For a better commission, cast a vote for Cabrera
What a difference four years can make. Back in 2016, this editorial board recommended Hallandale Beach voters elect Anabelle Lima-Taub, believing shewould change the decorum and direction of the city commission.
Her election changed the decorum, all right, but not in the direction we had hoped. Who would have guessed she’d generate headlines around theworld for suggesting a Muslim congresswoman might blowup Capitol Hill?
Without apology, Lima-Taub doubled down on her remark, calling her critics anti-Semitic, enemies of the First Amendment and terrorist sympathizers. She also developed a very public friendship with far-right activist Laura Loomer, who has a penchant for throwing the white power “OK” hand sign, has been barred from just about every social media site and has accused grieving students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School of reading from a script.
What happened here? What happened to the candidate who promised to put the interests of Hallandale Beach first, who promised to address development and traffic pressures, and who promised to bring civility back to city hall?
So here we are. Lima-Taub’s first election since her public reprimand for promoting bigotry, fueling hatred and creating a hostile environment for the region’s Muslim community.
Lima-Taub has little good to report about her four years in office. In her Sun Sentinel candidate questionnaire, she says that “my city’s quality-of-life formy fellow neighbors and residents has greatly declined.”
“Violent crimes are up this year. In the first seven months of this year we have had more shootings combined than 2019 in its entirety. … The quality of life has been on a decline from city wide trash overflow to a surge in homeless population (which must be handled compassionately). I have not been successful in tackling these issues because for the majority ofmy first four year term I have been in the minority and often out voted.”
As a candidate, Lima-Taub— nowthe wife of a police officer— had promised to focus on public safety, having been the victim of crime. But in this post-George Floyd era, she seems incapable of seeing the need to balance police morale with the need to make police reforms. Instead, she encourages the replacement of another commissioner, Michele Lazarow, with someone friendlier to police unions.
Says Cynthia Cabrera, the most impressive candidate in the race: “The incumbent has been spreading a message that the city is unsafe— thatwe need more police (despite an increase in police personnel) and police funding. Hallandale Beach’s police chief says crime dropped by 7.9 percent in 2019.”
“We need smart and efficient policing, not fear-mongering,” Cabrera said in her questionnaire.
Cabrera is unquestionably the best candidate for Seat 3.
A17-year city resident and an entrepreneur in the vaping industry, Cabrera has the right priorities and has not given herself over to cynicism about the city or its potential.
“The incumbent said recently at a meeting, about a month ago, that she discourages people from moving here— as a Realtor, she discourages people from moving here,” Cabrera said in our joint candidate interview.
“I’ve lived here 17 years, and I will say Hallandale is very different than when I moved here— it has gotten better. … Even with the flooding, even with the traffic, even with all the issues we’ve got here, Hallandale is a gem. It just needs a little polishing.”
Cabrera says her top priorities would be the city budget, addressing infrastructure, and improving the civility and professionalism on the city commission.
The other three candidates are: Javonta McCoy, a Broward Schools campus monitor and member of the city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. He did not return his questionnaire or participate in the candidate interview.
Ann Shires-Henigson, a retired legal secretary and perennial candidate who cites the need to address term limits on the city commission, end the revolving door in the city manager’s office and address traffic and affordable housing.
Matt Lorenzo, a pharmacy technician and real estate agent, who wants to address the increasing crime rate, deteriorating infrastructure and resources for our aging and vulnerable residents.
Maggie Ivanovski, who appears to be active in the Golden Horn Condominium Association and may be a real estate agent. She has no campaign website and did not respond to requests to participate in the endorsement process.