Miami Today

07/05/2024

POWER OUTAGES CASE: Florida Power & Light has urged an appeals court to reject a rehearing request in a suit alleging that FPL didn’t meet obligations to help prevent power outages during Hurricane Irma. A brief said the 3rd District Court of Appeal shouldn’t reconsider a May 22 ruling that dealt a blow to the lawsuit, as a three-judge panel backed FPL’s arguments that the state Public Service Commission has authority to determine whether the utility met obligations during the hurricane. The panel reversed decisions that said customers could pursue a class-action lawsuit against FPL, sent the case back to Miami-Dade County circuit court and ordered a judge to stay the lawsuit while “threshold issues” are resolved. In the brief FPL’s attorneys said the panel ruled correctly and that such issues should go before the Public Service Commission. “There is nothing unreasonable, let alone absurd, about assigning jurisdiction over complex regulatory questions to the PSC,” the brief said.


https://www.miamitodaynews.com/

07/05/2024

These film permits were issued last week by the Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory & Economic Resources’ Office of Film and Entertainment, (305) 375-3288; the Miami Mayor’s Office of Film, Arts & Entertainment, (305) 860-3823; and the Miami Beach Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment-Film and Print Division, (305) 673-7070.

Sharp Entertainment, New York. Reality television series for 90 Day Fiancé. Miami International Airport.

Aviagen, Huntsville, GA. Documentary for Aviagen Export. Miami International University.

Telemundo Studios, Miami. Television series for Sed de Venganza. Milander Performing Arts.

https://www.miamitodaynews.com/

07/05/2024

LINKING TRANSIT DATA: A requirement to move data from 35 separate transit systems onto a single app in a way that would link the schedules and routes for passengers throughout Miami-Dade County got an endorsement last week from the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust. The legislation would require the data from each municipal system to be fed to the county to meld together. They already file the information, but not in formats that can be easily combined in real time to be useful to riders in planning their trips. The legislation is now before county commissioners for action.


https://www.miamitodaynews.com/

07/04/2024

Coming up on July 18

TECHNOLOGY

In this special section Miami Today will look at our strength in technology today.

Details: 305-358-1008 or at https://www.miamitodaynews.com/contact-us/

07/04/2024

Tesla fleet charges Coral Gables transit

The City of Coral Gables has upgraded its fleet of Freebee with five new electric Teslas.

Switching up from the open-air GEM Cars to the Teslas Model Y, the vehicles offer connections to the Coral Gables Trolley system as well as to five municipal parking garages and 12 surface lots.

The City of Coral Gables has upgraded its fleet of Freebee with five new electric Teslas. Switching up from the open-air GEM Cars to the Teslas Model Y, the vehicles offer connections to the Coral Gables

07/04/2024

BREAKING NEWS: Miami conditions Watson Island leases on benefits deals

City officials are negotiating a community benefits package with the developers of two Watson Island projects that may be heading for a public vote in November if commissioners approve the deal before the July 26 cutoff to submit ballot language to the county’s elections department.

On June 27, Miami City Commissioners voted 4-1 to defer two proposed charter amendments regarding the future development of Watson Island as some on the dais requested an enhanced community benefits package that would have revenue from the projects divided among all districts, particularly the most disadvantaged.


The rest of this story is exclusive content for our subscribers. Log in to your subscription or go to www.miamitodaynews.com to subscribe.

07/04/2024

Coming up on July 11:
SPOTLIGHT ON EXCELLENCE
An advertorial will highlight all you can't convey in an ad alone. A perfect complement to you advertising campaign
Details: 305-358-1008 or https://www.miamitodaynews.com/contact-us/

07/04/2024

Board OKs 60-story Clear Residences downtown

A tall and slender golden tower is planned for a tight site in downtown Miami.

Owner-developer Blutrich Holdings Inc. plans to construct the 60-story mixed-use residential tower, to be called Clear Residences, at 130 SE First St. and 153 SE Second St.

