TWU Local 291 Endorses Daniella Levine Cava for Miami-Dade County Mayor

MIAMI, FL  – Today, Transportation Workers Local 291 (TWU Local 291), the union of more than 2,600 Miami-Dade County transportation workers in bus and rail, announced its endorsement of Daniella Levine-Cava for Miami-Dade County Mayor. Leadership cites Levine Cava’s comprehensive plan and bold vision for transportation expansion, connectivity, and operations as leading driver behind their support.

“Over the years, Daniella has not only been supportive of labor, she has fought hard to address some of our most pressing issues, including affordable housing, income inequality, benefits, and most recently, the impact of COVID-19,” said TWU Local 291 President Jeffery Mitchell. “Daniella’s track record, vision, and commitment to building an equitable and inclusive future for Miami-Dade makes her the first and only choice in this race for Miami-Dade County Mayor,” he added.

Riddled with gridlock, inefficiencies, and a lack of connectivity, the transit system has failed to evolve to the needs of Miami-Dade County residents and visitors over the past decade. As such, the transportation woes of the region continue to be central to the platforms of mayoral candidates, despite looming worries about the health and economic impact of COVID-19.

Various other organizations throughout Miami-Dade County have also been working to keep transportation issues front and center in this race. Among them, the Miami Rider’s Alliance, a grassroots organization dedicated to ensuring the development of a smart and functional transit system for the people of Miami-Dade County. In July, the Alliance ranked mayoral candidates based on the Alliance’s agenda and the candidates’ positions and vision for transportation in the region, giving Levine Cava a score of 89 while her opponent in the November general election received the lowest score of all the primary candidates - a 67. View full report here

“Like most things, the arrival of COVID-19 has acutely highlighted the inequities and the shortcomings of our current transit system and leadership. The slow and inadequate response to this crisis has left much to be desired, making it critical for us to elect individuals who will make a real commitment to improving transit and who will work for all Miami-Dade County residents, not just a select few,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell notes that many transportation workers still continue to lack the basic resources needed to properly mitigate and protect themselves from the virus, including adequate access to testing and proper health benefits.

“Our power starts at the ballot box and our bargaining unit will be working diligently through Election Day to ensure people are engaged and showing up at the polls to vote for leaders who put community first.”