Miami is a fast paced community with a rapid fire news cycle. Our blog keeps you current on the most important issues affecting the tax payers of Miami-Dade county. Read, share, comment, and as always let us know what topics you want us to tackle.
Runoff for Miami Lakes council seat reveals rift on the town council
Lawyer claims ethical violations in special election
After 30 years in Miami, George Wysong becomes official city attorney
Will start to look at possible campaign reforms
Coral Gables mayoral recall effort may fall short on petitions. Is it sabotage?
But the amendments petitions may be on target
Miami’s stalled LED sign repeal gets hijacked by an Orange Barrel lobbyist
‘Compromise’ amendment makes significant changes
Dejavu: Miami Commission considers amending LED sign ordinance — again
It started as a bold move by a newly-elected and reform-minded city commissioner to right a terrible wrong. But the ordinance to amend regulations that allow giant LED signs in Miami has been stalled over and over.
Commissioner Damian Pardo, who has also sought a temporary moratorium on any new sign permits, will try again Thursday.
Miami Commission considers Inspector General question on August ballot
If there ever was a municipality that needs an independent inspector general, it is the city of Miami.
One commissioner who was suspended after his September arrest on 11 felony charges, including bribery and money laundering, in connection with is vote to give away a public park. Another former commissioner is being investigated for promising a city job in exchange for an endorsement. The mayor is embroiled in an FBI investigation over other bribery allegations in “consulting” payments made by a developer who was seeking permits and concessions from the city at the time. And the city manager has given incomplete accounts of the hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of office furniture that the city has purchased from his wife’s family business.
Rosanna Cordero-Stutz gets Trump’s support in Miami-Dade sheriff’s race
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s primary just might be over before a ballot is cast.
Assistant Director of Investigative Services Rosanna “Rosie” Cordero-Stutz, the highest ranking county police officer on the ballot, just got the mother of all endorsements for any Republican: former President Donald Trump.
Selection board of lobbyists choose George Wysong for Miami City attorney
Less than two weeks after removing Miami City Attorney Vicky Mendez from her position earlier this month and demoting her to a transitional, ceremonial post, commissioners could name a permanent replacement on Thursday. And Interim City Attorney George Wysong is the recommendation from a selection committee made almost entirely of land use and zoning lobbyists.
He basically already has the job. An item about the city attorney selection on the commission meeting agenda for Thursday has been withdrawn.
4 Miami-Dade constitutional campaigns raise $1.5M+ for historic 2024 ballot
Between them, the 12 candidates for the four Miami-Dade constitutional offices on the ballot — minus the sheriff’s race — have raised more than $1 million, according to the most recent campaign finance reports.
Half of that is thanks to former State Rep and former Miami Beach Commissioner David Richardson, who loaned himself $250,000 for his campaign for tax collector. He raised another $80,400 and rolled $174,200 from his previous campaign coffers for a total of $504,600. He’s the only Democrat in the race, so far.
Phase 2 of $146 million The Underline is finished; Phase 3 could be done by 2026
The second phase of The Underline, a 10-mile linear park from Brickell to Dadeland along the Metrorail tracks, has been completed and will be unveiled at a special ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday that’s going to be packed with perky politicos posing for pictures to post on their social platforms.
Phase 2 is a 2.14-mile segment that connects SW 13th Street to SW 19th Avenue, with three main hubs to concentrate amenities: the Simpson Park Playground Area, Vizcaya Station Plaza and the 17th Avenue Plaza. Construction began in the Fall of 2021 with three “key drivers” in mind: safe multi-modal transportation, nature, and community, according to the Miami-Dade website. Safe pedestrian and bike paths and access to nature were the two priorities identified by the community during the planning process, which included two public meetings, several presentations and more than one survey.
