SOTC SPEECH 2019 – MAYOR CARLOS A. GIMENEZ

GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND WELCOME!

¡MUY BUENOS DIAS A TODOS Y BIENVENIDOS!

BONJOUR ET BIENVENUE!

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER EILEEN HIGGINS, FOR THAT WARM INTRODUCTION, AND FOR WELCOMING US TO THIS BEAUTIFUL LOCATION IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT FIVE.

I AM HONORED THAT SO MANY OF YOU ARE HERE TODAY TO JOIN ME FOR MY EIGHTH STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS.

I WANT TO START BY THANKING RICHARD FAIN, MICHAEL BAYLEY, RUSSELL BENFORD AND EVERYONE AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES FOR SHARING WITH US THIS EXQUISITE NEW TERMINAL, WHICH JUST OPENED IN NOVEMBER.

WE ARE OVERLOOKING NOT ONLY THE SUBTROPICAL PARADISE HERE AT PORT-MIAMI BUT ALSO THE EXCEPTIONAL ARTWORK INSIDE.

THESE COMMISSIONED PIECES BY ERWIN REDAL AND TOMAS SARACENO ARE EXAMPLES OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY'S AWARD-WINNING ART IN PUBLIC PLACES COLLECTION.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE, I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME TO ENJOY THE CURATED TOUR OFFERED BY OUR COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO SHARED THEIR TALENTS IN THE PERFORMANCES WE HAVE SEEN THIS MORNING – FROM THE MIAMI SENIOR HIGH INSTRUMENTAL BAND THAT GREETED US WITH THEIR MUSIC...TO ZIPPORAH HAYES WHO SANG OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM AND THE CHILDREN FROM SOUTH MIAMI ELEMENTARY WHO LED US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

LET'S HAVE A WARM ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF OUR PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTISTS.

AS I DID BACK IN MY FIRST STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS IN 2012, I WANT TO FOCUS TODAY ON NOT JUST THE CONDITION OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BUT ALSO THE STATE OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THE KEY TO OUR CONTINUALLY GROWING SUCCESS THROUGHOUT MY ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN OUR ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER.

IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OUR OUTSTANDING TEAMWORK,

LET ME WELCOME THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE DISTINGUISHED MAYORS,

CITY COMMISSIONERS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS, OUR JUDICIAL OFFICERS, AND OUR LOCAL CIVIC, RELIGIOUS, BUSINESS AND UNION LEADERS WHO ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY ...

AND ALL OF OUR OUT-OF-TOWN DIGNITARIES WHO ARE VISITING US IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

WE HAVE ACHIEVED MANY GREAT GOALS TOGETHER SINCE I FIRST BECAME MAYOR, SO I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE VITAL ROLES YOU HAVE PLAYED.

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AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THESE OBJECTIVES NOT SO MUCH BECAUSE WE ALWAYS SEE THINGS EYE-TO-EYE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

NO... THAT IS NOT HOW IT WORKS IN ANY VIBRANT, DIVERSE METROPOLIS LIKE OURS WHERE THERE ARE PASSIONATE, CREATIVE, HARD-WORKING PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE IS MAKE THE EFFORT TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER'S PERSPECTIVES.

WE SIT IN THE COUNTY COMMISSION CHAMBERS, LISTEN AND HASH OUT THE DETAILS OF OUR PLANS.

SOMEHOW, THANKS TO OUR PERSISTENCE, WE FIND THE COMMON GROUND THAT LEADS TO LASTING SOLUTIONS.

FOR THAT ROCK-SOLID APPROACH TO DEALING WITH LIFE'S CHALLENGES, I WANT TO THANK MY WIFE, LOURDES, AND OUR ENTIRE FAMILY.

MY CHILDREN: CJ, JULIO AND LULI AND THEIR SPOUSES.

MY SISTER, MITZI ANN MCKEON AND MY DAD CARLOS SENIOR AND, WATCHING OVER US FROM HEAVEN, MY MOTHER MITZI.

I CAN'T FORGET MY MOTHER- IN- LAW ROSA AMALIA PORTELA AND MY SISTER- IN- LAW, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER MARI TERE ROJAS.

PLUS, MY WONDERFUL GRANDKIDS: ALEXIS, DANNY, LUCAS, AVA, MARCUS AND MICHAEL.

AND A SPECIAL THUMBS-UP TO MY DAUGHTER- IN-LAW BARBI FOR FINISHING 26 MILES AT LAST SUNDAY'S MARATHON.

THE FAMILY IS REALLY PROUD OF YOU, BARBI!

MY WIFE LOURDES AND MY FAMILY ARE MY FOUNDATION.

THEY HAVE GIVEN ME ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

MI FAMILIA ES MI APOYO Y MI FUERZA MORAL.

LOS QUIERO CON TODA MI ALMA.

I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

WHEN I FIRST TOOK OFFICE AS MAYOR IN 2011, FOLLOWING A SPECIAL ELECTION,

IT WAS A TIME OF HEIGHTENED POLITICAL TURMOIL FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

IT WAS ALSO A TIME OF PROLONGED ECONOMIC HARDSHIP AROUND OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.

IT TOOK AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF HARD WORK, COLLABORATION AND SHARED SACRIFICE TO GET OURSELVES OUT OF THAT MESS.

BUT WE ARE A RESILIENT COMMUNITY.

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AND TODAY I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IS MUCH STRONGER.

2018 WAS AN OUTSTANDING YEAR FOR OUR COUNTY.

HOY, PUEDO DECIR CON TODA CONFIANZA QUE EL CONDADO DE MIAMI-DADE ES MUCHO MÁS FUERTE GRACIAS A NUESTRO EQUIPO Y SU TRABAJO.

...

A PESAR DE CUALQUIER DIFERENCIA DE OPINIÓN QUE PODAMOS TENER... SABEMOS COMO RESOLVER LOS PROBLEMAS EN ESTE CONDADO.

WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES IN ALL SEVEN OF OUR STRATEGIC AREAS:

FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.... TO TRANSPORTATION – FROM PUBLIC SAFETY....

TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES – FROM NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE...TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT.... AND RECREATION AND CULTURE.

WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THESE STRATEGIC AREAS, BUT I WANT TO START WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH DRIVES OUR COMMUNITY'S GROWTH, INCREASES OUR TAX BASE AND ALLOWS US TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT OUR LOCAL ECONOMY IS BOOMING!

