Miami Today: Week of Thursday, July 13, 2017

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2017

A Singular Voice in an Evolving City

WWW.MIAMITODAYNEWS.COM $4.00

COUNTY OKs $11 MILLION FOR TRAFFIC LIGHTS THAT SELF-ADJUST TO FLOW, pg. 13 ALL-STAR HOTEL PRICES: Hotel price comparison site HotelsCombined reported that hotel prices in Miami rose 16% Tuesday due to the 88th Major League Baseball All-Star game at Marlins Park. On Tuesday, a hotel room in Miami averaged $142, the site said. Hotel prices downtown – near Marlins Park – were more expensive, with rooms costing $187 Tuesday night, 27% higher than the rest of Miami. By next Tuesday, Miami hotel prices should decrease 16% to an average of $121, the site said. Downtown hotel occupancy rates on Tuesday were at 79%, with Miami’s total occupancy rate at 69%, HotelsCombined said.

The Achiever

By John Charles Robbins

MIAMI TAX RATE CUT OFFERED: Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado announced Friday release of 2017-18 proposed budgets that lower millage rate for city property owners, invest more in capital projects, divide the Planning and Zoning Department into two stand-alone departments, and create a Department of Veterans Affairs and Homeless Services. The Office of Management and Budget will hold community budget meetings around the city. The proposed budgets are at www.miamigov.com/budget.

DELINQUENCIES DECLINE: Miami-Dade County reduced its past-due receivables by nearly $4 million from the first of the year to March 31, reports from Mayor Carlos Gimenez show. The county had delinquent accounts on the books of nearly $44.7 million on March 31, down from more than $48.3 million at the start of the year. The largest single reduction was more than $3.1 million in delinquent water and sewer charges from the first of the year, when the total was nearly $13.9 million, to more than $10.7 million on March 31. Much of the reduction was probably due to write-offs of delinquent accounts. The largest delinquent category as of March 31 was more than $11.6 million in public housing and community development.

CLEAN CAMPAIGN CLASSES: Political candidates, campaign workers and politically active citizens are the targets of two classes on how to run clean political campaigns, produced jointly by the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics & Public Trust and the Miami-Dade Elections Department. The classes will teach how to open and manage campaign financial accounts and run ethical campaigns. The 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. sessions will help candidates in the upcoming elections avoid legal pitfalls, correctly raise and report funds, keep records properly and understand the legal and ethical implications of seeking public office. The sessions will be Aug. 10 in the council chambers at Homestead City Hall, 100 Civic Court, and Sept. 19 in the commission chambers in Miami Beach City Hall, 17990 Convention Center Drive.

Felecia Hatcher

Photo by Cristina Sullivan

Moved from corporate world to found Code Fever The profile is on Page 4

New Monty’s lease with city may add 32 years

By John Charles Robbins

Monty’s Raw Bar & Restaurant, a longtime fixture of the Coconut Grove waterfront, is destined for major redevelopment – and a longer lease from the city.

A deal in the works with the landlord – the City of Miami – would extend the lease of the property and bring $7.5 million in improvements to the commercial venue within three years.

In a related action, an adjoining 34-slip commercial dockage facility would be realigned, resulting in fewer slips.

City commissioners today (7/13) are to consider legislation bearing on the city-owned property at 2550 S Bayshore Drive.

The first is a resolution directing the city attorney to prepare a charter amendment asking voters in November to approve a lease extension and other factors of a new deal.

The city charter requires voter approval for the lease or sale of city-owned waterfront property.

Voters would be asked to approve an amendment to the lease between the city and Aligned Bayshore Marina LLC for city-owned

Riverfront convention hub in deal

property at 2550 S Bayshore Drive, to modify provisions of the lease, including extending it an additional 32 years, plus two 10-year options to renew. Other provisions include the greater of an additional minimum rent of $200,000 per lease year (a minimum of $10 million over the term of the lease excluding renewals) or 1.75% of gross rent receipts from the property.

The tenant would make at least $7.5 million in improvements within three years of voter approval of the lease amendment.

The site includes Monty’s, a Starbucks, small shops and offices, and a marina.

The resolution lists key dates in the history of the site and the lease.

The city entered into a lease with Bayshore Properties Inc. (BPI) on Sept. 20, 1985, which the city commission authorized on July 18, 1985, and voters approved Aug. 13, 1985.

The lease was assigned to Grove Marina Market Ltd. (GMM) March 16, 1986, an assignment of lease consented to by BPI and the city.

The lease was amended again in August 1991, September 1993 and November 2001.

The lease was further assigned by GMM

to Bayshore Landing LLC on Aug. 20, 2004.

The lease agreement between the city and Bayshore Landing was further amended in December 2004 and February 2015.

The lease was then assigned by Bayshore Landing to Bayshore Marina on April 8, 2015.

The latest proposed lease would also create a capital account requiring a minimum additional investment to the property of $4 million over the amended lease term including renewal options. It would implement a transfer fee if the property were transferred or assigned, and would include a refinancing fee should the property be refinanced after the initial refinancing.

The lease proposal also calls for two independent appraisals obtained by the city affirming fair market value of the latest lease amendment, and would provide consent to the related submerged lands lease and waivers of deed restrictions that are required from the State of Florida.

The other proposed resolution would direct the city manager to execute a lease modification to re-configure and reduce the square footage of the submerged lands and number of wet slips at that location.

Hyatt wants to control a downtown convention center the City of Miami now manages and at the same time get a longer lease.

City officials are onboard and are negotiating a new lease.

Perhaps the first big step is to get voters’ blessing. By city charter, they must approve the sale or lease of city-owned waterfront land.

At today’s meeting (7/13), commissioners are to consider a resolution directing the city attorney to prepare ballot language seeking to extend the lease with Hyatt Equities LLC and incorporate the James L. Knight Convention Center land.

The vote would be Nov. 7, coinciding with the municipal election.

City officials say redevelopment of the city-owned Knight Center and attached hotel at 400 SE Second Ave. could energize the prime riverfront site.

City officials considered the venue a “money pit” for years, and some considered selling the entire property, which includes the Knight Center, the Hyatt Regency hotel land and a 1,450-space garage that is the base of the privately-owned Miami Tower across the street.

The original lease with Hyatt began in September 1979.

Voters may be asked to authorize commissioners, by a four-fifths vote, to waive competitive bidding and execute an amended lease with Hyatt to extend the current term to 99 years, with an annual base rent to the city of at least $2 million, plus additional percentage rent for other uses, and to incorporate the convention center land into a comprehensive redevelopment master plan requiring city commission approval.

