Mayor Philip Levine has control issues with committees

Mayor Philip Levine has control issues with committees

You could tell right away that newly elected Miami Beach Mayor Philip “Fix It Phil” Levine got a little high on his sudden rush to power. He was quick to tell Commissioner Ed Tobin that it was his turn to control the meeting right after he was sworn in last week and actually got giddy […]

Michael Grieco’s open door policy goes off the hinges

Michael Grieco’s open door policy goes off the hinges

Newly-elected Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Grieco brandished tools from the dais when he told the hundreds of supporters who went to his swearing-in last week that he was going to take the door to his City Hall office off its hinges. Well, that’s one promise kept so far. The door came off Tuesday, leaving his […]

Kumbaya! New Miami Beach electeds start with unity call

Kumbaya! New Miami Beach electeds start with unity call

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 […]

Miami Beach elections leave no Hispanic representation

Miami Beach elections leave no Hispanic representation

Miami Beach voters went for sweeping change Tuesday, throwing out both incumbents and choosing a fresh face over a longtime activist. But the change was cultural as well as political. Because for the first time in almost 20 years, there is not one single Hispanic elected official to represent the majority of the population in […]

Matti Bower, Jorge Exposito out in Miami Beach runoff

Matti Bower, Jorge Exposito out in Miami Beach runoff

Final results are in and the incumbents in the Miami Beach runoff are out. Challenging candidates Michael Grieco and Joy Malakoff increased their early lead in absentee ballots and early voting to beat Commissioner Jorge Exposito and Mayor Matti Bower in their respective runoffs quite handily. Well, with a wider margin than the newly elected […]

Early voting and ABs in Miami Beach have incumbents losing

Early voting and ABs in Miami Beach have incumbents losing

If the trends continue, both incumbents in the Miami Beach elections may be spending their last days at City Hall next week. According to the Miami-Dade Elections Department, and with only absentee ballots and early voting counted, both Michael Grieco and Joy Malakoff are winning their respective races against Commissioner Jorge Exposito and Mayor Matti […]

Anti-Hispanic race card pulled out in Miami Beach elections

Anti-Hispanic race card pulled out in Miami Beach elections

Two of the big profile candidates in the upcoming Miami Beach elections say that that other candidates, including their main challengers, are running anti-Hispanic campaigns against them. Mayor Matti Bower, a native Cuban who is running for commission, and Commissioner Michael Gongora, who his her hand-picked half-Cuban successor in the mayoral race, both told Ladra […]