UNEMPLOYMENT FELL TO JUST 3.6 PERCENT IN DECEMBER 2018, THE COUNTY'S LOWEST LEVEL IN ALMOST A DECADE.

A RECORD- BREAKING 50 COMPANIES EXPANDED OPERATIONS OR RELOCATED TO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LAST YEAR....AND DROVE MORE THAN $402 MILLION IN NEW CAPITAL INVESTMENTS,

CREATING CLOSE TO 2,000 NEW JOBS.

MEANWHILE, MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND PORT-MIAMI – OUR TWO LARGEST ECONOMIC ENGINES – MOVED FORWARD AT FULL-THROTTLE SPEED.

VAMOS A COMENZAR CON LAS BUENAS NOTICIAS SOBRE NUESTRA ECONOMÍA LOCAL, LA CUAL ESTÁ PROSPERANDO.

EN EL 2018:

LA TASA DE DESEMPLEO BAJÓ A SOLO 3.6 POR CIENTO EN DICIEMBRE...

EL NIVEL MÁS BAJO EN EL CONDADO EN CASI UNA DÉCADA.

· UN NÚMERO RÉCORD DE 50 COMPAÑÍAS EXPANDIERON O EMPEZARON SUS OPERACIONES EN EL CONDADO DE MIAMI-DADE.

· ESTAS COMPAÑÍAS CREARON MÁS DE $402 MILLONES EN NUEVAS INVERSIONES Y GENERARON DIRECTAMENTE CERCA DE 2,000 NUEVOS PUESTOS DE TRABAJO.

· TAMBIÉN, EL AEROPUERTO INTERNACIONAL DE MIAMI (M-I-A) Y PORT-MIAMI...

NUESTROS DOS MOTORES ECONÓMICOS MÁS GRANDES...

AVANZARON A TODA VELOCIDAD.

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· LAST YEAR, MORE THAN $31BILLION IN DIRECT BUSINESS REVENUE WAS GENERATED AT M-I-A AND THE COUNTY'S GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORTS, WITH A TOTAL ECONOMIC VALUE TO THE REGION OF $118 BILLION.

· M-I-A CONTRIBUTED DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY TO MORE THAN 425,000 JOBS IF YOU INCLUDE AIR FREIGHT THROUGH M-I-A.

· PASSENGER TRAFFIC AT M-I-A INCREASED BY ALMOST ONE MILLION PEOPLE, FOR A NEW RECORD OF MORE THAN 45 MILLION TRAVELERS.

· AND CARGO SHIPMENTS SET A NEW RECORD OF 2.3 MILLION TONS, WITH NOTEWORTHY ADDITIONS, SUCH AS ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES' LAUNCH OF THE FIRST-EVER CARGO ROUTE BETWEEN M-I-A AND AFRICA.

THIS EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE PROMPTED MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE TO RAISE MIA'S BOND RATING FROM STABLE TO POSITIVE.

THIS RE-CLASSIFICATION COMES AT A GREAT TIME, RIGHT BEFORE THE SALE OF $760 MILLION IN BONDS TO HELP FUND $1.45 BILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS AT M-I-A OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE M-I-A DIRECTOR LESTER SOLA AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM FOR THESE ACHIEVEMENTS.

MEANWHILE, AT PORT-MIAMI, THE PERFORMANCE WAS EQUALLY STELLAR FOR DIRECTOR JUAN KURYLA AND HIS STAFF.

FOR STARTERS, ROYAL CARIBBEAN OPENED THIS WORLD-CLASS TERMINAL WHERE WE ARE GATHERED TODAY, BRINGING TO MIAMI ITS NEW 'SYMPHONYOF THE SEAS,' THE WORLD'S LARGEST CRUISE SHIP.

PORT-MIAMI CONTRIBUTED $43 BILLION TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY, SUPPORTING CLOSE TO 335,000 JOBS IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

THE PORT INCREASED CONTAINERIZED CARGO SHIPMENTS BY 5.8 PERCENT, MARKING THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT PORT-MIAMI SURPASSED THE 1 MILLION T-E-U MARK.

COMPLETION OF MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ENABLED PORT-MIAMI TO HANDLE POST-PANAMAX VESSELS.

THIS RESULTED IN MORE THAN 260 POST-PANAMAX VESSELS THAT WERE ABLE TO DOCK HERE.

AND JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE SIGNED A LETTER OF INTENT WITH MSC CRUISES FOR A NEW TERMINAL THAT WILL BE A GAME-CHANGER.

AS THE UNDISPUTED CRUISE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, WE ALSO HAD A RECORD- BREAKING YEAR IN TERMS OF VISITORS, WITH ALMOST 5.6 MILLION TRAVELERS, AN INCREASE OFALMOST 5 PERCENT.

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SUCCESS AT M-I-A AND PORT-MIAMI CONTRIBUTED TO ANOTHER ALL-TIME HIGH FOR OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HAD 16.2 MILLION OVERNIGHT VISITORS, A 2.2 PERCENT INCREASE.

ALL TOLD, TRAVEL AND TOURISM FUELED MORE THAN $26 BILLION IN VISITOR SPENDING IN 2018.

I WANT TO THANK C-E-O BILL TALBERT AND THE GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU FOR HELPING US ACHIEVE THESE MILESTONES.

AND TO HELP US TO CONTINUE TO ATTRACT VISITORS, LAST FALL, THE MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER RE-OPENED ITS DOORS AFTER COMPLETING $620 MILLION IN RENOVATIONS AND EXPANSION.

MIAMI BEACH MAYOR DAN GELBER AND HIS STAFF DID AN EXCELLENT JOB MOVING THIS PROJECT THROUGH.

IF THERE'S ANY REMAINING DOUBT ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT WORLDWIDE EVENTS,

WE WILL WELCOME SUPER BOWL 54 [ LIV ] TO OUR COUNTY IN 2020, MAKING MIAMI THE OFFICIAL HOST OF MORE SUPER BOWLS THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE NATION.

ON MONDAY, THE MAYOR OF ATLANTA, KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS, WILL BE PASSING THE GAME OVER TO MIAMI... AND I WILL BE THERE TO ACCEPT.

AND WORKING WITH THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IS SOLIDIFYING ITS POSITION AS A TOP CONTENDER FOR THE WORLD CUP GAMES IN 2026.

