Miami Today: Week of Thursday, June 29, 2017

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017

A Singular Voice in an Evolving City

WWW.MIAMITODAYNEWS.COM $4.00

PLANNERS ASK EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY TO BUILD AND RUN A SMART PLAN CORRIDOR, pg. 2 PLAYHOUSE DRAMA DELAYED: A scheduled June 22 showdown between county officials and historic preservationists over the fate of the Coconut Grove Playhouse has been put off. Miami city commissioners were to hear an appeal of the Historic and Environmental Preservation Board’s April 4 decision granting a special certificate of appropriateness for partial demolition of the playhouse, reconstruction of a theater, and construction of a public parking garage with residential units at the Coconut Grove Playhouse site. The aging famous venue is in Commissioner Ken Russell’s district. He requested a deferral to July 27. The state owns the theater and leases it to Miami-Dade County.

The Achiever

BOARD FAVORS NATURE: The Virginia Key Advisory Board on Tuesday voted to recommend that the Miami City Commission amend a city application for a grant to build a seawall, dock and kayak launch at Jimbo’s lagoon, by eliminating the seawall from plans and replacing it with a living shoreline, and eliminating any fixed or floating dock from its plans.

The resolution notes that if it’s too late to amend the grant application to the Florida Inland Navigation District, the board recommends withdrawing the application entirely. The secluded area is on the northeast corner of the barrier island, the bulk of which the city owns. Some board members have been critical of the city’s $2.8 million project called the Virginia Key Nature Center, which includes a new seawall, dock, kayak launch, concrete walkway and pavilions. Those changes, they say, would encourage power boats and overuse of a site that ought to be nurtured for its nature.

CASH A GLOBAL KING: More than half of Miami’s resale condo closings in May were for all cash, the Miami Association of Realtors reports, far ahead of the 24.6% of single-family home sales that closed with all cash. The association attributes large numbers of cash closings to international buyers, who the association says “tend to purchase properties in all cash.” Of May’s total resale closings, 39.4% were for all cash, down from 47.2% last May but still almost double the national figure of 22% of all resale closings in cash.

TRAFFIC ALERTS: The Department of Transportation and Public Works will post a notification 14 business days prior to removal of traffic control devices from county roads. The notification will be on Miami-Dade’s website and other available social media, according to a report the county commission received this week. If the location falls within a municipality, the department will also notify the affected municipality by email. Details: http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/legistarfiles/Matters/Y2017/171543.pdf

Michael Finney

Photo by Cristina Sullivan

New CEO focusing Beacon Council on job creation The profile is on Page 4

City bonding wish list five times more than total

By John Charles Robbins

The wish list for City of Miami general obligation bonds has topped out at $1.5 billion – more than a tad over the projected cap of $275 million.

It means officials face tough decisions to trim the wants and needs list to something more realistic.

It appears a large portion of the money may be earmarked for sea level rise mitigation and flood prevention.

Assistant City Manager Fernando Casamayor updated the city commission on the proposal June 22, citing good participation from residents at several meetings on the bonds, which are designed to fund needed capital improvements for the foreseeable future.

Mr. Casamayor said the plan is to have a final proposal ready for commission approval in July so the bond request can go on the Nov. 7 ballot.

Mayor Tomás Regalado says a general obligation bond is under consideration because the city has infrastructure needs of significant magnitude.

Mr. Casamayor said, “We have over a billion and half dollars worth of requests and

identified capital needs.”

To generate debate on possible ways to spend funds raised via bonds, Mr. Regalado and Budget Director Christopher Rose listed $275 million in projects.

Mr. Regalado, who is term-limited and in his last year in office, said he’d like the bonds plan to be called Miami Forever.

The mayor has said immediate attention is needed to deal with climate change and sea level rise. The proposed list he presented with Mr. Rose would allocate $100 million to sea level rise mitigation and flood prevention.

The list also includes police and fire equipment and infrastructure, road improvements, workforce housing, citywide park improvements and safety features, community trails and bike paths, and historic preservation.

Commissioner Wifredo “Willy” Gort has suggested a focus on projects with citywide impact.

Jane Gilbert, the city’s chief resilience officer, thanked commissioners June 22 for taking a citywide approach to shoring up vital infrastructure, particularly to prepare for sea level rise.

She said it is a both critical and opportune time to present this to voters as a strategic and

forward-thinking investment opportunity, and “the cost of inaction is very high.”

With one of its borders being Biscayne Bay, the city has been referred to as Ground Zero in the battle against rising oceans.

Ms. Gilbert spoke of the tremendous risk the city faces, stating “we have a lot at stake here, with the most exposed assets” – more than $74 billion worth of appraised value lies within storm surge zones.

“We need to demonstrate how we’re going to mitigate flood risk, to keep insurance rates intact,” she said.

Ms. Gilbert said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports 17 to 20 King Tide days a year currently but projects they will number about 49 in 2030 and more than 200 in 2045.

She said it’s important for the city to work with the Florida Department of Transportation and Miami-Dade County on infrastructure needs. “And we can leverage other private funders,” she said.

Ms. Gilbert mentioned other resilience issues the city faces, including transportation and affordable housing needs.

“We need a smart, cost-effective, forwardthinking plan,” she said.

Intensified competition in our inns The gains at Miami area hotels from an April rebound disappeared in May as most indicators slipped a notch or more, the authoritative STR Trend Report unveiled last week shows.

What didn’t slip was the rapid gains in number of hotel rooms in the Miami market, relentlessly higher numbers that tend to drive down the averages in rates and occupancy throughout the market.

At the start of this year the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau reported that 14 new hotels were expected to be coming into the market throughout 2017, increasing the available room supply by 2,215 rooms. In the year’s first five months, the area has already added six hotels and 769 rooms, STR figures show.

Throughout 2016, the area added 17 hotels and 2,337 rooms.

At the end of May, the Miami area had 426 hotel properties with 55,394 total rooms. Exactly six years earlier, at the end of May 2011, the Miami area had 370 hotels and 47,925 total rooms.

“Every new hotel that comes into the community is an opportunity for us to bring new customers, but we also understand that all the new inventory adds a lot of pressure to our existing hotels,” Rolando Aedo, the convention bureau’s executive vice president, said at the outset of this year to explain the impact of room growth.

