The mayor of Surfside, Florida, apologized throughout a fee assembly Tuesday, almost per week after making controversial feedback towards one of many commissioners.
Mayor Shlomo Danzinger opened Tuesday’s assembly with remarks about final week’s particular fee, saying he discovered himself grappling with a difficult state of affairs involving one of many commissioners, who was not following the established guidelines and instructions.
“Sustaining order in our dialogue turned an arduous activity, and in my frustration, I admit, I made a remark which got here off as offensive to some folks,” Danzinger mentioned. “I deeply remorse dropping my composure and never selecting my phrases extra fastidiously.”
Through the assembly on Aug. 2, 2023, the fee was discussing adjustments to the constitution, particularly about time period limits.
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Surfside, Florida, Mayor Shlomo Danzinger, left, and City Commissioner Nelly Velasquez. (City of Surfside Florida)
Because the dialogue came about, City Commissioner Nelly Velasquez continued to chime in whereas folks have been talking, inflicting the mayor to snap.
“Commissioner, please cease interrupting,” Danzinger instructed Velasquez, earlier than pausing briefly. “OK, does anyone know learn how to communicate Spanish to inform her this? As a result of I mentioned it like 4 occasions.”
The attendees set free an audible gasp as quickly because the mayor made his comment. He then picked up the gavel and started banging it.
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“Girls and gents, I want you to please not interrupt the method right here,” Danzinger mentioned.
Later within the assembly, one other merchandise within the constitution was mentioned, this time about residency.
The mayor sought to implement the residency requirement of the constitution as a result of one of many commissioners was dwelling exterior the township.
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Velasquez instructed the mayor the decision was directed towards her as a result of she bought her home “for a really good sum of money,” and lived in an condo.
The Surfside, Florida, City Fee held a gathering on Aug. 8, 2023, when Mayor Shlomo Danzinger apologized for feedback some thought-about offensive final week. (City of Surfside Florida)
After promoting her home, she mentioned, she entered a lease, so she might end her time period as a commissioner, which expires in 2024.
Velasquez mentioned placing her standing as a commissioner up for a vote was “discrimination,” calling the mayor’s actions disgraceful and distasteful.
After happening a rant, Danzinger requested Velasquez to stay to the merchandise on the agenda.
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“Please don’t interrupt me,” she mentioned.
“It’s really my job to take care of…to make sure the dialogue up right here stays targeted,” the mayor responded. “Commissioner, you’ve been speaking for six minutes straight. Please get to the purpose.”
So far as Tuesday’s apology, Danzinger mentioned he by no means meant for his phrases to harm anybody.
“It’s essential for everybody to know that my phrases have been by no means meant to harm or goal any people, nationalities or teams,” he mentioned. “Our beloved Florida is a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds, and it’s what makes us really distinctive and particular.”
Velasquez had an opportunity to handle the mayor’s feedback Tuesday, as properly.
“The mayor hasn’t actually apologized immediately towards me,” she mentioned, explaining the remark was made to everybody, not her particularly. “Thanks for recognizing you made a mistake. I did really feel very upset and damage by his feedback, as I’m Hispanic and communicate completely good Spanish and English.”
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She mentioned the feedback have been hurtful and demeaning, including that she hopes it by no means occurs once more.
“There needs to be a stage of decorum, particularly coming from the mayor himself,” Velasquez mentioned. “We want to have the ability to suppose earlier than we communicate and never have these sorts of outbursts.”
She later walked on a decision to censure the mayor due to his feedback, which was shot down, 3-2.