AL TRABAJAR CON LA OFICINA DE CONVENCIONES Y VISITANTES DE MIAMI, ESTAMOS EN UNA BUENA POSICIÓN PARA LOS JUEGOS DE LA COPA MUNDIAL DEL 2026.

Y EL PROXIMO AÑO, NUESTRO CONDADO SERÁ LA SEDE DEL SUPER BOWL 54, LO QUE NOS HACE LA CIUDAD QUE MÁS VECES HA SIDO HOGAR OFICIAL DE SUPER BOWLS EN TODO EL PAÍS.

WHEW! ...

LET ME CATCH MY BREATH HERE....

IT FEELS LIKE THE FOURTH QUARTER ALREADY...

AND WE'RE NOT EVEN AT HALFTIME YET.

WE'VE GOT LOTS MORE GROUND TO COVER.

WHILE MIAMI HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HUB OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE AND A VACATIONER'S PARADISE, OUR KEY INDUSTRIES OF AVIATION, TRADE AND LOGISTICS, AND HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM TELL ONLY PART OF THE STORY OF OUR COUNTY'S SUCCESS.

KEY DRIVING FORCES IN OUR ECONOMY INCLUDE BANKING AND FINANCE, ENTERTAINMENT, LIFE SCIENCES AND HEALTHCARE, AND MY PERSONAL PASSION – TECHNOLOGY.

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THESE ARE THE PILLARS OF THE BEACON COUNCIL'S 'ONE COMMUNITY, ONE GOAL' INITIATIVE, WHICH I CO-CHAIR WITH MARIA ALONSO AND PENNY SHAFFER.

IT HAS DELIVERED GOOD-PAYING JOBS TO OUR COUNTY, THANKS TO BEACON COUNCIL C-E-O MICHAEL FINNEY AND HIS TEAM.

OUR VIBRANT BUSINESS CULTURE, LOW TAXES AND THRIVING ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT HAVE LED THE KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION TO RANK MIAMI AS THE TOP U.S. CITY FOR STARTUP ACTIVITY.

LAST YEAR, THE SMALL BUSINESS DIVISION OF OUR COUNTY'S INTERNAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, LED BY DIRECTOR TARA SMITH, ASSISTED MORE THAN 1,700 FIRMS IN CERTIFICATION OR RE-CERTIFICATION, PAVING THE WAY FOR MORE THAN $221 MILLION WORTH OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS.

NUESTRA DINÁMICA CULTURA DE NEGOCIOS, LOS BAJOS IMPUESTOS Y NUESTRO ESPÍRITU COMERCIAL HAN LLEVADO A QUE LA FUNDACIÓN KAUFFMAN CONSIDERE A MIAMI LA MEJOR CIUDAD DE LA NACIÓN PARA LAS EMPRESAS NUEVAS.

EL PASADO AÑO, LA DIVISIÓN DE PEQUEÑAS EMPRESAS DEL DEPARTAMENTO DE ASUNTOS INTERNOS DEL CONDADO AYUDÓ A MÁS DE 1,700 COMPAÑÍAS A RECIBIR LA CERTIFICACIÓN INICIAL O RECERTIFICACIÓN, PARA CONSEGUIR MÁS DE $221 MILLONES EN CONTRATOS DE CONSTRUCIÓN.

AS A RESULT OF OUR HARD WORK, IN JUST SIX YEARS, JOB GROWTH HAS SURGED 15 PERCENT ACROSS ALL INDUSTRIES, WITH A:

· 40 PERCENT RISE IN THE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR

· A 24 PERCENT RISE IN TRADE AND LOGISTICS

· AND A 24 PERCENT RISE IN AVIATION.

COMO RESULTADO DE NUESTRAS INICIATIVAS,

EN SOLO SEIS AÑOS, LA CANTIDAD DE PUESTOS DE TRABAJO SE HA ELEVADO EN UN 15 POR CIENTO EN TODAS LAS INDUSTRIAS, CON UN:

· AUMENTO DEL 40 POR CIENTO EN EL SECTOR DE LA TECNOLOGÍA

· UN AUMENTO DEL 24 POR CIENTO EN EL COMERCIO Y LA LOGÍSTICA

· Y UN AUMENTO DEL 24 POR CIENTO EN LA AVIACIÓN

THIS PAST YEAR, AMAZON'S AUTOMATED WAREHOUSE OPENED AT THE MIAMI-OPA LOCKA EXECUTIVE AIRPORT.

THIS MORE THAN 800,000- SQUARE-FOOT CENTER EMPLOYS MORE THAN 1,500 FULL-TIME WORKERS EARNING AT LEAST $15 PER HOUR AND USE ROBOTICS TO PROCESS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PACKAGES DAILY.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BARBARA JORDAN, FOR HELPING TO MAKE THIS A REALITY.

SPEAKING OF AMAZON, WE ALSO WORKED TOGETHER ACROSS BROWARD AND PALM BEACH COUNTIES TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL FOR AMAZON'S H-Q-2.

WHILE WE DID NOT WIN THAT BID, WE WERE ONE OF JUST 20 FINALISTS AMONG 238 APPLICANTS.

TEAMWORK, IT PAYS OFF.

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THE GLOBAL AWARENESS THAT OUR TRI-COUNTY AREA CREATED.... HAS LED TO A LOT OF BUZZ AND MORE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

I JUST GOT BACK YESTERDAY FROM BRAZIL, WHERE WE ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCH OF A LANDMARK PARTNERSHIP, CALLED “COMPRA FORA.” BETWEEN MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND THE BRAZILIAN POSTAL SERVICE.

THIS WILL PRE-CLEAR E-COMMERCE PACKAGES OF ALL SIZES SO THAT BRAZILIAN CONSUMERS CAN RECEIVE GOODS FROM M-I-A IN DAYS, INSTEAD OF THE WEEKS OR EVEN MONTHS IT TAKES TO REACH THEM NOW.

M-I-A IS THE ONLY AIRPORT IN THE NATION DESIGNATED BY BRAZIL FOR THIS SPECIAL SERVICE. ONLY AT M-I-A.

ANOTHER LARGE PROJECT IN THE WORKS IS A RETAIL AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LAST YEAR.

THE AMERICAN DREAM PROJECT WILL BE JUST ONE PART OF THIS COMPLEX, WHICH WILL ENCOMPASS CLOSE TO 500 ACRES IN UNINCORPORATED NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE.

IT WILL BRING:

· ANYWHERE FROM 18,000 TO 46,000 JOBS

· AND GENERATE BETWEEN $2.5 BILLION TO $5.7 BILLION ANNUALLY.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER PEPE DIAZ, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS PROJECT.