The impact was certainly visible in May, with occupancy down 2.4% from May 2016, daily room rates down 1.7% in that period and revenue per available room off 4.1% as the total number of room nights available in the marketplace rose 4.4% but demand couldn’t keep pace, even with a 1.9% room bookings rise. In April, occupancy had been up four-tenths of a percentage point, average daily room rate up 2.3% and revenue per available room up 4.6% Even with a supply growth of 4.8% in total room nights that could be booked in the market and an actual gain of 3.6% in those bookings, total hotel revenues in the market for room bookings have slipped so far in 2017, STR figures show, off 1.5% to $1.415 billion total as even more bookings brought in lower revenues at lower actual rates received in Miami hotels.

LINCOLN ROAD LAYS OUT A NEW KIND OF WELCOME MAT ...

3

COUNTY URGED TO PREVENT MORE HARM TO SEAGRASS ...

8

VIEWPOINT: GOOD NAMES TARNISHED IN HOUSING PROBE ...

6

TWIN 36-STORY TOWERS IN OMNI GET CITY’S APPROVAL ...

11

COUNTY SEEKING THE REDESIGN OF TURNPIKE OFF-RAMP ...

7

REINSURANCE RATES DIP LOWERS COMMERCIAL COSTS ...

13

SMART PLAN PARK & RIDE LOT IS EARLY, UNDER BUDGET ...

7

MIAMI ON ISLAND GARDENS DEFENSIVE, AMID FRICTION ...

23

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017

TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

3

Lincoln Road creates a new welcome mat

IN YOUR OWN

BACKYARD

By Gabi Maspons

Uniformed hospitality ambassadors the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District hired through the firm Block by Block have been helping visitors to the street for the past two months.

“The project is going extremely well. Everyone is having a great time and really understands what hospitality means, and for that we could not be more pleased,” said Angela Grether, recruitment manager for Block by Block.

The ambassadors on Lincoln Road are Miami locals, hired and trained through Block by Block.

“We’re looking for more of an attitude than a skill set,” Ms. Grether said.

The team is one full-time operations manager, four full-time ambassadors and two part-time ambassadors. Each ambassador is assigned four blocks along Lincoln Road between Washington Avenue and Alton Road, and they add one or two extra ambassadors for events or busy weekends.

The ambassadors provide directions and event information, take photos of visitors and help out in any way they can. “They also complement existing city services

MEET

Ambassador team member in Lincoln Road logo shirt aids visitors.

by helping pick up debris before the city can do a more thorough cleaning and serve as eyes and ears in case of an emergency,” said Ivannia Van Arman, executive director of the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District.

Ms. Grether says “the ambassadors on Lincoln Road are honest, good people and we have received countless letters and calls about how appreciative the community is.”

The improvement district’s $400,000 yearly contract with Block by Block is renewed every six months. Block by Block says it has a 96% retention rate and has active contracts in 89 cities.

Of the four community ambassador programs in the Miami area, three are through Block by Block.

The fourth is a locally sponsored program by the City of Miami’s Omni Community Redevelopment Agency with a $50,000 grant for one year, hiring five women from the Chapman Partnership and trained

through Camillus House to clean the streets and provide general maintenance.

“Miami gets a bad rap for poor customer service, but on Lincoln Road, we meet with tenants to constantly stress the importance of every person who visits,” Ms. Arman said.

“The project is going really well, and we’re happy with Block by Block’s service.”

The hospitality improvement program is just one of improvement district’s efforts to “make Lincoln Road the best it can be,” Ms. Arman said. “We are committed to bringing back events that used to happen along Lincoln Road and making them bigger and better.”

In 2015, building owners along Lincoln road came together and voted to tax themselves to create the improvement district to better the overall experience of tourists and residents. The program is in place for ten years and sponsors events and activities along Lincoln Road.

convenient, world-class meetings… just minutes away

MiamiMeetings.com

Working together.

The logical choice for your next meeting or social gathering!

Medica offers the Baptist Health network of services.

Other providers are available in our network.

With many new and newly renovated hotels and meeting spaces, now is the perfect time to book your next event and Meet In Your Own Backyard! Take advantage of living in a world-class destination and the convenience of having your next event just minutes away. For more information and special offers, please visit MiamiMeetings.com

© Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau The Official Destination Sales & Marketing Organization for Greater Miami and the Beaches.

6

MIAMI TODAY

VIEWPOINT

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017

Miami Today is an independent voice of the community, published weekly at 2000 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 100, Miami, Florida 33133. Telephone (305) 358-2663

Tarnishing of good names in housing probe is unaffordable

Headlines trumpet affordable housing’s scarcity – yet some of those headlines deter more affordable housing.

As Miami To d a y h a s cited zoning to “encourage development of much-needed affordable housing” and civic groups’ calls for more, the daily press has been headlining a probe of “abuse and fraud in Miami-Dade’s troubled affordable housing industry,” listing developers who got county funding to add housing.

Frankly, affordable housing is scarce enough that Miami needs to spur developers to build more rather than label as federal suspects those who got government funds to build.

No official states what these developers are suspected of doing and no charges have been filed in this probe – if a probe of developers actually exists. The reports just besmirch the reputations of a dozen affordable housing developers, including a nonprofit that a chamber of commerce set up because we so badly needed homes for low-income families.

All of the developers got county funding to add housing, with all 13 commissioners having the same amount of money and each choosing those to do their work. There can’t be a worse way to add affordable housing than to have elected officials spread equal money around with each using different standards of selection.

If anything is to be investigated, it may be that method of spending. It never should have been done that way.

By naming recipients of that housing money as targets of an investigation that might never charge anyone with anything, however, 12 names have been smeared forever. Some of those 12 may well pull back from affordable housing.

After all, the big money has always been in open market housing, where developers have banked profits for years with nobody looking over their shoulders. Why risk a reputation by dealing with government?

In one reported instance, a developer saved the county money by working well under budget but still may have made too much profit. You’d think that saving the county money while providing quality housing would be valued, not rebuked.

But did anyone do anything illegal? Nobody is charging even one developer with anything bad – they’re just tossing out names and saying all of them are being probed.