A background memo says the Knight Center has 34 meeting rooms, including a 444-seat auditorium, a 117-seat lecture hall and a 4,650-seat theater, all connected to the Hyatt offering more than 600 rooms and additional meeting space.

Commissioners agreed the property has seen better days.

Some have expressed a desire to see nearby Fort Dallas Park made part of redeveloping the riverfront.

STUDY OF GROWTH AT COUNTY’S AIRPORTS TAKING OFF ...

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TRUST TO OPERATE VIZCAYA, ALL WORKERS KEEP JOBS ...

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KENDALL SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOL GETS COUNTY LEASE ...

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HEALTH CAREERS MIDDLE SCHOOL DELAYING OPENING ...

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VIEWPOINT: EXAMINE CITYHOOD THROUGHOUT COUNTY ...

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TRANSPORTATION PLANS INCLUDE AUTONOMOUS CARS ...

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COUNTY MODIFYING BONDS FOR NEW SAFETY BUILDING ...

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MULTIPLE SOLAR POWER INITIATIVES SHINE IN COUNTY ...

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MIAMI TODAY

VIEWPOINT

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 13, 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

For big picture’s sake, examine cityhood for all of county

A tiny item that county commissioners tentatively OK’d last week proves that the Miami-Dade charter needs updating.

The vote was to keep alive a study of South Dade cityhood. Alm o s t f o u r Michael Lewis years after the commission OK’d the work, a study team has yet to vote whether it favors a city.

This should give a brand-new charter review group a hint: it’s no easy matter to form cities under the charter, which needs to be altered to make creating cities not just easier but inevitable, and countywide.

About 60% of county residents now live in cities or towns that oversee very local matters. Local councils are closer to the people and usually know their areas well.

But that leaves about 40% living where the county makes local laws and handles local matters. That’s a lot farther from the people and often makes the district county commissioner almost a “mayor.”

While some county commissioners watch every facet of localities and make sure concerns are met, it strains a county

that oversees an economy larger than those of two-thirds of all nations, more populous than 100 nations and broader than 65 nations. A micro-managing county has less energy to look at the big picture – or to think long range..

What if the county had been looking for decades exclusively at broad concerns with a long-term view?

It might have dug into future transit needs before we hit today’s crisis. It might have examined affordable and workforce housing before today’s shortage. It might have been on top of sea level concerns years earlier. It might have pored over water and sewer concerns before we got $16 billion behind in pipes and pumps. It might have planned land use better, made economic development a top priority and far more.

The county might have done all of that if it wasn’t worried also about circulator buses and potholes and curbs and the kinds of issues that city councils handle and, frankly, often do it better.

Back when this county got a charter in the 1950s, drafters expected every speck of land to go under a very local government, leaving to the county the big issues that require planning that links together all of our needs.

Today, that planning would link land use, transit to those land areas, water and sewer links, environmental impact, economic impact and jobs created, new technology’s opportunities and so forth.

No municipality has the broad reach of the county to lace together all these strands that together compose the community’s mosaic.

Well, that was the plan that never happened. And county commissioners who are more district oriented than big-picture oriented are happy to be “mayors” too.

But given the stresses on this county, which is one of the nation’s biggest and plays a larger and larger role globally, it’s decades past time for a charter to seek two-level local government countywide.

Our system of allowing cityhood only after an area jumps through hoop after hoop could push this goal 50 years away, with no guarantee it would ever be met.

Take the slice of South Dade that’s now looking at cityhood. It stretches 11 miles from Southwest 120th to Southwest 232nd streets, mostly west of US 1. Ten years ago the county commission froze all new cities, including five areas that wanted to be cities and everywhere else, including South Dade. After the commission lifted the ban, the county allowed nine areas to study cityhood.

South Dade was one.

The county commission in 2013 allowed the South Dade study. Then it had to be consulted to approve more study, provided that two years more would be maximum. Those two years are about up and now the county is about to add an absolutely final year. But by charter it

can’t do even that for another six weeks.

Every step will require another county approval.

Meanwhile, most of the other cityhood studies fell apart. Those areas don’t have hometown governments, and the county must provide the very local services and attention that virtually every city gives residents.

Universal hometown governments that leave an increasingly strapped county with less on its plate should be near the top of charter review concerns.

It’s way too hard to create new cities, too slow, and too much under the thumb of the county. Even if a charter review recommends countywide hometowns, in fact, the county commission can kill it rather than let voters decide.

But just imagine a county with a bigpicture, long-range mentality and what living there could be.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that, even without hyper-local concerns, county hall would always plan ahead and then work its plan. We are only human.

But the odds would be far better if we gave the county a fighting chance to think regionally, look at the key issues, plan a future and then follow through.

Today, it has no chance.

So, ask our charter team: Don’t our citizens deserve both very good very local government and a shot at overarching big-picture governance?

Give them a chance at both.

Charter schools are the ultimate public-private partnership I am a product of the Baltimore city public school system, and I believe in public education.

The middle and high schools I attended decades ago were veritable melting pots of rich and poor; black, white and Asian; immigrants Jerry Haar and native born; geeks and social misfits; over-achievers and slackers; and other diverse groupings, as well.

Teachers had a passion for their craft and insisted on high standards and decorum in the classroom; and students whose performance was unsatisfactory had to repeat the grade – there was no such thing as social promotion. Unruly students were suspended or expelled, invariably receiving punishment at home for their delinquency.

Standardized tests were rigorous but fair. The administrative staff at schools was small, and the humanities and social sciences emphasized the tenets and values of Western civilization.

Except for diversity among the student body, today’s urban public schools exhibit the opposite of every characteristic cited above. Bloated educational bureaucracies, the watering down of curricula and standards, cultural relativism, a disrespect for authority, unruliness in the classroom, a cultivated sense of entitlement among students (the expectation of trophies for participation) and every other toxic feature of an excessively liberal and permissive society permeate urban public schools today.

The Writer

Jerry Haar is a business professor at Florida International University, a global fellow of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC, and a senior research fellow in the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University.

Is it any wonder that the US is not ranked among the top 10 countries in the latest international educational achievement scores in math, science and reading?

Progressives will respond: “Poor student performance is because we do not spend enough money on public education.” Fact: Only four industrialized nations spend more than the US – Austria, Luxembourg, Norway and Switzerland.

Furthermore, research on educational spending and student achievement is inconclusive on whether more money improves output. Noted Stanford economist Caroline Hoxby, along with others such as Mike Podgursky, James Smith and Matthew Springer, find no statistical evidence that spending more achieves better results; however, Professor Hoxby’s research does find that school choice can make a difference.

