Tackling the challenges of Miami-Dade in 2024: affordable housing, rail development | Opinion

As the new year begins, I would like to share some of my accomplishments in my first year as county commissioner representing District 10, and what I hope to achieve in 2024.

Over the past year, my colleagues and I have sought to address challenges facing our community, including public safety, affordable housing, support for small businesses, improving our aging infrastructure and transportation.

To tackle public safety, I sponsored an ordinance, which was passed and adopted, to implement state-approved speed detection systems in school zones.

Red light cameras

While I am against red-light cameras and sponsored legislation while serving in the Florida House to remove red-light cameras, this was an issue I was proud to support because it involves children’s safety.

The detection system will help cut down on speeding in school zones. I’m also proud to sponsor and finalize the re-establishment of the Mounted Patrol Unit, housed at Tropical Park in District 10, to patrol high-crime areas, parks and other public spaces.

I also sponsored a resolution to support Casa Familia, a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing for adults with disabilities, to finalize land and funding for their new housing and community project on county land in District 10.

I was able to help the county get funding from the state for projects including septic to-sewer conversion, funding for our aging infrastructure, public safety and transportation. In the county budget, we also secured funding for resurfacing roads in District 10, landscaping, new sidewalks and drainage improvements, among others. I voted for a decrease in the millage rate and against increasing the fee for solid waste and water and sewer.

Another accomplishment was revamping our only circulator in District 10. The Westchester circulator was not serving the majority of our residents. By using an on-demand service called Metro Connect, we now provide free ride-sharing for Westchester and Fontainebleau and expanding existing service in the Kendall area.

Develop rail

Now, as we focus on issues in the new year, I look forward to continuing to explore how we can develop the railroad corridor, using existing tracks, and convert it to passenger rail. I am the prime sponsor of a resolution to examine the feasibility of developing the railroad corridors along State Road 836 and State Road 874 for passenger rail, freight cargo and intermodal logistics. This is an innovative way for us to expand transportation options without having to build new infrastructure.

We also want to tackle affordable and workforce housing. I was thrilled to see Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo announce the Live Local Act, which was signed into law last year. Because of this innovative solution, I was among the prime sponsors of legislation we hope to pass this year for the property tax exemption in Miami-Dade County.

I’ve worked hard to represent our community with transparency, integrity and focus. I promised that I would take your concerns with me as to the county commission. I do that each day and will continue to do that in 2024.

Vice Chairman Anthony Rodriguez serves as the Miami-Dade County District 10 commissioner.

This story was originally published January 17, 2024 at 12:08 PM.