Those names will come up in Google searches forever as targets of a federal investigation – even if nobody is ever charged with anything.

When we directed law enforcement reporting, we never named anyone who was a target of an investigation or a suspect. We used names only after someone was formally charged with a specific crime. No charge, no name.

We did that for two reasons.

One, it’s only fair to allow a suspect to rebut a formal charge. None of these 12 developers can rebut a charge that doesn’t exist – but their reputations are tarnished nonetheless.

Two, police have long called people suspects who never will be charged. So, unfortunately, has some of the press. Some people wear a “suspect” label for decades with never a charge. There is no way to fight that.

Even if charges are filed, they might be dropped. And, even if someone is tried and acquitted, it’s rare that an acquittal is as well publicized as the charge. Again, reputations are tainted for life.

“Where there’s smoke there’s fire,” one friend commented about the probe of prominent developers.

But maybe someone’s just blowing smoke.

We’re not naïve. Several Miamians we’ve liked have been caught with hands in the cookie jar. Whether they’re developers or in government or in any other profession, those

caught and convicted should face penalties.

But we have a long way to go before we consider ostracizing any of these affordable housing developers.

First, someone has to find that cookies are missing and why. If something is amiss, does a system that set up 13 different standards for developers make county government something more than an innocent bystander?

Then, if a problem indeed exists, those involved must be formally charged, tried and convicted. Today, they’re all innocent simply because nobody has been charged and then found guilty.

If a systemic problem lurks in affordable housing, fix it. If evidence shows someone is violating the law, file charges and name those charged. And don’t forget to prominently name them again if they are cleared.

Meanwhile, our civic organizations and local governments face an even greater burden in trying to induce construction and adaptation to vastly increase our supply of affordable and workforce housing. Developers today will be understandably skittish, and far more likely to use their skills for profitable marketplace housing.

The biggest losers in this case may well become the needy households that won’t reside affordably because we’ll be getting more luxury condos instead.

Miami-Dade County is in need of a new civil courthouse – on this we can all agree.

The current facility, which was completed in 1928, is now inadequate to meet the needs of a metropolis with 2.7 million residents. Despite millions of dollars in taxpayer- Levine Cava funded repairs and renovations, the facility is still prone to mold and flooding, and it lacks sufficient space to accommodate judges and their judicial staff.

According to recent estimates, it costs $3 million per year to operate the building.

Conditions for litigants, witnesses and jurors are also seriously lacking.

On May 16, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners took the first step toward building a new civil courthouse through a public private partnership, or P3.

The board invited members of the development community to submit ideas on how to design, build, finance and possibly operate and maintain the courthouse.

According to the invitation for ideas, the partnership could take many forms, including a joint development business venture, longterm land lease, sale and lease-back, equity partnership, or a real estate asset swap.

With a projected cost of $361 million, the civil courthouse project could be this county’s most significant P3 project since the PortMiami Tunnel project. Given the importance of the civil courthouse, Miami-Dade County officials need to make sure that the county is in complete control of the facility and is not constrained in any way from making policy decisions by a long-term contract with a private party.

To protect the taxpayers’ investment, the process to build a courthouse must be transparent and include a Value for Money Analysis (VFM). A VFM is a tool that is used to decide whether to do a P3 or a basic public procurement.

The Writer

entering into P3 transactions. I believe these recommendations should be embraced by the Board of County Commissioners for the civil courthouse project and all future P3 projects.

There must be authentic stakeholder involvement to ensure broad community support and economic benefits. All stakeholders – including tenants, criminal justice advocates, small businesses and labor – should be involved in the process of developing the P3 proposal to ensure that project meets the needs of the public.

The empaneling of the Court Capital Infrastructure Task Force was a step in the right direction. I encourage further public participation in the drafting of the request for proposals and selection of the developer.

The design, bidding and implementation of the project should be structured to secure broad community benefits. The courthouse project has the potential to create hundreds of construction jobs and permanent jobs. Any

development agreement should ensure that county residents have access to those jobs, and that local businesses can compete for portions of the work.

The Board of County Commissioners must evaluate all options at each step of the procurement process and set standards regarding our shared goals for a more prosperous, inclusive and resilient community – like green building standards, local hiring and living wages for workers.

Lastly, county officials cannot be afraid to ask hard questions. Questions such as: will the P3 contract limit public control of the asset? Will public services be privatized? Will proposed cost savings come at the expense of reduced wages or benefits?

Following these guidelines will help protect the taxpayers’ interest in P3 deals. The “public” element must be the strongest element of any P3.

After all, this is the public’s money. We must be the stewards for managing these resources for the long-term benefit of our community.

Let’s use this procurement as an opportunity to establish an effective template for possible future P3 deals.

Involve all, pay living wages in any courthouse partnership Daniella Levine Cava is the Miami-Dade County commissioner for District 8.

A number of P3s across the country have entered bankruptcy and had other problems because they failed to anticipate the long-term impacts. P3s can be the right choice, but we increase our chances of failure if we don’t do the hard work up front.

It is widely accepted that such analysis should be performed in the planning stages of an infrastructure project to determine if a P3 approach should be utilized. Based on the finding of a recent VFM, Miami-Dade County decided against a P3 model for the development of the South Miami Heights Water Treatment Plant.

If we pursue a P3, In The Public Interest, a comprehensive research and policy center, has developed other recommendations that local governments should consider when

L etters

to the

Love affair with cars ends where clogged roads start

Maurice Ferré’s “Still chasing our transit tail after 50 years” notes that rail is not the answer because people in Miami love their cars. Well, Mr. Ferré, they love their cars provided they can move along in them and possibly not take an eternity to get to where they are going, especially work. They don’t love their cars when they sit in a parking lot like the Palmetto and Dolphin expressways.

I know many car lovers who take transit when they can.

Mr. Ferré has also made the comment in the past about trains being 19th century technology. No, they are not, because trains are the backbone of many transit systems around the world to this day. They are 20th century, 21st century technology and will

E ditor

remain so into the future because they move more people along a fixed track, usually above or apart from the roadways where the cars and buses roam.

Also, their being powered by electricity as opposed to fossil fuels is another benefit. In addition, expanded rail can also provide shorter routes for buses to feed into the rail, so instead of riding a bus from west Miami-Dade into downtown, they could ride a shorter distance and catch a train the rest of the way.

