Four in race for mayor of Hollywood debate city’s future growth
HOLLYWOOD — High taxes. Extreme gridlock. And an unprecedented wave of high-rise development.
All three topics are on the minds of Hollywood residents as the city gears up for election season. Come Nov. 5, Hollywood voters will elect a mayor and two commissioners who will have a say in the city's future approach to taxes, development, traffic and more.
Josh Levy, an attorney first elected mayor in 2016, has drawn three challengers: Eduardo Flores, an app developer; Catherine "Cat" Uden, an activist and former teacher who now works on environmental legislation for a nonprofit organization; and Peter Hanna, a business consultant.
All three are making their first run for office.
Three candidates are running for District 2: Peter Hernandez, a former Hollywood commissioner, and political newcomers Jill Tracey Folmar and Richard Walker. Three rivals also are competing for the District 6 commission seat: Idelma Quintana, the incumbent; and political newcomers Jamil Devante Richards and Claudia Villatoro.
Residents got a preview of the candidates in all three races at a spirited forum at the DoubleTree Resort hosted by the Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and moderated by South Florida Sun Sentinel Deputy Opinions Editor Dan Sweeney.
This story focuses on the four candidates running for mayor. Their comments have been edited for brevity.
Opening remarks
Levy: I've lived in Hollywood for 47 out of my soon-to-be 50 years. I graduated from Hollywood Hills High School. I graduated from the University of Florida. I earned my law degree at Nova Southeastern University. When I first purchased my home in Hollywood I quickly became involved in my neighborhood civic association. I also served on city boards. I was elected mayor in 2016 knowing that together we can do great things. After eight years as mayor, I think you can all agree that we've done some really amazing things. We have a flourishing city in many respects, but there's a lot of work still to do. I'm looking forward to serving a final four years and making all that happen for us.
Flores: What I believe we need is collaboration here in the city. What I'm looking to do is create a community-invested trust and create economic opportunities to address the sanitation crisis that is plaguing our city and to create a proper public safety budget. It's no joke that the garbage pickup needs to be addressed. CBS News is referring to us as the No. 18 dirtiest city in the entire country. I'm looking to be your next mayor of Hollywood to resolve your issues.
Uden: I've lived in Hollywood for over 20 years with my husband and my two sons. I was a teacher for Broward County public schools for 15 years. I taught 13 years right here in Hollywood at Stirling Elementary. I was a teacher because I cared about the future of our youth. I moved on in 2018 to work with one of the world's largest international nonprofit organizations, working on the protection of our oceans. I did that because I care about the future of our oceans and our planet. And now I'm running for mayor because I care about the future of our city. I want to make sure it's a place that isn't congested, that we protect our special places in our city. You've seen over the years how I'm willing to fight for you, and I'll keep fighting for you as mayor.
Hanna: I'm a South Florida native. I've been in Hollywood for about 30 years. I literally watched the city evolve. I grew up here, went to school here. And I see where we're going. Development is coming. So we have to take a sustainable approach. Another thing we want to focus on is accountability and communication between the city and the constituents. That seems to be an ongoing issue. We need to be accessible.
It's been about 10 years since the city spent millions to buy out the homeless shelter on Federal Highway. In less than two weeks, the state's new ban on sleeping on public property will go into effect. If you are mayor, what is your plan to comply with the state law?
Levy: The law taking effect will allow businesses and residents to sue Hollywood if the city does not respond to a call about someone lodging outdoors. The city has a longtime ordinance that does not allow public lodging. We've handled it with compassion over the years. The Hollywood Police Department has a homeless task force. In recent years, we've created the city's first ever homeless services plan. We've increased and invested dollars in the number of beds available for our police department to bring homeless folks to a shelter. We will have to enforce the state law and it will create an opportunity for us to bring (more) people to a shelter. That's what I aspire to do and that's what our police department's instructions are.
Flores: The affordable housing out there right now is definitely not affordable. That being said, I think we need to remove the stigma of the term homeless. Let's face it, these are residents in need. Nobody wakes up one day and decides, 'Oh, I'm going to be homeless.' What we need to do is figure out a way to address the issue. What I'd like to do is create a center to evaluate the issues causing homelessness to address what these residents need. A lot of the homeless we have in Hollywood are veterans. How are we to turn our backs on people when they've served our country only to come home and be forgotten?
Uden: I think we need to work together with the Florida League of Cities more. I'm sure there's so many municipalities that are worried about this law and are trying to come up with a solution right now. As mayor, I hope to be deeply involved in the Florida League of Cities to see what challenges we can face together. (Legislators in) Tallahassee pass all kinds of laws without thinking very much about how it's going to affect local municipalities or how they're going to pay for it. We have a very good homeless task force right now. A lot of affordable housing being built right now is not very affordable. We have to look at that as well and how to gear it towards lower income people.
Hanna: When this law goes into effect, it's going to be extra work for the police. That also has to be factored into the equation. How do we make it as friendly or as amicable as possible for people in the city and for the homeless? We need to have specific programs that will help with rental properties. Some landlords are afraid to partake in programs because (they're afraid) of damage. That's a big concern. If the landlords are assured that will be taken care of, that will help in that direction.
Two years ago, the Hollywood commission voted 5-2 to allow a private condo on public land on the beach. The 190-unit project at 1301 S. Ocean Drive called for a 347-foot-high tower that would rise on taxpayer-owned land. Had you been on the commission, how would you have voted and why? For Josh Levy, why did you vote yes?
