Latest news with #LevineCava
Miami Herald
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Miami-Dade finds $46 million for FIFA, but not $3 million to halt evictions
A promise made is apparently not a promise kept in Miami-Dade County. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava's proposed 2025-2026 budget dishonors a commitment she made in April to fully fund Miami-Dade's Eviction Diversion Program designed to help at-risk tenants facing eviction by providing free legal assistance and support. The program aims to keep families in their homes, allowing them to relocate on their own time frame, avoid eviction judgments and prevent homelessness. These are difficult times for residents of Miami-Dade. As faith leaders, we advocate for vulnerable residents who are already losing benefits and access to services. That's why this county program is more important than ever. How we spend public dollars reflects our values. It is disappointing to see the county has found $46 million for FIFA, but not the full $3 million to keep residents in their homes. The mayor had personally committed to fully fund the pilot program once again. She made the promise in person to more than 850 constituents while attending the People Acting for Community Together (PACT) Nehemiah Action Assembly, a direct action organization that hosts community assemblies where public officials are held accountable. And that's where the mayor made her promise. But after pledging that amount three months ago, the mayor's proposed budget of $12.7 billion falls short. Funding for the program has been decreased by $1 million. The county's Eviction Diversion Program, with its 98% success rate, offers an efficient solution to a major crisis in our housing system. It helps fill a critical gap and protects families from displacement. Without adequate funding, the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office will show up to evict children, seniors and other vulnerable residents from their homes. This program is a matter of life and death for many in our community. Not only does the Eviction Diversion Program save the county $3–$6 per dollar invested, but $3 million is the bare minimum needed. To fully fund the program, Miami-Dade would need an estimated $12.1 million. More than 26 jurisdictions around the country already fully fund Right to Counsel programs to ensure tenants don't have to face the complicated eviction process alone. We have all heard that Miami is ranked the most cost-burdened rental market in the country. And to make matters worse, jurisdictions across South Florida are gaining national attention for criminalizing homelessness. Cutting this county program's funding increases the risk of homelessness while criminalizing those left behind. We are speaking out because as people of faith, we are guided by sacred texts like Deuteronomy 15:8–11, which commands us to care for those in need. It's not too late to save lives and livelihoods. We urge Levine Cava and the county commission to honor their promise. We ask them to restore the $3 million for the Eviction Diversion Program — and help those in need in our community. Rev. Sherlain Stevens is the president of the People Acting for Community Together (PACT)
Miami Herald
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Miami-Dade's mayor is defending immigrants with moral clarity and courage
As our president and his top leaders issue a drumbeat of invective demonizing all immigrants, our Miami-Dade mayor repeatedly stands up with courage and reason to call for the humane treatment of our immigrant neighbors. We thank Mayor Daniella Levine Cava for her leadership and encourage others to follow her example. Miami-Dade is an exciting and culturally rich community largely because nearly half of our residents are first-generation immigrants. People are drawn to Miami-Dade's melting pot of customs, languages, cuisine, music, art and businesses. Our mayor rightfully celebrates our county's rich diversity as a showcase of the American dream. Our immigrant friends and neighbors are now being terrorized. They watch as many who have lived here for decades, worked hard, raised families, paid taxes and have no criminal history are taken into custody by ICE agents. Some are being held in the blazing heat in the tents that house cages hurriedly assembled on an abandoned airstrip in the historic Florida Everglades. People will tolerate this dysfunction and cruelty if they perceive those in custody as less than human. The state's naming of the new detention facility 'Alligator Alcatraz' sends that message. When powerful leaders broadly refer to immigrants as 'criminals,' 'illegals,' even 'animals,' they tell us we can look the other way. Levine Cava consistently and repeatedly speaks out against this false narrative. She reminds us that each of us deserves to be treated with respect and humanity. In her recent Miami Herald opinion article — 'Alligator Alcatraz is not who we are' — our mayor called out the 'federal immigration actions that prioritize fear and enforcement over compassion and justice.' She called upon our national leaders, as she has done many times before, to implement policies that 'focus on securing our borders and deporting dangerous criminals, not removing protections for people who are following the law and helping build our economy.' The mayor rightly has her eye on the economic health of the county. She understands that we need immigrants as our