The Campaign

Miami Beach commission candidate Mark Weithorn wants you to know that he cares about parking.

In fact, he’s running on the campaign promise to solve all the parking problems in Miami Beach!

In an email blast, as well as on his campaign website, Mark claims that he’s “been studying these issues for many years.”

No kidding!

#Dirty Politician Mark Weithorn has been “studying these issues” while sitting on the city’s Transportation, Parking, Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Committee at least as long as his wife’s been a Miami Beach commissioner!

The Committee

There are there are thirty three citizen boards and committees in Miami Beach.

In general, committee members are either appointed by the mayor and commission or designated by community organizations of which they are also members.

With respect to the Transportation, Parking, Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Committee, Sec. 2-190.94 notes that this advisory board “shall consist of fourteen (14) voting members,” seven of which are appointed by the Mayor and Commission, and the remaining members are designated as “permanent coordinating representatives” by seven named community organizations.

The Delegate

One such community organization is the North Beach Development Corporation of Miami Beach, Inc., a Florida non-profit corporation, which was organized in 1995.

In 2005, three of the long-time members were removed from the company, and out of the blue, Mark Weithorn became the brand new Director and PRESIDENT!

Then all hell broke loose!

In 2007, the corporation was dissolved for non-filing, reinstated later that year, never even filed for 2009, and reinstated again in 2010.

Since 2010, the organization has had only two officers – President Carol Housen and Treasurer Mark Weithorn.

Interestingly, the NBDC’s website lists six other individuals on its Board of Directors, but their names do not appear on the Annual Reports filed with the Secretary of State.

I’m pretty sure that’s illegal, but whatever.  Not surprised.

Even less surprising, Mark Weithorn has been NBDC’s designated “permanent coordinating representative” of the Miami Beach Transportation, Parking, Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Committee since 2007, despite the fact that the corporation was dissolved TWICE since he was on the NBDC board, including all of 2009 while it administratively dissolved.

Apparently, no one at the city noticed he was illegally sitting on the committee for an entire year.

But that’s not even the worst of it.

The Technicality

Since 1994, there has been an anti-nepotism ordinance in place, and added to the City Code in Sec. 2-448, which states that “no relative of any member of the Miami Beach City Commission may be appointed, employed, promoted or advanced in or to a position in the City of Miami Beach if the City Commission exercises jurisdiction or control over said appointment, employment, promotion or advancement.”

This ordinance specifically refers to any members of the citizen boards and committees to which the members of the city commission make appointments.

But … but, you ask, how did Mark manage to get appointed to this committee if his wife is a commissioner?

The answer can be summed up in one all-inclusive word:  LOOPHOLE!

Considering that the North Beach Development Corporation is one of the seven community organizations allowed to “designate a permanent coordinating representative,” and considering that only two individuals control this organization, is anyone shocked that #DirtyPolitician Mark Weithorn was “appointed” to the Miami Beach Transportation, Parking, Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Committee?

Even less shocking, he’s the Chair of the Committee.

The Permit

Mark’s wife, Deede Weithorn, was first elected to the Miami Beach Commission in November of 2007.  One of the “perks” of her office is a “FREE” lifetime parking permit, which entitles her to park anywhere she wants in Miami Beach, free of charge, FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE!

Anyone who has ever tried to park a car in Miami Beach knows it’s not cheap!

According to the Parking Fee Schedule on the city’s website, metered parking costs between $1.00 and $1.75 per hour, depending on location.  Special event parking is $20.00.  Parking at any of the city’s ten municipal garages costs up to $20.00 per day, but residents can purchase parking permits for those garages at rates between $74.90 and $112.35 per month.

If an ordinary citizen wanted to, he could purchase permits for all of those garages at a price of $743.65 per month, or $8,923.80 per year.

Not counting the charge of $20.00 for “special event” parking.

I’m also told that residents can also purchase permits for on-street metered parking for approximately $500.00 per year, although this information does not appear to be posted on the city’s website.

Because she’s an elected official in Miami Beach, Deede Weithorn receives approximately $10,000.00 worth of “FREE” PARKING privileges per year FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE!

Mark Weithorn basically appointed himself to the Transportation, Parking, Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Committee around the same time his wife took office.

Neither Deede Weithorn nor the committee on which her husband sits have EVER proposed a single proposal or piece of legislation dealing with the parking problems in Miami Beach.

NOT A SINGLE ONE!

And yet, Mark Weithorn is now campaigning on the promise to finally fix them!

After all, he’s been “studying these issues for many years.”

And getting “FREE” PARKING while doing so.

Yes.  You read that right.

As long as he’s a member in good standing of the Transportation, Parking, Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Committee, #DirtyPolitician Mark Weithorn gets a “FREE” PARKING permit.

Isn’t THAT  special?

The Free Ride

If Weithorn wins the election this November, he’ll have to give up his seat on the committee.

But then he’ll get “FREE” PARKING FOR LIFE!

Either way, he still gets to suck off the lowly taxpayers who foot the bill for the parking permits most of them can’t afford themselves.

Then again, “FREE” PARKING is just one more benefit of the Mark Weithorn #DirtyPolitician Friends & Family Plan!

Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”