Miami Beach PAC seems to cast wider net than city race

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zoning change debates, particularly on the North Beach project by Custin’s client, and turn any proposed zoning changes to an independent panel.

“We cannot bend to the demands of one developer and his well-connected consultant,” Urstadt said.

Yes, but wouldn’t that dry up the PAC contributions?

“Thank you for the compliment. I look pretty good as well,” was the only thing Levine shot back at him, referring to his remark about how the mayor looked good in the video.

Remember, Levine and Wolfson need those funds — despite the mayor being a millionaire who bought his last election — to help get the next three pocket commissioners elected.

In a PAC paid mailer from Commissioner Wolfson — who is termed out and might be looking to become the next city attorney — he openly writes about picking his not just his successor but also state candidates.

“As my second term comes to an end, I look to shift my focus slightly,” Wolfson says in the mailer, which arrived at homes, at least in North Beach, earlier this month.

“Miami Beach is impacted on a daily basis by decisions made not just here in our city, but statewide. Preservation, traffic, flooding, transparency, education and public safety are not issues that stay inside our borders,” he writes to “Dear Neighbor” in a piece that, laughably, says “demand transparency” on one side as well as “honor preservation,” which many Beach activists say is the opposite of what’s been happening.

“To get the most for our city, we have to make sure that the right people are elected, here and outside of our borders. So, over the next few months, I will look closely to see who is running to serve you on our city commission,” Wolfson said, as if he is not already in the tank for Levine’s trio.

“And I will fight to get the right people elected to represent us and our interests outside of Miami Beach.”

Is he talking about Commissioner Deede Weithorn, who had filed to run for state House when Rep. David Richardson was running for Senate? Weithorn has publicly raised concerns and suspicion about Wolfson’s PAC and perhaps he will fund a candidate against her.

Or is he positioning himself to run against her? Or for some other county or state office?

Or is it all just bullshit posturing so he can try to remain relevant as a lame duck?

Some people are already beginning to smell something rotten.

Ladra got several emails from concerned voters who said that Levine does not seem the same humble guy who came to their door a couple years ago for their vote. The mainstream media is beginning to look closer, too.

And now the Ethics Commission has begun to investigate the alleged shakedowns made for the PAC (might we suggest they start with Custin’s clients? Especially the developer of that Ocean Terrace tower).

But that is not enough. Voters must be educated and realize what Levine can do if he owns every last commissioner on that dais except for Micky Steinberg, who is too scared stiff to do anything.

And they need an alternative. Someone has to run against this mayor and his ego.

Weithorn, who admits she’s been encouraged to, is the best shot. Naturally, she is afraid to waste her time against the well-financed machine the mayor can use to chew up anybody. After all, if it gets close, all Levine has to do is throw more money into it, like he did with his first election.

And now, it’s not all his own money.

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Jonah Wolfson, Miami Beach politics, Philip Levine

Miami Beach PAC seems to cast wider net than city race added by Ladra on July 24, 2015
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