And, yes, trains are a much more expensive proposition than buses but hey, Miami-Dade, you can’t keep building on the cheap. You have 2.6 million residents now, so do it the right way, rail. Stop touting yourself as some world-class city when we have a Third World transit system comprised primarily of slow, dirty, lumbering buses.

Paul E. Czekanski

miamitodaynews.com FOUNDED JUNE 2, 1983 VOLUME XXXV No. 5 ENTIRE CONTENTS © 2017

To contact us: News

Advertising Classifieds Subscriptions Reprints

(305) 358-2663 (305) 358-1008 (305) 358-1008 (305) 358-2663 (305) 358-2663

Editor and Publisher / Michael Lewis Vice President / Carmen Betancourt-Lewis

MIAMI TODAY (ISSN: 0889-2296) is published weekly for $145 per year; airmail: to Europe $190 per year, the Americas $145 per year. Published by Today Enterprises Inc., 2000 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 100, Miami, Florida 33133, USA. Periodicals postage paid at Miami, FL. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MIAMI TODAY, 2000 S. DIXIE HIGHWAY, SUITE 100, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33133.

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017

TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

7

County seeks redesign of 211th Street off-ramp of Turnpike

By Susan Danseyar

Miami-Dade commissioners are urging the state’s Department of Transportation to examine redesigning the configuration of the Homestead Extension of the Florida’s Turnpike for safety.

The north-south toll road’s southern extension is used daily by commuters and travelers to and from South Dade, the Keys and Everglades National Park, according to the legislation.

Southbound traffic exiting the extension at the Southwest 211th

Street exit off-ramp traveling west onto Southwest 211th Street needs to traverse multiple lanes, which can conflict with vehicles traveling from the adjacent frontage road, the legislation says, which may “pose a safety concern for vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the area.”

The extension is operated by the Florida Turnpike Enterprise, a business unit of the Florida Department of Transportation.

County facilities at the South- Dennis Moss pushed resolution. west 211th Street extension exit ment Center, South Dade Regional include the South Dade Govern- Library and the Miami-Dade Cut-

ler Ridge police station, according to the commission’s resolution, which was sponsored by Dennis Moss.

Commissioners will urge the transportation department and the turnpike enterprise to review the configuration at the Southwest 211th Street southbound ramp and the feasibility of redesigning the configuration of the off-ramp.

The resolution also directs that a certified copy be sent to the governor, chair and members of the Miami-Dade Legislative

Delegation, secretary of the transportation department and the executive director of the turnpike enterprise.

In addition, it directs the county’s lobbyists to advocate for the action and the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include it in the 2018 state legislative package when it’s presented to the commission.

Details: http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/matter.asp? matter=171549&file=true&yea rFolder=Y2017

SMART plan park & ride lot opens early and almost 25% under budget

By Gabi Maspons

The newest addition to the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) plan, a park & ride lot at Southwest 127th Avenue and Kendall Drive, has opened 4½ months ahead of schedule and almost 25% under budget.

“Everything fell into place,” said Bobbi Crichton from Miami-Dade Transit’s Marketing and Communications Department at the June 19 opening ceremony. Ms. Crichton attributed the efficiencies to “good weather and a good project manager.”

The $1.5 million lot was built with matching funds from the Florida Department of Transportation and the People’s Transportation Plan surtax on sales after an agreement with Florida Power & Light allowed the Department of Transportation and Public Works to use land under FPL’s service line for the lot. The county commission approved a license agreement between the county and FPL for long-term use in May 2014.

The park & ride lot is within the Kendall Corridor, which runs from the Dadeland area Metrorail stations to Southwest 167th Avenue, connecting western residential areas, employment centers, shopping areas, expressways, schools and Metrorail stations further to the east. About 190,000 persons live within 2 miles of the heavily trafficked corridor.

“Kendall residents are in need of more solutions to alleviate congestion on the roadways,” said county Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez in a press release, “and this new park & ride lot will offer more options and encourage the use of our public transportation – not to mention, this is yet another steppingstone in the SMART plan implementation.”

Ms. Crichton said the new lot “will most likely be at a lower capacity during the summer and pick up once the school year starts.” It appeals to parents because public school children pay half fare. Ms. Crichton says “it is a popular option for school kids because their parents don’t need to worry about them crossing the street.”

The park & ride lot offers transit riders free parking in 161 spaces, including six for riders with disabilities, designated parking for vehicles with baby

stroller permits and bicycle parking.

The lot increases total parking for Kendall commuters through park & ride by 70%. The other two locations, the West Kendall Transit Terminal and the Kendall Drive and Southwest 150th Avenue lot, have 65 spaces.

CarlaChristina Thompson with Miami-Dade Transit said “people seem very happy with the lot and are looking forward to more changes.”

The lot will connect riders to the Dadeland North Metrorail Station through bus routes 288 and 288A. Route 288A started with the opening of the lot as a new shortterm service. The new route pro-

vides eastbound morning service about every 15 minutes from 5:50 to 9:19 a.m. Westbound afternoon trips leave Dadeland North about every 15 minutes from 3:37 to 7:22 p.m., according to the Metrobus service adjustments. While only route 288A enters the park & ride lot, route 288 serves the bus stop on Kendall Drive and 127th Avenue across the street.

The SMART plan is an infrastructure investment now estimated at $3.6 billion geared to address mass-transit expansion through six new corridors to create a network of transportation options. The plan kicked off in January with the opening of the Dolphin Station Park & Ride lot. New bus route 288A opened with the park & ride lot for rail connection.

8

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017

TODAY’S NEWS

New PananSports office a link to international sports groups

By Gabi Maspons

The Pan American Sports Organization (PASO), now being referred to as PanamSports, is set to open offices in Miami in July.

“Miami has become the de facto meeting place for PASO and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), without a doubt,” said Ralph Garcia-Toledo, director of the Miami-Dade Exploratory Committee to secure the PanamSports offices in Miami, who has been working with PanamSports executives for six years to open the offices in Miami.

The opening of the new PanamSports offices is the first step in developing a stronger relationship with many international sports committees, he said.