essential workers, entrepreneurs, consumers and taxpayers. In other recent statements, Levine Cava has urged those with power over immigration policy to focus on keeping families together, not tearing them apart. She reminds us that sending people back to countries 'facing rampant violence, risks to personal safety and economic turmoil [is]... inhumane and unjust.' Miami-Dade's mayor continues to speak the truth: overcrowded detention facilities are unsafe, with poor access to medical care. Contact with legal counsel is seriously compromised at Alligator Alcatraz, and its tents and cages will be deathtraps in a serious storm. It was built on county-owned land, which Gov. Ron DeSantis took control of with his declaration that immigration has caused a state of emergency in Florida. As the top county officer, Levine Cava has repeatedly written our governor, seeking county access to monitor this newest detention facility. We live in a time when bullying and demonizing behavior and language erode our norms of civility. Levine Cava's moral leadership is sorely needed. Let us heed her call that everyone in this community, regardless of race, ethnicity or ancestry be treated with respect, fairness and dignity. David Lawrence, Jr., is the former publisher of the Miami Herald and chair of the Children's Movement of Florida. Cheryl Little is a co-founder of Americans for Immigrant Justice and its executive director emeritus. Chris McAliley is a retired U.S. magistrate judge.
Axios
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
"Immediate pain:" Arts and culture community rallies against proposed budget
Local arts and culture organizations are sounding the alarm about a proposed 50% cut to the county's cultural grant funding, urging residents to sign a petition that's already garnered more than 3,000 signatures. Why it matters: Arts and cultural leaders say the $12.8 million in proposed cuts would devastate small organizations and local artists, and threaten programming for the city's youth. Moreover, they say the lack of funding will hinder the arts community's ability to boost the local economy and it would undermine decades of investment that made Miami a global hub and cultural destination. Catch up quick: Mayor Daniella Levine Cava this month proposed budget cuts between 10% and 35% for some departments and consolidations for others to offset a more than $400 million deficit for 2026. Included in the proposal was the merging of the Department of Cultural Affairs into the Public Library System and the elimination of the director of cultural affairs position. The big picture: The proposed cuts come a year after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $32 million for arts and cultural initiatives from the 2024-25 state budget, costing more than 120 Miami-Dade organizations a combined $6.5 million in funding. By the numbers: For every $1 invested in the arts by the county, $42 is returned through economic activity and matching private support, according to the Miami-Dade Arts Action Alliance, an arts advocacy organization. Per the group, the arts generate $2.1 billion annually, support 32,000 local jobs and attract 4.2 million cultural tourists. What they're saying: The proposal "feels disproportionate and short-sighted," said Sheila Womble, executive director of Arts For Learning, in a news release. "When we start to lose the arts, we lose more than most ever realize until it is too late," Womble said. Sammy Gonzalez, CEO of Young Musicians Unite and president of Arts Access Miami, told Axios he recognizes the tough position Levine Cava is in and that she's been a "big advocate for the arts," but argued the cuts need to come from somewhere else. "There are other areas that are bloated, I'm sure," he said. The other side: During her news conference announcing the proposal, Levine Cava said the budget is "fair, balanced and resident-focused." Zoom in: A 50% cut is anywhere between 5% and 15% of an organization's budget, Sammy Gonzalez, CEO of Young Musicians Unite and president of Arts Access Miami, told Axios. If approved, the county's public schools could see "a good 30% of programming go away," he said. "It's immediate pain." There's an understanding that kids go to school and have access to music or art classes, Gonzalez said. Many people "don't understand that [programs like] Guitars Over Guns isn't part of the school district." And with public schools already facing budget shortfalls, "there's no way the district" will be able to fill in the funding gaps.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
How did A3 Foundation spend its county tax dollars? Miami-Dade mayor orders audit
