Florida Mayor Drops Threat to Evict Cinema Over Israeli-Palestinian Film
The New York Times
After an emotional city meeting, the mayor of Miami Beach dropped his effort to end a theater’s lease over its showing of “No Other Land.”
The mayor of Miami Beach on Wednesday backed away from a proposal to evict a nonprofit cinema over its showing of an Academy Award-winning documentary depicting Israeli displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank.
Mayor Steven Meiner announced last week that he wanted to oust the theater, O Cinema, from city-owned property after it showed the film, “No Other Land,” which was largely made in the years leading up to the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023.
Mr. Meiner has repeatedly condemned the film, made by two Israeli and two Palestinian filmmakers, as “one-sided propaganda on the Jewish people.”
But after an emotional City Commission meeting on Wednesday morning, where it became clear that he did not have the votes for the proposal, Mr. Meiner announced that he would withdraw the resolution. He also set aside, at least for now, an alternative measure he had put forward this week that called on the theater to show films in which “the viewpoint of the Jewish people and the State of Israel is fully and accurately presented.”
“This was a discussion that needed to be had — it was a healthy discussion, and I’m glad that we had it,” said Mr. Meiner, who is Jewish. At one point in the meeting, he appeared to hold back tears as he described his fears of antisemitism in the country and the world.
Speaking after the meeting, he added, “I’m actually very happy the way this turned out.”
President Trump has given no indication that he has made a decision about how to proceed, as diplomatic talks continue.
In states that once focused mainly on health care and sports for transgender minors, debates now revolve around the validity of transgender identity.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has now proposed two options that called for raising taxes. Here’s a look at each proposal and the rationale and chances for each.
In the battle for Congress, redistricting has become all the rage in America. Here’s how other nations handle this issue differently.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani will place the Department of Homeless Services in charge of the sweeps, replacing the Police Department as lead of the interagency effort.
Legislation that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote was only the beginning as the G.O.P. presses to sharply limit voting in line with President Trump’s false claims of widespread fraud.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has acknowledged traveling to Jeffrey Epstein’s island and meeting him on another occasion.
We want to hear from New Yorkers who rent driveways or have surprising parking garage arrangements.
NYU Langone Health cited the “current regulatory environment” in its decision to discontinue its gender medicine program for minors.
At a hockey rink in Pawtucket, R.I., shots rang out, leaving two people dead, in addition to the shooter. The police chief said it was a family matter that exploded in public.
But a rift has emerged among the union’s leaders as workers at four hospitals are back on the job, while a walkout persists at a fifth hospital.
Opening arguments began on Monday in the trial against Colin Gray, who prosecutors say is criminally culpable after his son killed four people at his high school.
The release of documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein has sent ripples through the worlds of business, politics and academia, including at Columbia, where he helped his girlfriend gain entry.