AND ALTHOUGH WE ARE A THRIVING, GROWING METROPOLIS, WE STILL MAINTAIN A STRONG AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY IN SOUTH MIAMI-DADE RESPONSIBLE FOR:

· $2.7 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT

· AND 20,000 JOBS

ALL THIS IMPRESSIVE GROWTH...

AND ALL THESE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES HAVE TRANSFORMED LIFE IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

IN A NUTSHELL, HERE'S HOW FAR WE'VE COME.

SINCE MY FIRST ELECTION AS MAYOR IN 2011, WE HAVE SAVED TAXPAYERS MORE THAN $1.7 BILLION.

THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO MORE THAN $1,576 FOR THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD.

IT'S THE LARGEST TAX CUT IN THE COUNTY'S HISTORY, REDUCING THE BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS BY 12 PERCENT IN 2011.

DESDE QUE FUI ELEGIDO ALCALDE POR PRIMERA VEZ EN EL 2011, HEMOS AHORRADO MÁS DE $1.7 MIL MILLONES PARA LOS CONTRIBUYENTES; QUE ES UN AHORRO DE MÁS DE $1,576 PARA UNA FAMILIA PROMEDIO.

SO – AS OUR POPULATION EXPANDED AND THE BUSINESS CLIMATE BOOMED DURING MY ADMINISTRATION – WE HAVE MAINTAINED, AND IN MANY INSTANCES EXPANDED PUBLIC SERVICES, WITH A DECREASING STRESS ON TAXPAYERS.

IN OUR CURRENT BUDGET, WE HAVE RE-DOUBLED OUR EFFORTS TO COMBINE DEVELOPMENT IN SEVERAL KEY GROWTH AREAS.

WE HAVE DONE THIS TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY RESPONDS WITH RESILIENCE TO CURRENT AND FUTURE SHOCKS AND STRESSES THAT WE KNOW WE WILL BE FACING ON THE HORIZON.

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THEY ARE HEADING OUR WAY BOTH AS A RESULT OF OUR RAPID GROWTH AS A BURGEONING INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND CULTURAL POWERHOUSE AND AS A CONSEQUENCE OF GLOBAL SEA LEVEL RISE AND CLIMATE CHANGE – ISSUES THAT VICE-CHAIR REBECA SOSA HAS CHAMPIONED FOR YEARS.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IS LEADING THE WAY IN THOUGHTFUL PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTY IN THE NATION THAT HAS BEEN ASKED TO JOIN THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION'S 100 RESILIENT CITIES PROGRAM.

TO HELP ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY THRIVES, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IS DEDICATING MORE THAN $60O MILLION OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET TO OUR CONTINUING RESILIENCY EFFORTS.

PARTNERING WITH THE CITIES OF MIAMI BEACH AND MIAMI – WITH ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE MIAMI FOUNDATION – WE ARE FINDING SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD.

I WANT TO THANK THEM, ALONG WITH THE COUNTY'S CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER JIM MURLEY AND BUDGET DIRECTOR JENNIFER MOON, AND THEIR STAFFS.

WE HAVE A STRONG RESILIENCY PLAN TO BOUNCE BACK FROM THE CHALLENGES OF RISING SEAS, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND POPULATION GROWTH.

CON EL OBJETIVO DE AYUDAR A GARANTIZAR LA PROSPERIDAD DE NUESTRA COMUNIDAD, EL CONDADO DE MIAMI-DADE HA ASIGNADO MÁS DE $600 MILLONES DEL PRESUPUESTO OPERATIVO A INICIATIVAS DE RESILIENCIA.

ESTO NOS AYUDARÁ A RECUPERARNOS DE PROBLEMAS COMO EL AUMENTO DEL NIVEL DEL MAR, LOS CAMBIOS CLIMÁTICOS Y EL CRECIMIENTO DE NUESTRA POBLACIÓN.

SO, TAKING A RESILIENT APPROACH TO OUR FUTURE, IN THE MULTIYEAR CAPITAL PLAN FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, WE HAVE BUDGETED MORE THAN $22 BILLION TO IMPROVE OUR ROADS, FIRE STATIONS, AIRPORTS AND SEAPORT, ALONG WITH ENHANCEMENTS TO OUR WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS.

AND WE HAVE ALLOCATED MORE THAN $225 MILLION TO SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THE RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN TERMS OF HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT I WANT TO FIRST FOCUS ON THE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS WE ARE WORKING ON.

ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGES –AND THE ONE THAT OFTEN TOPS OUR LIST OF TOPICS FOR PUBLIC DEBATE –IS TRANSPORTATION.

IT'S NO SECRET TO ANYONE THAT GETTING AROUND ON OUR ROADS IS A CHALLENGE.

BUT WE ARE MEETING THIS CHALLENGE ACROSS MULTIPLE FRONTS.

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TO BRING MUCH-NEEDED TRAFFIC RELIEF TO MORE THAN 600,000 PEOPLE LIVING IN KENDALL AND WEST KENDALL, COMMISSIONERS APPROVED MIAMI DADE EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY PLANS TO EXPAND STATE ROAD 836 – THE DOLPHIN EXPRESSWAY.

I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER JOE MARTINEZ FOR CHAMPIONEING OUR COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN AMENDMENT THAT SEEKS TO PROTECT WETLANDS AND THE NEARBY EVERGLADES.

THIS EXTENSION, ALSO KNOWN AS THE KENDALL PARKWAY, WOULD BE BUILT BY MDX AND INCLUDES A DEDICATED BUS TRANSIT LANE. IT WILL REDUCE TRAVEL TIME FOR COMMUTERS AND HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES.

WITH A CLEAR FOCUS ON RESILIENCE, M-D-X, WHICH I CHAIR, WILL PURCHASE 1,000 ACRES OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LAND TO BE PUT INTO THE PUBLIC TRUST IN PERPETUITY.

AND MY ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE TO HOLD THE LINE AND NOT EXPAND THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY – OR U-D-B.

SIMPLY PUT, THE KENDALL PARKWAY TOLL ROAD WILL NOT LET DEVELOPERS JUSTIFY EXPANSION OF THE UDB FOR THEIR PROJECTS – OR SEEK ZONING CHANGES IN PORTIONS EAST OF THE U-D-B – WITHOUT A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE BY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

THIS IS A CAREFULLY THOUGHT-OUT PLAN THAT OFFERS RELIEF TO ALMOST ONE-FOURTH OF OUR RESIDENTS AND SAFEGUARDS THE EVERGLADES.