A tall and slender golden tower is planned for a tight site in downtown Miami. Owner-developer Blutrich Holdings Inc. plans to construct the 60-story mixed-use residential tower, to be called Clear Residences, at 130 SE First

07/04/2024

BREAKING NEWS: Transportation trust balks at shifting development area funds to transit

The county’s transportation trust board has refused to back a change that would see taxes on some properties within community redevelopment agency (CRA) boundaries help to fund more mass transit countywide.

By a 4-3 margin, members of the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust refused to lend support to Miami-Dade County legislation by Eileen Higgins that would have some tax increment gains that now all go to fund community redevelopment go to transportation.


The rest of this story is exclusive content for our subscribers. Log in to your subscription or go to www.miamitodaynews.com to subscribe.

07/04/2024

The Achiever

Zerry Ihekwaba: Manager plans Homestead as a space industry powerhouse

Since taking on the role as Homestead city manager, Zerry Ihekwaba has already rolled out initiatives for a better quality of life for residents with citywide clean-ups, and has in the works a spaceport and an entertainment hub.

Mr. Ihekwaba joined the City of Homestead from the City of Miami, where he served as assistant, deputy and acting city manager.

Since taking on the role as Homestead city manager, Zerry Ihekwaba has already rolled out initiatives for a better quality of life for residents with citywide clean-ups, and has in the works a spaceport and

07/04/2024

Miami Dade College dual enrollment booms

Miami Dade College’s (MDC) enrollment numbers are trending in the right direction, college officials say.

This summer, all eight campuses are bustling with students through summer camps and programs, said Dr. Malou Harrison, MDC’s executive vice president and provost.

Miami Dade College’s (MDC) enrollment numbers are trending in the right direction, college officials say. This summer, all eight campuses are bustling with students through summer camps and programs, said Dr. Malou Harrison, MDC’s executive vice

07/04/2024

Happy 4th of July
Subscribe to Miami Today
Print, Digital or both
https://www.miamitodaynews.com/subscribe/

07/04/2024

PortMiami to spend $63 million on electric gantry cranes

County commissioners passed a resolution Tuesday to spend up to $63.6 million to install 12 electric gantry cranes at the South Florida Container Terminal. The project is part of PortMiami’s “net zero program” designed to increase cargo capacity and decrease diesel pollution.

A gantry crane is a type of overhead crane supported by freestanding legs that move, in this case, on rubber tires. The contract would be awarded to OEC Paradise, a Pinecrest-based construction company.

County commissioners passed a resolution Tuesday to spend up to $63.6 million to install 12 electric gantry cranes at the South Florida Container Terminal. The project is part of PortMiami’s “net zero program” designed to

07/04/2024

TECH HUB FUNDED: A South Florida effort to find climate change solutions will get $19 million in tech hub funds announced Tuesday by the White House. The South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub, led by the Miami-Dade’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development, is one of 12 such tech hubs across the nation that got a total of $504 million. South Florida’s hub focuses on “scaling climate resilient infrastructure” to address issues such as flooding. “Miami-Dade is proud to collaborate with public sector, academic, and private partners from Broward, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties on this groundbreaking initiative,” said County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “This funding marks a pivotal moment for South Florida,” said Francesca de Quesada Covey, the hub’s regional innovation officer and chief innovation and economic development officer of Miami-Dade. “The ClimateReady Tech Hub is not only the only recognized hub focused on finding solutions to our pressing climate challenges but also brings economic benefit in jobs and increased GDP to all of our communities.”


https://www.miamitodaynews.com/

07/04/2024

BREAKING NEWS: Florida International University cites record applications

Education continues to raise the bar this year for Florida International University as they welcome freshmen students and transfers.

“We have had a record number of applications for our freshman class,” said Jody Glassman, assistant vice president of enrollment and university admissions, via email as shared by the media relations team.


The rest of this story is exclusive content for our subscribers. Log in to your subscription or go to www.miamitodaynews.com to subscribe.