Levy: It was an unsolicited proposal that came to the city that would allow us to rebuild our community center with a new center that would overlook the ocean, add additional parking and expand the adjacent park, all at no cost to the city while creating tens of millions of additional revenue to the city that could be invested in infrastructure needs. (Levy says he pushed for the project to incorporate climate adaptability as well.) Two years later, the project hasn't come back with a site plan. It hasn't even gone through the county process to meet required approvals there. The project is timing out. And you know what, it's not the end of the world if that project doesn't go forward.
Flores: I know the 1301 project was a hot topic and my opponent (Cat Uden) decided to run for mayor because of it. But if I was on the City Commission at that time I would most likely have denied it simply due to the public outcry. If there's enough people out there that don't want to see something get done, then it shouldn't happen. The city needs an administration that's going to focus on the needs of the residents and not the will of developers.
Uden: Everybody knows what my vote would be. The 1301 project was a horrible slap in the face to residents. It totally went against our city master plan. Climate adaptability and a 30-story condo tower on public land on the coast of South Florida in the year 2024 shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath. If you believe in climate change and sea-level rise, it should be Smart Planning 101 that you don't do that. That land was dedicated to the public for parks, recreation, open space and public use. It was given to us in exchange for allowing Summit Towers (a condo next door) to have higher height and density. It should never have been considered. If you're an elected official who could not understand why the public was so upset about that, you do not understand Hollywood. You don't understand residents. And that is why we need a change.
Hanna: I also would have voted no. That little strip of beach we have in Hollywood, there's not much of that anymore. You used to be able to find that all the way down the coast, from Boca down. All that's gone. It's a concrete jungle. Look at Sunny Isles. Look at Miami Beach. It's not what we want. It's not what the public wants. Not to mention, that kind of building on the barrier island, the infrastructure is not there for it.
The moderator gave Levy a chance to respond to the criticism voiced by other candidates: I can appreciate the sentiments of those who did not want to see this project move forward. The project would have still preserved 80 percent of the property for the same uses that are there today. So you can understand the reason the commission voted 5-2 (to approve it). Residents did speak out against it. I take that to heart. Sometimes you learn lessons in leadership. Just realize, there was a lot of upside for the city. But I completely understand (the reason for the opposition) and I learned some lessons along the way.
What is your vision for the future of the Hollywood Beach Resort site and how can the city make that vision a reality?
Levy: This is the most exciting opportunity we have in Hollywood, to bring back the crown jewel of our city's history. It was built by city founder Joseph Young in the 1920s to compete with the Biltmores of the world. He created this iconic hotel, a beautiful grand building that would define the city. As mayor, I've worked to help motivate a consolidation of the ownership of that building. It had hundreds of different ownership interests — time shares, unit owners, condominiums. Commercial floors were owned by somebody else. It took a miracle for an investor to come here and start assembling each one of these units to where we now have an opportunity to have a discussion about a unified property that could possibly come to us for an investment. I want to realign the Hollywood Boulevard bridge and get rid of that big off-ramp that took away the garden space and the fountain. And really have the crown jewel of Hollywood (brought back to life) once again.
Flores: I understand the rich history that comes with preserving the Hollywood Beach Resort. In fact, I walk past it every night when I go out for a walk. I definitely believe there needs to be some sort of restoration. It really depends on the structural integrity of the facility. It's really important to figure out the cost analysis and how we can make it a positive investment for the city.
Uden: The building is very special. And if you haven't seen the "Grand Lady" documentary, you should definitely watch it. It will give you a whole new respect for that building. It has a really important history. I would love to see that building restored into something amazing like The Breakers. A building that we could all be proud of, where we could have weddings and special events. We need something like that on the beach. Something that is truly Hollywood. I would hate to see it destroyed or turned into something modern without the character of Hollywood.
Hanna: That building is basically Hollywood. When you think of Hollywood beach, that's one of the first things you think of. I grew up in the area. I remember going there. It is part of Hollywood. As it's being restored we should also take into consideration that we have a lot of new available technologies and methods of construction that can be applied. And this could be used as a model for green construction with solar windows or solar panels. It will bring other businesses to our community if we support this kind of construction.
Closing remarks
Levy: I grew up here in the city. I had the spirit of wanting to see the city do great things when I was first elected. Look at all we've accomplished. We're investing more dollars than ever before in the city's future resiliency and sustainability through major infrastructure projects we've been able to fund. We're investing in affordable housing, both for our existing homeowners and future residents who need an affordable place to live. We're attracting the first ever station for Broward County's commuter rail to downtown Hollywood. The list goes on. I've been a real devoted and committed public servant to help bring all of these things to fruition during my eight years as mayor. I'll continue to be a committed mayor during my final term. I'll serve at the pleasure of the city and it's been my greatest honor.
Flores: Unlike the other opponents, I come with a clear and concise plan. And I can assure the city of Hollywood that I will be working every single day to make sure that your wishes are being handled and that what you desire is being done. And I can tell you this, I won't need two terms to do it.
Uden: I love Hollywood and I am the best candidate for mayor because I will be a public servant. I will be for the people and the community. You will always feel that you have a representative in City Hall who will speak for you and stand up for you. We want to keep what's special about Hollywood. We want to keep the character of Hollywood. We want to protect our historical structures. When I talked about the slap in the face, it wasn't just about that (1301 condo proposal). It was the way it was done. It was the way residents were treated (when they spoke out against it). We want people who are on our side, who are going to listen to us. You want a mayor who is for the people — and I will be for the people.
Hanna: I'm new to politics. I've learned, if you want to do something, jump all in. I've got a history of growing up here. I went to public schools here. I went to Broward College and got a degree in aeronautics at Embry-Riddle. I manage national projects that run in the hundreds of millions of dollars. I'm good at putting teams together and following through and I'm good at communication. We want to work on accountability, safety and communication with the city.