The county commission established an advisory board, which Mr. Garcia-Toledo heads, to report to the mayor on all international sports news in the Western Hemisphere and create a better working relationship with the IOC, partners in the Caribbean and Latin America and the mayor’s office.

“It’s natural for us to offer that relationship. Most members with national olympic committees have homes in Miami, their children go to school in Miami, their money is in Miami, and they love the city,” Mr. Garcia-Toledo said. “With

Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Esteban Bovo Jr. talks with PanamSports President Neven Ilic Alvarez and Vice President Ivar Sisniega at the IOC Best Practices Symposium earlier this month.

the support of Mayor [Carlos] Gimenez, we have already started hosting core events.”

Since reaching out to the IOC, Miami has hosted four conferences in the past six years. The most recent, the Best Practices Symposium, hosted by the IOC at the Conrad Miami hotel in Brickell, was the largest and longest meeting of the IOC this year and

included all PASO executives.

The organization’s new president, Neven Ilic Alvarez, is spearheading a re-branding campaign, shifting the name of PASO to PanamSports to make the organization more marketable and garner a wider audience.

“A location in Miami is sure to help PASO establish a larger footprint,” Mr. Garcia-Toledo said.

“Miami is the most convenient place for meetings, and I really believe they love being here.”

For now, the headquarters is to remain in Mexico and a regional office will be opened in Brickell Key, though Mr. Garcia-Toledo says “the ultimate goal is to have the headquarters in Miami, and we’re already thinking of opening larger offices in Coral Gables later.”

The exact location of the regional offices in Brickell Key is to be decided this week, as PanamSports President Ilic and Vice President Ivar Sisniega have come to Miami to meet with MiamiDade County officials.

Mr. Garcia-Toledo is hoping to introduce PanamSports executives to Mayor Gimenez and formalize the details of the move.

“I look forward to showing PASO the best of Miami-Dade County,” Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Esteban Bovo said in a news release. Mr. Bovo said Miami would be “an ideal location because of our world-class airport and seaport, diverse population, geographic location and cultural and athletic ties with the nations of the Americas.”

When asked if Miami is planning to introduce a bid for the Pan American Games, the secondlargest international sporting event after the Olympics, Mr. Garcia-Toledo said, “Miami would be a fantastic place for the Panam Games, but right now our focus is on helping the US Olympic Committee’s bids for the 2024 or 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and our full support is with them.”

As for the Pan American games being held here, he said, “it’s not on the agenda for now, but we would definitely consider it.”

County urged to prevent further harm to depleted seagrass

By Susan Danseyar

Biscayne Bay is suffering from a severe loss of seagrass habitat that keeps it healthy.

This is a call to action, said former fishing captain and environmentalist Dan Kipnis in a presentation to Miami-Dade commissioners last week. Seagrass is dying in the north end of Biscayne Bay as well as other parts, he said. “Fifty-five miles of the bay are suffering from the same thing,” Mr. Kipnis said.

“Algaes are replacing the sea grass. Algae covers and smothers the sea grass.”

Seagrasses are grass-like flowering plants that live submerged in marine and estuarine waters.

Mr. Kipnis told the commission that the county needs to make sure that what’s being

pumped into the bay, such as untreated storm-water, won’t harm it more.

Clerk of Courts Harvey Ruvin told commissioners that Miami-Dade was the fastestgrowing county when he became a county commissioner in 1972. “Biscayne Bay was once a healthy marine environment,” he said, adding that the mangrove-ringed bay became a seawall with development.

The Biscayne Bay plan was created after four or five years and the Biscayne Bay Management Committee oversaw it, Mr. Ruvin said. “By the mid ’80s, we saw a biological renaissance of Biscayne Bay.” There have been lots of successes, but vigilance is needed, Mr. Ruvin said. “Today, we’re seeing depletion of our sea-

Ross Report on Real Estate

by Audrey Ross Top Reasons Why Luxury Buyers Took A Break in 2016 Buyers in the luxury market took a bit of a break in 2016. While there were many reasons, here’s a quick look at a few.

Higher Prices Make Buyers Uneasy It’s not just the pricing going up, but going up without a good reason that caused wealthy buyers to take a break in 2016.

Ability to Wait Luxury buyers are usually very patient and take a wait-and-see approach when they are not fully

comfortable with the market. litical climate and the change from one president to another.

Higher Supply than Demand Even though the number of While many luxury buyers luxury buyers continued to took a break in 2016, they grow in 2016, the number of are slowly returning as the luxury homes available still market starts to correct itself. exceeded the demand. It won’t be a quick process to absorb For professional advice on all these properties, but once this aspects of buying or selling happens, another price growth real estate, please contact me cycle should be the result. at aross@miamirealestate.com or 305-960-2575, or come Presidential Election To- see me at the EWM Realty wards the end of the year, International office located many adopted the wait-and- at 355 Alhambra Circle, see approach due to the po- 9th Floor, in Coral Gables.

www.miamirealestate.com

grasses and seagrass habitat.”

Mr. Ruvin told Miami Today this week that the Biscayne Bay Management Committee, established in 1981, was sunset by county commissioners in 1993, which he said was a major mistake that left the bay without a multi-agency watchdog.

However, he said, a number of county officials are proposing to re-establish a committee.

Mr. Kipnis said in addition to its attractions for tourists and residents, the bay is a huge mover economically for South Florida.

“We need to start another cohesive plan with state and federal agencies to make Biscayne Bay a clean environment,” he said.

His slide presentation to commissioners included a number of concerns: ■Over the years, the north part of the bay – tucked behind the Julia Tuttle Causeway and largely isolated – remained healthy. But since 2013, acres of sturdy manatee grass in one of the healthiest meadows began to wilt, leaving gin clear water cloudy and bottom bare.

■Since 2012, seagrass meadows in the central and southern parts of Biscayne Bay have shrunk dramatically. Scientists are now trying to figure out how the die-off is related to persistent algae blooms and worsening water conditions.

Mr. Kipnis provided an overview of the Biscayne Bay Restorative Initiative (BBRI), the primary goal of which is to develop a unified, countywide management plan for the entire bay system: ■Define the scope of concerns and programs that should be addressed within a comprehensive,

‘Today, we’re seeing depletion of our seagrasses and seagrass habitat.’