THAT'S WHY I WILL FIGHT ANYTHING THAT PUTS THE KENDALL PARKWAY IN JEOPARDY.

CON EL FIN DE BRINDAR UN ALIVIO, TAN NECESARIO, A LOS PROBLEMAS DEL TRÁFICO A MÁS DE 600,000 PERSONAS QUE VIVEN EN KENDALL Y EN WEST KENDALL, LA JUNTA DE COMISIONADOS APROBÓ LOS PLANES PARA LA EXTENSIÓN DE LA CARRETERA ESTATAL 836, DOLPHIN EXPRESSWAY.

ESTA EXTENSIÓN, QUE SERÁ CONSTRUIDA POR LA AUTORIDAD INDEPENDIENTE DE M-D-X, ES CONOCIDA TAMBIÉN COMO EL KENDALL PARKWAY.

NO SOLO VA A DISMINUIR EL TIEMPO EN LA CARRETERA, SINO QUE TAMBIÉN AYUDARÁ A QUE LOS NEGOCIOS LOCALES PROSPEREN.

Y TAMBIÉN VA A MEJORAR LA CALIDAD DE VIDA DE UNOS 600,000 RESIDENTES DEL CONDADO DE MIAMI DADE PORQUE LO MERECEN.

VOY A HACER TODO LO NECESARIO PARA DEFENDER ESTE PROYECTO.

THE PEOPLE OF KENDALL AND WEST KENDALL DESERVE THIS.

RECENTLY A BILL WAS FILED IN TALLAHASSEE THAT SEEKS TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR TOLL ROADS.

I AM READY TO WORK WITH OUR MIAMI DADE COUNTY DELEGATION TO REACH A RESOLUTION.

I'M COUNTING ON COMMISSION CHAIRWOMAN AUDREY EDMONSON AND COMMISSIONERS ESTEBAN BOVO, JOE MARTINEZ, AND REBECA SOSA TO HELP IN THAT EFFORT.

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THE COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS HAS MADE MANY ADVANCES SO FAR.

TO IMPROVE THE FLOW OF TRANSIT SERVICE AND TRAFFIC, WE ARE EXPANDING OUR USE OF REAL-TIME TRACKING TECHNOLOGY USED BY OUR BUS FLEET.

THIS SYSTEM, KNOWN AS TRANSIT SIGNAL PRIORITY – OR T-S-P – GIVES BUSES MORE RAPID PASSAGE THROUGH INTERSECTIONS BY EXTENDING GREEN LIGHTS AND SHORTENING RED ONES FOR THESE BUSES.

THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR COMMISSIONERS LEVINE-CAVA, DENNIS MOSS AND XAVIER SUAREZ, AS WELL AS SENATOR JAVIER SOUTO, IN THE DISTRICTS WHERE THESE ROUTES RUN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR STRONG SUPPORT OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES.

AS PART OF THE COUNTY'S FIVE-YEAR, $160 MILLION MODERNIZATION PROJECT, WE CONTINUE TO UPGRADE LIGHTS AT 3,000 INTERSECTIONS USING ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY.

THIS NEW, HIGH-TECH SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR CONTINUOUS ADJUSTMENTS OF SIGNAL TIMING TO MEET TRAFFIC DEMANDS AND CHANGING ROAD CONDITIONS.

IN THE FUTURE I WANT OUR SIGNALING TECHNOLOGY TO BE PREDICTIVE OF TRAFFIC PATTERNS. WE ARE WORKING WITH COMPANIES LIKE WAZE SO THAT OUR TECHNOLOGIES CAN TALK TO EACH OTHER, SO WE CAN MAKE THIS COME ABOUT.

COMO PARTE DE UN PROYECTO DE MODERNIZACIÓN DE $160 MILLONES, EN EL 2018, EL DEPARTAMENTO DE TRANSPORTE ESTÁ MODIFICANDO LOS SEMÁFOROS EN 3,000 INTERSECCIONES.

ESTE NUEVO SISTEMA DE ALTA TECNOLOGÍA PERMITE EL AJUSTE CONTINUO DE LOS SEMÁFOROS SEGÚN LA DEMANDA DEL TRÁFICO.

PLANS FOR THE COUNTY'S NEW PREMIUM RAPID TRANSIT SERVICE WILL IMPROVE TRANSIT ALONG THE SOUTH DADE TRANSIT-WAY– WHICH STRETCHES NEARLY 20 MILES FROM THE DADELAND SOUTH METRORAIL STATION TO SOUTHWEST 344TH

STREET - CONNECTING FLORIDA CITY, HOMESTEAD, CUTLER BAY, PALMETTO BAY, AND PINECREST.

I WANT TO WORK WITH THE MAYORS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THOSE CITIES SO THAT THE SYSTEM IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CHARACTER OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

ONCE COMPLETED IN 2022, THIS GOLD-STANDARD B-R-T SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE RAIL-LIKE TRAVEL TIME, FAST-TRACK ACCESS THROUGH INTERSECTIONS, ICONIC STATIONS, LEVEL BOARDING THROUGH ALL DOORS, AND PREPAID FARES FOR SPEEDY ACCESS.

IN ADDITION, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IS IMPLEMENTING ITS STRATEGIC MIAMI AREA RAPID TRANSIT PLAN.

KNOWN AS OUR 'SMART PLAN,' WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ON THIS WORK THANKS TO A $9.5 MILLION 'BUILD' GRANT FROM THE U.S.

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, ALONG WITH LOCAL FUNDING.

THIS GRANT WILL ENABLE EXPANSION OF THE SOUTH DADE TRANSITWAY, WHILE ALSO INCREASING CAPACITY AT TWO PARK-AND-RIDE FACILITIES ALONG THE CORRIDOR.

I WANT TO RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER ESTEBAN BOVO FOR LEADERSHIP ON THESE INITIATIVES WHEN HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION AND T-P-O.

HE CONTINUES TO CHAMPION THE SMART PLAN AS CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND FINANCE COMMITTEE AND VICE-CHAIR OF THE T-P-O.

ANOTHER MOVE FORWARD IS THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S PARTNERSHIP WITH MIAMI-DADE TO BEGIN LOCAL TESTING AND DEPLOYMENT OF THEIR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES.

