In today’s Spotlight,
- Crime rate falls while concerns mount
- New Inspector General powers debated
- Prescriptions for Village Council
Miami Police report a falling crime rate, but community safety concerns persist following a spate of car break-ins, burglaries and a stabbing.
by Mary Ann Esquivel-Gibbs
Despite a stabbing, a few burglaries, and a rash of car break-ins last month that have left some residents on edge, overall crime levels in Coconut Grove are down, according to Miami Police.
But that’s little consolation for Abdulrahman Sinno, a physician who lives on Overbrook Street in the North Grove.
Late last month he discovered his car had been broken into while parked overnight in his driveway. Nothing of value was taken so he didn’t bother calling police. Six months earlier a friend’s house a block away was burglarized.
Miami Commission Poised to Vote on Inspector General
The Miami City Commission is poised this week to deliver on one of the promised reforms that sprang from a series of recent scandals at City Hall: the appointment of an independent inspector general to combat fraud, waste and abuse inside city government. The new Office of the Inspector General will have the power to perform audits and conduct investigations, but just how independent will the inspector general actually be?
The proposed legislation creating the position says the inspector general shall be “sufficiently independent” to prevent outside influence or interference. But the ordinance also gives the City Commission the power to hire and fire the inspector general, and control staffing through the budget process. The City Commission is scheduled to consider the proposed ordinance on Tuesday at City Hall. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. To watch the meeting, live or after the fact, go to this City of Miami website.
Readers respond to a feature article on the Coconut Grove Village Council, as it struggles to overcome setbacks and regain a stronger footing. One writer calls for committed leadership. Another suggests that power lies with the expansion of councils throughout the city. Read the letters here.
Recent News
One developer is seeking to build a 20-story mixed-income apartment building on Douglas Road. Community leaders have concerns.
Two years after a $6 million federal grant was announced, the project remains shrouded in secrecy; some residents are miffed by the lack of community input.
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