But what choice for public school students whose parents do not have the means to afford private school (religious or secular)?

The answer? Charter schools.

Charter schools are the “third way,” so to speak. (Recognizably, vouchers could be considered a “fourth way.”) Charter schools are non-profit 501 (3) organizations that have a contract or charter to provide the same educational services to students as district public schools.

Two major differences are that they operate with freedom from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools, and they are governed by performance contracts so that at the end of their term (3-15 years), if they do not meet expectations of their sponsor they are not renewed. Their sponsor is a state or local school board. They are given increased autonomy in return for accountability – solid academic results and sound fiscal practices.

In our own state, the Florida Charter School Statutes are quite explicit and written to ensure both educational and financial accountability. Among its results-oriented requirements are: improvement in student learning and academic achievement; the development and implementation of innovative learning methods; measurement of learning outcomes; and the creation of new professional opportunities for teachers.

Charter schools in Florida must be open to any student covered in an inter-district agreement or residing in the school district in which the charter school is located.

Teachers employed by or under contract must be certified as required by current law.

All well and good, but how do charter schools perform? As reported by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University, a comprehensive study of 41 urban areas in 22 states provides compelling evidence of the merits of charter schools.

Among the key findings are: urban charter schools, overall, provide significantly higher levels of annual growth in both math and reading than their traditional public school peers; within individual urban regions, charter school learning gains outnumber the traditional schools by

two-to-one; and learning gains for charter school students are larger by significant amounts for black, Hispanic, low-income and special education students in both math and reading.

Paul E. Peterson, professor of government at Harvard, asserts: “Charter schools are beginning to pose genuine competition to public schools, which show little capacity to improve on their own.”

One of the hallmarks of capitalism is free market competition and consumer choice, whether manufactured products or services. Education should be no exception. For if the aim is to improve our urban public schools, a little competitive heat to the seat of the pants – courtesy of charter schools, a public-private partnership – will bring us closer to achieving that goal. Parents, students, and communities deserve no less.

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WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2017

TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

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Trust will run Vizcaya, all workers to get jobs

By Susan Danseyar

County commissioners last week approved an agreement with the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust Inc. to operate the museum and historic landmark in Coconut Grove and find jobs for its employees who want to remain working for Miami-Dade.

Mayor Carlos Giménez said he will personally make sure the employees currently working at Vizcaya who want to remain with the county will have help through Miami-Dade’s Pipeline Assistance program.

Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava explained an amendment made to the ordinance: all county employees at Vizcaya are immediately eligible for placement assistance through the Pipeline program for up to two years. They must opt in by Sept. 30 and actively participate in the program.

No employee will lose a job, Ms. Levine Cava said. They’ll have jobs either through the Pipeline program or the Vizcaya Trust. “This will be good for taxpayers, arts and culture and our workers,” she said. “This public asset will remain in public hands; there will be no layoffs as a result of the transition.”

Senior Advisor Michael Spring said he and the mayor recently met with the employees and assured them they’d be given any assistance needed if they want to remain working for the county.

“My commitment to the 30 employees who want to remain with the county isn’t just for 12 months but as long as it takes to get a parallel position,” Mr. Giménez said during the Thursday commission meeting.

Commissioner Xavier Suarez voted No, saying he was not as optimistic as his colleagues. “The problem with this is we’re privatizing with subsidies,” he said.

“They’ll want subsidies. Why can’t we guarantee employees working at this entity?” Mr. Suarez said he “ran out of patience on this matter.”

Ms. Levine Cava countered by asking him to “think of this as a true P4: a public, private, philanthropic partnership.”

In the private sector, there’s no guarantee of anything, said Jose “Pepe” Diaz. “This is a win-win for everybody,” he said. “There’s not one sector that doesn’t come back knocking on doors.”

The Vizcaya property is the former villa and estate of James Deering, a retired Illinois millionaire who in failing health began building the estate in 1914 and completed it in 1922. Miami-Dade now owns the property.

The operating agreement – which would shift responsibility from one trust to another – stipulates Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust Inc. will operate the accredited museum and National Historic Landmark in agreement with all laws and standards of the US Secretary of the Interior, the American Alliance of Museums, the American Public GardensAssociation and theAmerican Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.

With this private-public partnership operating and management agreement, the county retains

ownership of Vizcaya’s grounds, building and art collections. The management and operations, including personnel, will be overseen by the not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust Inc., which is to focus on increasing Vizcaya’s philanthropic contributions, increasing grant opportunities and making sure charitable donations play a greater role in Vizcaya’s future.

According to the legislation, these efforts will complement the $2.5 million of Convention Development Tax proceeds Vizcaya currently receives each year from the county. In addition, Vizcaya will receive the balance of capital funds earmarked for it from the 2004 Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond program, which currently amounts to $8.385 million.

The agreement requires the trust to submit an annual budget to the county for its approval as part of Miami-Dade’s annual budget process.

In October 2013, in anticipation of Vizcaya’s 2016-2017 Centennial, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust approved a five-year strategic plan with the goal of fully preserving the entire landmarked estate, including the Vizcaya farm village across Miami Avenue from the main villa at 3251 S Miami Ave., to boost Vizcaya’s role as a community resource, according to the legislation.

The trust concluded that Viz-

The county will remain owner of the buildings, lands and collections of the late James Deering’s estate.

caya’s “enhancement can best be accomplished by the evolution of this public-private partnership,” with the county retaining sole ownership of the grounds, buildings and art collections but management and operations, including personnel, being overseen by a single, notfor-profit organization through an agreement with the county.

The operating agreement includes terms for the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust Inc.’s board of directors, that meetings be conducted under the Sunshine Law, records be available, and the trust operate Vizcaya with a balanced annual budget using earned revenue and contributed income along with county and other government funds.

Details: www.miamidade.gov/ govaction/legistarfiles/Matters/ Y2017/171623.pdf

Ross Report on Real Estate

by Audrey Ross

Summer Real Estate Trends To Watch For

The summer brings different real estate trends than any other season of the year. In many areas of the United States, it’s the time for the market to heat up.

There are several trends to look for this summer.

