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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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