Spotlight 176-260123

Good morning. What we’re covering in today’s Spotlight:

A City Commissioner’s Mixed Reviews
A Tiny Slice of Miami’s Huge Budget
One Fan’s Miami Heartbreak
Where We’ll Be: Recovery Time

Pardo at the Halfway Point

Miami District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo is getting mixed reviews from constituents in Coconut Grove and elsewhere as he passes the halfway point in his four-year term. He faces reelection in 2027.

By Don Finefrock & Charles Rabin

As Coconut Grove’s annual parade of political mockery rolled down Main Highway a few weeks ago, Miami District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo walked behind a black hearse, waving hello to the crowd and goodbye to Miami’s career politicians.

Pardo was celebrating a major victory during his first two years in office – the adoption of lifetime term limits for Miami city officials. Voters approved the measure by a lopsided margin in November, advancing a key component of Pardo’s political agenda.

Inside City Hall: Small Office, Big Budget

Though it accounts for only a fraction of city spending, the Office of Agenda Coordination offers a window into both the promise and the predicaments of cutting costs within the City of Miami’s ever-growing multibillion-dollar budget.

By David Villano & Jenny Jacoby

For a city with a $3.8 billion annual budget, does every cent truly matter?

That has been the refrain of newly-elected Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins, who on the campaign trail repeatedly called for greater transparency and accountability in a city where overall government spending has doubled over the past five years.

And while the biggest line items are easy to spot — millions of dollars in outside legal fees and over three-quarters of a billion spent on police and fire rescue — what about the lesser-known departments that quietly handle the day-to-day work of keeping city government running?

From Tailgate to Heartbreak: Miami Falls Short. Again.

Spotlight reporter Jenny Jacoby is a die-hard Miami football fan. She was thrilled when the Hurricanes landed a playoff spot, and then crushed when the team tasted defeat in the biggest game of the year. But, she’s not giving up.

By Jenny Jacoby

The University of Miami was lined up on Indiana’s 47-yard line with 51 seconds left to score a touchdown and pull off the most improbable playoff run. One final drive. A chance to win it all. A sixth national championship title on the line.

The sea of waving orange rally towels went limp and “Let’s Go ‘Canes” chants came to a hush. Quarterback Carson Beck ripped one deep to the left side of the endzone, the ball heading for wide receiver Keelan Marion.

A lifetime of expectation – and disappointment – washed over me. Would this time be different?

Where We’ll Be – A Grovite’s Calendar

Built for the Post-Weekend Emotional Hangover

You survived an overfilled long weekend and an emotionally draining football championship game. Your couch knows it. Your group chat knows it. And yet here you are, opening a calendar that’s not in a rush — it’s here to help you recover and feel human again. So, good news: no one is asking for stamina or commitment or even real pants. It’s offering lighter lifts, shorter arcs, and plenty of chances to re-enter the world at a humane pace.

Think of this as a re-acclimation period. Theater that knows how to land a joke. Art you can wander into and out of. Birds, books, music, cookies, chocolate — all low stakes, high reward. Show up early or late. Stay ten minutes or two hours. Slip out when you’ve had enough. The Grove is very forgiving that way, and this week’s Where We’ll Be is built for easing back in, one good plan at a time.