Thank you Vice Mayor Mark Merwitzer - the facts - Commissioner DCH picks up where Palmetto Bay dropped our very popular Independence Day community celebration

Answering your questions - how did we get to Palmetto Bay dropping one of its signature events - the 'downtown Independence Day celebration' - this event has always been promoted by the current elected officials, selling Palmetto Bay's Independence Day as when "The Village will ring in Independence Day with patriotic spirit and pride in a day filled with wholesome, all-American fun for the entire family!" This event had been FREE to the public thanks to the many sponsors and vendors who worked so diligently to bring this event to our community.  

So why then was this wholesome, all-American fun for the entire family event abruptly cancelled without warning? For years, this has been the day when neighbors gather, children wave American flags, and families watch fireworks light up the summer sky. One of our signature events that really signed how Palmetto Bay is a great place to live work and play!

The village didn’t announce the termination publicly, hold a community meeting, or give residents a chance to speak up. Instead, they quietly mentioned the cancellation in passing during the May council meeting on just one slide in a PowerPoint. They claimed "The Shores Development" needed the space to build their high-rise. Really? This event was much more than fireworks and so little of it actually occurred on the Shores property. The choice to cancel rather than find a solution puts development ahead of our community values. Perhaps the real reason is they have no money. Or its no longer needed as a political event as 4/5 of this counsel is term limited. It was for the residents, not the politicians!

However, Palmetto Bay's Vice Mayor, Mark Merwitzer, is not to be deterred. He reached out to County Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins for a solution.  She stepped up. High energy between them.

Thank you Commissioner Cohen Higgins - picking up as scheduling the first ever "Fourth on the Fairway" at Palmetto Golf Course.  This will serve Palmetto Bay and surrounding areas now that local Palmetto Bay officials have "86'd" our downtown community Independence Day celebration.  It was a great event while it lasted. Now, perhaps, the Commissioner's event can fill that void of great community community events. I'm impressed with the scope of the activities listed - food, live music, picnic on the green and - of course - fireworks!

Here is the note from the commissioner posted on her Instagram page: 

"With the 4th of July fireworks cancelled by the Village of Palmetto Bay this year, we got to work to do everything we could to make sure this special South Dade tradition continues! So proud to announce the first ever Fourth on the Fairway!

After the 4th of July Parade in the morning in Cutler Bay, we can’t wait to see you and your families for a most spectacular fireworks show in the evening at the newly renovated Palmetto Golf course! It will be a showcase of our beautiful Miami Dade County park, a celebration of our nations birthday and an opportunity to come together as one community. Can’t wait to see you at Fourth on the Fairway!"

Thank you Commissioner DCH for stepping up and Vice Mayor Mark Merwitzer for looking out for our community in working to keep our Independence Day celebration going for the Palmetto Bay area.  Personally, I would like to see our Vice Mayor get this event back on track here in Palmetto Bay for future years.  

Palmetto Bay drops our community Independence Day celebration - so County Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins steps up

Thank you Commissioner Cohen Higgins - Palmetto Bay officials dropped our downtown community Independence Day celebration.  It was a great event while it lasted.

I'm impressed with the scope of the activities listed - food, live music, picnic on the green and - of course - fireworks!

Thank you for stepping in and keeping our Independence Day celebration going for the Palmetto Bay area.  Here are the details:

Dear Friends and Residents, I am thrilled to invite you to our Inaugural Independence Day Celebration, 'Fourth on the Fairway' on Friday, July 4th, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the newly renovated Palmetto Golf Course. This family-friendly event is open to all and promises an evening full of community spirit, great fun, and patriotic pride—culminating in a spectacular fireworks show to light up the night sky. Event Details: Palmetto Golf Course | 9300 SW 152nd St, Miami, FL 33157 Friday, July 4th | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM Fireworks show begins at sundown Please note: Due to the popularity of this event, we anticipate increased traffic and larger crowds in the surrounding area. We encourage all attendees to plan accordingly, use caution when traveling, and be mindful of pedestrians and fellow residents. We look forward to celebrating our nation’s independence with you and your family!

Register Here

As always, I am with you every step of the way. Yours in service, Danielle

Small Bites - TPO Bridge vote Post-Mortem review. Miami-Dade County has ALWAYS been willing to negotiate. Background and Example 1. Village Wide residential speed limit report.

I am providing a few examples of concessions made by Miami-Dade County (MDC) to show its willingness to work with the Municipal partners (including Palmetto Bay). This is first of a series.

Other examples will include my work with MDC to obtain bike lanes along SW 136th Street (Howard Drive). Negotiations are always ongoing as current leadership worked with the County to revise that plan in order to place a 8-10 foot wide shared recreation path solely on the Palmetto Bay (south) side of SW 136th Street.

In regard to the Bridge - this was never a surprise. I won't go into all that went into the effort that lead to the political slaughter before the TPO (SPOILER ALERT: most of the factors where absolute lack of follow through on the commitments made the last time Palmetto Bay appeared before the TPO on the bridge). I did put this issue out in December 15, 2020 - just days before the current Palmetto Bay mayor had a comprehensive meeting with our County Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins. See: December 15, 2020, 2021's first test - the bridge is back. Will it unite or divide Palmetto Bay? Will it happen without input from Palmetto Bay's so-called leaders? 

