This Week In South Florida: Billy Corben joins journalists to discuss Miami City Hall dysfunction
Anyone who thinks local government meetings are boring hasn’t been to one at City Hall in Miami. The latest spectacle of the dysfunction at a commission meeting was the ousting of Miami City Attorney Victoria Méndez.
Will new Miami electoral map force Carollo out? City’s redistricting battle not over
Fresh off the heels of a court order stating Miami city commissioners’ second try at redrawing their electoral map failed to remedy “unconstitutional” racial gerrymandering issues, there are now questions over whether an incumbent commissioner will have to move or relinquish his seat.
1 week after City Hall break-in, Miami Commissioner Manolo Reyes’ city truck vandalized
Miami Commissioner Manolo Reyes got a call Monday morning, informing him that his District 4 pickup truck, parked outside his Coral Way district office, was vandalized. His City Hall office had been vandalized the week prior.
Miami Commissioner Ken Russell outraged after commission votes to cancel his last meeting
Commissioner Ken Russell attended what may have been his last public Miami commission meeting on Thursday at City Hall in Coconut Grove, ending his city service after his environmental activism propelled his political career.
Miami’s Flagler Street businesses receive grant money as many continue to struggle
Businesses along Flagler Street in Miami have been struggling to survive during the coronavirus pandemic and they've also been greatly impacted by a construction project. But on Friday, hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants were handed out.
After Ball & Chain quarrels, chief alleges some commissioners issued arbitrary list to target businesses
Miami Police Chief Art Acevedo is not the only one who has ever accused Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo of harassment. Bill Fuller, the co-founder and managing principal of Miami-based commercial real estate agency Barlington Group, and Carollo have had an ongoing feud for years.
Since pandemic, Miami neighborhood overrun with abandoned properties, dumping
Residents in one Miami neighborhood are demanding action after they are growing tired of living amidst abandoned homes that are turning their community into a dumping ground. It’s because unsafe structures’ hearings in Miami have been put on hold. Next door, there’s an abandoned duplex, two doors down is an abandoned house and behind that, there’s another abandoned structure. Because of COVID-19, the city’s code enforcement board and unsafe structures panel hasn’t met in over six months, which has caused a backlog. After the months-long absence of the unsafe structures’ panel meetings, code enforcement is expected to resume in person meetings this week.
Miami giving out $250 gift cards and $20K business grants for coronavirus relief
MIAMI – City of Miami officials announced that they will distribute more than $8.5 million to businesses and residents who have been financially impacted by COVID-19. The plan is funded by federal money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. City commissioners decided they will allocate $5 million to small businesses, which can receive a grant of up to $20,000, and $3.4 million to residents, who can receive a $250 grocery gift card. To apply, residents must prove they live within city limits and have suffered financial losses. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and city commissioners held a news conference Wednesday morning to discuss the new relief programs.
Skyviews Miami Observation Wheel opens to the public, bringing amazing views of downtown skyline
MIAMI – South Florida residents and visitors alike can now get a whole new view of Downtown Miami. Local leaders cut the ribbon Wednesday on the city’s brand-new observation wheel. Just like that, the long-awaited Skyviews Miami Observation Wheel celebrated its grand opening. “(It cost) a million dollars to give people, who pay just a few dollars, multi-million dollar views to our city,” said City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. Bringing the wheel to the downtown skyline was a lengthy process because city zoning for a Ferris wheel didn’t exist.
Miami police chief discusses precinct patrols, safety measures as early voting locations open
MIAMI – The 2020 Presidential Election is a very divisive one, and the rhetoric is only intensifying as Election Day gets closer. On Monday, Miami’s Chief of Police held a news conference to talk about extra precinct patrols to make sure everyone can safely exercise their right to vote. “It’s obviously a very antagonistic election,” said Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. “Free and safe elections it is the backbone of our democracy,” added Miami commissioner Manolo Reyes. Colina said he had seen video of a Proud Boys member walking alongside a Joe Biden caravan event over the weekend.
Army Corps of Engineers studies how to fortify Miami-Dade’s coastline
MIAMI – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is studying how to fortify Miami-Dade County’s coastline from the reality of rising seas and, as part of a more than $4 billion plan, has proposed a flood wall running parallel to Miami’s waterfront. “There’s a huge detrimental economic and environmental impact to downtown,” said Neil Schafers, senior manager of planning, resilience and transportation at the Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA). According to Schafers, it’s an ominous eye soar threatening property values, quality of life, the tourism industry and the environment. “This replica of the Berlin wall they want to build around Biscayne Boulevard and Brickell Avenue -- that will not be acceptable,” Reyes said. A final report is planned for the spring, with the three-year study concluding next fall.
Miami Commission approves funding for small businesses
COCONUT GROVE, Fla. – The economic impact of COVID-19 took center stage during Thursday morning’s City of Miami Commission meeting. Small Business Emergency Loan Program ($600,000)Job retention is a loan criteria with the goal of funding helping small business owners keep their current low- to moderate- income employees during the crisis. Great conversation with @certremblylaw of @TremblyLawFirm about his work helping small business owners #Survive and then plan to 👇 #Recover + #Thrive. Miami DDA launched a Small Business Task Force of local professional volunteers made up of attorneys and CPAs to help downtown business owners navigate the loan process. If you would like the one-on-one support from a member of the Miami DDA Small Business Task Force email LoanAssistance@miamidda.com to request help.
Wynwood’s popular Gramps closes ‘for the public good’ during COVID-19 pandemic
Gramps’ owner Adam Gersten is among the first entrepreneurs to open a business in the popular neighborhood almost eight years ago. It’s a decision he made before President Donald Trump announced Monday that public health officials need restaurants, bars, gyms and casinos to close amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Small Business Administration is also offering loans at low rates. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans: https://www.beaconcouncil.com/business-resources-to-help-mitigate/On Sunday, Gov. Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program: https://www.flgov.com/2020/03/16/governor-ron-desantis-activates-emergency-bridge-loan-program-for-small-businesses-impacted-by-covid-19/The bridge loan program, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, will provide short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses experiencing economic injury from COVID-19.
City of Miami commissioner falls; key Freedom Park vote delayed
Around 4 p.m., Commissioner Manolo Reyes addressed the fellow commissioners in the chambers during a brief recess, letting them know he was going to the hospital, and requested key items related to Inter Miami CF be postponed. MIAMI, Fla. - The Miami City Commission postponed a vote today that would have addressed two agenda items that will impact the future of Miami's flagship Major League Soccer team. The second resolution item could delay the development of the Melreese Country Club site if the commissioners vote to halt negotiations with Freedom Park LLC, the entity working on behalf of Inter Miami, and instead reopen the site to competitive bidding. In November 2018, Miami voters approved a referendum in November 2018 to allow Miami commissioners to negotiate the 99-year lease agreement, a critical step forward for MLS and Beckham, who have been working to bring a team to Miami since 2014. Inter Miami CF will play its first two seasons in Fort Lauderdale starting in 2020.