Calling City Hall’s culture “damaged,” Miami District 3 Commissioner Rolando Escalona tells the Spotlight he wants to curb undisclosed legislative changes, overhaul public-records practices, and use technology to give residents unprecedented access to government information.
Politics
Tension and relations between policies and their advocates.
Elections, Referendums. Campaigns and Candidates.
Coconut Grove Spotlight Sues City of Miami Over Media Policy
The federal lawsuit challenges a City Hall policy that requires most media inquiries to be routed through the city’s communications office, arguing that it restricts the flow of public information and limits residents’ understanding of how their government operates and how decisions are made.
City Launches Salary Portal, But Key Pay Data Remains Hidden
Miami’s new salary transparency website makes it easier to see what city employees are scheduled to earn. What it still won’t show is the full breakdown of compensation behind those figures.
Zombie Boards: The Life — and Death — of Miami’s Citizen Oversight
With three new citizen advisory groups created this year, the city now oversees more than 50 committees, boards, panels and semiautonomous agencies — varying widely in autonomy, viability and relevance — leading some to question how committed City Hall truly is to meaningful citizen oversight.
City Staff Recommend Scaling Back Grove Carve-Out in Density Transfer Debate
A last-minute recommendation from the City Attorney’s Office would preserve some development rights in Coconut Grove and other protected neighborhoods under Miami’s controversial affordable housing density transfer expansion.
Despite Grove Carve-Out, Density Transfer Program Set to Expand
A revised version of the controversial affordable housing density transfer program would exclude Coconut Grove from some aspects, but other late-stage changes — including a doubling of allowable bonus density — have dramatically expanded the scope of the proposal set for a final vote Thursday.
Stronger Miami Petition Drive Falls Short Ahead of Election
Organizers collected more than 20,500 signed petitions, more than enough to win a spot on the August ballot, but the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections has rejected nearly half of those petitions.
Miami Quietly Approves $1 Million Stadium Spending Amid $47 Million Budget Expansion
A last-minute substitution memo revealed previously undisclosed spending tied to LoanDepot Park, along with dozens of new city positions and expanded budget powers for City Manager James Reyes — all approved without discussion by the City Commission.
Amid Record Spending, City Asks for $46 Million More
Just months after Mayor Eileen Higgins pledged to rein in runaway spending, city officials are pushing to increase the current-year budget by about 2.5% while leaving unclear why much of the money is needed and where it will ultimately go.
Miami Eyes New Firefighter Pension Expansion Without Public Cost Estimate
As Miami’s pension obligations continue to swell, a city proposal would expand firefighter retirement benefits and extend participation in the lucrative DROP program, ending pension reforms imposed during the city’s fiscal crisis — but without publicly disclosing how much the changes may ultimately cost taxpayers.
Sponsors + Advertisement
Recent News
A Farmers Market Where History and Community Converge
A Spotlight reporter dropped by the Vizcaya Village
Spotlight Exclusive: Escalona Outlines Transparency Agenda for City Hall
Calling City Hall's culture "damaged," Miami District
Ten Years On, Phoenix Volleyball Miami Continues to Grow the Game
What began as a small program for athletes seeking
Village People: Nico Cantor’s Long Road to World Cup 2026
The CBS Sports broadcaster, Coconut Grove native and
How Music Helped a 6th-Grader Memorize 399 digits of Pi
“If you can memorize lyrics to a song, you can
Coconut Grove Spotlight Sues City of Miami Over Media Policy
The federal lawsuit challenges a City Hall policy that
Goombay’s Fatboi Junkanoo: It’s a Family Affair
Fourteen-year-old Skai Gay and her 11-year-old brother
Grove Restaurants Head into Summer with World Cup Hopes
After a brutal 2025 summer season, restaurant owners
As Tree Appeals Surge, Critics Question City’s Permit Practices
Miami residents are mounting a growing challenge to