In Miami Beach, the New York City mayoral election is an opportunity

"People in New York's Times Square recently may have noticed, among the many electronic billboards, images of a beach, blue water and a caption, "Miami Beach is open for business." The ads are being paid for by a Florida developer who believes the election of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City is an opportunity to lure wealthy residents and their businesses south."

""We have yet to see how the new mayor is going to do. But there's no question that there's a lot of surprise and shock," said Russell Galbutt, one of Miami Beach's biggest developers. Galbutt's ad campaign builds on messaging from Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner on social media, which was directed at city residents unhappy with the election results."

""The mayor-elect is a self-described socialist and I think there's a concern about the freedom of businesses to act as capitalist businesses need to. But there's also a concern by Jewish residents and businesses." Mamdani alarmed some Jewish voters because of his support for Palestinian rights and critical views of Israel. Exit polls showed Mamdani received about a third of the Jewish vote in this month's election."

Billboards in New York's Times Square display images of Miami Beach with the caption 'Miami Beach is open for business,' funded by developer Russell Galbutt to attract wealthy New Yorkers and their businesses. The campaign follows messaging from Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner promoting law-and-order, sunshine and no state income tax. The mayor and developer expressed concern that Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's self-described socialism could affect business freedom and that Jewish residents worry because of his support for Palestinian rights and critical views of Israel. Exit polls showed Mamdani received about a third of the Jewish vote. Galbutt cited economic stagnation, declining sales tax revenue and business closures as reasons for the ad push.

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