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Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Trump cuts hit flood control and food aid in Miami-Dade. Will Medicaid be next?
Cuts to federal spending yanked $10 million for flood-prevention projects in Miami, slashed USDA produce deliveries to a leading food bank and killed $17 million in grant money that Miami-Dade County hoped to secure for expanding Internet access to low-income households. But those cutbacks aren't what have county administrators worried. It's the even deeper cuts proposed by the Trump administration that they say would bring severe consequences to healthcare, housing and social services throughout Miami-Dade. The county's Democratic mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, laid out potential impacts in a recent memo to county commissioners. With more than $700 billion in Medicaid spending reductions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Republican-backed spending and policy bill that narrowly passed the U.S. House on May 22, Levine Cava's memo warns of local pain if Washington cuts back on the stream of federal healthcare dollars to the Miami area. 'Last year, in Miami-Dade, Medicaid provided services to 40,300 children (30% of the County's children) and 120,700 seniors and people with disabilities,' Levine Cava wrote in the May 19 memo. 'Any reduction in Medicaid funding would significantly impact access to care and economic security.' U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, a Republican and Levine Cava's predecessor as county mayor, defended the proposed Medicaid changes that he voted for in the House, including work requirements for some recipients and stricter eligibility scrutiny to prevent 'double-dipping' by Medicaid recipients wrongly enrolled in more than one state program. 'The benefits to eligible residents have not been reduced,' he said. Federal funding accounts for about 6% of the county's $12.7 billion budget — amounting to more than $750 million annually from Washington. Among the funding concerns cited in the memo: A $65 million shortfall in funding for the federal Section 8 rental voucher program that Miami-Dade administers using dollars from Washington. The memo said more than 5,400 households could lose their housing assistance without more federal money in 2025. The potential loss of Head Start childcare dollars through a planned restructuring at the federal Department of Health and Human Services. Miami-Dade runs Head Start childcare centers funded by roughly $90 million a year from Washington. The latest grant expires Oct. 1, and Levine Cava said there's no option yet to apply for a renewal in the federal grant-making system. Cutbacks in federally funded food shipments that make their way to soup kitchens, church pantries and food banks throughout Miami-Dade. Farm Share, a main supplier of free food in the county, said the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently cut in half the number of semi-trucks packed with cans, produce, and dry goods like rice and beans that find their way to local charities and nonprofits. Farm Share's federal shipments hit about 15 million pounds between February and May last year, compared to 7 million pounds this year, said Stephen Shelley, president of the Homestead-based charity. 'It's concerning,' he said. Even so, Shelley said he's optimistic the cutbacks will be temporary as the second Trump administration retools the program and manages fallout from the shortages. 'This is a cycle that is not uncommon. We're watching, and we're hopeful.' While the memo focuses mostly on potential funding impacts, some examples represent federal money that's already lost. That includes a $16.5 million grant from the Department of Commerce that the county hoped to receive to expand Internet access countywide. One of the biggest hits to Miami-Dade's existing federal funding is a grant designed to help the county lessen current-day flooding, as well as help prepare for sea-level rise. Two of the floodiest spots in Miami-Dade County — the mouth of Little River and the Biscayne Canal — were set to receive multimillion-dollar makeovers designed to protect neighborhoods against high waters and heavy rains. But last month, the Trump administration ended FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructures and Communities (BRIC) grant program, which launched during Trump's first term. READ MORE: Millions in South Florida flood-control projects on hold after Trump FEMA cuts Planning for the flood protection projects is on schedule to finish up this month. But there's no longer federal money to raise the height of canal walls and purchase bigger pumps to keep rainwater flowing to Biscayne Bay instead of into nearby streets. 'The cancellation of the BRIC program poses a major setback to Miami-Dade County's ability to implement long-term resilience strategies,' Levine Cava wrote. She said the two canceled grants were worth $9.2 million, with another $23 million in pending grant applications also taken off the table. Even so, she said Miami-Dade will be pursuing other federal dollars for the projects — even if they have more strings attached. Levine Cava is already warning of a nearly $400 million shortfall for the county's 2026 budget from increased local spending and slowing growth in property-tax revenues. That can make it harder to snag federal grants because county 'departments continue to face challenges identifying required match funding.'
