Florida Dem Gov Candidate Philip Levine’s Erratic Leadership Comes at a High Cost For Miami Beach Residents

Florida Democrat gubernatorial candidate Philip Levine is known for touting his efforts to build a seawall in Miami Beach. In hopes of being able to score political points for the project, as Mayor, Levine often demanded the city “just get it done.”

But, because of Levine’s erratic demands and willingness to cut corners, Miami Beach ran “afoul of environmental regulations,” even failing to obtain the necessary permits. Now, in order to correct these mistakes, the city may have to tear down and rebuild the seawall, further increasing the cost of a project that is already $5 million over budget. This costly error is just another example of Levine’s infamous “bizarre” temperament.

The Miami Herald Reports:

“Miami Beach has run afoul of environmental regulations by building an unpermitted seawall, prompting the firing of the engineer who has overseen other city projects to prepare for sea level rise.

The seawall may have to be torn down and rebuilt, further boosting the cost of a sea level rise project that is expected to be $5 million over budget.

Work on the seawall along Indian Creek Drive has been halted while the city sorts through regulatory problems on a project originally pegged at $25 million. The project is key to the city’s plans to adapt infrastructure in the face of worsening flooding as the sea levels rise and climate changes.

…

The city has pushed projects forward at a faster-than-usual pace by waiving bidding when awarding contracts, declaring emergencies to expedite work, and now, flouting the federal permitting process. The pace of the Beach’s work has been informed by a ‘just get it done’ attitude that was espoused by former mayor and current gubernatorial candidate Levine.”