Direct mail round-up: Daniella Levine Cava decries mailer questioning her progressive bona fides

Daniella Levine Cava climate ad
The Levine Cava team is pointing the finger at two of her opponents.

The Daniella Levine Cava campaign is pushing back after a negative mailer attacked Levine Cava as “not progressive.”

Levine Cava is one of seven candidates competing in the Miami-Dade County mayoral contest. A group called “True Progressives LLC” was behind the attack piece.

“Housing is more than just having a roof over our heads,” the mailer reads. “Yet, Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava cut critical funding to help with affordable housing [and] rental assistance.”

The flip side of the mailer continues its jabs at Daniella Levine Cava, who currently represents District 8 on the Miami-Dade County Commission.

“Daniella Levine Cava has turned her back on us!” the mailer exclaims.

“She is an out of touch elitist who has gotten rich while serving on the County Commission. Levine Cava’s net worth has skyrocketed, nearly doubling to $8.5 million. She even supported raising her own pay to $100,000. While we lose vital services and get taxed, Levine Cava gets rich!”

Levine Cava entered her Miami-Dade Commission race with substantial wealth while running the nonprofit organization Catalyst Miami. The proposed pay raise for commissioners would bring their salaries in line with commissioners from Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Levine Cava’s campaign pushed back against the claims regarding affordable housing. It’s unclear which vote the mailer is referring to. Levine Cava has pushed for affordable housing initiatives in the past.

The Levine Cava team pointed fingers at two of her opponents in the mayoral contest over the mailer’s release.

“This past weekend a special-interest dark money PAC launched a series of false mailers against Daniella Levine Cava,” said Scott Arceneaux, a senior advisor to the Levine Cava campaign.

“The PAC is being fueled by the same special interests behind Steve Bovo and Alex Penelas‘ campaigns. It’s clear their work is to undermine Democratic voters with the so-called True Progressives LLC and spread lies and misinformation about Daniella’s proven record of leadership in the community.”

According to records, True Progressives LLC was established with the same address as originally used by Twenty-Two Metrics LLC, an organization run by Alex Alvarado. Twenty-Two Metrics has since swapped its principal address.

Twenty-Two Metrics has also received $45,000 from an organization called Floridians for Economic Advancement. That group has also funneled $1,000 to the Bovo campaign.

Another organization, Floridians for a Stronger Democracy, has sent more than $200,000 to Floridians for Economic Advancement. Floridians for a Stronger Democracy has also donated $10,000 to Bovo’s PC and $30,000 to Penelas’ PC.

Levine Cava’s team is using that money chain to assert her opponents bear some responsibility for the mailers.

“Daniella’s experience and record is widely regarded and lauded; the same cannot be said of Mr. Penelas’ turbulent record as Mayor and Mr. Bovo’s record against residents,” Arceneaux added.

The Penelas campaign, however, denied any connection to the mailer’s release.

“Commissioner Levine Cava knows that the Penelas campaign and Bold Vision Committee have nothing to do with the mailers that were distributed,” a campaign spokesperson said.

“This is an effort to shamelessly portray herself as a victim and raise money for her campaign. The ultimate hypocrisy is that she attempts to defend herself against claims she says are false by trying to discredit Alex Penelas and his record of accomplishment, which will always stand head and shoulders above hers. As someone who wants to be Mayor, Commissioner Levine Cava should hold herself to higher standard.”

Florida Politics has also reached out to the Bovo campaign but has not received a reply.

Ryan Nicol

Ryan Nicol covers news out of South Florida for Florida Politics. Ryan is a native Floridian who attended undergrad at Nova Southeastern University before moving on to law school at Florida State. After graduating with a law degree he moved into the news industry, working in TV News as a writer and producer, along with some freelance writing work. If you'd like to contact him, send an email to [email protected].


7 comments

  • TooProgressive

    June 18, 2020 at 1:58 pm

    The poor baby was criticized for not wanting to spend more tax money? Really? Is this what the marxist left who call themselves “progressive” are about? Sickening to every taxpayer.

  • Vote4Her

    June 18, 2020 at 10:45 pm

    I got a worse one today showing kids on the front and back of the mailer saying Levine Cava ‘raised our taxes while cutting funding for vital children’s programs’, flip side says she’s ‘hurting our children’s chances to succeed.’

    In any case, she’s easily the best candidate and I very much hope she wins.

    True Progressives, LLC’s local address is a UPS box. Nothing like hiding behind a few corps to really stand behind your message.

    Registered Agent Name & Address F & L CORP
    1 INDEPENDENT DRIVE SUITE 1300
    JACKSONVILLE, FL 32202
    Authorized Person(s) Detail Name & Address

    Title MGR

    ANDERSON, SEAN
    12973 SW 112 STREET #279
    MIAMI, FL 33186

    • Thom

      June 25, 2020 at 6:21 pm

      Yes! And I received a text message from these people (Sean Anderson – True Progressives LLC) today with similar. Clearly the cowards are hiding behind a UPS site, which if I am not mistaken, is illegal to not have a true physical address for an LLC in the State of Florida. Regardless, I did report the unsolicited text message to AT&T SPAM.

  • Pat Bonner Milone

    June 19, 2020 at 5:23 am

    I received three separate, distinctly different, attacks ads against Daniella in the mail within three days! All are 9X12 glossy color ads; the one pictured in your article, another that screams “Daniella is Hurting Our Children’s Chances to Succeed” (with a photo of an African American child reaching his hand out to the camera), and another screaming, “Victims of Domestic Violence Need Shelter” (with a picture of a dejected looking African American woman). All are from True Progressives, LLC. NONE of these attack ads declare who they are supporting. Isn’t that illegal?! … It SHOULD be! The attacked should have the opportunity to face their attacker. We need legislation to hold political attackers accountable for any libel and slander.

    • Lydia Barreiros

      June 19, 2020 at 1:12 pm

      I agree, these mailers are so nasty that I immediately suspected the LLC is a teapublican front. That’s how they play, dirty.

  • Andrea L Hershorin

    June 19, 2020 at 4:55 pm

    I have several interactions with Dana Levine Cava. All were her support and attendance to those who have profound needs in our community: Special needs children and adults; home for at risk young adults; a dedication for a middle school child who had been murdered. She helped a 16 year old get involved in Florida state politics because he wanted to make texting while driving illegal and put teeth into the law. I only know of her hard work. She takes the time to help groups that are not popular trending groups; rather people in need. Shame on those hiding behind the name of “True Progressives”. Where is their documentation for their claims?

  • eda harris

    June 19, 2020 at 6:26 pm

    do they think we are dumb? daaaaaaaaaaaah.Levin Cava is the only democrat in the pack. if she’s NOT progressive enough for somebody (who), then who is? are they saying the other republicans are MORE progressive? bottom line, the ship is drowning, and the rats are running scared. so they try to bite, but their teeth are rotten.

Comments are closed.


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