A proposed overhaul of Miami’s traffic-impact regulations would also eliminate a little-known requirement for independent environmental studies on major city land deals, raising questions about oversight of upcoming redevelopment projects.
Politics
Tension and relations between policies and their advocates.
Elections, Referendums. Campaigns and Candidates.
Internal Q&A Reveals Miami’s $450 Million Public Safety Bond Could Cost Taxpayers Nearly $800 Million
Documents obtained by the Spotlight show city officials estimate the proposed borrowing would ultimately cost $795 million, while future staffing costs for new facilities have yet to be calculated.
Spotlight Exclusive: Escalona Outlines Transparency Agenda for City Hall
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.
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.
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