MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Miami-Dade County's mayor outlined the State of the county in an annual speech Thursday, likely forecasting campaign themes for what promises to be a contentious re-election race next year.
Mayor Carlos Gimenez highlighted a balanced budget, flat tax rate, economic gains and job growth.
The speech comes as a significant number of employees who have taken cuts over the last few years are still in union contract negotiations.
The mayor addressed the county's transportation gridlock with a promise to focus on mass transit and put the taxi industry on notice that ride-sharing alternatives like Uber and Lyft are all but inevitable.
"Folks, we are not going to put that genie back in the bottle," said Gimenez.
Coincidentally, in Tallahassee on Thursday, a state senator filed a bill that, if passed would allow ride-sharing companies to operate legally.