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Miami International Airport announces plans for $600 million in improvements
Miami International Airport (MIA) announced plans for a multi-million dollar improvements that will benefit travelers and create jobs. According to MIA, the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners approved construction of the new Concourse K at Miami International Airport (MIA). This $600 million project expansion will include six new contactless gates, a ground support equipment maintenance facility, improved baggage handling systems, and critical airport infrastructure upgrades. The transformation could come 22 years after the airport completed a similar upgrade, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said. It's also part of the ambitious, multi-million dollar plan known as Modernization in Action, which aims to elevate and optimize MIA's capabilities after a sustained increase in operations, with record numbers of passengers and cargo at the facility. Levine Cava said that MIA 'has not seen a terminal expansion since 2007, so this is a truly transformative milestone for our airport.' 'The launch of Concourse K will not only increase capacity and create thousands of new jobs, but will also strengthen MIA's role as a premier global gateway,' the mayor said, championing the vision of 'a stronger, more vibrant airport—one that uplifts our community, welcomes the world, and propels our economy into the future.' The new Corridor K aims to simultaneously improve service, safety, and operational flow. Construction will begin following a groundbreaking ceremony this summer, with completion scheduled for spring 2029. At the close of 2024, MIA reported a new record, serving 56 million passengers, up from 2023's milestone of 52 million. Last year, it also set a cargo record, handling more than 3 million tons of cargo. The Modernization in Action plan prepares Miami Airport to handle 77 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo by 2040. What improvements are coming? ▪ Construction of an aircraft parking platform and a hydrant system for aviation fuel. ▪ Installation of two new baggage replenishment carousels. ▪ Improvement of the existing baggage handling system to connect the Central and South Terminals.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
The worst budget crisis since 2008 and Miami-Dade couldn't see this coming?
Miami-Dade County is facing the worst budget shortfall since the 2008 Great Recession — nearly $400 million out of the county's $3.6 billion general fund budget that pays for core services such as public safety and parks. And who's to blame? The county is dealing with what Mayor Daniella Levine Cava described as a 'perfect storm.' There's the cost of converting three county departments — elections, sheriff and tax collector — into independent agencies run by newly-elected constitutional officers. (The county couldn't have stopped this change, forced by a 2018 statewide referendum.) There's less money expected from the state and the Trump administration, no more COVID federal dollars and inflation has made the cost of running government more expensive. With the mayor now talking about budget cuts and austerity measures such as department mergers and hiring freezes, we wonder: Where was this fiscal conservatism when Miami-Dade was flush with cash, including $1 billion in federal pandemic funding and rising property tax revenues? The responsibility to plan for the end of the financial bonanza was on the mayor and the 13 county commissioners who approved two property tax cuts that cost $42 million in revenue from this year's budget, the Herald reported. 'We've already begun to economize,' Levine Cava told the Herald Editorial Board. 'We are focused on greater efficiency, finding savings for residents, improving operations, cutting red tape... Already this year, we've asked every department to identify savings in their budgets, both for this year and in next year's projected budget.' Why, then, why is Miami-Dade treating the $46 million it has committed in direct funding and services to the host committee of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as though it's untouchable? If programs that directly impact services for our citizens could be on the chopping block, so should money for the soccer tournament, even if Miami-Dade officials made a financial commitment as one of the Cup's 16 host cities. Moving forward, the burden of frugality will fall not only on the mayor and commission but also on the new constitutional officers. Levine Cava said that the budget proposals submitted by some for approval by the county 'are significantly outpacing the growth rate that we project and that we think is reasonable.' Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, for example, is asking the county $110 million more than last year's Miami-Dade Police Department budget, according to budget documents from her office. That increase is partly driven by merit salary increases Levine Cava's administration negotiated in 2023, overtime increases 'due to less deputies' and money to hire 54 additional civilian positions — the first significant increase in that workforce 'in decades,' according to a Sheriff's Office document. Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez hasn't yet submitted his budget, but his office is in the process of taking over the county's beleaguered driver-license offices from the state, and he's promised to hire more staff and reduce wait times. Fernandez also plans to exercise his office's authority to keep 2% of property-tax money from the county — totaling $107 million — to fund the new services. He said he will refund a significant portion of that money at the end of 2026 but he hasn't said how much. To be sure, spending money to reduce the outrageous wait times at DMV offices or hire more people to improve public safety may offer clear public benefits. Likewise, some of the programs Levine Cava created to help people during the pandemic and struggling in Miami-Dade's housing crisis were necessary. The same can be said about public transit expenses, responsible for a big chunk of Miami-Dade's budget woes. The rapid-transit bus system in South Miami-Dade, a much-needed project expected to open this summer, has an annual operating cost of about $12 million, the Herald reported. After years of being buoyed by pandemic funding and the hot real estate market, Miami-Dade may be finally learning the lesson that we can't pay for it all — tax cuts, social programs, the World Cup — all at the same time. Click here to send the letter.
