Spotlight 222-260703

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

The Latest on Florida’s Live Local Act
The City of Miami’s Growing Debt Load
A Crowd-Sourced Art Event at Vizcaya
Where We’ll Be: A Grove Guide

Governor Approves Expansion of Live Local Act

The latest version of the controversial 2023 law makes more land available for Live Local workforce housing projects, including land owned by local governments, school districts, and churches.

By Don Finefrock

While the City of Miami was looking for ways last week to blunt the Live Local Act, the state workforce housing law that lets developers bypass local zoning constraints, Florida’s governor was blessing an expanded version of the controversial law.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1389 on Friday, a day after the City Commission instructed City Attorney George Wysong to “explore and pursue any and all legal avenues” to challenge the 2023 law that trumps Miami’s own zoning code.

The latest version of the law, which makes more land eligible for Live Local projects, may stoke local concerns about the impact of those projects on neighborhoods citywide.

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.

By David Villano

As Miami commissioners prepare next week to consider a series of bond-related measures — while a proposed $450 million public safety bond remains under consideration — the city’s own audited financial statements show Miami issued $142.2 million in new bonds during the last fiscal year, raising its overall debt to about $1 billion.

According to the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2025, the additional borrowing came primarily through a bond issue tied to the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency.

Unlike the proposed public safety bond, last year’s borrowing did not require voter approval because it was backed by an existing revenue source rather than a new voter-approved property tax.

A Crowd-Sourced Art Event at Vizcaya

How Studio Vizcaya has turned artmaking into a Miami summer tradition.

By Miguel Sirgado

For nearly a decade, Vizcaya Museum & Gardens has invited Miamians to do something unusual each summer – come together to create art.

This year, participants are building giant papier-mâché fruit lanterns as part of “The Fruit We Bear,” the latest edition of Studio Vizcaya.

Led by artist Shawna Moulton with two free weekend workshops this month, the program will culminate on Saturday, July 25 with an illuminated twilight procession through Vizcaya’s waterfront gardens.

How’s the New Circuit Shuttle Working for You?

The Coconut Grove Spotlight is eager to hear residents’ experiences with the new Circuit on-demand rideshare service, which launched in May to provide free and low-cost transportation throughout Coconut Grove.

Have you used Circuit? We’d like to hear about your experience — good, bad or somewhere in between. Was it easy to book a ride? Were wait times reasonable? Did it help you avoid parking or connect to Metrorail? Were the drivers friendly and knowledgeable? Have you encountered problems with the service?

If you’ve used Circuit, please share your experience by emailing [email protected]. Include your full name and a phone number in case we’d like to follow up. Your name will not be used without your permission.

Thanks,
The Spotlight Team

Where We’ll Be – A Grovite’s Calendar

Free Speech, Free Parks, Free Food and Free Fireworks

If freedom means free speech, free parks, free food and free friends, this is your week. The Grove and its neighbors are offering founding words at the Woman’s Club, open gates at The Barnacle, fireworks close up or comfortably far away, a League of Women Voters potluck, and free summer meals for kids at Vizcaya Village.

From there, summer takes over: World Cup fever at CocoWalk and Shenandoah Library, moonlight racing at the Sailing Club, a cooler strategy for hot days, hurricane prep before Bertha gets ideas, and Vizcaya’s endless creativity.

Your calendar continues…