As scrutiny grows over how a little-known charity secured about $2 million from Florida and Miami-Dade County, there's a question that should be fairly easy to answer: How did the A3 Foundation spend its taxpayer money? After more than a week of silence from the politically connected nonprofit, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has ordered her staff to try and find an answer to that question. In a memo released Saturday, Levine Cava instructed county staff to audit the charity, which has a listed headquarters in a West Miami townhouse and a top official in the city of Miami's government as its director. 'The concerns raised regarding the A3 Foundation's use of County funds and overall compliance with contract terms are warranted and require thorough answers,' Levine Cava said in a memo to Carladenise Edwards, a top deputy to the mayor who serves as chief administrative officer for Miami-Dade. A series of recent Miami Herald articles raised questions about how a foundation founded in late 2023 with no public track record of charity work could have such success securing government funding. County records show the County Commission's chairman, Anthony Rodriguez, used A3 as the clearinghouse for Miami-Dade funding for CountryFest, the annual rodeo that Rodriguez hosts each year in Tropical Park. While Rodriguez's staff arranged for event company Loud and Live to put on CountryFest, nearly $1 million in county funds for the Tropical Park festival appeared to go first to A3. Multiple people familiar with the arrangement said A3 was the entity that paid Loud and Live for its CountryFest expenses. The foundation's director, Francisco Petrirena, told the Miami Herald in a brief interview on July 18 that he started earning an $80,000 salary this year for his foundation work. He works full time as chief of staff to Miami City Manager Art Noriega. Petrirena has not responded to Herald inquiries after that interview, including requests to release the charity's tax returns, which federal law requires be available to the public. Earlier this month, Levine Cava recommended commissioners approve a 20-year deal with Loud and Live that gives the Doral company rights to put on ticketed events at Tropical Park's equestrian center in exchange for paying at least $40 million in rent to the Parks Department. The bidding documents for the contract included a requirement that the winner pay out $250,000 a year to a charity chosen by the County Commission, and the contract approved by commissioners on July 16 named A3 as the chosen nonprofit. Rodriguez sponsored the legislation. This week, Levine Cava's longtime campaign manager, Christian Ulvert, confirmed he's paid by Loud and Live as a consultant. Though he's not a registered lobbyist, Ulvert gets hired by developers and others seeking favorable decisions by Levine Cava and commissioners. On Saturday, Ulvert told the Herald he provides Loud and Live work related to 'community outreach and public relations' and that he did not speak to Levine Cava or members of her administration about the company's contract. On Wednesday, Levine Cava sent Loud and Live a letter saying she would not sign a contract that listed A3 as the beneficiary of the $250,000 yearly payment. The July 23 letter did not say if she planned to still require Loud and Live to make the payment to another charity. The Rodriguez legislation and contract said the charity payment comes out of Loud and Live's profits, so eliminating it entirely would boost the company's bottom line at Tropical Park. Commission approval of the Loud and Live contract with the A3 payment requirement came a day after Levine Cava released a 2026 budget proposal with millions of dollars in cuts to charity grants and parks services. It also came about a month after the A3 Foundation secured $950,000 in funding in the Florida budget for charitable work related to education and agriculture. Almost half of the funding came from House Speaker Danny Perez, a Miami Republican who is friends with both Petrirena and Rodriguez. Levine Cava's July 25 memo demanding an A3 audit followed a Miami Herald report showing her budget office vouching for $500,000 in county checks to A3 when accountants under the independent Clerk of the Court and Comptrollers Office flagged one $200,000 invoice for having no details beyond the phrase 'Payment for CountryFest2025.' 'Please help with the payment of this,' David Clodfelter, the county's budget director under Edwards, wrote to the Clerk's accounting division on the morning of July 4 to provide clearance for the $200,000 check. 'If additional information is really needed, I will reach out to the Chairman's Office.' Clodfelter this week said backup material wasn't needed because county commissioners passed legislation sponsored by Rodriguez that waived purchasing oversight rules for CountryFest. In addition to the A3 audit, Levine Cava's memo calls for stricter oversight of county charity grants. That includes mandated quarterly financial reports and annual audits. 'I am calling for the development of new countywide safeguards and protocols to strengthen accountability, even if procurement, research, and bidding processes are waived by the Board of County Commissioners,' Levine Cava wrote. The mayor had included $125,000 for the A3 Foundation in the 2025 budget that commissioners approved last fall — money the charity requested for CountryFest field trips for 2,000 students and scholarships for students pursuing careers in agriculture, according to a funding application released through a records request. Clodfelter told the Herald the budget request came from Rodriguez but that a grant agreement was never signed with A3. That meant the money wasn't released, he said. Rodriguez has not responded to recent Herald inquiries about the A3 Foundation. In an interview with the Political Cortadito blog, Rodriguez said the Loud and Live contract was good for Miami-Dade because it steers private money to a charity instead of having the county fund another charity payment. 'It's 100% private money,' he said. 'This is what the county should be looking at — how do we have private businesses that partner with the county support community benefits rather than it being paid by taxpayer dollars.'
