Open letter to Miami’s next mayor: Work with the commission on these priorities | Opinion
In the weeks ahead, Miami will welcome a new mayor. Who that person will be is still undecided. But what is already clear is this: Our challenges are real, our opportunities are great and the time to align around shared goals is now.
I would like to offer four priorities for the next four years. These are not demands, but rather starting points for collaboration. They are goals I believe most of us at City Hall already share, and I hope that our next administration will help carry them across the finish line.
Keep Miami safe. Miami has seen real reductions in crime in recent years, a testament to our officers, first responders, neighbors, commission and an outgoing mayor who made public safety a priority. We must keep that momentum going.
That means growing the Miami Police Department to meet the demands of a denser, more dynamic city and investing in recruitment and retention so we have the staffing needed to maintain safety and visibility in every neighborhood.
Miami Fire Rescue must grow with us as well. As development continues, we should hire additional rescue personnel and build new stations where they are needed most. Response times should never be dictated by ZIP code.
We must also continue to build safety into our streets. Expanding traffic calming near schools, parks and high-pedestrian areas and designing walkable, livable streets should be core parts of our public-safety strategy.
Embrace real solutions to the housing crisis. Miami needs more housing — affordable, workforce, transitional, and emergency. That is not up for debate. I hope to work with our next mayor to pursue new, creative, lasting solutions. That includes proposals like ones we have put forward such as putting city-owned land out for requests for proposal and allowing faith-based, nonprofit and government landowners to develop housing. These approaches will allow us to expand supply without displacing the people who already call Miami home.
We must also stay focused on permanent strategies for addressing homelessness. The numbers are trending down, and we must continue supporting those in need with dignity and urgency.
Reform our permitting system. Anyone who has tried to pull a permit in Miami knows the system needs work. We have seen recent strides by staff to streamline this, but for many the process is unclear and too often a barrier to progress, even for residents just trying to make legal upgrades to their homes.
Let us continue the audit of our permitting systems that is under way, with upgraded technology, streamlined steps and better service for residents and contractors alike.
Finish the Miami Loop. The Miami Loop has the potential to be one of our city’s greatest legacies: a connected network of trails and greenways that links all five commission districts through projects like the Underline, Graham Trail, Ludlam Trail, Commodore Trail and Baywalk.
It is time to move from concept to completion. With strong mayoral leadership, we can finally build the walkable, bikeable, connected Miami our residents deserve.
I invite our next mayor to help champion these shared priorities and to join the commission in a collaborative goal-setting session early in his or her term. This is rarely done in the city of Miami. Establishing transparent objectives together would allow us to begin this new chapter in full alignment.
To my colleagues on the Commission: Thank you. Each of you has brought leadership and perspective to the table. Together, we have laid a foundation for the future.
To our next mayor: Welcome. I look forward to partnering with you to deliver a city that reflects the hopes of its people.
The potential for collaborations is clear. The momentum is real. Let us get to work.
Ralph “Rafael” Rosado is a Miami City commissioner representing District 4.