Harvey Ruvin

His outline of the BBRI plan states it would be undertaken and managed by a 13-member steering committee appointed by county commissioners. Initially the committee would meet frequently to establish the plan and, once accomplished, meet quarterly.

The Biscayne Bay Management Plan was jointly prepared by the Miami-Dade Planning Department and Department of Environmental Resources Management in March 1981. One of its principal recommendations was establishing the Biscayne Bay Management Committee with representatives of local, state and federal government as well as citizens. The committee developed recommendations for actions by various public agencies.

The Biscayne Bay Management Plan addressed a broad range of interests and concerns that were categorized into three major headings: environmental, user-related and management.

Florida’s sea grasses perform many significant functions including maintaining water clarity by trapping fine sediments and particles with their leaves; provide shelter for fish; and with organisms that grow on them that are food for many marine animals and water birds, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Biscayne Bay, with coastal wetlands in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties, is home to Biscayne National Park.

coordinated approach to bay management.

■Recommend programs and actions that should be undertaken.

■Identify a coordinating committee structure to oversee the scope and direction of programs.

■Identify agencies and community-based groups that have responsibility for implementing certain management programs.

■Identify sources of funding or community-based resources for bay management.

“We have no time left to save our greatest local resource,” Mr. Kipnis concluded. “Local stakeholders believe the formation of an initiative such as BBRI will Details: https://www.miamiassist in advocating and securdade.gov/environment/library/ ing critical funds for projects to protect and enhance Biscayne reports/biscayne-bay-mgtBay now and into the future,” plan.pdf

10

MIAMI TODAY

TODAY’S NEWS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017

Polystyrene ban targets education

Renovations of complex short of cash

By Gabi Maspons

By Catherine Lackner

Effective July 1, polystyrene products will be banned in all MiamiDade parks, including beaches, kicking off county enforcement that is geared more to education than to penalties.

Warnings and efforts toward use of recyclables are stressed in county enforcement plans, not punishments.

“Polystyrene is not recyclable and once discarded persists in the environment for years,” says last year’s county resolution that ordered the ban. Polystyrene is a non-biodegradable petroleumbased plastic that is considered our nation’s fifth largest creator of hazardous waste.

After the county commission approved the resolution banning polystyrene products in all MiamiDade parks, the Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department kicked off a public awareness campaign last December. According to the resolution, the campaign was “no cost to the county.”

“Miami-Dade Parks focused the campaign on existing communication mediums as well as our relationship with the local media to help us spread the message,” said Paul Vitro, chief of Miami-Dade Parks Extension/Education, Conservation, & Outreach Division.

Information was disseminated in press releases and social media, listed on agenda items for vendor/

The troubled renovation of Town Park North residential complex is progressing, but probably will require more than the $15 million the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has allocated for the program, saidAssistant Director Neil Shiver.

“We’ve found no waste or fraud,” Mr. Shiver, filling in for Executive Director Clarence E. Woods III, who is vacationing, told the CRA’s board Monday. “That’s the good news.”

Town Park North is a complex of 20 residential buildings comprising 169 units, along with a clubhouse and playground, on Northwest 20th Street east of I-95, said Brian Zeltsman, CRA director of architecture and development. It was built in the 1970s.

The plan was to relocate residents, one building at a time, while an interior renovation was performed and new energy-efficient roofs and impact doors and windows were added. New electrical lines and separate water meters for each unit were installed. Prior to this, the entire complex shared one water meter.

But there were unanticipated problems, including mold and asbestos, when the contractor began opening walls, he said. “It made it much more challenging.”

Five buildings have been completed so far, upgraded with stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops with under-mounted double sinks, tankless water heaters and other energy-saving features, Mr. Zeltsman said. Four buildings are currently being worked on, he added, three of which will be completed by the end of July. “There should be no delays.”

“Some media outlets sensationalize things,” said Keon Hardemon, CRA chair and Miami commissioner. The completed units “are of superior quality,” he said.

“This is something that hasn’t been done before, a direct investment in the people who live here,” he said. “The residents of Town Park North could not have assessed themselves $15 million to pay for this, so these units would eventually have been condemned and thousands of people moved out of their homes. Now, families who love this complex will be able to live there for 100 years.”

“We have money to complete four more units,” Mr. Shiver said.

“We anticipate having to come back to you in early 2018 to with more precise numbers to complete the project.”

“Would you do something different?” asked Ken Russell, CRAboard member and Miami commissioner.

“The general contractor underbid the job,” Mr. Shiver said. “They missed their numbers. There were delays because of the asbestos, and relocation became a challenge.”

Rumors spread that, once residents moved out, they would not be allowed to move back in, and also that the project might not be done at all.

“There was distrust,” Mr. Shiver said.

Beaches in Key Biscayne’s Crandon Park, like all county parks, will be off limits to polystyrene July 1.

partner meetings and provided to county’s 3-1-1 operators and county employees. The Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department also posted signage about the ban at beach entrances.

The ordinance prohibits the sale or use of food-service articles made from polystyrene, such as coolers, plates, bowls, cups, lids, to-go containers, cutlery, tableware, boxes, bags and wrapping. Polystyrene food-service ware or packaging is marked with the plastic resin code 6 somewhere on the product or on the box containing the product.

“Park visitors will be asked and given the opportunity to remove coolers and other polystyrene items from the park or place the items in their vehicle in lieu of issuing a citation,” the legislative directive says.

County police and the Miami-Dade Parks Enforcement Division are authorized to issue fines as a “last

resort” if patrons are warned several times over repeated park visits, the ordinance says.

“For first offenders, we allow them to complete their activity but caution them,” Mr. Vitro said. If patrons bring polystyrene products, officials are to distribute palm cards about the ban in English, Spanish and Creole to educate them about the ban and the environmental impact.

“Education over enforcement is our main focus,” Mr. Vitro said, and that will be the objective of all county parks staff members who interact with patrons. The ban aims to raise consumer awareness so patrons are less likely to purchase polystyrene products.

“Ultimately, we would like them to move entirely away from singleuse items for multi-use products and opt for more environmentally friendly options,” Mr. Vitro said.

Aluminum, recyclable plastics, coated and uncoated paper products and compostable plant fiber products are examples of containers still allowed in the parks.

