Virtual Author Series with Valarie R. Austin

MIAMI  —This week Mayor Daniella Levine Cava extended the waiver for lay berth and harbor fees for Miami-Dade County's cruise line partners effective March 31, 2021, through May 31, 2021, subject to availability at PortMiami. The period for the extended waiver can be amended at any time at the sole discretion of Miami-Dade County, as needed.

MIAMI – The Asian-American Advisory Board (AAAB), under the Office of Community Advocacy, a Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners division, selected its 2021-2022 officers during its March 2021 meeting.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FL – On Tuesday, April 20, 2021, County Commissioners unanimously adopted legislation sponsored by Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, urging President Biden and Congress to engage with involved agencies for the lifting or review of the conditional sailing order regarding passenger cruises in United States waters. The legislation also urges the United States Congress to enact S. 1105, H.R. 2554, the Careful Resumption Under Improved Safety Enhancements Act, or similar legislation. Additionally, Commissioner Sosa’s resolution urges the CDC, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, and the Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget to reexamine whether the Conditional Sailing Order remains necessary given advancements made in the prevention of, screening for, and treatment of COVID-19 and, if restrictions on passenger cruises remain necessary, to provide updated reasoning and guidance on how to address those issues. 

MIAMI -This week, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava issued new, streamlined required COVID safety protocols, as well as a new handbook of COVID Safety Guidelines outlining recommendations to keep residents, businesses, and visitors safe. The Mayor also signed an amendment to Emergency Order 27-20 to lift the Countywide curfew starting Monday, April 12, 2021 at 12:01 am.

MIAMI  —This week, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and The Office of New Americans of Miami-Dade (ONA) announced the launch of the ‘Miami-Dade New American Task Force’, an initiative designed to support immigrant residents as they navigate through their new community. Launched in 2016, Gateways for Growth (G4G) offers an opportunity for localities, such as Miami-Dade County, to receive research support and/or technical assistance from New American Economy and Welcoming America to improve immigrant inclusion in their communities. Miami-Dade’s Office of Office of New Americans was this year’s recipient of G4G’s ‘Research And Technical Assistance’ Award, which spurred the creation of the Miami-Dade New American Task Force.

MIAMI-DADE – In honor of Haitian Cultural Heritage Month, Miami-Dade Commissioner Jean Monestime will highlight the beauty of Haiti’s language, sights and sounds with a free virtual celebration from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 2.

Miami - Beginning Tuesday, June 1, 2021, Miami-Dade Transit fares and parking fees will be reinstated for the general public. Riders will have plenty of safe, contactless options to pay their fare, including mobile passes, contactless-enabled bank cards, and digital wallets.

MIAMI-DADE –  On March 16, Commissioner Kionne L. McGhee passed a resolution through the Board of County Commissioners which calls for an increase in efforts to expand COVID-19 assistance across Miami-Dade County. The resolution requires the County Mayor to study the feasibility of procuring and using robotics to disinfect County facilities, as well as consider tracking COVID-19 reinfection rates and variant frequency using genomic testing.

MIAMI  —Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava joins the Global Empowerment Mission, Janice Lyttle Foundation, and the U.S. Caribbean Strong coalition calling for volunteers, supplies, and donations to help families affected by the La Soufriere volcano eruptions in St. Vincent.

MIRAMAR, FL - The City of Miramar received funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA).  HERA included a foreclosure-related financial assistance program known as the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) which was intended to address the effects of the housing foreclosure crisis.

Miami, FL – It was during the worst days of the pandemic, when on May 25, 2020, George Floyd was declared dead in Minnesota. The world witnessed the horrific act of Minneapolis Officer Derek Chavin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for a deadly 8 minutes and 46 seconds. The nation including South Florida swiftly became unhinged, reacting with emotional protests targeting law enforcement.