Move over Trump and Cruz. Yesterday, Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine denounced a mystery PAC as purveying “lies” to stop an 800-room hotel he said is necessary for the future of the convention center and the city itself.
We were on hand outside Hall C as Levine cited robocalls and a massive letter drop as containing blatant misstatements (e.g., that it will cost taxpayers $400M, whereas in fact it will be 100% privately funded) aimed at influencing voters for a March 15 referendum that requires 60% approval. The PAC’s organizers won’t be disclosed until days before the election, and speakers speculated that gaming interests are behind it, both because the hotel excludes developers involved in the industry and because it would represent competition for existing or potential casino resorts.
Auto king Norman Braman, who serves as chairman of the host committee of Art Basel, made it clear: “It would be a big mistake not to approve” the hotel, he said, adding, “I can tell you that Art Basel has made it clear to me that they will look elsewhere if the hotel isn’t built.” Speakers explained that large conventions today insist on plentiful on-site accommodations. To concerns about added traffic, they said studies indicate it will actually be eased as users of the convention center stay on the property rather than commute from home or offsite hotels. They also cited estimates that the hotel would add 1,400 jobs and $25M a year in lease and tax payments to the city, which would retain the land.
Greater Miami Convention Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Bill Talbert and Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce chairman Michael Goldberg say the center currently hosts 50 consumer shows (to which attendees tend to commute from the region) and five conventions (where they stay nearby multiple nights), and they would like to flip the ratio to five and 50, which would require the hotel. Other strong supporters gathered included Commissioners John Elizabeth Aleman and Joy Malakoff, former state senator Dan Gelber, and South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce president Liliam Lopez. Note to Bill: that T-shirt is spiffy enough that on a 75 degree day, we would excuse the informality if you jettisoned the long-sleever under it.
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