Editorial written by JJ, this is not a paid ad or endorsement.
Surfside has become a kosher paradise in recent years with over 20 Sabbath observant store fronts on Harding Ave. But not everyone in Surfside is happy about this.
There are Mayoral elections on March 19 in which two candidates running for Mayor, the current Mayor Shlomo Danzinger, and his opponent, former Mayor Charles Burkett.
The campaign recently took an ugly turn when Burkett said “I believe we should have long ago had…a majority of downtown restaurants that do not close for half of the weekend.”
Meaning, he doesn’t want there to be as many kosher restaurants as there are today…is this a campaign promise? Does he intend on trying to shutter frum owned businesses? Or is it just his feeling that Surfside should not be host to too many Jewish-owned businesses? Whatever the answer is, this is very concerning.
On top of that, he has the classic anti-frum tropes of:
“I think we already have enough people living in Surfside. I don’t believe we need more residents or traffic here.”
I.E. We don’t want more big frum families building homes to meet their needs.
“I don’t believe our downtown needs more new housing apartments above it, rather I believe that every one of the historic and interesting buildings should be restored to their former glory, creating a small and quaint gem filled district, showcasing interesting and diverse shopping and dining options for our residents – and as many guests as we can reasonably accommodate.”
“Diverse shopping and dining options” is a call for less kosher food and less frum owned stores like the shaitel, tznius clothing, and jewelry stores currently on Harding.
“As many guests as we can reasonably accommodate” is a call for allowing less frum people to visit the restaurants on Harding via restricting parking access and raising the cost to park in Surfside.
You can find these direct quotes posted and shared by Burkett on his blog here.
So, if you enjoy traveling or living in Florida and want to do something, here is what you can do now:
1. Encourage anyone you know that lives in Surfside to get vote by mail ballots. Many residents that are eligible to vote won’t be in town on March 19th and it’s crucial for them to request and send in absentee ballots now.
- Check if you are registered here.
- If you aren’t registered yet, do so here.
- Request a vote by mail ballot here and vote now! Many people get busy on election day or aren’t even in town, vote by mail today to make sure your vote counts!
2. If you’d like to donate to Danzinger’s campaign and help protect the Orthodox Jews of Surfside and the kosher paradise it has become, you can do so here.
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63 Comments On "Surfside Elections Are Heating Up! Is The Current Mayor’s Opponent Calling For The Closing Of Kosher Restaurants On Harding?"
All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.
@dan are you getting paid or commission to post this AD
1. Post wasn’t published by Dan, check the author 😉
2. No.
I read Burkket’s email this morning, and couldn’t believe he called for us having a majority of downtown restaurants that do not close for half of the weekend.
Wild thing to say in a formulated email marketing message. It’s turning ugly here against frum people.
As someone who lives in Surfside. The area has definitely changed in terms of amount of ppl here (and traffic!) and also the new homes and buildings that are going up. A lot of ppl see the new buildings and houses going up and how they are big and monstrous compared to the quaint and cozy hoses and neighborhoods that have existed forever.
I can even relate with the ‘too many ppl in Surfside’ angle. I don’t think that has to do with frum ppl at all. (I’m frum)
That being said, the quote about restaurants is inexcusable
I would never post here about housing or lot sizes…
As I mentioned, I was shocked when I read about the restaurants, and it was the impetus for this post.
As they say, when someone shows who they are, believe them…
That restaurant quote shows who Burkett is and what he believes. And it made it applicable to the thousands of DansDeals readers who enjoy Surfside restaurants every year.
Ooooh, so now we are getting into politics?
Hmmm
Dont know if thats a good idea.
Lets discuss that on the forum, shouldnt we?
If this is a paid endorsement, you may need to make it clear
We’ve always posted about anything that interests us on this blog.
You can see a great post Dan made here https://www.dansdeals.com/more/dans-commentary/breakdown-clevelands-jewish-community-denied-favored-squad-member-seat-congress/ on politics as well as many of the news roundups.
I don’t know how someone can say they want a majority of downtown restaurants that do not close for half of the weekend in 2024.
And I know many on here enjoy traveling to Surfside, so I thought it’d be a good fit, to let people know some of what is going on down here.
There is a strong anti-frum push happening now and it can affect tourism in the area for sure.
Please keep up the posts such as these. I like being informed about issues pertaining to us. Thank you!
It was NOT a paid endorsement
As an outside observer who travels to Surfside for kosher food while in Miami, you seem to be really twisting his words there to fit your narrative.