Move-Up over Starter Home for Millennials It’s more likely that millennials will be looking to forgo the traditional starter home for what is known as a moveup home. This is the largest group of buyers expected this summer and they are

not looking for small fix- filled with price corrections er-uppers or starter homes. in the luxury market, especially in the South Florida Middle-Income Homeown- area. Many price cuts may ers Will See Values Rise be in the near future, which As was already predicted could help create more sales for 2017, the middle-income as the luxury condo market is homeowners will continue crowded throughout Miami. to see values rise for their homes. It will slow down For professional advice on all some over the summer, but aspects of buying or selling the values for homes priced real estate, please contact me at about $500K and un- at aross@miamirealestate.com der will continue to go up. or 305-960-2575, or come see me at the Compass office Luxury Market will See located at 2550 South Bayshore Price Corrections Con- Drive, in Coconut Grove tinue The summer will be

www.miamirealestate.com

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WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2017

TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

Redevelopment agency adds $10,000 to finish Overtown mural

By Catherine Lackner

A project that began in 2014 is finally nearing completion, with one last boost from the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

CRAdirectors voted unanimously June 26 to spend an additional $10,000 to have artistAddonis Parker finish “Vintage Settlers Colored Town,” a hand-painted mural depicting late pioneers and Overtown businesspeople, on a Metrorail guideway at Northwest Third Avenue and 11th Street. The total project cost is about $112,000.

It replaces a faded shrink-wrap art work, circa 2007, installed along four large walls. Creative Commercial Insight and Restoration Inc., a company managed by Mr. Parker, “has experienced significance delays due to weather impediments during the summer months… high costs for supplies, and theft and vandalism,” said a CRAmemo that accompanied the request for more funds.

The company “has provided the

The mural will replace welcome artwork shown above Northwestern High School’s marchers in 2014.

CRAwith an itemized budget outlinMr. Parker has extensive experiing the expenditures thus far and a ence with murals and other art in proposal to complete the project,” outdoor venues, including transit stathe memo continued. tions, according to CRA documents

issued in 2015 when he won a “call to artists.”Aresumé submitted to the agency listed more than 30 public mural commissions in schools,

Spotlight onExcellence The icing on the cake for an advertising campaign

April 6

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An advertorial will highlight all you cannot convey in an ad alone.

Our readers will get a more complete understanding of your brand with this perfect complement to your advertising campaign.

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MIAMI TODAY

SPOTLIGHT ON EXCELLENCE

WEEK OF THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

FirstBank plants flagship in Brickell FirstBank Florida has opened its flagship location in the heart of Brickell, Miami’s internationally known financial district. The new, state-of-the-art Brickell branch, at 848 Brickell Ave., is the bank’s 11th South Florida location.

A leading boutique bank already known for offering an extensive suite of services for personal and professional financial requirements, FirstBank Florida will introduce a new service line tailored to meet the needs of people who live and work in Brickell, one of Miami’s fastest-growing – and densest – mixed business and residential areas in the thriving South Florida landscape.

The Brickell branch will serve as the hub of FirstBank Florida’s Platinum Banking Division, a growing concierge-style platform for local and international businesses and individuals who seek white-glove service from a team of proven, professional bankers.

“We have been fortunate to effectively support our custom-

ers’ requirements personally and swiftly while contributing to the region’s economic recovery,” says Calixto Garcia-Velez, regional executive and executive vice president of FirstBank Florida. “Now is the perfect time to operate our flagship location in the epicenter of the Southeast’s financial gateway to the world.”

FirstBank Florida’s best-ofbreed practices coupled with an optimum standard of personalization have guided its ability to choose strategic locations that best ensure its customers’ requirements are served. Ramon Casanova, vice president and branch manager as well as a leader within FirstBank Florida’s Platinum Banking Division, is spearheading the Brickell location. Mr. Casanova brings to the position more than 23 years of banking experience, 18 of them in the Brickell market.

“Our organization is driven by a set of values that stem from being one with the community,” Mr. Garcia-Velez says.

“From this ingratiation with our

customers, we are keenly aware of the growing dynamics and demands placed upon them, and we are continuing to evolve and enhance our personalized services to extenuate our commitment and ensure their objectives are met.”

The Brickell branch is the third new FirstBank Florida location to open over the past four years, joining other branches in Pinecrest and Hialeah. A new branch in Kendall is in the wings – and the bank is eyeing expansion in Broward County, where it currently has four branches, as well. In the same period of time, the bank has experienced more than 68% loan growth, 33% deposit growth and 17% employee growth.

Established in 1948, FirstBank has operated continuously for more than 65 years and has grown to more than $13 billion in assets. The second largest bank headquartered in Puerto Rico and the largest bank serving the Virgin Islands, FirstBank operates as a full-service com-

Campaign options 1/8 of a page or larger Brickell is the hub of FirstBank Florida’s Platinum Banking Division.

mercial bank, with regional Details: FirstBank Florida: (305) headquarters in Miami and a 577-6000 or www.1firstbank.com. network of strategically placed Media contact: Deidre Krause, FirstBank Florida branch locations throughout Miami-Dade (305) 710-8500 or deidre@stircommnications.com. and Broward counties.

St. Thomas adds financial support In response to market demand, St. Thomas University has introduced a pair of financial assistance programs to help students prepare themselves for leadership roles in the careers of their choice.

On the graduate level, percredit tuition rates has been reduced across the board – a savings of as much as 42% in some programs.

“As important as providing a quality private education is ensuring that our students are able to graduate with an advanced degree that will assist in career advancement, with as little debt as possible,” said University President Franklyn M. Casale.

“The adjustments ensure an incredible return on investment for our students. It is a value proposition that is win-win for them.”

The lower tuition rates also

include the cost of textbooks for all graduate courses, guaranteeing that all students have their books available on the first day of the semester.

“Studies demonstrate that students who have books when classes begin will achieve more success in their courses,” said Provost & Chief Academic Officer Irma Becerra. “This approach demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that our students don’t merely enroll and attend, but graduate in a timely manner with their desired degrees.”

The changes to graduate tuition rates and the book policy coincide with the university’s launch of 18 new market-driven degree programs in such fields as Cybersecurity Management, Trade & Logistics and Big Data Analytics.

St. Thomas University’s mission emphasizes the teaching of leadership skills as a pathway to professional success. Through a partnership with the state’s Florida Complete program, the university is offering an opportunity to complete unfinished undergraduate degrees that will lead to a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership. Work experience as well as completed college courses can be applied as credits for this accelerated, fully online degree program, said Burcu Ayrim, the university’s director of marketing.

Applicants for the program may also be eligible for Complete Florida scholarships, she says, varying in amount from $1,000 to $3,000, based on factors such as grade point averages and the number of credit hours completed. Students can

Lower tuition rates at St. Thomas include graduate courses texts.

learn more about the details of the program, Ms. Ayrim says, including the total cost of the degree, at www.stu.edu/Leadership.

St. Thomas University, a private institution dedicated to the Catholic intellectual tradition with a strong ethical grounding, has been an important part of South Florida’s higher education landscape for more than 50 years.

