In South Miami, voters are not only casting ballots for next week’s Republican presidential primary, which is already decided anyway. They will also be voting March 19 on whether or not to amend the city charter so that the city-owned property where City Hall is can be leased for more than 50 years. Today, the city can only lease its land for a maximum 50-year term.

This is connected to the redevelopment of the City Hall plaza at 6130 Sunset Drive — a 3.5-acre parcel that includes the police department and the Sylva Martin building, which houses the building and zoning department. And it’s only connected to City Hall, proponents say.

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Elected officials, you are now free to lobby again.

A U.S. district judge issued an order Wednesday that strikes down the state’s lobbying amendment, passed by voters in 2018, which bans any elected official from any kind of lobbying during their term of office and for six years after because, she said, it was an unconstitutional infringement on free speech.

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The council in South Miami changed significantly Tuesday when a new mayor and two new council members were elected. Mayor Javier Fernandez, a former state rep, and Council members Steve Calle and Lisa Bonich were sworn in on Wednesday.

Former Mayor Horace Feliu was rejected by voters once again — for the fourth or fifth time — giving Fernandez 63% of the vote. The new mayor is seen as someone who can bring energy and ideas and, importantly, someone who listens to the residents and will champion their priorities.

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Less than two weeks before Election Day, South Miami City Attorney Thomas Pepe issued an opinion last week that the city’s $250 limit on campaign contributions was null and void. It has been since July, 2021.

That’s when the state legislature passed a bill that not only pre-empted municipalities from restricting contributions to less than the state limit of $1,000 per person or entity, but also retroactively scrapped any limits already set. The South Miami $250 contribution limit was passed in 1991.

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All of the candidates in the South Miami election have agreed to participate in a forum Wednesday organized by outgoing Commissioner Walter Harris at the American Legion Hall.

Harris is termed out. Both his seat and the mayoral seat are open, since Mayor Sally Philips is not running for re-election.

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Three ex mayors want to get their seats back

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