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.
Politics
Tension and relations between policies and their advocates.
Elections, Referendums. Campaigns and Candidates.
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.
Inside City Hall: The Soaring Price Tag for Miami’s Police
As Miami debates a proposed $450 million public-safety bond, the ever-escalating cost of policing — driven by rising salaries, pensions and overtime — has climbed to levels few major U.S. cities can match, even as crime reaches record lows.
Inside City Hall: Higgins Spends Big on Revamped Office Staff
After moving out nearly all of former Mayor Francis Suarez’s office staff, Miami’s new mayor has assembled a more top-heavy team of higher-paid senior advisers with total salaries (excluding her own) exceeding $2 million.
Who’s Representing Coconut Grove in Tallahassee?
With a special legislative session set to begin this week in Tallahassee, Coconut Grove is down to one representative in the Florida House, and even she is a mystery.
Miami Delays Vote on $450-Million Bond Proposal
Editor’s Note: This story was published on April 23 by WLRN Public Media. The Spotlight is re-publishing this story under a partnership agreement with WLRN. This August, City of Miami voters might or might not have the chance to decide whether the city should take out $450 million in loans[Read More…]
A Commission Recap: Parks, Preservation, and The Hangar
The City Commission approved a $200,000 grant to support the restoration of the historic Ace Theater, allocated $13 million for park improvements and affordable housing in District 2, and granted The Hangar a waiver to host more events in 2026.
Inside City Hall: Miami’s Salary Secret
With salaries and benefits consuming 77% of Miami’s budget, payroll systems track every dollar paid — including overtime and bonuses — but city officials declined to provide a full accounting of what employees actually earn.
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Everyone Wants In: The Squeeze at Coconut Grove’s Private Schools
The house may be easier to find than the school. As
Miami Collects Millions to Replenish Its Tree Canopy. Why Is the Money Piling Up?
Newly released records show millions collected and
Judge Tosses Virginia Key Marina Referendum Lawsuit
The immediate fate of an $80 million redevelopment of
City Says the Grove’s Tree Canopy Is Growing. Not All Are Convinced.
Residents packed a city workshop Thursday with
The Good, the Bad and the Smelly: Sargassum in Coconut Grove
It’s a haven for marine life offshore and a smelly