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Amid budget squeeze, a Miami-Dade commissioner wants to cancel World Cup subsidy
In the face of looming cuts to charity grants in the county budget, a Miami-Dade commissioner wants to claw back the $46 million the county plans to spend subsidizing a global sports event: the 2026 World Cup games. Commissioner Kionne McGhee, who represents a suburban district in South Miami-Dade that has some of the county's highest concentrations of poverty, said Friday he'll ask for a special meeting to undo past funding votes to cover local expenses for the seven soccer matches scheduled for Hard Rock Stadium next summer. 'Until they find us the money to fully fund the nonprofits that provide services to the community, I think we are obligated as elected officials to get this money back and give it to the nonprofits,' McGhee said in an interview Friday. His demand highlights the bad timing for Miami-Dade's elected officials as the approved $46 million in free police and paramedic overtime and cash payouts for World Cup overlap with what's likely to be the leanest budget year for the county since the aftermath of the 2008 housing crash. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has proposed a 2026 budget that slashes about $40 million in funding for county charity grants. The budget also has cuts for the Parks Department, including less money for athletic fields and lifeguards. The mayor recommended spending legislation earlier this year that doubled the commission's prior approval of a $10.5 million cash subsidy for World Cup. The legislation boosted the county's planned cash payments for the games to $21 million. Add in an estimated $25 million worth of free police, paramedic services and other county staff that Miami-Dade would pay for, and the subsidy total would hit $46 million. In a May 6 memo, Levine Cava said contributing the sports funding may result in reductions in county services — weeks before her budget proposal revealed proposed cuts to the charity grants, the loss of some lifeguards at county parks and scattered rollbacks of spending on senior services. Nevertheless, commissioners approved the legislation with the planned $21 million World Cup subsidies on May 6 — legislation that was seconded by McGhee. Three commissioners voted against the budget adjustment: Marleine Bastien, Juan Carlos Bermudez and Roberto Gonzalez. In her memo, Levine Cava recommended commissioners adopt the extra $10.5 million for World Cup as part of a larger midyear spending package. She said the request for extra World Cup dollars came from the spending legislation's sponsor, Commissioner Oliver Gilbert, whose district includes Hard Rock Stadium. On Friday, her office released a statement expressing concerns about World Cup funding. 'The Mayor expressed concerns when this funding request was first brought to the administration,' the statement read. 'Those concerns remain as we balance critical needs in our community.' In a press release, McGhee noted that he was a past supporter of the plan to bring soccer's premiere event to Miami and offer financial support from the county. But he said Levine Cava's budget proposal 'changes everything.' To secure a special meeting revisiting a politically fraught issue that's already gone through a commission vote, McGhee needs a signed request from at least six other commissioners on the 13-member board. County funding for World Cup goes to the nonprofit host committee, which is independent of FIFA. Rodney Barreto, the chair of the local World Cup host committee, has been spearheading the push for government funding for the games at Hard Rock Stadium. On Friday, he pointed out that Miami-Dade had competed to be a World Cup host city for the 2026 games and that such a position comes with expenses. 'I know it's a tough time,' said Barreto, a partner in a lobbying firm that represents the Miami Dolphins, owner of Hard Rock. 'I know tough decisions have to be made. I think the county can make them and still fully support FIFA World Cup 2026 in Miami-Dade.'