FORD'S AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE INITIATIVE MEANS THAT SOON, COMMUTERS WILL HAVE ANOTHER TRANSPORTATION OPTION.

I AM PLEASED TO KNOW, AFTER CONVERSATIONS WITH GOVERNOR DESANTIS THAT WE SHARE A VISION FOR TECHNOLOGY AS PART OF OUR TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS.

THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE A BIG STEP FORWARD IN MAKING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY A MUCH MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY.

WITH THESE MULTIPLE PROJECTS, WE ARE IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ALL OUR RESIDENTS – AND THE VISITORS TO OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE ADDED BENEFIT OF REDUCING FUEL DEMANDS TO REDUCE OUR COUNTY'S CARBON FOOTPRINT.

TRANSPORATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ALICE BRAVO AND HER STAFF HAVE BEEN BUSY WORKING ON ALL THESE PROJECTS.

TO BE SURE, MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE, BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH THESE INITIATIVES, AND ALSO WITH OUR METRORAIL FLEET AND COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS BUSES, WHICH REDUCE MIAMI-DADE'S CARBON FOOTPRINT.

ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE STEP FORWARD FOR A RESILIENT FUTURE IS OUR COUNTY'S GROWING USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY.

IN APRIL, COMMISSIONERS ENTERED INTO A HISTORIC AGREEMENT WITH F-P-L TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A NATIONAL MODEL OF RESILIENCE BY DEVELOPING PROJECTS LIKE THE SOLAR ENERGY CENTER CO-SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONERS BOVO AND SOSA.

THESE EFFORTS HAVE HELPED MAKE OUR COUNTY'S ENERGY PROFILE 30 PERCENT CLEANER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

OUR COUNTY WILL SOON BE HOME TO 300,000 SOLAR PANELS EXTENDING OVER 450 ACRES, CUTTING EMISSIONS IN OUR REGION ON SUCH A LARGE SCALE THAT IT WILL BE EQUIVALENT TO TAKING 12,000 CARS OFF THE ROAD.

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LAST OCTOBER, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF TOURING FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT'S MIAMI-DADE SOLAR ENERGY CENTER WITH FPL PRESIDENT AND CEO ERIC SILAGY.

TODAY, IN FACT, F-P-L IS ANNOUNCING FOUR OPERATIONAL SOLAR SITES, INCLUDING THE FIRST IN OUR COUNTY PRODUCING ALMOST 75 MEGAWATTS.

IT ALSO IS STUDYING DEPLOYING FLOATING PANELS IN COUNTY-OWNED WATERWAYS NEAR M-I-A.

IMAGINE M-I-A PASSENGERS LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW OF A PLANE LANDING HERE AND SEEING OUR SOLAR PARADISE IN ACTION!

IN TOTAL, ONE MILLION SOLAR PANELS WILL BE INSTALLED ALL ACROSS MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

EL CONDADO CELEBRÓ UN ACUERDO HISTÓRICO CON F-P-L QUE CONVIERTE A NUESTRA COMUNIDAD EN UN MODELO NACIONAL DE RESILIENCIA AL DESARROLLAR PROYECTOS COMO EL CENTRO DE ENERGÍA SOLAR.

EN TOTAL, SE INSTALARÁ UN MILLÓN DE PANELES SOLARES EN EL CONDADO DE MIAMI-DADE.

BY DEALING FIRST WITH MACRO-ECONOMIC ISSUES LIKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION AND RENEWABLE ENERGY, WE SET OUR COUNTY ON A FIRM FOUNDATION AND WE GIVE OURSELVES THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES WE NEED TO WORK ON ALL THE OTHER STRATEGIC AREAS THAT MAKE OUR COUNTY RESILIENT,

FROM NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND FROM PUBLIC SAFETY TO RECREATION AND CULTURE.

MAINTAINING A SAFE COMMUNITY REMAINS JOB ONE.

LAST FEBRUARY, WE FACED THE HORRIBLE NEWS OF THE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IN PARKLAND.

AS OUR HEARTS REACHED OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORS IN BROWARD COUNTY, WE LOOKED FOR WAYS TO SAFEGUARD OUR CHILDREN HERE IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE QUICKLY PASSED A LAW TO HARDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT FLORIDA.

UNFORTUNATELY, TALLAHASSEE ONLY ALLOCATED $20 MILLION FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OF WHICH ONLY $10 MILLION WOULD COVER HIRING MORE OFFICERS.

SO, WE HAD TO FIND A SOLUTION HERE LOCALLY.

IN ADDITION TO THE LEGAL OBLIGATIONS,

WE ALSO HAD THE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT MORAL OBLIGATION TO ACT QUICKLY AND PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.

WORKING WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHAIRWOMAN PERLA TABARES HANTMAN, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPER-

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INTENDENT ALBERTO CARVALHO, WE PROVIDED MORE THAN 100 MIAMI-DADE POLICE OFFICERS FOR SECURITY AT PRIMARY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY'S UNINCORPORATED AREA TO HELP THE SCHOOL SYSTEM MEET STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

AND TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL OUR RESIDENTS, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ALSO STAFFED NINE NEW SPECIALLY TRAINED PRIORITY RESPONSE TEAMS.

THESE TEAMS ARE TRAINED TO HANDLE ANY SHOOTER INCIDENT COUNTYWIDE, NOT JUST AT SCHOOLS.

AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, I AM A FORMER FIREFIGHTER AND CITY OF MIAMI FIRE CHIEF, SO PUBLIC SAFETY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TOP CONCERN.

AND I AM ALSO A STRONG PROPONENT OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

SO, WORKING TOGETHER, WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THIS HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF SECURITY THROUGHOUT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY WITHOUT HAVING TO INCREASE THE PROPERTY TAX RATE TO SUPPORT THESE NEW SERVICES.

EN FEBRERO RECIBIMOS LA HORRIBLE NOTICIA DEL TIROTEO EN UNA ESCUELA DE PARKLAND.

MIENTRAS NUESTROS CORAZONES SE UNÍAN A NUESTROS VECINOS DEL CONDADO DE BROWARD, BUSCÁBAMOS CÓMO GARANTIZAR LA SEGURIDAD DE NUESTROS NIÑOS AQUÍ EN MIAMI-DADE.

