To the Editor:
I’ve supported the Stronger Miami campaign publicly for more than eight months, and One Grove Alliance — along with other civic and neighborhood groups — has been part of the coalition coordinating this effort across Miami. I believe Miami’s neighborhoods deserve better representation — and voters deserve the right to decide.
The Grove is a place where we don’t just talk about issues — we take action. And right now, Stronger Miami is close enough to the ballot that we can help push it across the finish line.
In brief, the amendment would expand the City Commission from 5 to 9 districts for fairer neighborhood-level representation, move elections to even-numbered years to increase turnout, and set enforceable redistricting standards to prevent gerrymandering. (See more at StrongerMiami.org)
The campaign has now collected 19,500+ signatures citywide, leaving fewer than 800 more to reach the roughly 20,500 valid-signature threshold required (after verification). This weekend’s Arts Festival is one of the best opportunities we’ll have to close the gap, because so many City of Miami voters will be right here in the Grove.
If you haven’t signed yet, please look for petition collectors near festival entrances and other high-traffic areas. It takes a minute — and it helps ensure the decision goes to the public.
During her campaign, Mayor Eileen Higgins voiced support for expanding the City Commission, arguing that additional commissioners would improve neighborhood representation—an approach aligned with the Stronger Miami charter reform campaign.
The basic reality is that today a three-vote majority determines outcomes for the entire City of Miami. It’s not about any one commissioner—it’s about a structure that concentrates too much power and stretches representation too thin. We need to modernize our structure to better reflect how similarly sized cities are governed.
Expanding the commission would mean smaller districts and more local focus—imagine having a commissioner whose district is the Grove and who can be fully accountable to Grove residents.
This isn’t a vote on the charter language yet. It’s the step that puts the question where it belongs: with voters.
If you haven’t signed, this weekend is the moment!
Marlene Erven
Board Member, One Grove Alliance
Coconut Grove