The St. Thomas experience,

which includes a Study in Spain program, a United Nations internship and travel to Haiti, is a laboratory for life in the coming decades, with people of many cultures sharing ethical values and bringing about positive change in their communities.

St. Thomas University is at 16401 NW 37th Ave., Miami Gardens. Details: www.stu.edu.

Audrey Ross offers Gables showpiece High on a knoll within the exclusive gated community of Gables Estates, one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in South Florida, a magnificent showpiece has come onto the market.

The estate at 80 Leucadendra Drive – a private world unto itself – is a two-story dwelling rich in amenities and unique architectural accents, with enviable deep-water access and an overwhelming view of Biscayne Bay. It’s represented by Audrey Ross, the area’s highly respected luxury real estate specialist.

“This is a stunning home!”

Mrs. Ross says. “We find in its design a number of the best elements of the Spanish Colonial Revival period, from an arcade supported by molded columns to the beautifully arched double-door entry. Every element of this luxurious residence exudes elegance and warmth.”

With its spacious, sunlit rooms, French limestone and wood floorings, wide windows and vaulted ceilings, she says, the residence could easily be likened to a bayside palace.

She points to the regal appearance of a wide, sweeping staircase that serves as the centerpiece of the foyer. The spacious living and dining rooms, covered patio and lushly appointed grounds are ideal for large-scale entertaining.

Everywhere throughout this amazing home, Mrs. Ross says, are one-of-a-kind features, such as the custom-made cabinetry from Joe Banner Cabinets of North Carolina and a chandelier that once hung in a convent in Argentina.

Outside are works by distinguished artists, some of which can, like the impressive dining room table and buffet customdesigned by Mauricio Chande-

liers in Atlanta, be purchased separately. The estate also includes two two-car garages, a media room, his and her woodpaneled offices, a billiards room, a state-of-the-art wine cellar and an engaging summer kitchen.

Price is available on request.

Mrs. Ross, known in international real estate circles as Miami’s Woman at the Top, says she believes no one should settle for anything that does not exceed expectations.

“So if this magnificent property isn’t precisely what you’re looking for,” she says, “I’ll go to work to find one that is.”

With a reputation for discretion second to none, Mrs. Ross enjoys many referrals. Her clientele includes Fortune 500 executives, film stars, international entertainment figures, sports celebrities and heads of foreign countries – a veritable Who’s Who of the world’s movers and shakers.

Everyone who earns it gets it at no additional charge.

80 Leucadendra Drive estate has deep-water access, stunning view.

As a leading broker-associate and senior vice president with EWM Realty International, her professional affiliations with Christie’s Great Estates, Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, the International Real Estate Foundation (FIABCI), Forbes.com and more assure that client listings enjoy national and international exposure.

Mrs. Ross was also the first Miami-Dade County Realtor to have her own iPhone app, providing ease of access to clientele worldwide. It’s available through the iPhone app store, keyword “Audrey Ross.”

Details: (305) 960-2575 or www.miamirealestate.com

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parks, libraries and housing facilities.

The company is also a vendor to Miami-Dade County’s Art in Public Places, has worked on numerous art restorations throughout the county, including many in Metrorail stations, and pledged to hire at least five Overtown residents to help remove the old shrink-wrapped installation.

The budget was originally not to exceed $120,000. Agency director and Miami commissioner Frank Carollo said he was “a little stickershocked” by the cost then, and directors briefly debated whether the CRA could get an artist to do it free in exchange for recognition.

“Let me dispel the notion that this will be free,” said Clarence E. Woods III, CRA executive director, at that time.

“When you pay for something, you pay for quality,” agreed CRA chair and Miami commissioner Keon Hardemon. “Sure, there are people who will do it for free. But there’s been an investment made in this corridor. Let’s make sure we have quality.”

Vendors need more workers for preference

By Susan Danseyar

The county amended its local preference ordinance for MiamiDade contracts last week. Vendors that want to do business with the county and get local preference must now employ at least three full-time employees at their local business location for one year prior to their bid. “Certified” small businesses are an exception to the amendment in that they only need one full-time employee.

Miami-Dade’s small business enterprise certification programs were created for any business entity providing construction, architectural, engineering, goods and services that has a place of business in the county and whose three-year average gross receipts do not exceed the monetary thresholds for the program.

Gross receipts do not apply to firms classified as manufacturers or wholesalers; not-for-profit or nonprofit corporations are not eligible for certification. Applicants must be properly licensed to conduct business in Miami-Dade, have received a local business tax receipt from the county one year prior to certification, and must perform a commercially useful function with a place of business in Miami-Dade.

According to the legislation, sponsored by Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, the amendment benefits the community by providing a stronger requirement for Rebeca Sosa firms to qualify for local preference. Firms with a local preference receive bidding advantages for county business when competing with outside bidders.

County commissioners voted without discussion on the legislation Thursday.

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2017

13

Technology

$11 million OK’d for traffic lights that self-adjust for flow

By Susan Danseyar

County commissioners last week approved awarding a contract of up to $11,134,971 to Econolite Control Products Inc. to buy adaptive traffic lights for Miami-Dade.

Under the initial two-year contract, Econolite would provide adaptive signal traffic controllers as well as supporting hardware, software and associated services required to expand the county’s traffic mobility management program for 10 additional corridors based on the Metropolitan

Planning Organization’s arterial study.

Adaptive traffic lights are managed by a computer, which determines the timing of green, red and yellow signals based on actual traffic demand.

According to the legislation, adaptive signal traffic corridors are necessary for managing road conditions, improving traffic flow and travel time, which helps reduce congestion.

The contract is an exception to the competitive bid process because Econolite is the only vendor that manufactures the con-

trollers and associated equipment needed to expand the county’s existing traffic controller platform, the legislation states.

The contract, which has a one-year option to renew, specifies that the software and documentation fees are to be paid once during the life of the contract; include preventative and routine maintenance beyond the warranty period; instead of recurring fees, provide that a one-time fee for enhancements will be paid by the county; and the cameras will become property of the county.

The video detection technology, to

include maintenance services, will be installed at the 10 designated corridors.

“The video detection systems are integral to the adaptive functionality of the new traffic controllers and software,” the resolution states. “The decision was made to have Econolite include their approved video detection system within this contract so that it provides for a complete traffic signal system solution.”

Details: www.miamidade.gov/govaction/ legistarfiles/Matters/Y2017/171566.pdf

Transportation planners factoring in autonomous vehicles

By Catherine Lackner

Miami-Dade transportation officials are incorporating autonomous vehicles and other technologies into decisions for the county’s future.