Polystyrene contains styrene and benzene, suspected carcinogens and neurotoxins that are hazardous when consumed. Polystyrene is used to make drinking cups and food containers, and when hot foods and liquids make contact, they start a partial breakdown of the product, which causes some toxins to be absorbed into the bloodstream and tissue.

“The polystyrene ban supports parks stewardship and conservation effort in improving environmental concerns,” Mr. Vitro said. “Through education and awareness, patrons will learn about the negative impacts of polystyrene litter while encouraging them to take on the role of environmental stewards.”

12

TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017

Jackson Health System facing ‘most challenging’ year

By Catherine Lackner

Coming off a successful year that saw many advances, and with Carlos Migoya set to continue as president and CEO of Jackson Health System, officials of Miami’s Public Health Trust are cautiously optimistic about the future. The trust administers Jackson Health System, which includes Jackson Memorial Hospital and a network of clinics.

“Every year we come here and every year it has improved,” Joe Arriola, trust chairman, told MiamiDade’s County Commission. “Jackson is better than it has ever been.

There have been some exceptional changes, and we’re here with some incredible news: I am happy to say that Carlos Migoya has agreed to stay on for another two years.”

But “we are heading into rough times politically, and the squabbling is just going to get worse. To survive this, we need your help,” Mr.Arriola told commissioners.

“This has been one of the proudest chapters of my life,” Mr. Migoya said. “We have new facilities and

‘The State Legislature ‘How much time will ‘We’re getting ready to ‘We are heading into you need to know the ecoopen new facilities, and do- came back with some rough times politically, and the squabbling is just ing it amidst storm clouds dedicated funds, but not at nomic hit’ of the Senate’s health care bill? hanging over health care.’ the same level as before.’ going to get worse.’

Joe Arriola

Carlos Migoya

Daniella Levine Cava

Sally Heyman

are renovating patient care facilities across the system.”

The $175 million Christine Lynn Rehabilitation Center, set to open in 2019 or 2020, is the first project in

which Jackson, the University of Miami and the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis have combined their resources in a single facility, he said.

“Research will be actively inte-

grated into patient care, and it will be one of the most sought-after places in the country to recover from an injury,” Mr. Migoya said.

“This positions Jackson and UM in

a landmark treatment center.” Two old administration buildings will be torn down to accommodate the center, he added.

Jackson West, an inpatient hospital with outpatient and diagnostic clinics, is set to open in mid-2019, he said. “This is in Doral, the fastestgrowing area of the county, and we’ll be able to provide services to that population.” A separate walk-in care center will be six miles away, but also in Doral, he said.

Though he didn’t discuss the upcoming budget with commissioners, Mr. Migoya categorized it as break-even. The ever-rising cost of prescription drugs, salary costs to stay competitive, pressure from insurance companies to lower reimbursement rates, and the uncertainty of national health insurance are among the reasons, he said.

“I expect the coming year to be the most challenging since 2011,” Mr. Migoya said. “We’re getting ready to open new facilities, and doing it amidst storm clouds hanging over health care.

“We’re improving efficiencies and streamlining costs in nonclinical areas,” he said. “Labor and management are in partnership to identify ways to upgrade the patient experience.”

“What’s the plan” for survival? asked Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava. “The State Legislature came back with some dedicated funds, but not at the same level as before.”

“It depends on what the funding is,” Mr. Migoya said. “Every year for the past seven years, we’ve had cuts; last year it was $60 million.”

Leaders in the Florida House of Representatives reduced the cut to $19 million.

“But the brand has changed,” he said. “Now, paying patients choose us, and we’re improving efficiencies to get patients home sooner, safely.

The key to growth is to turn beds fast, and we want to do that so we can offer more access to everyone in the county.”

Assuming the US Senate passes a healthcare bill, “How much time will you need to know the economic hit?” asked Commissioner Sally Heyman.

“We could end up with some positives,” Mr. Migoya said. Florida turned down the expansion of Medicaid that was part of the Affordable Care Act. “The states that expanded Medicaid could take a worse hit.And some in government are looking for ways to help Florida.”

July ��

2o1�

Economic growth for Miami’s future clearly rests heavily on our technological resources and their advancement.

In this special section, Miami Today will look at our strengths in technology today, the educational assets that will provide a labor force ready for technological growth and the opportunities that lie ahead.

This targeted section offers advertising opportunities for businesses active in technology today, educational institutions that will be educating the technology specialists of tomorrow and entities that wish to show their support for technological advancement.

For advertising reservation contact our Advertising Department at 305-358-1008.

Deadline is Tuesday, July 11, at noon.

MiaMiToday A Singular Voice in an Evolving City

14

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017

FINANCIAL TRENDS

Some banks close branches, but others adapting to changes

By Catherine Lackner

Online banking has forever changed the way people manage their money, and banks have responded. While some banks are closing branches or reducing services offered there, the trend is not universal.

“In South Florida, as across the country, customers are increasingly opting to use their mobile phone or online banking for many routine banking transactions,” said Gene Schaefer, Miami market president for Bank of America and chair of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, via email.

“For example, we have more than 22 million mobile customers, and more customers are using our mobile check-deposit service rather than coming into the branch to make a deposit.

Mobile devices now account for one out of every five deposit transactions and represent the volume of nearly 1,000 financial centers.”

The 2016 Bank of America Trends in Consumer Mobility

Report found that that 62% of consumers use mobile or online as their primary banking method, which has increased significantly from the 51% of customers who did so in 2015 and the 47% in 2014.

The 2016 survey also found that 54% of consumers say they are active users of a mobile banking app, up from 48% in 2015.

“What we’re seeing is that, as consumers use digital services for many routine transactions, branches are becoming more of a destination for financial advice on life priorities, like applying for a mortgage, saving for a child’s education, starting a business or saving for retirement,” Mr. Schaefer said.

“To that end, we’ve been renovating financial centers with a layout and technology that will more effectively serve customer needs. That includes adding thousands of financial specialists. We also have digital ambassadors in financial centers across the country who are dedicated to helping customers

‘In South Florida, as across the country, customers are increasingly opting to use their mobile phone or online banking for many routine banking transactions.’