The sad part is that this TPO fiasco went as poorly as I feared - it has moved forward so far in spite of, and worse, without input from Palmetto Bay's so-called leaders who would rather play victim and allege lack of notice despite the fact that they were warned - and not just by me. Walking away from an issue will not make it go away. But I spoke about it  in the initial Post-Mortem of March 10, 2021, TPO committee moves 87th Ave bridge forward to full TPO Board. Antagonism politics is not working for this Palmetto Bay mayor and council.

You want "no right turn signs"? The County has always been reasonable. What has been unreasonable has been the cost of enforcement.

You want "traffic tables"? We have secured these anytime we have asked.

In fact, the County has even looked away when Palmetto Bay has conveniently failed to comply with the requirements that the 'temporary traffic tables' (informally identified as the black rubber mats) be removed after 90 days.

So after all the background - here is Example #1 - ready for implementation - Resolution 2018-12 - years of hard work and ready to be implemented to the extent that the present or any future mayor and councils desire: the 2017 Village Wide Speed Limit report and traffic calming. By the way, there is a lot in here that is applicable to Golf Carts in Palmetto Bay. This resolution was adopted in February 2018, prior to the elections. Realize that new mayor and new councils bring with them different ideas, priorities and policies - as well as tactics and relative abilities in transparency and work ethic. What has happened with this report post 2018 elections? Not a darn thing. 

My suggestion? I may have talked tough at times but I negotiated tougher - and achieved results. We need to get the village back on the track of co-existing and being civil - both to those we are negotiating with as well as the legions of residents who feel that their voices are currently not being heard. 

Bridging Palmetto Bay - the plan is back and apparently this has been put together without any opposition or input from current Palmetto Bay officials.

 What did they know and when did they know it?

The late US Senator and statesman Howard Baker is known for his famous query of then President Nixon: "What did the President know and when did he know it?" Well, I have the same thought today.  Apparently our Palmetto Bay elected leaders were caught flat footed, blissfully unaware of a plan pushing through the County Commission to bridge Palmetto Bay, starting at 87 Avenue. This is kind of important information to stay on top of - both for supporters and objectors.

I served with two different county commissioners and both would meet regularly with me to discuss issues and projects that concerned and/or impacted Palmetto Bay. I am quite taken aback by this alleged lack of knowledge by the Palmetto Bay Mayor and Council. Commission Danielle Cohen Higgins has been accessible to those who have questions or concerns. I could not see how it is any different for fellow elected officials. There are also the South Dade Municipal Coalition meetings where transportation issues have been discussed as well. In any event, there was a Palmetto Bay Council Meeting last night (Monday, 2/1/2021). Do the current council members support this proposal or not? Do they have an action plan either in support or opposition? If so, could they please share it with all of us?

Here is a link to the Miami Herald Article - viewable by those who subscribe to the newspaper. See:  The fight over the 87th Avenue bridge is back, and up for a last-minute county vote, by Douglas Hanks, 2/01/2021

So it is a fair question to ask: What did the current Palmetto Bay Mayor and Council Members know and when did they know it? And if they knew nothing, then why? Why aren’t questions asked in the numbers meetings and opportunities that they have shared with our County Commissioner, Danielle Cohen Higgins?

Finally – here is a link to the Miami-Dade County Commission item set for today, yes, TODAY, Tuesday, February 2, 2021, beginning at 9:00 AM.

 210164ResolutionDanielle Cohen Higgins, Prime Sponsor   RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING COUNTY POLICY THAT THE COUNTY ARTERIAL NETWORK EXTEND WITHOUT DEAD-ENDS, WITHIN TRAFFIC ENGINEERING STANDARDS, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND IN FURTHERANCE OF THAT POLICY, DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO CONSTRUCT A BRIDGE THAT WOULD EXTEND SW 87TH AVENUE FROM SW 164TH STREET TO SW 163RD TERRACE CROSSING OVER THE CUTLER DRAIN CANAL C-100 (“BRIDGE PROJECT”); APPROPRIATING $3,100,000.00 IN UNENCUMBERED ROAD IMPACT FEE FUNDS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY CARRYOVER FUNDS, FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021 COUNTYWIDE GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE BRIDGE PROJECT; AND FURTHER DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR’S DESIGNEE, SHOULD ADDITIONAL FUNDS BE NECESSARY, TO IDENTIFY AND APPROPRIATE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2-1796 OF THE COUNTY CODE, LEGALLY AVAILABLE FUNDS FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021 COUNTY BUDGET FOR THE BRIDGE PROJECT, AND TO INCLUDE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SAID BRIDGE PROJECT, AS NECESSARY, IN THE MAYOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022Add-on PDF    1/29/2021Per Ord 20-38, item placed by BCC Chair without committee review and is not subject to 4-day rule

I hear the lamentations of the current mayor and council.  I want to hear the plan, and see it effectively put into operation, either in support or in opposition to this bridge plan.

Recent meetings documented on official's social media:

Is there actual conversation of substance between our elected officials when these events take place or its it merely posing for the camera?

Congratulations Danielle Cohen Higgins, newly appointed County Commissioner, District 8

Palmetto Bay resident Danielle Cohen Higgins has been appointed to complete the term of County Commissioner, District 8. She will be up for reelection in 2022. 

Congratulations Danielle Cohen Higgins!

Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins posted a statement to her Facebook page:

"I am honored and humbled to share that after 19 months of campaigning, I was just appointed to serve as the next County Commissioner for the hardworking residents of District 8. I was sworn in and immediately joined the meeting in progress. There is much work to do. It is my honor to serve you."

See coverage in the Miami Herald: How only one name landed on the ballot for a Miami-Dade commission seat, by Douglas Hanks, December 7, 2020