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.
Miami commissioners hang on to hundreds of COVID19 relief gift cards
In these “unprecedented times,” we keep hearing from our electeds, as the COVID19 pandemic and economic crisis stretches into 2021, people need help paying the rent, staying in business and/or feeding their families.
So why are city of Miami commissioners sitting on somewhere between $700,000 and almost $1 million in COVID relief grocery and/or Visa gift cards?
County to spend $381 million on new PortMiami terminals for MSC Cruises
But nada to connect ships to power and cut pollution
Kionne McGhee pulls the brakes on Miami-Dade BRT for South corridor
He wants to revisit light and heavy rail as an option
Miami-Dade may spend $53 million this year on ‘furniture’ for offices, facilities
Even as they talk about the tough times to come and budget shortfalls expected in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic, Miami-Dade Commissioners could spend an additional $19 million on furniture this year — because $21 million is evidently not enough.
That’s right, the total amount in the annual budget for furniture could be increased to $41 million. Hopefully, someone will explain how these needs have doubled since the budget was approved in September, especially when people are working remotely.
Coral Gables Group 2 race goes from clusterbunch to 3-way along ethnic lines
There are seven candidates in the Group 2 race in the Coral Gables election. But, really, there’s only three. Everyone watching knows the fat votes will go to Rhonda Anderson, Tania Cruz-Gimenez and Jose Valdes-Fauli.
As the only gringa in the race, Anderson is almost a shoe in for the runoff. She might have the charisma of a cardboard box but this is Gables politics and it can still get ethnically divided.
Miami-Dade opens new, $5 million library in Hialeah Gardens park
Remember when former Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez threatened to close libraries and did slash their budgets, cutting hours and days of operation, in 2013?
Seven years later, not only are the libraries almost back to full hours, but the tiny storefront branch in Hialeah Gardens has been replaced with a cutting-edge, 13,500-square-foot facility more than 10 times the size. It opened Thursday.
Miami Beach braces for long weekend, Spring Break after burst of violence
Miami Beach Police and city officials are trying to clamp down on violent crime that has spiked in the city in recent weeks.
“We have too many people not doing the right thing,” said Commissioner Mark Samuelian, who had a virtual town hall meeting last week with Police Chief Richard Clements, city staff and residents.
Vince Lago has best money month in Coral Gables mayoral race vs Pat Keon
Coral Gables Vice Mayor Vince Lago raised more money for his campaign in January than any other month since he began fundraising a year ago.
With a reported additional $69,440, that brings his total to more than $228,000. His only opponent so far — qualification is at the end of the month — is Commissioner Pat Keon, who began in December and has raised a total of $48,325, including $31,325 in January, according to the latest campaign finance reports, which were filed last week.
Ron DeSantis would rather do photo ops than get more COVID19 vaccines
Our state governor was in Little Havana last week on hand to distribute vaccines to the Bay of Pigs veterans at a press conference at the Brigade 2506 house.
“We are inspired by folks who are willing to stand up and fight for freedom,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said, just a little over a month after the Capitol riots.
Poll pits Tomas Regalado against Miami Mayor Francis Suarez in this year’s race
And it floats a new half-penny tax to save Biscayne Bay
