North Miami Beach, FL (LE FLORIDIEN) — As of Tuesday evening, December 10, North Miami Beach welcomed a revitalized governing body, highlighted by the addition of a new member and the elevation of a sitting commissioner to the mayor’s office. Four members took their oaths during the city’s induction ceremony, held at the Julius Littman Performing Arts Theater.
Haitian-Americans former Commissioner Michael Joseph has been sworn in as mayor for a two-year term, while Commissioners McKenzie Fleurimond and Daniela Jean earned voter approval to serve for a second four-year terms. New to the council is Commissioner Lynn Su, who made history as the first Asian-American elected to the governing body, embarking on her own four-year term.
With this recent triumph at the polls, Michael Joseph achieved a double milestone in North Miami Beach’s political history. He became not only the first Haitian American to hold the mayoral seat but also the first Black mayor in a city where the Black population makes up approximately 33.12% of its 43,676 residents. As of 2024, the Haitian-American community in North Miami Beach stands at around 9,753 individuals, representing 22.54% of the city’s total population, reflecting the significant influence of this vibrant ethnic group.
The city’s induction ceremony event gathered a large crowd at the city Performing Arts Theater, including several local officials from Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and many community leaders as well. North Miami Beach Senior High School band, the Fulford Elementary School orchestra and Sir Diego Brazil, a singer and musician from Brazil were part of the artistic lineup for the night.
In a heartfelt address, the city’s first Black mayor shared the inspiring journey of his Haitian immigrant parents, who arrived in the United States with little more than determination and dreams for a better future. His father worked tirelessly as a janitor, while his mother served as a maid, laying the foundation for the opportunities he would later pursue.
Reflecting on his improbable rise to office, the mayor acknowledged the formidable challenges he faced, declaring, “This wasn’t supposed to be me.” He recounted his relentless drive to overcome those odds, detailing how he worked diligently to put himself through both undergraduate studies and law school, ultimately carving a path to this historic achievement.
For Joseph, the journey from a childhood in Miami’s Little River neighborhood to becoming the North Miami Beach’s first Black mayor is a realization of a dream he never dared to envision. “Not a bad American dream story. But mayor? As a kid setting life goals, being mayor wasn’t even on the list,” Joseph reflected, underscoring the unlikelihood of his rise from the son of Haitian immigrants to a historic trailblazer.
“But God has a plan for me, just as He has a plan for all of us,” he said, his voice filled with humility and gratitude. “I never imagined my name would one day be mentioned alongside such remarkable pioneers and trailblazers in our community.” His journey, as unlikely as it is inspiring, now serves as a symbol of hope and possibility for generations to come.
In a move that surprised many, Joseph chose local radio host Nelson Voltaire, better known as “Piman Book,” to administer his oath of office, rather than a more traditional Haitian American community figure, such as a judge or an elected official. This part of the induction ceremony has been widely regarded as a fiasco, with Mr. Voltaire and the new mayor clearly out of sync while reciting the pledge of oath.
The new mayor took the time to explain the significance of his decision to choose Piman Book for this role. He highlighted that Mr. Voltaire and his father had a long-standing relationship that began during their time in Nassau, Bahamas, before relocating to South Florida. For the mayor, this choice was a gesture of respect toward those who played a pivotal role in shaping the future of many Haitian professionals in the community, as their parents were frequent listeners of Mr. Voltaire’s radio shows.
Joseph’s decision to run for mayor was driven by a desire to bring transformative change to the city’s leadership. “I am not running against the current mayor who has been in office less than a year,” he explained. “This is a referendum between business-as-usual corruption and a new direction of pro-community, pro-opportunity leadership,” he stated during the electoral campaign period.
His campaign focused on tackling persistent issues that had gone unaddressed by previous administrations, including the lingering fallout from the 2018 election and a public corruption scandal that had cast a shadow over the city’s governance.
During his campaign, Joseph highlighted his primary goals for North Miami Beach: economic revitalization, affordable housing, property tax relief, and public safety. Despite multiple attempts, Le Floridien was unable to obtain a response from the Haitian-American mayor of a city with a significant Haitian population regarding the specific initiatives he plans to implement to address the unique challenges faced by this community, such as access to affordable housing, and language barriers issues.
At one point, Michael Joseph faced removal from office as North Miami Beach Commissioner following a 3-1 vote citing his “failure to attend commission meetings for more than 120 days.” However, just one month later, a court ruled in his favor, reinstating him.
Judge Peter R. Lopez of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida stated that the commission did not have the required five-member quorum when it voted to remove the Haitian-American commissioner, invalidating the decision to oust him. The court also ruled that the City of North Miami Beach must cover Joseph’s legal expenses incurred during the legal battle to defend his position.
Joseph secured a decisive victory over incumbent Evan Piper, who had earned his position in a December 2023 special election against former commissioner Paule Villard following the ousting of former mayor Anthony DeFillipo. Demonstrating statesmanship, the outgoing mayor extended a gracious congratulations to Joseph, offering words of encouragement for his upcoming tenure. “Your success is our city’s success,” Piper stated. “I trust I speak for the residents in expressing confidence that your leadership will bring meaningful progress to our community.”
Lynn Su also made history by becoming the city’s first Asian-American commissioner, securing her a seat in commission district 7. Su defeated former Haitian-American commissioner Paule Villard, whose tenure had been marred by controversies, including her role in the city’s Publix gift card distribution.
The City of North Miami Beach operates under a strong manager form of government. The City Commission, made up of the Mayor and six Commissioners, sets policies and makes decisions for the city. The City Manager is responsible for implementing those policies and decisions.
During his inaugural speech, Mayor Joseph expressed his vision of making North Miami Beach a model for other cities by fostering unity and collaboration. “I want our city to be an example for others,” he declared. “As your mayor, I intend to unite everybody and work together to build a stronger, more inclusive community.”
“As you all know, I am a fair person, and I intend to work alongside everyone to ensure we make progress together,” he stated. His remarks reflect a pledge to bridge divides within the city’s leadership and create a shared vision for North Miami Beach’s future.
With a refreshed government body in place, residents can anticipate a leadership approach characterized by resilience, active community engagement, and a renewed commitment to tackling the city’s challenges with fairness and innovation. Under Mayor Joseph’s tenure, this new administration promises to prioritize collaboration among its members, bringing diverse perspectives together to drive meaningful progress. Residents should look forward to a government that strives to create inclusive solutions, ensuring North Miami Beach becomes a city where every voice is heard, and every community feels valued and represented. However, as with any new leadership, the true measure will be in the results—so let’s wait and see how this administration delivers on its promises.
Dessalines Ferdinand