As I said “Meaning, he doesn’t want there to be as many kosher restaurants as there are today…is this a campaign promise? Does he intend on trying to shutter frum owned businesses? Or is it just his feeling that Surfside should not be host to too many Jewish-owned businesses? Whatever the answer is, this is very concerning.”
Do you disagree? Do you think it is ok to call for a majority of restaurants that are open on shabbos? That is clearly anti-frum IMHO.
Not twisting any words. If you have another definition, please share.
The only narrative I see is that of his own words against frum people and businesses.
It says it ON HIS WEBSITE!
“””
I believe we should have had long ago a majority of downtown restaurants that do not close for half of the weekend.
“””
How are you comfortable with someone who speaks like that. It is a direct attack on the frum community
I’m sure the opposition isn’t anti-semitic or anything. Making veiled statements that are clearly meant to discriminate against Jewish people (correct me if i’m wrong, but the US is a free country and any restaurant is allowed to open and close whenever they feel like it) is just a matter of context, that’s all.
Just like how Chick-Fil-A closes on Sundays
And it’s only anti-Semitic if it leads to action
+1, made me laff
You should not be making any comments here. YOU ARE ONE OF THE TOP 10 antisemite in the USA.
as long as we stay away from anti frum comments like when i get upset on line in the supermarket or waiting in traffic and the guy in front of me is spacing out when he is driving and lash out ” oh this guy has to many kids”not a baal achrayus relying on organizations to bail him out” those kind of lines and other rhetoric that kippah wearers sometimes say should be improved and afterward we will worry about the mayor.
Can’t do both? Why does calling out an antisemitic mayoral candidate come second?
Shame on those making inappropriate comments. Dan is trying to call out an anti-Semite. When he posts about airline politics and Covid politics, nobody claims that should be on a forum. Keep up the good work Dan
+100
JJ for Mayor!!!
Never. Politics is an ugly game.
I already received enough hate just for sharing quotes from someone…
Can someone please arrange a normal domain for danzinger’s site and attach it?
Would he not want Chik fil-A as well because they are closed on Sunday. He should welcome the break from extra traffic and encourage business development in general.
oof good point here
I agree, we need more pre-paid Shabbos restaurant options 🙂
That’s a great compromise
Thanks for posting JJ!
Maybe I’m naive, but his points seem reasonable to me. I think we would be unhappy if our neighborhoods were overtaken by establishments that don’t cater to our lifestyle, wouldn’t we? Kosher restaurants have many non-kosher customers, and these people now have limited local options on Friday night and Saturday because of Shabbos. If they like butter on their steak, real crab with their sushi, and short-sleeved women’s shirts, and they can’t get much of that locally, that’s a fair gripe in my book, though I’m not sure how it could be legally challenged. Additionally, we all complain about how Monsey and Lakewood have become overcrowded, so why is it antisemitic if a non-Jew voices the same concern? Yes we have a right to live our lifestyle, but someone who’s not happy about the reality it comes with doesn’t automatically become an antisemite.
Does he support our community? Obviously not. But does he hate it? These statements don’t indicate that.
So if he wants to complain about overcrowding why does he advocate for more open hours etccc?
Saturday gives them better traffic flow
+1
this is why I am selling my Condo in surfside
i would buy it
I don’t want outsiders who double park and clog traffic for miles.
I read the comments for and against
And want to ask a simple question – how did Harding on Surfside looked like before the Kosher restaurants came to Harding? (BTW they are on the more expensive/ fancy side)
Harding was a dying street, very old and many closed stores with rent signs on them.
Purely from a business standpoint who stopped the potential investors to open restaurants that will be open all week long?
Why didn’t they rented / bought / invested in Harding street ?
Was there any law that said only kosher style shops are allowed?
The fact is Bal Harbor / Bay Harbor Island’s / surfside has a large Jewish communities.
Someone saw an opportunity and took it
That’s pure smart business call.
The same way that in a Colombian community you will find Colombian restaurants and Colombian grocery shops.
Does it cater to everyone? No.
But it cater to the community around and doesn’t restrict others.
The area is changing surfside still has a way to go but overall it’s becoming much more upscale (at least the real estate prices) newer.
I live in Bay Harbor Island’s, I am Jewish I am not religious have nothing to do with owners / investors on the island,
I am very familiar with the place before all this restaurants / shops came into the place and how it looks now
In my honest opinion it’s 100% added value with comparison to how it looked before.
