MICHELE LAZAROW CLAIMS “FIX WAS IN,” CALLS RESIDENTS “LOSERS.”

Controversial Hallandale Beach Commissioner Michele Lazarow suffered a very public meltdown on social media following a defeat at the Plantation City Council. On Wednesday evening, the Plantation City Council voted to “grandfather” a single local pet store under its anti-puppy mill ordinance. Since the ordinance was passed, the Petland store has been fined daily for selling animals. In order to avoid a costly legal battle over the fines, four council members voted to grandfather the store since it was doing business in the city before the ordinance was passed.

Even though Plantation is nearly twenty miles away, Hallandale Beach Vice Mayor Keith London and Commissioner Michele Lazarow attended the meeting. Lazarow and her “Sick Puppies” allies travel to many cities hoping to exert their will on other communities. Lazarow is also a strong proponent of banning plastic grocery bags. On Wednesday evening it was clear Michele Lazarow was in charge of the protests.

Lazarow repeatedly signed people up to speak before the Plantation City Council. Lazarow fielded phone calls and text messages from late-arriving supporters. Vice Mayor London even told the City Council that Lazarow was the brains behind the movement.

During the meeting, Michele Lazarow expressed her anger over the presence of a local lobbyist. Lazarow told two supporters, ” Fucking Judy Stern is here in the front row.”

With a long list of speakers, (many of whom did not live in Plantation) the meeting ran very late.

This may have contributed to Lazarow’s late night Facebook meltdown.

FACEBOOK MELTDOWN

Just after midnight Thursday, Michele Lazarow incorrectly informed her Facebook friends that the ordinance had been repealed. Two hours later Lazarow declared, “Yep. So fucking fixed.” Hours later, Lazarow was still ranting about lawyers and lobbyists. When asked why the Petland supporters got time to make their case, Lazarow said, “Because the fix was in with the lawyers and lobbyists.”

While she complained about lawyers Ron Book and Bill Laystrom, Michele Lazarow saved her anger for Judy Stern.

“The cow lobbyist who ran the campaign against me took our second vote. She’s disgusting. Judy Stern should rot,” Michele Lazarow said.

Judy Stern is a close ally of Lazarow’s nemesis, Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper.

Shockingly, Commissioner Michele Lazarow attacked private citizens.

Responding to a question about Petland employees at the meeting. Lazarow said, “Because they need their jobs. Obviously no one else would hire them.”

Lazarow told another opponent, ” I heard about you. Your are the nut case they threw out of the commission meeting in NJ.”

Then, Lazarow posted a screenshot of Plantation resident’s comment in support of the pet store. Lazarow asked, “Anyone in Plantation know this loser?”

Should an elected official act this way? Do Hallandale Beach residents approve of their officials berating private citizens? Michele Lazarow has a history of attacking her opponents.

Last December, REDBROWARD exposed Michele Lazarow’s hypocrisy in Hallandale Beach politics.

Commissioner Michele Lazarow promised to bring “honesty” back to Hallandale Beach government. Following her victory on November 8, Lazarow said, “Tonight, we turned the page to a new chapter….After the ugliest election cycle in our city’s history, I am grateful that the residents of Hallandale Beach continue to have faith in me to fight for their interests.” But as REDBROWARD revealed, Lazarow appears to fight real hard for the interests of developers and gaming interests. Lazarow received campaign contributions from Greenspoon Marder political committees while Steve Geller represented the developers of the massive “Hallandale Oasis” Development next to the Gulstream Race Track and Casino. On May 4, 2016, Commissioner Lazarow voted to approve the $250 million dollar development. The Sun-Sentinel reported the massive project on Hallandale Beach Boulevard would include two 26 story condominium buildings, a 19 story hotel bulding and a 10 story office building.

Geller, an attorney with Greenspoon Marder, is a registered lobbyist for the Hallandale Oasis development. Geller himself presented the project details to the commission.

Less than one month earlier, Michele Lazarow received campaign contributions from the Greenspoon Marder Law Firm and the GM Citizens For A Smarter Florida political committee. According to her campaign treasurer reports, the $500 contributions were made on April 7,2016. One day earlier, Lazarow received $1,000 contributions from three different entities associated with Gulfstream Race Track. She received money from The Village At Gulfstream Park, Orchid Concessions and Gulfstream Park.

Geller, Greenspoon Marder and the gaming industry funded the shadowy “Public Service” political committee which backed Michele Lazarow and Anabelle Taub in the November election. REDBROWARD revealed Public Service chairperson Evan Ross helped orchestrate a press conference which painted Lazarow and Taub as victims of spying by their political opponents.

Campaign mailers stated Lazarow and Taub wanted to bring back “honesty” to the Hallandale Beach City Commission. Lazarow railed against the Diplomat Hotel for funding her opponent’s campaign. She said, “The Diplomat is funding a 125k PAC to run me out of office. It isn’t going to help and they are going to lose 125k.”

On May 18, 2016 the “Oasis” project came before the Hallandale Beach Commission for another vote. Once again, lobbyist Steve Geller presentedthe details to the commission. Commissioner Lazarow impatiently asked several times to speak about the “DA” (Developer Agreement).

When it was her chance to discuss the agenda item, Lazarow stated she wanted the developers to pay for two additional bus shelters. Mayor Joy Cooper stated the project already called for one new bus stop, but Lazarow said, “We need a lot!”

Steve Geller said the developer agreed to contribute $50,000 for two bus shelters. After some discussion regarding where to build the stops, Geller said it was not an issue as long as it was near the project.

Lazarow told her fellow commissioners, “We’re getting $50,000 for bus shelters, period. It doesn’t matter where.”

When REDBROWARD asked if any developer or lobbyist contributed funding to her anti-puppy crusade, Lazarow said, “No.”