After being appointed as Miami-Dade’s District 5 commissioner less than a year ago, Vicki Lopez is running for a full four-year term in the August 18 election. Potentially standing in her way are two challengers and a complicated past.
Politics
Tension and relations between policies and their advocates.
Elections, Referendums. Campaigns and Candidates.
Commission Sends $450 Million Public Safety Bond to November Ballot
A divided City Commission voted 3-2 to let Miami voters decide whether to authorize borrowing for new police and fire facilities after amendments helped secure the support of a key swing vote.
Lawsuit Seeks to Block Virginia Key Marina Referendum
The operators of Rickenbacker Marina contend the redevelopment deal headed to Miami voters this fall differs materially from the proposal selected through a competitive bidding process nearly a decade ago and includes ballot language that misstates the proposed leaseholder’s financial obligations.
Life After City Hall: Imagining Dinner Key’s Next Chapter
With City Hall expected to relocate to Miami Freedom Park by 2028, residents are debating whether the historic Pan Am Airways terminal should become a museum, a park gateway or something else — and whether the waterfront landmark should ever leave public hands.
City Borrowed $142 Million Last Year, Pushing Debt Near $1 Billion
With city commissioners set to consider a series of bond-related measures next week — possible groundwork for a proposed $450 million public safety bond — the city’s own audited financial statements show last year’s borrowing increased debt and borrowing costs while new fiscal pressures continue to mount.
City Moves to Eliminate Independent Environmental Reviews
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.
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.
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After being appointed as Miami-Dade’s District 5
Commission Sends $450 Million Public Safety Bond to November Ballot
A divided City Commission voted 3-2 to let Miami
Lawsuit Seeks to Block Virginia Key Marina Referendum
The operators of Rickenbacker Marina contend the
Life After City Hall: Imagining Dinner Key’s Next Chapter
With City Hall expected to relocate to Miami Freedom