It’s an old trend that getting popular once more
Restaurants are full and money is flowing
The jealousy / hatred starts and immediately it becomes clear what really bothers to some of the people and it goes without literally saying
“Those jews” but the implication is clear.
And in the wind of hatred coming from the north everything goes..
JJ / Dan thank you for pointing out
I just brought another angle, business standpoint angle which is simple supply and demand.
Thanks for your prospective, totally agree!
People don’t like change, but it’s inevitable. As we have seen in many areas, the Jewisfication of neighborhoods is upsetting to those who live there and want to keep their demographics, but the reality is, as you pointed out, simply supply and demand. One can try and analyze intent, is it or is it not anti-Semitism, but when it comes to elected officials clearly saying they have an issue with kosher restaurants, how can your think it is anything but anti-orthodox sentiment, and not acceptable.
Some of the comments here are astounding. Talking about a mayoral candidate of a city in the United States say there should be fewer kosher restaurants in a city isn’t “talking politics”. It’s talking antisemitism that’s masquerading as politics.
Liberals in NY demand that the Thruway stop doing business with Chicfila because it’s closed on Sunday and I don’t see many people accusing them of bigotry.
The entire Bergen county is closed on Sundays as dictated by their own community (part of blue color laws)
But it caters to the specific community and if they wanted to change it (NJ government tries a few times and failed) they can vote for it
The difference is –
In Surfside it’s not dictated to be closed on Saturday and half a Friday
Chic-fil-A is a business they are making their own business decisions there’s a difference targeting a single business and targeting an entire community
I believe that the comparison is off.
There’s lots of talk of the anti Christian bigotry of the progressives.
Wasn’t Danzinger the guy who implied that the Spanish town commissioner didn’t speak English? Feel like it cuts both ways, no?
Yes, this is true. Politics in Surfside has been crazy for years, and it’s only getting worse. I’ve been her over 15 years and have never seen such craziness in local politics as I have seen here.
i dont understand how people could stand and try to stick up for this mayor candidate.
What is the problem that restaurants are closed on shabbos? Their isent where to eat? Did the non-kosher restaurants close down? (i’m suer he could come eat by jj he’l serv them a seudah. lol)
i don’t see any other interpretation of his words other than anti-Semitism.
What is wrong with the guy?
Does he want Harding to look the way 41st street looks, with all the vacant stores?
Thanks for writing this!
Everyone who is hating on JJ should actually read what this guy wrote (https://surfside2024.com/main-site/f/must-we-accept-that-surfside-be-forced-into-the-future) and shut up.
It is dripping with Jewish hate
I read it, proud Jew here. No idea what you are talking about at all. I don’t know the individual so maybe he has some history of antisemitism but in the link you provided everything was straight forward, the line about business closed on Shabbat the key word there is “Majority”, although I agree there is nothing they can do to shutter doors to me I read it as he wants to see more options that’s all. I don’t spend my days in politics but I do think that it’s dirty on both sides (always). So the fact that it’s posted on this website makes me a bit skeptical because this is just an opinion piece. Nothing is clear here or blatant in any way, it’s just someone feels a certain way and that’s now what they want you to feel or think or open the dialogue. Similarly, this writing, is just my opinion.
There will soon be a legal precedent for something like this.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chick-fil-a-sunday-rest-stop-new-york-bill/
Surfside resident here – the first comments about restaurant closures can be seen as concerning, but I believe they are being blown out of proportion. Nobody is seeking to replace kosher restaurants, but it would be nice to have other non-kosher options as well. The other comments are being obviously twisted. Oversized houses on small lots are an eyesore – doesn’t matter who’s living in them. What is the problem with diversity? We live in America. Burkett was largely ineffective in his last term and I wish there was another candidate, but Danzinger has proven himself on the record to be a racist misogynist who labels anyone with differeng political views an antisemite – extremely concerning behavior that should not be tolerated in our welcoming, inclusive, diverse town.
Call in Lindsey Graham, he’s leading the campaign to allow Chik-Fil-A to close their NY Thruway stores on Sundays. I can see both sides of that argument, since the state wants to provide motorists a service that justifies their paying a toll. But in New York, the state is the landlord. Chick-Fil-A competes for the privilege of paying rent. In Surfside, presumably the real estate is either owned by the restaurant operators, or by landlords who want to rent it at the best rate the market can sustain. If the restaurants are maximizing their profits, the city and state are likely maximizing their sales tax collections.