HICIMOS EL COMPROMISO DE FACILITAR MÁS DE 100 POLICÍAS PARA LA SEGURIDAD DE LAS ESCUELAS PRIMARIAS PÚBLICAS EN LAS ÁREAS NO INCORPORADAS PARA ESTE AÑO ESCOLAR.

EL CONDADO DE MIAMI-DADE CONTRATÓ ADEMÁS A NUEVE (9) EQUIPOS NUEVOS DE RESPUESTA RÁPIDA.

ESTOS EQUIPOS ESTÁN ENTRENADOS PARA MANEJAR CUALQUIER SITUACIÓN PROVOCADA POR UN TIRADOR EN EL CONDADO, NO SOLO EN LAS ESCUELAS.

THE RAPID RESPONSE AND FISCALLY SOUND APPROACH OUR COUNTY TOOK THIS FALL TO MEETING OUR REGION'S NEEDS LED OUR NEW GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS TO APPOINT ME TO HIS TRANSITION TEAM.

IT HAS BEEN BOTH AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO HELP RE-VAMP STATEWIDE SECURITY PRIORITIES.

IT HAS GIVEN ME AN EVEN GREATER APPRECIATION FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT OUR FIRST-

RESPONDERS AND SAFETY OFFICERS PERFORM EACH AND EVERY DAY ACROSS MUTIPLE DEPARTMENTS.

THANK YOU TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR:

POLICE DEPARTMENT

OUR FIRE RESCUE

OUR CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT

OUR JUVENILE SERVICES

AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S DEPARTMENT.

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LET'S STAND UP AND GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROTECT US EACH AND EVERY DAY.

THANKS TO MDPD'S OUTSTANDING WORK, CRIME RATES WENT DOWN DRAMATICALLY THROUGHOUT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY:

THE OVERALL CRIME RATE DROPPED MORE THAN 6 PERCENT, WITH 2,500 FEWER INCIDENTS NON-VIOLENT CRIMES DECREASED BY 6 PERCENT

AND VIOLENT CRIMES DROPPED BY 7 PERCENT, WITH THESE NOTABLE REDUCTIONS:

MURDERS FELL 13.4 PERCENT

ROBBERIES DROPPED BY 15.6 PERCENT

AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS DECREASED BY 6.9 PERCENT

I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO POLICE DIRECTOR JUAN PEREZ AND HIS EXCEPTIONAL TEAM.

M-D-P-D ALSO:

EXPANDED ITS REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER AND INSTALLED SHOT-SPOTTER ACOUSTIC GUNSHOT DETECTION SYSTEMS IN AN EIGHT-SQUARE-MILE AREA IN THE NORTHSIDE AND SOUTH DISTRICTS.

THIS TECHNOLOGY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME PERSONALLY....AND I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS ALSO TO COMMISSIONER MONESTIME, COMMISSIONER JORDAN, AND COMMISSIONER MOSS.

WE ARE DEVELOPING A PLAN TO EXPAND SHOT-SPOTTER IN AREAS OF ADDITIONAL CONCERN.

ANIMAL CRUELTY IS SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS ALL OF US.

THAT'S WHY M-D-P-D WORKED WITH OUR ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, DIRECTOR ALEX MUÑOZ AND HIS STAFF TO LAUNCH A FORENSIC INVESTIGATION PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY AND PROSECUTE PERPETRATORS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY.

MIAMI-DADE FIRE RESCUE EXPANDED SERVICES BY:

HIRING FIVE RECRUIT CLASSES FOR A TOTAL OF 131 NEW FIREFIGHTERS

PLACING TWO NEW UNITS IN SERVICE

ADDING A 70TH STATION TO ITS LINEUP

AND BREAKING GROUND ON NEW FACILITIES FOR PALMETTO BAY AND SWEETWATER

LET'S GIVE THANKS TO FIRE CHIEF DAVE DOWNEY AND HIS TOP-NOTCH TEAM FOR PROTECTING OUR RESIDENTS EACH AND EVERY DAY.

FOR ITS PART, THE MIAMI-DADE CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION DEPARTMENT, LED BY DIRECTOR DANIEL JUNIOR, MADE ADVANCES IN 2018 BY:

INSTALLING NEW BODY SCANNING MACHINES AT ITS DETENTION CENTERS

IMPLEMENTING AN EMERGENCY NARCAN DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM, WITH MORE THAN 200 SWORN STAFF COMPLETING OPIOID OVERDOSE TRAINING. I AM SURE THAT THIS TRAINING WILL SAVE COUNTLESS LIVES.

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THE DEPARTMENT ALSO PURCHASED NEW SOFT-BODY ARMOR AND TASERS, TO ENSURE MAXIMUM SAFETY FOR OUR OFFICERS.

THANKS TO COMMISSIONER SALLY HEYMAN FOR HER FOCUS ON ENSURING THE INCREASED PROTECTION FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR NEWEST DEPUTY MAYOR MAURICE KEMP FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK HE HAS DONE OVERSEEING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES DIVISIONS.

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FUTURE SECURITY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, WE ARE EXPLORING HIGH-TECH CAMERA SYSTEMS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO TRACK ACTIVITY SO THAT WE CAN PREVENT CRIMES BEFORE THEY HAPPEN.

WE ARE CONTINUING A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK YOUTH.

ON THAT FRONT, THE JUVENILE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, LED BY DIRECTOR MORRIS COPELAND, OFFERS IMPRESSIVE STATISTICS, INCLUDING A 43 PERCENT DECLINE IN JUVENILE ARRESTS FROM 2013 TO 2018.

IN THOSE FIVE YEARS, MORE THAN 16,000 AT-RISK YOUTH WERE DIVERTED FROM THE JUSTICE SYSTEM INTO EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS SUCH AS MY BROTHER'S KEEPER, OPERATION RESTORATION, AND PROJECT PEACE.

CHAIRWOMAN EDMONSON, YOUR WORK AND DEDICATION TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION IS TRULY BUILDING SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE APPLAUD YOU.

AND SO, WE SEE HOW THE MISSION OF OUR RESILIENT COUNTY IS NOT ONLY TO MITIGATE THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY NATURAL DISASTERS, SUCH AS HURRICANES, AND MAN-MADE DISASTERS, SUCH AS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, BUT ALSO TO ADAPT TO OUR SOCIETY'S CHANGING NEEDS.

THERE ARE FOUR STRATEGIC AREAS IN OUR COUNTY'S BUDGETING WHERE OUR ABILITY TO ADAPT COMES INTO PLAY –

IN THE REALMS OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, GENERAL GOVERNMENT,

NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND RECREATION AND CULTURE.

