Spotlight 218-260619

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

E-Bikes in Miami Parks: Unwelcome at Any Speed
The True Cost of Miami’s Proposed Public Safety Bond
Where We’ll Be: Juneteenth Celebrations and More

A Ban on E-Bikes in City of Miami Parks

In response to public safety concerns and some cases of property damage, the City of Miami is seeking to enforce a citywide ban on e-bikes in public parks, with limited success.

By Don Finefrock

The Miami Parks and Recreation Department wants you to know it’s illegal to ride an electric bike in any one of the city’s 150 or so public parks, including Kennedy Park in Coconut Grove.

The city has been posting signs to that effect – to protect pedestrians and prevent property damage – but is having trouble enforcing the law.

The reason: the folks who are riding those e-bikes won’t slow down.

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.

By David Villano

A proposed $450 million bond package for new police and fire facilities could ultimately cost Miami taxpayers nearly $800 million and commit the city to future operating expenses that have yet to be quantified, according to internal documents obtained by the Spotlight.

The documents — a list of questions submitted by District 3 Commissioner Rolando Escalona and written responses prepared by City Manager James Reyes — were released to the Spotlight by Escalona as city officials seek support for a public-safety bond that could appear before voters later this year.

The responses reveal that while city leaders have focused publicly on the bond’s $450 million price tag, the total cost to taxpayers over the life of the debt is expected to be substantially higher.

Where We’ll Be – A Grovite’s Calendar

Dad, Can You Handle the Heat?

Atchana’s Homegrown Thai welcomes Father’s Day with a way for Dad to be truly proud staring into the Scoville abyss, answering trivia as the heat grows, and pretending one drink is enough. Their third annual Spice Challenge may not settle who gets the remote on Sunday, but it will separate the mild from those who really can handle local Grove heat.

The rest of the week is not exactly cooling down. Coconut Grove rolls into the official start of summer with Juneteenth at Elizabeth Virrick Park, World Cup watch-party fever at Shenandoah Library, silent reading at CocoWalk, sunrise over the bay for the summer solstice, Chopin as jazz, the Playhouse in the sunshine, and Vizcaya throwing itself into the ring.

Your calendar continues…