SURFSIDE, Fla. – Surfside’s mayor faced a possible public reprimand over his use of what a proposed resolution describes as a “racist remark” directed towards a Hispanic commissioner, however commissioners voted early Wednesday morning not to censure Mayor Shlomo Danzinger.
It’s been more than one month since Danzinger found himself embroiled in controversy over the remarks, directed towards Surfside Town Commissioner Nelly Velasquez, that can be perceived as racist.
The tension was palpable at Tuesday’s town commission meeting.
“For you to come here and insult former elected officials and insult this town is unacceptable, and I will not tolerate that anymore,” Velasquez said during the meeting. “Analyze who you’re really working for, because it ain’t the residents of Surfside.”
The comments in question came during a meeting on Aug. 2, when the mayor was speaking for a proposal that would extend the term limits of the elected officials, to which Velasquez kept interrupting him in a low voice to express her disdain.
Even though her comments were not picked up by the microphones, Danzinger then uttered in frustration: “Does anybody know how to speak Spanish to tell it to her?”
Local 10 News spoke with Velasquez Tuesday, who said that she was shocked after hearing the comments. She said they’re still a hot topic at Surfside Town Hall and with residents.
“At first I was so shocked,” she said. “It was very offensive what he said.”
Velasquez believes she was the target of a major insult by Danzinger following a debate over moving to a staggered election system from two-year to four-year terms.
“It was very hurtful, very humiliating, and it’s just not right, especially here in Miami that we have a large Hispanic community,” she said. “You don’t say that to anybody.”
As they both continued to argue back and forth, Danzinger told Velasquez that she should be respectful to other commissioners and not interrupt.
“Ms. Velazquez, if you want to interrupt -- I’ve asked you to stop. “You’re disrupting the process of government here. I’m asking you to be respectful to your other commissioners here. You will have the opportunity to talk,” said Danzinger at last month’s town commission meeting.
Velazquez apologized during the Aug. 2 meeting, but later asked the town commission to censure the mayor.
Commissioners were set to vote Tuesday on the resolution that calls the mayor’s behavior “unacceptable” and states that “he must refrain from slurs or comments directed at colleagues and/or town residents which shame, demean or target one based on being a member of a minority group.”
Velasquez told Local 10 News that she tried to bring up a similar resolution as an add-in after it was not on the agenda at last month’s commission meeting and was voted against 3-2.
At the commission meeting on Aug. 8, Danzinger addressed his comments by sending the community a message.
“In my frustration, I admit, I made a comment which came up offensive to some people. I deeply regret losing my composure,” he said.
Local 10 News reached out to Danzinger, who emailed the following statement Tuesday afternoon.
Danzinger did not answer any questions on camera Tuesday night.
Below is a breakdown of the vote:
Shlomo Danzinger, Mayor -- NO
Jeffrey Rose, Vice Mayor -- NO
Fred Landsman, Commissioner -- NO
Marianne Meischeid, Commissioner -- YES
Nelly Velasquez, Commissioner -- YES
Read the censure resolution here: