Josh Levy Is The New Mayor of Hollywood
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HOLLYWOOD (CBSMiami) – Josh Levy is the new mayor of Hollywood.
Levy, a lifelong Hollywood resident who has never held elected office, won the election with more than 51-percent of the vote.
He beat out former Florida Sen. Eleanor Sobel, who has been in politics since the 1990s and has been a city commissioner, state legislator and school board member — and City Commissioner Patricia Asseff, the lone Republican in the race, who has been a Hollywood commissioner for eight years.
Levy, 41 is general counsel for Hollywood Kia, his family's business. As a past member of the city's planning and development board and past president of Hollywood Hills Civic Association, Levy promised to "revitalize the city" and "invest in environmental sustainability."
The city of Hollywood boasts beautiful beaches, a thriving downtown and a good quality of life for its residents. But beneath the amenities is an ongoing problem -- a $500 million unfunded pension liability for city workers, firefighters and police officers. It's a problem that will become the responsibility of the city's next mayor with current mayor, Peter Bober, stepping down.
In 2016, the city faced a $24 million dollar budget shortfall. To balance the budget, city departments tightened their belts and cut their budgets.
