Transportation
Position
- Retaining financial revenues generated by the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) here in Miami.
Actions
- Committee Level Meetings/Presentations: 3
- Met with Mayor Gimenez and had him address Trustee Luncheon guests
- Meetings with State Legislators: 29
Results
- HB 385 (Transportation) passed. It will eliminate MDX and replace it with the Greater Miami Expressway Agency (GMX)
- MDX expected to sue
- MDX bond rating had dropped at least 1 notch, which is an estimated $40M impact. Other impacts are bond refinancing ($237M) and signage changes ($40M)
- Kendall Parkway and 5-year work program expected not to finish on time
Workforce Housing
Position
Fully-fund the State Housing and Local Government Housing trust funds
Actions
Pre-session meeting with 4 freshman House members
Meetings with State Legislators: 22
Results
- Sadowski funds partially raided to support Hurricane Michael recovery
- Affordable Housing Program: $31,040,00
- State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP): $46,560,000
- Hurricane Housing Recovery Program: $65,000,000
- Rental Recovery Loan Program: $50,000,000
- Kendall Parkway and 5-year work pogram expected not to finish on time
- HB7103 impacts local ability to set rules for developments impacting rent control and affordable housing. Bad news: That bill passed. Good news: amendments were added that preserve Miami’s Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance for affordable housing
Education
Early learning
Position
Increase School Readiness (SR) program funding: Restore Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) funding to 2007 levels ($2,677 per child); and expand the Help Me Grow (HMG) program
Actions
Meetings with State Legislators: 19
Results
HB 1027 passed. It requires the Office of Early Learning to develop early learning professional development training and course standards for school readiness program providers and identify both formal and informal early learning career pathways with stackable credentials and certifications, which allow early childhood teachers to access specialized professional development
K-12
Position
Ensure that the district cost defferential (DCD) properly accoutns for the high cost of living in South Florida and empowers our school district to recruit and retain top talent
Actions
Miami Herald Op-Ed: https://hrld.us/2H5yWuL
Meetings with State Legislators: 28
Result
The Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR) will create a methodology to determine the impact to school borads if the DCD is changed.
Higher learning
Position
Invest in our future workforce by improving attainmetn outcomes for our students.
Actions
Meetings with State Legislators: 19
Result
HB 189 (Postsecondary Education for Secondary Students) passed. The bill authorizes district school boards to establish an early college program with a state university or an eligible institution.
Environment
Position
Protect South Florida’s economy through greater investment in the Everglades, water quality and sea level rise
Actions
Meetings with State Legislators: 19
Result
$1.5 million for Miami Biscayne Bay Tidal Waves and Stormwater Improvements, in addtion to $360 million for Everglades restoration projects outlined in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.
