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Parking Wars

Several companies are vying for a lucrative Miami Beach parking contract amid political intrigue.

 

Fencing in Little Haiti

Imaginary border fences don’t make for good neighbors, but they do make for good political art.

 

Guitar Envy

Want to know what a $300,000 guitar looks like? Come to the Newport Guitar Festival.

 

NEWS

 

Miami-Dade

The school board must decide whether to force teachers to pay for their health care, whether they can afford it or not.

 

Miami Beach

Tom Velazquez says he’s reformed the building department, but not everyone’s convinced.

 

Miami Beach

A new committee will examine city business and make details more accessible

 

South Miami

It is officially ethical for a South Miami commissioner to establish a legal defense fund.

 

Aventura

A marketing guru becomes vice mayor in Aventura. Zev-oone!

 

Hollywood

Hollywood Beach is now dog-friendly.

 

COLUMNS

 

The 411

Woody Harrelson got naked. Owen Wilson took in some tennis. John Legend paid to sing happy birthday – to himself. And other adventures.

 

MMTP

Condoleezza Rice has an impressive resume. Is it enough to get her the VP nod from John McCain?

 

Groundwork

As if we didn’t know: The real estate market ain't so good these days.

 

Film

Street Kings adds nothing to the genre of LAPD-bashing tough guy movies.

 

Bites

Just when it seems quality Jewish food is endangered locally, we recall some old favorites.

 

Music

Jan Sebon and Chin Behilia take us to Haiti and Curaçao without ever leaving Miami.

 

CD Review

You know you’re in trouble when even your musical guideposts themselves become mired in hopeless obscurity.

 

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News

 April 10, 08

Aventura

Vice Mayor Zev

Aventura needs a vice mayor. Who you gonna call? 

By Lee Molloy

In a packed house for an Aventura City Commission meeting, more than a dozen citizens applauded the election of a new vice mayor on Tuesday.

Although the position is ceremonious, Zev Auerbach is now the official who would lead the city if Mayor Susan Gottleib were to become incapacitated in any way, for example, because of death or, well, some Susan-time.

“I read the charter,” Auerbach said Tuesday, to the bemusement of the audience. “And if you’re going to the day spa and you’re in the steam room where you cannot be reached, technically I’m in charge.”

Auerbach has served on the City Commission for more than six years, and this marks his second six-month stint as vice mayor. The position comes on the heels of his becoming the president of Stop Hunger Inc., an organization based in North Miami, which was founded more than 28 years ago by a former North Miami Beach vice mayor, Julius Littman. Its mission is to provide free food to the needy in South Florida. Auerbach says more than 300,000 meals are distributed each month to those who need help in the tri-county area.

Auerbach comes from a marketing background, working as creative director for Zimmerman and Partners. He is also the guy to blame for burning the catchy, “Who you gonna call? — Maroone!” into our collective South Florida consciousness.

We may be seeing a little more of Auerbach than originally expected though, after voters cast their ballots through a mail-in vote on April 22. They will vote to align city voting dates with county and national elections.

According to commissioners, this move could save taxpayers about $60,000 per election and the voter turnout would also likely increase. However, this one-time change, if approved, would extend the current four-year term of Mayor Gottlieb and Commissioners Michael Stern, Billy Joel and Luz Urbaez Wienberg from March 2009 to November 2010. Auerbach, along with Commissioners Bob Diamond and Teri Holzberg, would stay on until November 2012.

Comments? E-mail letters@miamisunpost.com

 

 
Comments? E-mail letters@miamisunpost.com