Miami Voters get it right on the fine print referendums: Yes, No, Yes, Yes

While everyone was busy watching which mayoral hopeful made it into the runoff — and whether Commissioner Joe Carollo would lose his temper before or after the polls closed — Miami voters quietly showed some serious smarts on the four city charter amendments that could reshape City Hall for years to come.
The results? Yes, No, Yes, Yes.
That’s right — voters said yes to more accountability, no to more shady real estate loopholes, yes to fairer maps, and yes to finally putting a stake through the heart of Miami’s political dinosaurs.
Not bad, Miami. Not bad at all.
Yes to the Charter Review Commission
Looks like voters agreed it’s time to stop winging it. After decades without a regular review of the city’s “constitution,” Miami will now have a Charter Review Commission every 10 years. More than 76% of the voters said “Yes, please.”
Read related: In Miami election, four referendums — and a funeral for common sense
Each commissioner, the mayor, and the city manager get to appoint one member — which means yes, it’ll still be political, but at least it’ll be scheduled politics. Think of it as a regularly programmed tune-up for a government that’s been running on duct tape.
Ladra’s verdict: Good move. Now, let’s hope the meetings are more civil than the commission meetings.
No to the land sale loophole
This was the one Ladra warned you about — the “trust us, we’ll get a fair price” land-sale loophole that would’ve let commissioners sell city property without competitive bids.
Voters weren’t buying it. Almost 76% of them said no thanks to letting City Hall play Monopoly with public land behind closed doors.
Sorry, City Manager Art Noriega. You’ll have to find another way to unload those “excess” properties. Maybe a yard sale?
Ladra’s verdict: Hallelujah. For once, Miamians didn’t fall for the “we just need flexibility” pitch that usually ends with a luxury condo where a park should’ve been.
Yes to redistricting reform (again, finally)
After getting dragged into federal court for racial gerrymandering, Miami voters said yes to creating a citizens’ redistricting committee — and yes to banning maps drawn to favor or disfavor incumbents. This got a 77%+ approval, because Miamians are still reeling from the gerrymandering they were subjected to when the commission drew districts so they could be re-elected.
Read related: The city of Miami wants to sell your public land with no public vote
Will this magically end political map games in Miami? Please. But it’s a start. And it’s a sign that residents are tired of commissioners carving up neighborhoods like turkey legs at a fundraiser.
Ladra’s verdict: Progress, but only if the “citizens” are not big campaign donors or political primos.
Yes to lifetime term limits
And finally, the big one: Lifetime term limits are now a thing in the City of Miami.
Two terms for mayor. Two for commissioner. That’s it. No more political boomerangs taking a sabbatical and coming back like it’s 1999.
This question got the largest approval, with almost 80% of the vote. That’s practically four out of every five voters who think that, yeah, enough is enough. They want to see new faces and hear some fresh ideas.
It’s bad news for the career politicians who want to treat City Hall like a timeshare — and Miami-Dade Commissioner Keon Hardemon is gonna have to make other plans — but good news for everyone else.
Of course, the Carollo Clause still lets Crazy Joe sneak through because of that technicality about “filling a vacancy,” but hey — baby steps.
Read related: Bait and switch on lifetime term limits proposal for Miami mafia politicos
Ladra’s verdict: About damn time. Maybe now some of these guys will actually have to get real jobs.
The bottom line: Miami voters did us proud
Miami voters proved something Tuesday night: they can read the fine print.
By going “Yes, No, Yes, Yes,” they didn’t just change a few lines in the charter — they sent a message to the usual suspects at City Hall: We’re watching. Y las cosas are gonna change around here.
And that, queridos, is more than we could say for most elections.

You can help produce more independent, watchdog government reporting of our local government and campaigns with a contribution to Political Cortadito. Click here. Ladra thanks you for your support.

The post Miami Voters get it right on the fine print referendums: Yes, No, Yes, Yes appeared first on Political Cortadito.

Read Full Story