Florida Mayor Wayne Messam Faces Backlash After Hiring Mike Ewall’s Firm Linked to CAIR and Anti-Israel Groups for Taxpayer-Funded “Waste-to-Energy” Report
A new political storm is brewing in Broward County, Florida, as Miramar’s Democrat Mayor Wayne Messam finds himself at the center of controversy for hiring a consultant with reported ties to CAIR — the Council on American-Islamic Relations — a group some federal lawmakers have sought to designate as a terrorist organization. The move has sparked anger among residents and officials, particularly in one of Florida’s most politically charged regions, where faith, security, and transparency are all on the line.
According to reports, the City of Miramar commissioned Mike Ewall, founder of the Energy Justice Network, to produce a “waste-to-energy” report using taxpayer dollars. Ewall, who holds a law degree from Widener University but lacks formal scientific credentials in environmental engineering, runs a website that critics say directs readers to pro-CAIR and anti-Israel resources. While his work has largely focused on environmental activism, particularly against large-scale incineration and corporate pollution, his affiliations have now come under scrutiny for their political and ideological undertones.
The controversy erupted when screenshots from Ewall’s Energy Justice Network website surfaced online showing links to pages addressing “anti-Muslim hate crimes,” many of which cite CAIR as a key resource. That, paired with links to other groups known for their critical stance toward Israel, ignited questions about whether taxpayer funds were indirectly supporting organizations viewed by many as politically radical. The timing couldn’t be more sensitive — in June 2025, U.S. Representative Randy Fine (R-FL) introduced H.R. 4097, a federal bill aimed at officially designating CAIR as a terrorist organization due to its long-cited unindicted co-conspirator status in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation case, which involved Hamas financing.
Mayor Messam, a former presidential candidate who previously championed progressive climate policies, has not yet publicly addressed the concerns over why his administration selected Ewall’s group for the contract. What has particularly frustrated many Miramar residents is that the report — which city officials have used to oppose Broward County’s broader waste management plan — reportedly made no mention of Ewall’s ideological associations or his lack of recognized environmental science credentials.
For many in Broward County, home to roughly 150,000 Jewish residents, the optics of the decision have been deeply troubling. The region has long been politically divided yet proud of its religious and cultural diversity. The idea that city funds might be flowing, even indirectly, toward groups accused of harboring anti-Israel or extremist sympathies has heightened local tensions. Jewish community leaders have quietly expressed unease, pointing out that such actions can inflame distrust and feed divisive narratives at a time when unity is most needed.
Ewall’s defenders argue that his organization’s focus remains environmental and not political, emphasizing decades of grassroots work opposing corporate pollution. Still, the inclusion of links to CAIR and other advocacy groups on his site has become impossible to ignore in today’s polarized environment. The revelation has spurred calls from local GOP figures for an immediate review of all city contracts involving third-party consultants, particularly those operating under politically sensitive causes.
In a red state like Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis and conservative lawmakers have taken hardline stances against taxpayer misuse and ideological bias in public programs, this scandal has landed like a lightning bolt. Several commentators have pointed out that it underscores the lingering disconnect between progressive city governments and the values of their constituents.
Representative Randy Fine’s efforts to officially label CAIR as a terrorist organization are now receiving renewed attention amid the scandal, with Republican voters rallying behind the idea of holding public officials accountable for ideological negligence. “This is exactly why oversight matters,” one local GOP activist said. “Taxpayer money should never end up connected to any group accused of anti-American or extremist affiliations — directly or indirectly.”
As of mid-October 2025, calls for transparency have intensified. City residents are demanding that Miramar disclose full details of the Energy Justice Network’s hiring process, including who approved the contract and whether due diligence was conducted. For Mayor Messam, who once positioned himself as a national figure of unity and reform, this latest controversy could prove to be one of the most defining — and damaging — chapters of his political career.
