Go for Baylink

      A little-known committee passed a resolution Thursday that could signal the start of creating BayLink -- a light-rail/street car corridor connecting Miami and Miami Beach over the MacArthur Causeway. "Truly a historic accomplishment," said County Commissioner Xavier Suarez.  "The ball started rolling today," said County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. Full story HERE. 

Why Traffic Is So Bad

       Thanks to the voters of Miami-Dade, I have two fancy stop signs on my corner that cost $1990. Voters expected to get vastly expanded rail and bus service for a half-penny sales tax, but no -- they were voting for my stop signs.
         "If you have something whatsoever to do with transit in Miami, you should hide your head in a bag -- because mass transit is in crisis," says Paul Schwiep, chairman of the board that oversees the half-penny expenditures. See my take on transit, this month's cover story in Biscayne Times. Available HERE.

Liberty Square Bidding War Escalates

     As the battle escalates for the $200-million-plus contract to remake Liberty Square, the attorney for one of the two finalists sent letters to the county this week, saying he has  "new evidence" on why the other bidder wasn't qualified.
Albert Dotson, attorney for Related Urban, says several developments show that Atlantic Pacific Communities must be disqualified. Full story HERE. 

Single Moms Back "Safe Harbor"

      More than 80 percent of single mothers interviewed in focus groups would like to live in a gated community assisted by volunteer surrogate fathers as an alternative to the usual public housing in a study by retired professor Marvin Dunn.
       The county public housing department has rejected Dunn's Safe Harbor concept. This week, Dunn presented his study to county commissioners. The study was financed by the Knight Foundation and the Children's Trust. Full story is available HERE. 

Senator Backs Transit Plan

  Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Kendall, chair of the senate's fiscal policy committee, announced Thursday she supports two key concepts of using existing revenue streams to expand mass transit in Miami-Dade.  
    In a letter, Flores said she backed the ideas being propounded by County Commissioner Xavier Suarez to use 25 percent of Dade toll money and all of the county auto-tag renewal funds to help fund expanded transit. Another thought, from City Commissioner Francis Suarez: Postponing the Signature Bridge/I-395 project to get funding for BayLink. Full story HERE.

Opa-locka slammed over transit funds

    A county auditor said Wednesday she's been unable to determine precisely what Opa-locka has done with sales tax transit funds because the city hasn't been cooperating, and the report of the city's external auditor doesn't seem to jibe with reality. At issue is $798,692 that the city should have in a reserve fund. Full story HERE. 

Commissioners Slowly Ponder Inclusionary Housing

        Ever so slowly, the county commission is moving toward considering measures about inclusionary housing -- a wonkish concept that could have huge implications to increasing the number of affordable residences as well as reducing Miami's horrendous traffic jams. Story HERE.