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.

Pols Dissing Developer

      County Commissioners have started to distant themselves from Atlantic Pacific Communities, the developer that received the highest scores from the selection committee tasked with rating the six bids to re-do Miami-Dade's oldest and largest public housing project, Liberty Square. Full story HERE.

Miami's Starchitects' Seduction

   My take on local architecture -- from the fantasies of Opa-locka and Lapidus to Arquitectonica and beyond, with the designs of four Pritzker winners currently being built in Miami. Article in Elevate Magazine available by clicking HERE.

Messy Politics in Liberty Square

 As many insiders expected, the remaking of Liberty Square has turned into a political football game featuring the two most politically connected developers. The Miami Herald and Miami Times are reporting that Atlantic Pacific, with strong ties to one commissioner, beat out RUDG, connected with the most powerful political figure in the county, in a controversial vote swinging on the preference of a Liberty Square resident. Full story HERE under Messy Politics.