The Transportation Planning Organization commissioned an 82-page study (paid for by a combination of federal, state and local funds) by the Corradino Group, an engineering and transportation consulting firm. It examined which existing and future technologies will impact the county’s 2045 long-range transportation plan.

“Traditional modes of transportation are being inundated with technology, and, as with everything else technology-driven, the future of transportation is evolving at a rapid pace,” the report said. “The limitations are, in fact, not technology, as much as the regulations to be put into place.

“By adding computers, or on-board units with Wi-Fi connections, sensors, cameras, and detectors, vehicles will: communicate, calculate, process data, optimize route planning, avoid crashes, and provide other driverassist functions. Eventually, the computers will perform all of these tasks simultaneously and as quickly as, or quicker than, the human brain.

“The phenomenon of connecting everything through technology is termed ‘the internet of things.’ The key to planning for this future is to establish a network of technology infrastructure that is capable of supporting human needs. This network must be upgraded quickly and efficiently,” the report said.

From 2020 to 2025, the county will continue to build an infrastructure that is capable of supporting future technology needs, the report continued. Port Miami and logistics firms will move further into a next-generation internet of things, and “smart cities” technologies will streamline energy conservation, waste disposal, water management and other functions.

From 2026 to 2035, about 25% of people will own autonomous vehicles (AVs), the report said. “This will cause some job losses in the transportation sector. Nonetheless, while AVs will have limited personal ownership, their impact cannot be ignored. It is possible that AV buses will have a significant place in Miami-Dade Transit. The job impact here will be complicated by union relations/negotiations. In this area, there will be a need for increased skills, with higher pay, and, likely, increased numbers of maintenance personnel to service the new AV technology.

“The use of self-driving, heavy-duty trucks will be limited, but growing, during the period 2026 to 2035,” the report continued.

“Acceptance of AV trucks by the unions is an issue. So is the willingness of fleet owners to

accept completely driverless vehicles. Rather, there is more of a focus on semi-autonomous truck capability, perhaps for short durations on the highway but more applicable in lowspeed environments, such as at truck stops or at warehouse docks.”

Autonomous ambulances will still be considered experimental during this time, but hospitals might use ambulance drones to bring injured people to them, the report said.

Autonomous car-sharing or ride-sharing will expand between 2026 and 2035, it continued.

“Uber expects its entire fleet will be fully autonomous by 2030. That, too, will have a job impact, albeit relatively small, both for Uber drivers and those in the taxi business.”

By 2026, Miami-Dade County will have increased the installation of pole-mounted cameras and sensors to monitor and manage traffic, flooding, pollution and other problems, the report continued.

“Beginning immediately, the TPO should update its travel demand model, consistent with the proposal presented in this report.

Likewise, research on funding mechanisms is key to developing a cost-affordable plan,” the report said. “New funding concepts should be explored, such as a vehicle-mile charge in place of fuel tax, rental-car passenger facility charge, value capture/tax increment financing with tax districts around stations or along segments of the route.

“New technology, and high-type transit, in combination with possible and significant land-use changes, will affect the future of the TPO region more than at any time in the past,” the report said.

‘As a pilot program, MDX is deploying a dedicated short-range communications sensor system on State Road 836 to facilitate vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-toinfrastructure communications.’

Javier Rodriguez The county’s Transportation & Public Works Department has leveraged technology in its adaptive traffic signal control system, which uses cameras and sensors to monitor traffic and adjust signal timing accordingly, including giving buses priority, the report said. It has also updated fare-collection systems on public transit, and authorized a pay-by-phone app for Metrorail parking garages and parkingand-ride facilities. A “smart parking” app helps drivers find available parking in real

time through Google maps, the report said.

“The key to participating in the internet of things revolution is to establish a network of technology infrastructure that is capable of supporting human needs,” the report concluded. “Miami-Dade County will be at the forefront of this technology revolution, as will other world-class cities.”

“Automated vehicle technology is still under development and MDX is ready to integrate additional infrastructure that will respond to these developments,” said Javier Rodriguez, executive director of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority, or MDX, via email.

“Our recently completed Strategic Master Transportation Plan addressed MDX’s approach to the future of transportation, specifically as to the framework for autonomous vehicles with the creation of XT (express technology) lanes within our system of expressways,” he said. “These are dedicated pathways for both private and public autonomous vehicles to be linked to future intermodal stations throughout the county.

“Our current projects under construction on State Road 836 include the first phase of the XT lanes infrastructure, to be used within one year for rapid transit service or private ride sharing services. Also, as a pilot program, MDX is deploying a dedicated short-range communications sensor system on State Road 836 to facilitate vehicle-tovehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications. MDX is already building today for tomorrow.”

MIAMI TODAY

TECHNOLOGY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2017

15

County pushing ahead on multiple solar energy initiatives

By Susan Danseyar

A study begun in March of generating solar energy at county properties is well underway.

Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava sponsored a resolution to allow a group called FL-SUN to host meetings about establishing purchasing cooperatives in neighborhoods throughout the county.

The idea is that homeowners can pool their resources to bulk-buy solar equipment and installation services and get a better price, she told Miami Today last week.

Ms. Levine Cava lobbied in Tallahassee for Amendment 4 – and her resolution making it a county priority passed – to

protect solar equipment from increasing property valuation for tax purposes. The bill that passed largely enacts the item passed by the voters.

Her office also connected the “green corridor” cities with two groups-Rebuilding Together, and Solar Energy Loan Fund to -explore opportunities for solar installations in low-income homes and to extend property assessed clean energy (PACE) services to provide solar and energy efficiency retrofits for lower income homeowners.

The county recently expanded the number of PACE providers able to operate in the unincorporated area, and any city that wants to sign on, by one more provider. Ygrene and Renew Finance

are qualified to provide services in Miami-Dade. A third provider is under review by procurement officials and the county’s resilience staff and hopefully will be coming to the county commission soon, she said.

Ms. Levine Cava has been advocating for at least three PACE providers to ensure that the loan terms from these providers are competitive.

Homeowners, businesses and industries in unincorporated Miami-Dade interested in solar panels, hurricane windows and other energy savings upgrades now have another financing option through the PACE program.

PACE allows property owners to receive upfront financing for a variety of

energy-related home improvements and then repay the debt through voluntary assessments on their property tax bills.

Approved third-party administrators will provide the funding and the assessments can be amortized over a period of five to up to 20 years, allowing cost savings from improvements to be used to pay back the annual amount owed.

PACE-funded improvements must be properly permitted and installed by licensed contractors and meet applicable federal, state and local energy, wind and building code standards.

