After a chaotic and uncontrolled avalanche of party crowds during the spring break of 2020 that ended in arrests, ongoing curfews and the ultimate closure to vehicle traffic to the street, a southbound lane is opening again in South Beach’s Ocean Drive along with a temporary pedestrian plaza, following months of discussions and holiday delays, …
Ocean Drive to restore cars, add pedestrian plaza Read More »
After winning their respective elections this month, Miami Beach’s newly elected and reelected city leaders took their oaths of office Monday and called for civility after a divisive campaign season. Mayor Dan Gelber and Commissioner Mark Samuelian, who won reelection Nov. 2, were sworn into office along with two newly elected commissioners, Kristen Rosen Gonzalez …
Miami Beach mayor, commissioners sworn in after election wins. They call for civility Read More »
Both candidates are netting support more than nine months before the November election. A prominent LGBT rights organization is endorsing a pair of Miami Beach officials seeking reelection this fall. Equality Florida Action PAC is backing Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber and Miami Beach City Commissioner Mark Samuelian in their respective reelection bids. … Gelber is seeking a third and …
In a special meeting to discuss proposals to fix what Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber calls the “anything goes” atmosphere in the City’s South Beach Entertainment District, Commissioner Mark Samuelian summed up the discussion with the word “frustrating.” After praising the City’s Police Department for its work and efforts to increase enforcement, all of the …
Miami Beach Continues to Wrestle with its South Beach Entertainment District Read More »
Commissioner Mark Samuelian said he wanted to see “more data, more fact-based analysis” of projects. “With the size of money flying around, I really think we need to elevate our game.” Referencing the “unique challenges” faced by the City in terms of sea level rise and flooding, he said he wanted to “raise the bar …
Renewal of City Manager’s Contract Agreed to in Principle Read More »
Commissioner Mark Samuelian, who has pushed for the inspector general’s office, said he thinks the initiative will end up saving the city money over the long run. “One of the main functions of the inspector general is to help the city government work more efficiently, so if you think about it, even if the inspector …
With overwhelming support from voters, Miami Beach creates a watchdog for City Hall Read More »
Mark Samuelian who is going through his first budget process on the Commission and as a member of the Finance Committee said, “We keep running into the CPI thing” referencing the lack of automatic increases to keep up with the Consumer Price Index. “Costs go up every year. We’ve waited years without acknowledging cost increases… …
Critics of the salary increase, including Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, have questioned whether elected officials should recommend their own raises. Gelber said earlier in the month that he would support a review of commissioner salaries by a third-party group as long as any changes didn’t impact current officeholders. Commissioners Micky Steinberg and Mark Samuelian …
Miami Beach voters reject $40,000 raise for city officials by a slim margin Read More »
In June, four Commissioners voted in favor of adding the item to the August 28th ballot: Ricky Arriola, John Alemán, Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, and item sponsor Michael Góngora. Commissioners Mark Samuelian and Micky Steinberg voted no. Mayor Dan Gelber left the meeting early to attend his daughter’s high school graduation but was later quoted by …
Update: Pay Raise for Mayor and Commissioners on August Ballot Read More »