Wikipedia says the population of the “city” is less than 6,000. It doesn’t provide further demographics, and even if we knew how many Jews live there, we probably couldn’t find out how many are Sabbath observant. Clearly, though, the mayoral candidate is appealing to voters who oppose neighbors they view as “different.” Wikipedia also says the elevation of Surfside is 0, so a rising tide may remove all disputes.
Leaving aside the issue of the proliferation of kosher establishments on the street for a minute, you all do realize that this discussion of no-growth vs growth is only temporary. 10-15 years tops. As the cheaply built 12 story condos get older and prohibitively costly (if not impossible) to maintain and repair, at a certain point the city will have to change the zoning laws and allow taller buildings that will have more apartments to support the cost of maintenance and insurance. In other words: Sunny Isles (or at the least: Bal Harbour). Then the streets will have to be widened for the additional traffic and the whole retail issue will take on an entirely different perspective. The city should be looking into a ten-year plan and hiring master planning consultants now.
Re: kosher establishments: although I’m kosher and regularly support the kosher spots, I do like the idea having non-kosher places on the street, as it gives the town a diverse, non-homogeneous feel and really, everybody should feel welcome and have places they like to frequent. In private malls, like the BH Shoppes for example, the management is able to manipulate and create the optional mix, approve or reject tenants and move around restaurants using various incentives to create new spaces, enliven “dead” areas (ref: Makoto) but in “public” spaces, one cannot do that. So the question is: 1-is diversity a desired goal? And if so, 2- how can it be achieved by the powers that be? Maybe a committee needs to be formed consisting of the officials, the retail building owners and other stakeholders who figure out ways to achieve their goals. Thought experiment: two new kosher pizza places want to open up. Do you let the free market take its course? Do you not allow them to open and kill each other’s business? Do you figure out a way to not let that happen? (Ref: hilchos hasagat gvul) vhm”y.
And why wasn’t there any article or report about the incident with Jet Blue with the three Chassidic guys?????????
Re: larger homes. Fact: as the values go up, people will want to build larger homes. Only allowing small bungalows? That ship has sailed. That said, the decide to not have the stucco and big window boxes popping up all over is laudable and this trend should be nipped in the bud. The zoning code was extremely complex and the result was a predictable style of house. Even the new code, which in theory was supposed to be simpler and result in a more creative and differentiated house style, is still simplex and probably won’t achieve its goals. The way to keep Surfside quaint, pretty and still allow for larger homes is to 1- start to appreciate the historically important homes. Incentivize historical restoratíon. Walking tours. Open houses. Make the streets “house proud”. Insist on proper landscaping. 2- staff the design review board with professionals and give the the power to insist on quality design. To maintain high property values, the new homes have to be well-designed, well-built, non-homogenous, appropriate (and I’m not advocating for period-correct reproductions or landmarking any structures) and not simply left to market forces and the various spec builders and flippers.
It’s just a market issue. If the demand is there for non-kosher, they will open and do well. But clearly it isn’t. The market has spoken and kosher is what makes money there. You can’t legislate forcing private businesses to open on Shabbos, and you can’t block new ones from opening.
in other words. Its not Communist Russia…
Maybe a fair compromise would be to ask the Kosher restaurants and other businesses to stay open later on Thursday and Sunday nights, into the afternoons on Fridays in summer, and on motzei Shabbat.
Logically if half of the restaurants are closed on Shabbos there is less traffic at least one day a week. A win/win situation.
Surfside was a ghost town before the frum Jews moved in en mass. Those restaurants pay huge resort taxes to the city of Surfside. Good luck funding Surfside without those resort taxes.
Basicaly frum people turned a sad depressing town into a modest resort town and now he is saying that this resort town is being hijacked
@dan clearly not many ppl here follow what has been going on in the town hall meeting and how Danzinger has been fighting Anti-Semitism, helping Hatzalah in many different ways like getting them parking in front of “The Shul” with an electric line, and so much more.
There’s a reason he had a real death threat this year for being Jewish, and that’s because he is proud of it and will fight for us. No one else in the commission has the Jewish ppls interest, Just watch a meeting once in a while and see for yourself….
Ty Dan for posting.
Kosher Paradise?
Has no one realized by now that no place in America can be called a “paradise” for Jews? Sell or rent out your pricey houses and move to Eretz Yisroel before you’re forced to leave empty-handed R”L!
Danzinger lost 🙁