07/04/2024

Added frequency called for on standing-room-only 836 Express

County Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez is pleased that the 836 Metro Bus express route “has become a popular bus route attracting choice riders,” as he said in a resolution submitted to the commission Tuesday, but it’s become so popular it is “often exceeding seating capacity, with many riders having to stand during the entirety of the route.”

Metrobus 836 Express route provides critical express weekday east-west corridor service, traveling from the Dolphin Station Park and Ride to Downtown Miami along State Road 836.

County Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez is pleased that the 836 Metro Bus express route “has become a popular bus route attracting choice riders,” as he said in a resolution submitted to the commission Tuesday, but

07/04/2024

Opinion
The art of hiding big maladies under short-term band-aids

We may complain that elected officials ignore big problems, but we must credit them with one thing: they are adept at kicking the can down the road. Rather than confront the real concern, they hide it with a short-term patch.

It seems to be human nature to shy away from big problems. Maybe they are truly unsolvable. But our elected leaders need to try rather than duck.

We may complain that elected officials ignore big problems, but we must credit them with one thing: they are adept at kicking the can down the road. Rather than confront the real concern, they hide

07/03/2024

Mas brothers site once touted for soccer getting 1,219 residences

A large vacant property in Overtown that at one time was considered for a professional soccer stadium is now being developed into a major residential and mixed-use neighborhood.

The sweeping project is a collaboration between 0101 Miami Properties LLC, led by brothers Jorge and Jose Mas, and 8th Street Connections Holdings LLC, an affiliate of Terra.

A large vacant property in Overtown that at one time was considered for a professional soccer stadium is now being developed into a major residential and mixed-use neighborhood. The sweeping project is a collaboration between 0101

07/03/2024

BREAKING NEWS: Miami Beach moves to ban strobe lights that party houses use

The use of garish flashing, strobing and multicolored lights on residential properties is to be prohibited, Miami Beach commissioners have decided in a preliminary vote. Additionally, the possibility to prohibit boats at the Miami Beach Marina from also using such lights was discussed and is to be decided in the next meeting.

“As many of you know, people love to purchase and then rent out houses in single-family areas as party homes,” said Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez. “Sometimes to do this, they will hang disco balls, have strobe lights in backyards.” This happens in waterfront homes and across Miami Beach. This is important because it is “light pollution,” she said.

The rest of this story is exclusive content for our subscribers. Log in to your subscription or go to www.miamitodaynews.com to subscribe.

07/03/2024

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez says transportation efforts going nowhere

As Miami-Dade’s transportation planners were about to vote on a five-year improvement plan last week, the City of Miami’s representative, Mayor Francis Suarez, notable mostly for his absence, dropped a bombshell as he complained that the group is all talk but no action and at the same time called for more talk about transit ideas.

As Miami-Dade’s transportation planners were about to vote on a five-year improvement plan last week, the City of Miami’s representative, Mayor Francis Suarez, notable mostly for his absence, dropped a bombshell as he complained that

07/03/2024

BREAKING NEWS: Miami Beach street names now can honor notable women

Co-named streets in Miami Beach will honor notable women who have made an impact on the civic, cultural, or political history, the city commission voted last week.

“There are many notable women that should be recognized in Miami Beach,” said Commissioner Laura Dominguez, sponsor of the item, “and the way our code reads, we can only co-name streets for men, and [at] the suggestion of the legal department we are updating the code in order to be able to add women as well.”


The rest of this story is exclusive content for our subscribers. Log in to your subscription or go to www.miamitodaynews.com to subscribe.

06/28/2024

SOUTH MIAMI FREEBEE: The county’s Transportation and Mobility Planning Committee has indefinitely deferred action on a proposed agreement to allow the City of South Miami to offer free on-demand transportation by Freebee, a service totally funded by the city using its share of the county’s transportation surtax proceeds. Similar surtax-funded service is provided by other cities, but the five-year agreement with South Miami would be its first. The proposed agreement is retroactive to Dec. 3, 2020, when the service began.


https://www.miamitodaynews.com/

06/28/2024

These film permits were issued last week by the Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory & Economic Resources’ Office of Film and Entertainment, (305) 375-3288; the Miami Mayor’s Office of Film, Arts & Entertainment, (305) 860-3823; and the Miami Beach Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment-Film and Print Division, (305) 673-7070.