Details: www.miamidade.gov/green/ energy.asp

Code/Art urging girls to pursue computer science careers

By Katya Maruri

Code/Art, a non-profit organization that seeks to inspire girls of all backgrounds to pursue a career in computer science, has reached over 700 girls through 40 workshops during the past 18 months as part of the organization’s overall goal of utilizing art to change how girls view the computer science industry.

The workshops, which include a free introduction to creative coding through activities such as coding your own self-portrait, is used as an educational tool in tandem with the organization’s annual Code/Art Miami event and community & school-based programs to teach girls within fourth through 12th grades about how they can excel and succeed in a typically maleoriented industry.

“Currently less than one in five computer science graduates are female,” said Amy Renshaw, co-founder and executive director of Code/Art. “There is a huge unmet demand. If women aren’t on the teams building technology, the products being built won’t serve them as well.”

As a way to immerse girls in the computer science/coding industry, the non-profit organization held its second annual city-wide all-girls digital art exhibition and coding competition known as Code/Art Miami in March.

A participant checks on a virtual reality helmet at the all girls digital arts competition Code/Art Miami.

The event, which showcased 120 girls who submitted computer programs that generated art ranging from still images to animations, interactive art and 3D printed art, was held at the Miami Dade College Miami Animation & Gaming Complex.

Over, 320 individuals attended the event, which raised over $7,000 in scholarships and funded two scholarships for young women studying com-

puter animation at MDC’s Miami Animation & Gaming Complex.

In addition to workshops and its digital art exhibition & coding competition, the organization plans to partner with the Girls Scouts of Tropical Florida council, which will allow Code/ Art to reach girls across three counties in South Florida, and also plans to debut its first pilot corporate-based program with SapientRazorfish.

“In the fall, we will be partnering with the Miami office of SapientRazorfish to pilot a series of workshops to inspire and empower girls in their local Coconut Grove community, Ms. Renshaw said. “SapientRazorfish is a global digital agency that partners with companies to reimagine their consumer experience in a people-first, digitally-driven, world. They are also a proud supporter of

women in tech, believe in the importance of diversity of voice and perspective on their teams, and inspiring girls to use creativity with technology to help impact the world, which is why we believe this partnership will be a perfect fit for us.”

In regards to measuring the success of Code/Art’s initiatives, Ms. Renshaw explained that, due to the hands-on and customized approach of its programs, it has been very hard to scale.

Another challenge the organization faces is raising the funds to help expand and grow Code/ Art’s programs.

“We have no shortage of ideas or demand for coding education for girls, but raising the funds for our programs is challenging. To date we have been mostly funded through individual donors who believe in our cause and through volunteer help. To scale, we also need to go after bigger funding.

But we still very much welcome individual donations,” Ms. Renshaw said.

“Going forward,” she said, “we are putting in place yearlong programs and will have pre and post tests to measure student mastery of skills and also plan to measure student retention. It is our hope to get as many girls interested in coding at an early age, while creating a social environment for them to share their work and show girls how creative coding can be.”

University adds executive doctorate in information security

By Katya Maruri

As part of its ongoing process to develop the Gus Machado School of Business’ cybersecurity management graduate program, St. Thomas University has added a three-year, part-time executive doctor of business administration in information security degree, which is designed to develop scientist-practitioners who will be skilled in practice-focused research in information security.

“The program has grown very quickly,” said Dr. Gurvirender Tejay, associate professor and director of the center for cybersecurity studies at St. Thomas.

“Our doctoral program launched this past January with 12 students who have picked up c-level classifications and are experts within

their fields. This program is the first of its kind in the country.”

The program, which focuses on addressing complex security problems in organizations through understanding and application of the latest research in information security, will cater to working executives with seven to 10 years of managerial or consultative experience in cyber security, IT, compliance, audit or other related fields, according to St. Thomas’s website.

In addition to the university’s new doctoral program, the cyber security management’s Master of Science degree program had its first graduating class of five students last October.

“All of our students are working within the field and have moved into security and privacy posi-

Gurvirender Tejay: “This program is the first of its kind in the country.”

tions within different companies and organizations,” Dr. Tejay said. “This program, along with our graduate certificate in cyber security management, has allowed

students to specialize in areas of demand.”

The cybersecurity management program also launched its weekend program in January for part-time students at its downtown Miami campus, said Dr. Tejay, and has seen a lot of interest from students who aren’t available during the day or those who live farther away in Broward or Palm Beach County.

In addition to its weekend program, the cyber security management program has added two ethical hacking labs at its downtown Miami campus and a hands-on internship program for its graduate students.

“The ethical hacking labs get students quite excited,” Dr. Tejay said. “Students participate in simulated hacking experiences

and have to figure out the right solution for that particular situation. After students gain experience through the ethical hacking labs and their coursework, we place them in the industry with local companies for two to three months so that they can work on a particular problem within a company or organization and come up with a solution.”

As a result, each student is matched up with a specific company or organization.

“So far we have received good feedback from individuals within the industry about our students and hope to continue to grow and reach potential students at other local universities in Miami-Dade and Broward County,” he said, “and get them enrolled in our programs.”

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MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2017

TECHNOLOGY

Employers need to invest money for new technology training

By Gabi Maspons

Colleges and universities in Miami are racing to keep up with current technology by developing programs to help students prepare for new jobs in technology.

“I’ve heard quite a bit that employers were unable to find local talent and had to look out of state, so we’re trying to find more creative ways to educate our local population,” said Dr. Yong Tao, dean of the college of engineering and computing at Nova Southeastern University.

“Our goal is to make engineering among the mainstream degrees for our community and ensure that future graduates will be able to participate in the growing number of job opportunities in the STEM fields,” said Dr. John Volakis, new dean of Florida International University’s College of Engineering and Computing Department.

“By 2025, 20% of the workforce is estimated to be STEM related, according to the National Science Foundation,” Dr. Volakis said.

“Engineering degrees are no longer just for scientists; they’re mainstream,” Dr. Volakis said.

“Engineering has a reputation for being hard, but it’s not difficult when you have teachers that are excited and helpful, and programs that are helping students meet their full potential. We’d like to ensure that our students receive top services in terms of career placement and preparation, and make them want to pursue jobs in tech industries,” Dr. Volakis said.

“We do a bit of everything,” Dr. Volakis said. FIU has the 19th largest college of engineering in the country, with more than 5,500 undergraduates and 900 graduate students.

“Our goal is to ensure student success in their early years so they can graduate quickly and at a minimum cost. We are extremely sensitive to how expensive an education is, and we want to make sure that the degrees students are paying for prepare them for the future.”