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Miami Herald
Peak heat and rain season has arrived. Triple threat of hurricane season is next
Before hurricane season has even officially started, Miami-Dade's mayor on Thursday warned residents that it's time to start preparing for extreme weather — including the kind of flooding many parts of the county saw on Monday, when certain areas saw 4 inches of rain. At a press conference Thursday morning, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava detailed the importance of being prepared as Florida enters the summer months, with high possibilities of severe weather in different forms: namely hurricanes, floods and extreme heat. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, and peak rainy season is from May 15 to Oct. 15. 'Stay informed, be storm ready and make a plan,' the mayor said. Staying safe in the heat A 2024 report by the Florida Policy Institute found Florida had the highest number of heat-related illnesses in the nation. The report showed that almost a half-million Floridians work outdoor jobs, with Florida's top three outdoor industries being construction, amusement and recreation, and landscaping. 'If you're not feeling well in the heat, do a three-step heat check,' Levine Cava said. 'You're going to drink water, you're going to find shade and going to rest.' The 2024 report highlighted that about 5.7 million Floridians are vulnerable to extreme heat. And now, Miami is experiencing 51 more days per year with temperatures over 90 degrees than 50 years ago. And experts predict those numbers will only keep going up, Levine Cava said. At-risk groups for heat-related illnesses and death include pregnant women, infants and young children, outdoor workers and those without access to air conditioning, such as people experiencing homelessness. Peak heat season runs from May 1 to Oct. 31. To prepare for extreme heat, Miami-Dade county officials recommend: Locating public spaces with air conditioningInsulating your homeCovering your home's windows with shadesInstalling efficient air conditioningWearing lightweight and light-colored clothing Staying aware of signs someone is experiencing a heat-related illnessCarrying water at all times and providing hydration to pets, too For additional information, residents can visit Hurricanes and flooding On Monday, parts of South Florida were slammed with heavy rain and flood watches. The Miami metro area received more than 4 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service. New research suggests that over 23,000 people and 17,000 homes in Florida may face annual flooding by 2050. Pete Gomez, who serves as Miami-Dade's director of emergency management, urged Floridians to know their evacuation zone and to stay on top of any medical or electrical essentials in the event of a hurricane or flooding. 'If you're a medically dependent person, let us know,' Gomez said. 'We'll take you to the right shelter.' To effectively prepare for a hurricane and floods: Stay informed by visiting your county's website or social media accountsCheck evacuation routes and flood zones Purchase adequate amounts of canned food and waterHave access to flashlightsCarry a first aid kitStay indoors and call 311 if needed But hazards may still be prevalent after a storm, Gomez said. Flood water may be full of electrical wires, broken pipes and manholes, so it's important to remain inside until an area has been cleared. You can also reach out to Miami-Dade's Department of Emergency Management and ask to be a part of the door hanger program, which may help emergency personnel find people who are in need of assistance. Additional information and alerts can be found at and
Boston Globe
15-05-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
DeSantis signs a bill making Florida the 2nd state to ban fluoride from its water system
State lawmakers approved the bill last month, requiring the mineral and some other additives be removed from water sources across the state. Utah was the first state to ban fluoride in late March, and its prohibition went into effect last week, while Florida's provision is effective July 1. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Some local governments in Florida have already voted to remove fluoride from their water, ahead of the statewide ban. Earlier this month, Miami-Dade County commissioners voted to override a veto by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and move forward with plans to remove fluoride from the county's drinking water. Advertisement 'Water fluoridation is a safe, effective, and efficient way to maintain dental health in our county – and halting it could have long-lasting health consequences, especially for our most vulnerable families,' Levine Cava said in a statement defending her veto. Some Republican-led states have sought to impose bans following a push by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to stop fluoridating water. Earlier this month, DeSantis pledged to sign the bill and was flanked by the state's surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, who has attracted national scrutiny over his opposition to policies embraced by public health experts, including COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Advertisement Fluoride is a mineral that has been added to drinking water for generations to strengthen teeth and reduce cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water has long been considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century. Excess fluoride intake has been associated with streaking or spots on teeth. And studies also have traced a link between excess fluoride and brain development.