The United States Adult Soccer Association, Bridgeview, IL. Social media for Women’s Premier Soccer League. Kendall Soccer Park.



https://www.miamitodaynews.com/

06/28/2024

OFFICE BUILDING ACQUIRED: BEC Realty Trust has purchased the Dadeland office building formerly occupied by the International Money Exchange and plans to replace it with a 23-story building with 373 apartments and 3,600 square feet of retail. Miami Har LLC headed by George Dancea sold the circa-1994 building at 9480 S Dixie Hwy. vacant for its $9.2 million asking price. International Monetary Exchange had moved from the 32,218-square-foot building to 40,298 square feet in nearby One Datran Center. BEC plans to lease the vacant space while it works through its plans to redevelop the site, said Blanca Commercial Real Estate, which with MSP group represented Miami Har.


https://www.miamitodaynews.com/

06/27/2024

BREAKING NEWS: Bond issue to fund new West Flagler government center

Commissioners set a July 2 hearing and final vote on issuing up to $265 million in bonds for a long-sought West Dade Government Center in the former FPL hub.

The bonds would be for “acquiring, constructing and/or renovating” the center at 9250 W Flagler St., said a report from Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. The ordinance passed unanimously on first reading.


The rest of this story is exclusive content for our subscribers. Log in to your subscription or go to www.miamitodaynews.com to subscribe.

06/27/2024

New medical approach guides Nicklaus Hospital cancer treatments

Cancer treatment researchers have developed a medicine approach that targets cancer by combining genetic testing with a new way to test individual drugs on tumor samples.

This combined approach, developed by Florida International University (FIU) cancer researcher Dr. Diana Azzam, was used for the first time to guide the treatment of relapsed pediatric cancer patients at First Ascent Biomedical and Dr. Maggie Fader at the Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

Cancer treatment researchers have developed a medicine approach that targets cancer by combining genetic testing with a new way to test individual drugs on tumor samples. This combined approach, developed by Florida International University (FIU) cancer

06/27/2024

SUIT FOR SEAQUARIUM EVICTION: Miami-Dade County sued on Tuesday to evict The Dolphin Company from the Miami Seaquarium on Virginia Key after serving a notice of termination of the company’s lease with the county on April 22. “Our ultimate priority has always been to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the hundreds of animals in the Seaquarium’s care, and it’s critical that we proceed in a manner that best protects them,” said a media statement jointly issued by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and areas county commissioner Raquel Regalado.


https://www.miamitodaynews.com

06/27/2024

Metromover system overhaul gains funding

County commissioners last week unanimously passed a resolution adding $6.7 million to a contract to support the Metromover comprehensive wayside system overhaul project. The additional funds bring the contract to more than $14 million.

The contract with New York-based Atkins North America Inc. is for construction, engineering, and inspection services. It passed unanimously without comment.

County commissioners last week unanimously passed a resolution adding $6.7 million to a contract to support the Metromover comprehensive wayside system overhaul project. The additional funds bring the contract to more than $14 million. The contract

06/27/2024

BREAKING NEWS: Electric bus borrowing OK focuses on flooding and batteries

JP Morgan Chase Bank will provide $210 million over a two-year period to Miami-Dade County for the lease or purchase of about 133 electric buses, although in approving the deal commissioners showed more concern about how inclement weather affects the battery-powered buses than details.

County commissioners eventually approved the resolution last week, accepting what Mayor Daniella Levine Cava called “the most favorable terms”: a 12-year contract with a 4.06% interest rate.


The rest of this story is exclusive content for our subscribers. Log in to your subscription or go to www.miamitodaynews.com to subscribe.