Opinion: Margate’s Future at Risk Due to Political Contributions and Poor Development Decisions

Commissioner Anthony Caggiano, Nina Culver, Juli Van Der Meulen, Vice Mayor Arlene Schwartz, Robert Reiner, and Mayor Tommy Ruzzano.

By Rich Zucchini

Most of us are too busy with work, family, and personal life to review what is happening locally. We all assume that our elected officials will be rational and have residents’ interests in mind; at least, that’s how I felt, but then, in 2017, it all changed for me.

I came upon a Margate issue that I found egregiously wrong. Some elected officials contracted to sell our precious downtown, which has a $33 million value, for only $10 million and obligated Margate’s CRA to build infrastructure costing $9 million.

For what gain?

We were to net only $1 million for 968 apartments, 3-story walkups, and inadequate parking in what was supposed to be our city entertainment center. We can lay the blame on current commissioner Joanne Simone and former commissioner Le Peerman.

So now, let’s review those commission candidates collecting substantial contributions, and are they unduly influenced by political donations?:

• Anthony Caggiano: Developing quite a war chest ($19750), substantially from developers’ interests; Ron Book $1000, Ron Book PA $1000. Ron Book is our Florida lobbyist; he can do a good job, but it looks like he will be rehired with these contributions). Dunay, Miskal and Backman $250, REZ Ventures $1000, REZ Elizabeth LLC $1000, REZ Real Estate Svcs $1000, Saulo Perez (REZ developer) $1000, REZ SE Land LLC $1000, It’s a pretty safe bet we will be seeing a development project from REZ, Hilderbrand Amusement $1000, fair provider, Medalist Restaurant Group $500, Lions Auto Body, a local business, MT Investors $1000, Nob Hill Miami LLC $1000, Les Chalet Investments $1000, Legacy Palms Apts $1000, CC Meadowgreen Realty $1000, Dale Holness $250,  Dunay, Miskal and Backman $250 (again), Amera Pavilion Ltd $1000, Amera Realty Ltd $1000, South Dade Two LLC $500, Fimiani Development Corp $500,  Law Offices of Berman & Berman $250, Willow Tree Plaza LLC $500, Pennyrile Marketplace LLC $500, Dunay, Miskal, and Backman LLP $250 (again), Badger Wolverine $250, Greenspoon Marder $250.
• Arlene Schwartz: ($14,800) Ron Book PA $1000, Ron Book $1000, Hildebrand Amusement Rides $1000, the fair provider, Saulo Perez, REZ developer $1000, REZ Ventures $1000, REZ Elizabeth $1000, REZ SE Land LLC $1000, REZ Real Estate Services, LLC $1000, Dunay, Miskel and Backman, LLP $250, Dunay, Miskal and Backman, LLP $500, Equity Land Title LLC $500, Greenspoon Marder Llp $500, Sunbelt Manager LLC $1000, Saulo Perez PA $1000, Sunbelt Partners $1000, Gisele Rahael $1000, Dunay, Miskal and Backman, LLP $250, Greenspoon Marder, LLC $250, Badger Wolverine, LLC $250.

As a result, you can be assured that the city will be flooded with signs paid for by developer interests. So remember that when you see their signs. While these contributions are lawful, the real question remains can a commissioner make unbiased decisions on any issues raised by these contributors that come before the commission and even City staff? The answer will come from you, our resident voters, to decide.

I propose the following: For any issues these contributors raise, the current commissioners consider a resolution requiring recipient commissioners to recuse themselves from voting on those issues. They can review and discuss the issue, giving their input, however, should not be the deciding vote.

At the very least, we need a resolution that requires commissioners to disclose every time an issue is raised for discussion that involves directly or indirectly one of their contributors; only this will result in true transparency.

I want to thank the following candidates for not relying on special interest contributions:

Rob Reiner for Seat 2 is personally funding his own campaign and has spent substantial personal funds in a non-conventional way by sharing his message through community events. He has shown a real passion for Margate’s interests, our first responders, and our local businesses.

Nina Culver, a guardian ad litem for Seat 1, has always supported Margate’s first responders and runs this campaign with clean hands, far from special interests.

Mayor Ruzzano has an unquestionable record of representing residents, even making courageous, firm, unsolicited intentions, often in defiance of city attorney cautions.

I personally previously met or spoke with the other non-incumbent candidates and can categorically state they don’t have a solid capacity for commissioner-level issues.

Dan Booker, former Margate fire chief and recently departed Hollywood fire chief, as Margate’s Fire Chief spoke at the podium denying his request for a new station, which would replace a mold-infested one, with a convoluted explanation, against his own fire department needs, and was a proponent of the developer that tried taking advantage of our city center.

As chair of the Margate Planning and Zoning Board, I worked with Julie VanDerMeulin, and from experience, I can say she is not equipped for commission-level issues. She runs on a Keep Margate Green platform and is a tag-along with Arlene Schwartz, who made one of the most egregious anti-Margate Green decisions by not acquiring the Palm Lakes Golf Course and instead allowing it to be owned by a developer.

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