Readers React to Hialeah Mayor’s Crusade Against The Rip

It’s been just over two weeks since Bryan Calvo was sworn in as the new mayor of Hialeah. At 28 years old, he’s the youngest mayor ever elected to lead the City of Progress. During a time typically reserved for hitting the ground running on major policy items, one issue has risen to the top of the priority list: Railing against the Netflix movie The Rip.

The film, based on a 2016 drug raid in Miami Lakes, is set in Hialeah, and that location change has drawn the ire of city leaders. Last week, New Times reported on Calvo’s press conference with the Hialeah Police Department, during which the mayor cited public safety and crime statistics to push back on the film’s portrayal of the city.

New Times readers, primarily on Facebook, reacted strongly to the mayor’s response.

One reader, seemingly alluding to last year’s battle between Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner and O Cinema after the theater’s screening of the documentary No Other Land, commented:

So a movie is now offending a mayor?

Some users gave the mayor the benefit of the doubt:

Actually, I got to side with the mayor on this one. Reportedly, this is based on true events, but it didn’t take place in Hialea,h but in Miami Lakes, so I can see why he’s defending their brand and reputation.

They didn’t do good research. They just assumed they are one in the same. They should have hired someone from Hialeah because they would have told them that neighborhood in the movie doesn’t even look like anything in Hialeah.

But most said Hialeah has bigger fish to fry than a Netflix movie.

There are far greater issues in the City of Hialeah that must be addressed. For the love of God, Mayor Calvo please remain focused on the people and not stupidities.

Drop the issue. We, your Hialeah constituents, don’t care.

The consequences of electing a [28]-year-old as mayor of a major city 🤦‍♂️.
Bruh! Not everything needs a reaction.
Go take care of all illegal efficiencies in Hialeah.

I was from Hialeah and it didn’t bother me. I have heard way more crap about Hialeah than what was said in the movie.

Ay Bryan POR FAVOR 😂 you got bigger things to do and worry about here in Hialeah lmaooo

Others did have one major bone to pick with the film:

Top issue is Ben’s pronunciation of HIALEAH! 🤣 Everything else was awesome 👏

The biggest problem with this movie was the disrespectful mispronunciation of Hialeah from Ben Affleck, like nobody cared to correct him or he just didn’t give a shit enough to say it right

Some readers pointed to past unflattering portrayals of South Florida:

“Omg this is ridiculous! 😂 Do we not recall Miami Vice? Hello?! GTFOH! 🤦🏼‍♀️ 🤣 What a joke!”

“Miami is still waiting for an apology for Scarface“

And for one user, the mayor’s press conference amounted to free promo:

“The Mayor is doing free publicity for the movie. Now I have to watch!”