Miami Mayor Francis Suarez was in New York City attending two opulent high-end events in his honour while the state of Florida prepared for Hurricane Ian.
According to a person who was there at the event, Suarez made his first stop at the exclusive private members club Casa Cipriani on Manhattan’s South Street, which offers breathtaking views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty.
The upscale French restaurant Le Bilboquet on the Upper East Side was the Mayor’s next trip, the insider informed the news organization.
He was tweeting urging Floridians to “keep informed and remain safe” while the hurricane unleashed devastating floods and gusts of up to 150 mph that destroyed people’s homes and businesses while he was 1,200 miles away dining on good cuisine and mixing with political contributors.
According to the news source, Suarez’s Agenda for America PAC hosted both of the events.
Suarez’s precise arrival in Manhattan was unknown, but he was reportedly still in the city on Thursday morning, escaping the worst of the hurricane that had just begun to move out into the Atlantic.
The Mayor was sleeping at the five-star Lowes Regency hotel close to Central Park, according to a source, but his political representative refused to discuss Suarez’s plans, according to The New York Post.
Although Storm Ian did not directly affect Miami, the mayor nevertheless sent out tweets to residents informing them that “he and municipal officials were watching the impacts of the hurricane.”
On Wednesday, he tweeted: “The @CityofMiami got 2.8 inches of rain in the previous 24 hours and is anticipated to get up to 6 inches of rain today and tomorrow.” We may anticipate a lot of rain. Until tomorrow, there is a flood warning in effect as well as a tornado watch.
Please be informed and keep safe, he continued.
His Instagram was filled with heartbreaking photos of downed trees and Miami neighborhoods that had turned into rivers.
Even though Mayor Eric Adams was not present at the gala, many other high rollers came and gave out a lot of cash.
The proposed gift range for Casa Cipriani was $2,500–$10,000, according to a poster for the event that The New York Post was able to get.
There were no government politicians there, according to sources, who estimated that roughly 40 people attended the event that attracted “real estate guys, developers, and a lot of other individuals who went to support him.”
Michael and Joe Cayre, the proprietors of Casa, hosted the dinner. Anthony Carone, the brother of Frank Carone, who is said to be leaving his position as chief of staff to Mayor Eric Adams at the end of the year, also attended.
According to a source, Suarez, the mayor of Miami since 2017, is one of the top Republicans who could run for president in the 2024 and 2028 elections.
Suarez’s campaign began advertising Facebook digital advertisements in January that targeted crime, immigration, “Bidenflation,” and GOP rhetoric, mostly in places with competitive primary elections.