Debbie Wasserman Schultz to Public: You're Not Invited

Former Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz is running for reelection in an overwhelmingly Democratic district. It's a part of South Florida that faithfully sends her back to Congress every two years. And in part because of her connections, she's a skilled fundraiser. Yet her playbook includes holding "events" inside government buildings in the run up to November.

So, it's fair to ask if money talks or swears when it gets mixed with politics, to borrow the words of the poet Bob Dylan. It's also fair to ask if taxpayer money was used for the production of the DWS shindig.

That's the takeaway from a recent meeting in Hollywood. Consider: Two prominent national Democrats mounted the dais at Hollywood City Hall on a recent Sunday afternoon to discuss climate change and related policy issues. The Commission Chamber was almost empty, according to a video provided by local gonzo journalist FELDMAN!, who runs Hollywood Beach TV.

But his camera caught at least three politicians in attendance. They were: local Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who chaired the meeting, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy, who is seeking a third and final term on Nov. 5. On Sept. 28, Hollywood residents got a mailer showing Wasserman Schultz endorsing Levy's reelection bid.

The sparsely attended event happened on Sept. 15, less than two months before the General Election. Levy is running against three candidates, including Catherine "Cat" Uden. She's a former Broward County public-school teacher who works on environmental legislation now. Uden took time off from work to knock on doors up to six hours a day, speaking with residents about unprecedented development, flooding and traffic congestion, among other topics. Eduardo Flores and Peter Hanna are also on the ballot. About 150,000 people live in the coastal city of Hollywood.

A city spokeswoman referred questions about the invitation-only meeting to Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz. "That would be a question for the Congresswoman's office as it was her event held at a City facility. It was not a City event," Joann Hussey said. I then asked Hussey if the city footed any of the bill for the Sunday show at City Hall. Hours later, she emailed me to say that I ought to put in a public records request for the answer.

According to FELDMAN!, at Hollywood Beach TV, sources tipped him off about the impending meeting several days before it was held. He also got resistance when he contacted the Congresswoman's office for information. But he showed up at Hollywood City Hall on Sept. 15, and was allowed inside. FELDMAN! says he saw city staff operating equipment to broadcast the meeting, possibly on YouTube. The independent reporter broke news of the Sunday City Hall get-together in an online post on Sept. 12.

A staffer in the Hollywood office of the Congresswoman confirmed some Hollywood Beach TV information. Michael Liquerman, the staffer, said the meeting was closed to the public but was live-streamed on YouTube. He also took my contact information to give to the communications department in the Congresswoman's Washington, D.C. office. I wanted answers for some follow up questions, including how long did it take to organize the meeting? I also wanted to know why it wasn't open to the public. Equally important, I'm wondering if the Congresswoman will reimburse the city for any costs it incurred to let her run a meeting on city property. Unfortunately, I haven't heard back.

And even though the race for Hollywood mayor is non partisan, FELDMAN! says only Democrats and the people they invited were allowed to attend. He also sent me a press release that was apparently written after FELDMAN! started asking questions. The release, from Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz, named fellow South Florida Congressman Jared Moskowitz in connection with the City Hall meeting. So I emailed Moskowitz, who said he didn't attend what the city calls an "event". The up-and-coming Congressman is the son of the late Michael Moskowitz, who was considered a prominent Democratic fundraiser.

The presser also said the meeting would start at 1 pm. But a Hollywood friend got an email from a city commissioner 19 minutes after it started, at 1:19 pm. It provided a link to the city's YouTube Channel -- HCTV.

So, in other words, why all the secrecy? Why did only some Hollywood residents get the email link after the meeting started? And is it possible political chums Debbie and Josh didn't want supporters of Catherine "Cat" Uden to attend the meeting? After all, she is a well-known advocate who works on environmental legislation. She's also giving her heavily-financed, developer-backed opponent a run for his money.

As for FELDMAN!, he wrote this to me in a text message: "I called her Washington, D.C. office when the guy from the Hollywood office wouldn't help me obtain a press invite. Blocking me, a Hollywood resident, from my own City Hall!!!But only a few hours before the event they said I can go."

Here is a link to Hollywood Beach TV to watch what FELDMAN! documented on Sept. 15.

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