Protesters flocked to City Hall Thursday afternoon to denounce the idea of a Cuban consulate finding a new home in Miami Beach.
Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine and Commissioner Ricky Arriola told the Cuban government in a private meeting last month that they'd welcome Cuban diplomats in their city.
"It would be pretty horrible to make the Cubans that we all know in Miami that want to visit their family to have to go to Tampa for example to fill out the proper paperwork," said Levine.
Cuba and the United States had debated whether to open one in Tampa, but its distance from South Florida has been a negative factor.
Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado has strongly opposed any suggestion that his city might house the Cuban government, even threatening to sue in federal court.
In Miami Beach, protesters made their feelings clear, some even bearing signs reading "'Mayor' Shame on You," at the protest.
"Well,apparently he forgot all of the blood that has been shed for 57 years in Cuba," said Olga Gomez, a protester in opposition to the consulate.
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Counter-protesters, across the street, were plenty noisy too. Many of them Cuban American and agreeing with Levine.
Elaine Soffer Siegel, a counter-protester in favor of the consulate, said, "We need that for the progress of new generations."
The final decision, however, is not up to Miami or Miami Beach. It would have to go to the full commission for a vote.