Next spring, FIU is offering the country’s first bachelor’s degree program in the Internet of Things, an interdisciplinary degree that combines computer science and engineering.

Dr. John Volakis says: We’d like to ensure that our students receive top services in terms of career placement.

“I am hoping to continue FIU’s tradition of seeing departments as gateways to new areas of knowledge and not boundaries or limits that restrict students,” Mr. Volakis said.

“FIU is a reflection of the Miami community; it mirrors Miami demographically and we have a ridiculous entrepreneurial spirit,” said Emily Gresham, co-founder and vice president of research at StartUP FIU. StartUP FIU was founded to develop entrepreneurship within the FIU and Miami community.

“We work with faculty and university administration to incorporate innovation into the curriculum and try to find people who are already working on cutting-edge technologies,” Ms. Gresham said. “FIU is huge and it’s hard to know what everyone is doing, so we are here to create noise so people can come and build clusters within the community with different domain expertise.”

Nova Southeastern University also has a solution for employers who are looking for new talent: teach them.

“Technology is always changing, and even after students graduate from top schools, employers still need to invest money to train them every few years,” said Dr. Tao. “When companies need a niche program they can’t get from other Miami colleges and universities, we work with them to develop flexible and innovative in-house programs to meet their needs,” Dr. Tao said.

Nova offers workshops, courses, boot camps and full degree programs to employers who need to train their employees in a particular skill set.

“Companies like Florida Power and Light provide us wish lists of skills they want in their employees and then come to us when “Technology is always they are looking to recruit,” Dr. Tao said. changing, and even In addition to providing servicafter students graduate es directly to employers, Nova is trying to indoctrinate its students from top schools, practical knowledge to help employers still need to with them find jobs once they graduate. invest money to train “We’ve begun to invest in interdisciplinary studies and we now them every few years.” require all of our students to parDr. Yong Tao ticipate in experiential learning programs to expose them to real

world scenarios,” he said. “Our campus-wide mandate will start in the fall and will include a freshman year experience seminar where faculty members from all disciplines prepare lectures and develop new interdisciplinary courses. Each program will connect students with internships, community service opportunities

and assign each student a career advisor to guide them through all four years.”

The University of Miami is preparing for the boom in cyber security jobs by creating a graduate level cyber security degree program that will also open up courses to undergraduate students.

“We’ve updated courses to include tech defenses and update the lab work to involve current technology to ensure that the problems we’re seeing in the real world are actually addressed in our classrooms,” said Dr. Nigel John, professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Miami.

UM has a physical and virtual lab with hardware and software systems that professors can reconfigure depending on the course.

“The final project in one of my courses last semester was practical and hands on… we set up a network and students had to break in using the tools they learned throughout their time in the course,” Dr. John said.

“We’re also looking to the National Security Agency and seeing what they put out in terms of cyber security education so our students are ahead of the game,” he said.

“We want our program to have more practical applications, not just be isolated to UM professors and researchers, so we are looking to the technology department and asking them what real world problems they deal with daily,” he said. “There are so many places where security comes into play, and students need to know how to work outside of a lab.”

Tech applications marry well with transit

By Catherine Lackner

Alice Bravo, director of the county’s Department of Transportation and Public Works, often opens a meeting or discussion by asking how many people in the audience have the Miami-Dade Transit Tracker app on their phones.

Usually, a smattering raise hands, prompting her to urge non-users to download the free app.

“New technology, like the mobile apps we offer, with real-time information and payment capabilities, make it easier and more convenient for our residents and visitors to use transit,” Ms. Bravo said. “This encourages people to use transit, which saves them time, money, and ultimately helps decrease the number of cars on the road.

“With the implementation of several mobile apps, Miami-Dade County has made it easier and more convenient for residents and visitors to use public transportation,” said Karla Damian, media and public relations officer for the county’s Department of Transportation and Public Works, via email.

In August 2016, the department re-launched the transit tracker app, “which got a fresh new look and a cleaner design for simpler navigation,” she said. “It also got additional features, which include a new support tab for any inquiring minds, more options within the ‘nearby’tab, and the inclusion of municipal trolley schedules in the trip-planner feature.

Just like Uber and Lyft, the app allows a user to see a vehicle in real time as it approaches or during its route. “Further, riders can be alerted of any delays, or changes in service, right on their mobile devices,” Ms. Damian said.

“In October 2016, the department announced the launch of a state-ofthe-art mobile app that allows transit riders to purchase a fare ticket via

“New technology, like the mobile apps we offer, with realtime information and payment capabilities, make it easier and more convenient for our residents and visitors to use transit.”

Alice Bravo their smartphone, and activate it in order to ride a Metrobus, or tap into Metrorail stations at the barcode reader-equipped fare gate,” she said. “During this first stage of the app, users can purchase a one-day pass for $5.65. In the near future, more features will be added, which include the option to purchase a monthly pass.”

Eventually, users will be able to wave their phones to board buses, Ms. Bravo said in a June 21 Wall Street Journal article.

Transit riders can download the app by searching for EASY Pay Miami on the iPhone App Store, or on Google Play forAndroid devices, Ms. Damian said.

“Also in October 2016, [the department] introduced the PayByPhone cashless app, which gives

transit riders the option to pay via their mobile devices for parking at our Metrorail parking garages,” she said. “Each Metrorail station parking facility has a unique identification number that users can enter into the cashless app in order to easily and quickly pay for parking. This added paying option allows riders to avoid having to wait in line at an EASY Card ticket vending machine to pay for parking, and is a great option for those who might need to rush out of their cars and onto the rail platform.”

To counter any safety concerns about using public transit, the department launched the MDT Transit Watch app, “a quick, easy and anonymous way to communicate directly withTransitWatch (security) personnel about suspicious activity, or quality-of-ride problems on any Metrobus, Metrorail or Metromover vehicle, or at a transit station,” she said. Reports go directly to a security dispatcher, who can instantly deploy a security guard and the police if necessary, she explained.

“The app user can also discreetly text-message ride quality issues using the ‘chat’ feature,” she said.

“The person being reported will be unaware of the app user’s texts.

Because of these and other features, this app can significantly reduce first-response times. Any security guard at a Metrorail station can be alerted to wait for the identified rail car at the platform on its next stop.”

The road rangers who patrol expressways in tow trucks to help stranded motorists “obtain and are guided by traffic information from the Transportation Management Center,” a joint project of the Florida Department of Transportation and the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority, said Javier Rodriguez, expressway authority executive director, via email. The center also provides traffic information to apps like Waze and the like, he added.

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WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2017

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