Writer: Joshua Andino
2 min read August 2023 — While the city of Miami and Miami-Dade County often receive the lion’s share of media attention when it comes to economic development, local leaders across the metro area are all hard at work looking to secure the best outcomes for their constituents and residents. With Invest: Miami 2022-2023 soon to be released, Invest: asked a number of local city and town leaders what their priorities were moving forward and what was next for their communities.
Esteban Bovo, Mayor, City of Hialeah
“Our top priority is housing. We have massive demand for what I would call government housing or subsidized housing that has been years in line and waiting. That is something that we need to address immediately. We already have seen development come and the challenge is how to allow development that is 15, 10 or 12 stories in height. At the same time, we expect to have single-family home components. Because a lot of these developments are almost next to each other, it’s a very delicate dance and we need to protect the homeowner to maintain peace and tranquility. But we also need to open space for new development, which, at the end of the day, is going to feed our coffers and sustain us long term. And then within that is how to efficiently move people in our city now. We need a transportation program that could feed that need and we want to be less car-dependent. If you live in Brickell, you don’t need a car and there are sections of Coral Gables in which you don’t need a car. We could do the same thing in Hialeah; not the entire city but there could be hubs in the city where you won’t need a car. That is another key priority going forward.”
Vince Lago, Mayor, City of Coral Gables
“There has been a real focus on being as fiscally prudent as possible, making investments in infrastructure for the long haul. I want to ensure that we are paying down our debt and securing the pension system, which was originally 50% funded and is now 75% funded since I’ve been elected. We’ve also kept our millage rate at 5.6%, which is the second-lowest rate in the county, and we have not raised taxes. A $60 million public safety building has been constructed that is world class and the city has spent another $20 million on our fire stations. We’ve written legislation to make sure we have a large network of charging stations for electric vehicles and have also eliminated permit fees for solar panels, which is a first in the county. Any building over 20,000 feet being constructed must follow LEED guidelines. We have the largest 100% electric EV fleet of any city in the state of Florida. We’re only 51,000 residents so it shows our commitment to renewables. With grade A schools, 10,000 businesses, including 1,000 tech firms, and free Wi-Fi in our Central Business District, we are paving the way to becoming an exemplary smart city.”
Steven Losner, Mayor, City of Homestead
“In our Downtown, we started to see that buildings were being acquired and not necessarily utilized in a manner that comports with our vision. We have a very antiquated code we struggle to keep up with. In that regard, through the Community Redevelopment Agency, the city is acquiring a block of frontage Downtown to help incentivize and bring a big user in, including significant upscale dining and nightlife locations. We just finished renovating a park in Downtown that has been doubled in size and has been met with rave reviews. When groups see that coming to Homestead, it attracts more attention from other businesses to join the party. We’re excited that a national distillery is moving in right outside of Downtown that will include a restaurant and tasting room, which goes back to our Destination Homestead theme. I anticipate that interest growing over the next few years.”
John Taylor, Mayor, City of Opa-locka
“We are working to change the culture of the city. We want everyone to know that Opa-locka is a new and different place, full of vibrant energy and a bright future.
Our top priorities in the city are public safety and constituent services. We want to ensure that our residents and business owners feel safe and supported. Although crime rates have decreased, we are committed to rebuilding trust and letting everyone know that Opa-locka is a safe place to live, work and invest.
In addition to these efforts, our city hall is known as “The People’s Palace”, and we are excited to announce plans for its redevelopment. Our goal is to have it restored by the end of 2023. We believe that this will not only improve the physical appearance of the city but also show our commitment to progress and growth.”
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