Gene Schaefer better adopt the emerging technology we offer,” he said.

“In addition, customers can use our Bank by Appointment feature to schedule same-day appointments with specialists in

the financial centers. Over the next few years, we plan to open more than 250 new financial centers, renovate 1,200 existing centers and upgrade our ATMs with new technology. Through all this, we’re creating a seamless, high-tech, high-touch customer experience across all channels, including our financial centers and ATM networks, so we are there when and where our customers need us.”

“Bank branches are dropping like flies as financial institutions try to cuts costs and rely on the rise in online banking capabilities,” said Brian O’Connell, in The Street. He cited the January announcement

by Wells Fargo that it would close 400 bank branch offices by the end of 2108 to save $2 billion in costs. The bank cut 86 branches in 2016.

“There really is no consensus,” said Joaquin Medina, vice president and market team leader of Apollo Bank. “It really depends on the target market and each bank’s strategic model, as demographics are differ-

ent from market to market.

Branches have been a hot topic for the past 10 years.”

Apollo Bank has seven branches (Brickell, downtown Miami, Coral Gables, Kendall, Doral, Hialeah and Westchester) and, while there are no immediate plans to open more, “We wouldn’t rule it out,” Mr. Medina said. “We’re a hungry bank. We’re always expanding and looking for new markets.”

It is a full-service bank but “but stronger on the business side,” he said. While online banking and associated technologies have increasingly dominated the banking world, Apollo concentrates on relationships and services, he added.

“Our customers should feel confident that there’s a banker in their vicinity in case they have service issues,” he said. “We’re a relationship-driven bank.

Going forward, technology is going to incredibly streamline our services and efficiency. But there’s no denying that there are times when a personal touch is needed.”

County seeks $200 million in commercial paper for seaport

By Susan Danseyar

Miami-Dade County, through the mayor’s office, has asked in a proposed ordinance that PortMiami’s capital improvement program be allowed to issue commercial paper notes of up to $200 million on a rolling basis to finance ongoing upgrades to terminals and port infrastructure.

Commercial paper notes are short-term, unsecured financing that can often be less expensive than bank lines of credit so long as the issuer has excellent credit ratings. No collateral is required to secure repayment of the notes, another significant advantage of the issuer.

The port is to use the funds for temporary cash flow to continue improving facilities at both its cruise and cargo segments, including ongoing terminal expansion to accommodate larger cruise ships, building a new cruise terminal, acquiring new cranes for

The Port of Miami last issued debt to support this dredging in 2014 to allow larger ships to dock in Miami.

loading and unloading cargo handle containers, and upgrad- also foresees the issuance of on larger ships, acquiring and ing automation at truck gates. $400 million in additional port The proposed ordinance revenue bonds that would pay developing an inland location to

off the commercial paper notes and provide further funding.

Ultimately, the new financing would be paid from the appropriation of “legally available non-ad-valorem revenues” of the county, according to the proposed ordinance, but not increased taxes.

The port currently has over $1 billion of outstanding debt, including $569 million in revenue bonds, $78 million in general obligation bonds, $288 million in Sunshine State loans, and $106 million in capital acquisition bonds. It last issued debt in 2014 to support infrastructure projects, including dredging to allow larger ships at the port.

The commercial paper program will provide interim financing for the port’s five-year capital improvement program, most of which has already been improved by the county commission.

County commissioners are scheduled to vote on the ordinance July 18.

‘76-cent’ Canadian dollar can’t stop South Florida spending

By Camila Cepero

The Canadian dollar has been wavering in the low 70 cents range for months compared to the US dollar, but that isn’t stopping Canadians who head to the US on an annual basis, and those who delve into real estate shopping, from doing so this year.

As of Tuesday afternoon, a Canadian dollar equaled 0.76 US dollar, a trend that has held steady for several months.

A spokesperson for the Canadian Snowbird Association said Canadian visits to the US are a lifestyle, not just a vacation.

The association, and others like it, has tried to make arrangements with popular hotels to offer Canadians special hotel deals.

Arrangements included deals with Holiday Inn, Days Inn and Choice Hotels, which has several brands.

“The discounts were reasonable, but we found that we got too many complaints – on service, on price and on cleanliness.

We decided to make personal visits to see what really happened on the front line and we found that, if you ask, you usually got a better price than what our discounts provided,” the association said in a statement.

The only “real” discounts found were through the Canadian Professional Sales Association.

One solution to the current depressed value of the Canadian dollar comes in the form of programs that pool the funds of all travelers looking to exchange currency, providing bulk purchase exchange rates The Snowbird Currency Exchange Program lets travelers transfer funds automatically and continuously from any Canadian bank to any US bank every

month, whether the participant is in the US or Canada. The result is a Canadian dollar to US dollar exchange at an exclusive, preferred rate for a small fee.

Regardless of the exchange rate, Canadian consumers are still searching South Florida real estate more than those from any other country, according to data from the Miami Association of Realtors.

In October, Canada overtook long-time leader Colombia to become the top international country using the realtors associations’ Miami search portal. Canada had topped the portal’s searches just once before, in November 2013.

One month later, Canada dropped just one slot and came in second in web portal searches.

“Miami’s tropical weather, resort lifestyle and world-class shopping have long attracted Canadian home buyers,” said Christopher Zoller, the 2017 chairman

of the board of the Miami Association of Realtors.

“With temperatures dropping up north, more Canadian home buyers are purchasing real estate in South Florida.”

In Florida, Canadians buying residences are spending an average of $400,000 now compared to $300,000 five years ago, according to the realtors association, due to a combination of higher home prices and the nearly 10% decline in the Canadian dollar since the beginning of 2015.

Nonetheless, Canadian buyers were responsible for 6% of all South Florida international sales last year. Even more notably, Canadians spend the most cash on South Florida real estate out of all international buyers.

The snowbird travel market is more resilient than a depressed Canadian dollar, the Canadian Snowbird Association said.

24

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017

MIAMI TODAY

DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT US Subscribe to our E-paper only $60 a year • Easy to read and navigate • Unlimited access to 11 years of searchable archives • New issues available before print edition Go to www.miamitodayepaper.com for a free demo

Wherever you are, Miami Today can be

MiaMiToday A Singular Voice in an Evolving City