned to run for Miami-Dade mayor. Consultants convinced him that that would be impossible because his last name doesn’t end with a non-silent vowel or a Z. But Ladra hears he is a stubborn man. While we also believe that he has eyed the governor’s mansion, maybe he holds out hope that he can compete in a crowded Miami-Dade field come 2020 when Gimenez is termed out. He may think he’d have a helluva leg up with the predecessor’s blessing.

Or maybe he just wants Gimenez and his monied pals — Heckler et al — to help him raise funds for the governor’s race?

Nah. Levine is a proud millionaire who likes to self-fund his campaigns and buy little old Cuban ladies with chachkies and salsa parties.

In fact, why is he hosting a fundraiser at all? Can’t he just write a check for whatever it is he’d raise?

Ladra can’t wait to see how many Beach city vendors are on Gimenez’s next campaign report.

8 Responses to "Miami Beach’s Phil Levine raises funds for Carlos Gimenez"

  1. Only two of what were three dozen affordable rentals for full time residents remain in my old neighborhood. 99% of the apartments are inestor owned condos rented by the night on the internet. There are no restaurants for locals. The people of Miami Beach elected David Dermer and now Jonah Wolfsons stoige Philip Levine n they have traded a community for a tacky low rent overpriced slum

  2. City of Miami Beach has lost its ‘panache;’ it’s not what it used be. Now the city is a magnet for urban violent criminals. Levine is as feckless as Gimenez has been on violent crimes; with allies like Levine. Who needs adversaries. Besides, Gimenez’ obstinate use of ‘NALED,’ has not endeared him with Miami Beach voters.

  3. Carlos Gimenez raises taxes and fees almost every single year. Gimenez is always pandering to his union buddies. The taxpayers always get screwed.

  4. Whenever anyone is involved with anything, it is being done with corruption in mind

  5. Just more of the same old same old. You wash my hands and I’ll wash yours. Politics as usual for the “special interests” that pay to have access to Corrupt Mayor Gimenez. He openly flaunts his disregard for the citizens. And it clearly shows his only concern is the power he can achieve through his “special interest” friends. Whether it’s developers, looking for tax breaks with taxpayer money. Or politicians looking to feed off of his power and influence for political power and gain. The citizens and animals deserve better.

  6. Gimenez is on a lot of Beach voters’ hate lists after all the aerial Naled spraying that rubbed many the wrong way. Gimenez and the county authorized those flyovers. He’s lost an untold number of their votes for that.

    How politically tone-deaf of Levine to be gifting fellow good ole boy Gimenez with this reception when many Beach residents are so pissed off with Carlos that they’d rather treat him to a BBQ — with HIM as the roasted pig on a spit.

    GO RAQUEL! Go girl! You’re far better than those 2 fools.

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