IN 2018, THE COUNTY'S COMMUNITY ACTION AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT – LED BY DIRECTOR LUCIA DAVIS-RAIFORD – PROVIDED VITAL SERVICES FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.

WE ENSURED THAT ALL CHILDREN ARE SCHOOL-READY THROUGH THE COUNTY'S 'HEAD START' PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE LARGEST IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES, SERVING:

· MORE THAN 7,000 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

· AT 104 LOCATIONS COUNTYWIDE.

WE FOUGHT HUNGER BY PROVIDING:

· MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION MEALS

· TO MORE THAN 4,700 ELDERLY AND HOMEBOUND RESIDENTS

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MEANWHILE OUR SUMMER MEALS PROGRAM SERVED:

· NEARLY HALF A MILLION MEALS

· TO MORE THAN 9,500 CHILDREN

· REACHING 38 PERCENT MORE KIDS IN 2018 THAN IT DID IN 2017.

WE ALSO MADE GREAT STRIDES IN HELPING THE HOMELESS.

THE COUNTY'S HOMELESS TRUST – LED BY DIRECTOR VICKI MALLETTE – HAD AN EXCEPTIONAL YEAR, RESULTING IN A DRAMATIC 8 PERCENT DECLINE IN HOMELESSNESS, COMPARED TO 2017.

ADEMÁS DE ALIMENTAR A LAS PERSONAS Y FAMILIAS NECESITADAS, AYUDAMOS A REDUCIR EL NÚMERO DE DESAMPARADOS EN UN 8 POR CIENTO.

AND IN JUNE, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY BECAME ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION TO EFFECTIVELY END HOMELESSNESS FOR MILITARY VETERANS.

WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS THANKS TO THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF THE HOMELESS TRUST, THE MIAMI V-A, AND A NETWORK OF COMMITTED PARTNERS AND PROVIDERS.

U.S. HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY BEN CARSON EVEN PAID US A VISIT TO ANNOUNCE THIS HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CONTINUED ITS WORK ON SEVERAL NEW HOUSING INITIATIVES IN 2018.

WE HELD THE RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY FOR MARTIN FINE VILLAS.

THIS 104-UNIT, 22-ACRE SENIOR-LIVING SITE NEAR MARLINS STADIUM IS A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RELATED URBAN DEVELOPMENT GROUP AND IT WILL SERVE SENIORS WITH DISABILITIES.

TOURING THE UNITS WITH COMMISSIONER HIGGINS, I CAN SAY WE WERE BOTH VERY IMPRESSED.

ANOTHER SHINING STAR IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS CARIBBEAN VILLAGE IN COMMISSIONER DENNIS MOSS' DISTRICT.

THIS LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FOR SENIORS IS ALSO A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (P-3) WITH PINNACLE HOUSING GROUP AND THE SOUTH MIAMI HEIGHTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

CARIBBEAN VILLAGE IS AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCE IN ACTION.

IT LEVERAGES SLIGHTLY OVER $11 MILLION IN COUNTY FUNDING TO GENERATE CLOSE TO $21 MILLION IN SUPPORT FROM STATE, FEDERAL AND PRIVATE INVESTMENTS.

THIS NEW COMPLEX WILL HAVE AT LEAST 100 PARKING SPOTS FOR BUS COMMUTERS, ESTABLISHING NEW “PARK AND RIDE” OPTIONS FOR THIS GROWING NEIGHBORHOOD.

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ANOTHER P-3 PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GORMAN & COMPANY AND THE MIAMI-DADE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY WILL COMBINE 20 PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS WITH 80 SECTION-8 UNITS AT MODELLO HOMES IN HOMESTEAD.

MEANWHILE, RE-DEVELOPMENT AT LIBERTY SQUARE HAS RECEIVED UNPRECEDENTED FAST-TRACK APPROVAL FROM HUD, THANKS TO THE LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT OF CHAIRWOMAN AUDREY EDMONSON.

WE ARE ALSO HARD AT WORK WITH HER AND THE RESIDENTS OF CULMER PLACE AND CULMER GARDENS TO BEGIN REVITALIZING THEIR COMMUNITY.

THESE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ENDEAVORS ARE MODELS OF EXCELLENCE THAT HAVE HELPED MIAMI-DADE COUNTY BEGIN TO SHINE AS A GLOBAL LEADER IN CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

THANKS TO THE WORK OF DIRECTOR MICHAEL LIU AND HIS STAFF, WE HAVE BEEN CONTINUING TO FIND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO ATTRACT AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING, ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES OUR RESIDENTS NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO THRIVE.

I WOULD NOW LIKE TO SHIFT THE SPOTLIGHT ONTO OUR COUNTY'S WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT, LED BY DIRECTOR KEVIN LYNSKEY.

WHILE IN THE MIDST OF COMPLETING $1.5 BILLION IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, W-A-S-D WAS SELECTED BY THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION AS ONE OF ONLY FIVE AREAS IN THE WORLD TO CREATE A NEW GLOBAL CITY WATER RESILIENCE FRAMEWORK.

THIS PILOT GROUP WILL WORK TO DEVELOP NEW INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS TO HELP ENSURE THE SECURITY OF OUR GROUNDWATER, STORMWATER AND SURFACE WATER.

OUR COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT – LED BY DEPUTY MAYOR ALINA HUDAK – ALSO TOOK GREAT STRIDES FORWARD IN 2018 TO PROTECT, PRESERVE AND IMPROVE OUR ENVIRONMENT.

THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDED:

COLLECTING MORE THAN 4,800 TONS OF ILLEGALLY DUMPED TRASH BY ACTIVATING FOUR NEW CLEANUP CREWS

REPLACING OLD GARBAGE VEHICLES WITH 77 NEW, FULLY AUTOMATED SIDE-LOADING TRUCKS, PART OF A $22 MILLION INVESTMENT IN WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES

INCREASING SURVEILLANCE OF MOSQUITO TRAPS IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN AGGRESSIVE LARVICIDE PROGRAM, WHICH RESULTED IN ZERO LOCAL TRANSMISSIONS OF MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES IN 2018

EL DEPARTAMENTO DE DESECHOS SÓLIDOS DEL CONDADO TAMBIÉN HIZO GRANDES PROGRESOS EN EL 2018 PARA PROTEGER, CONSERVAR Y OPTIMIZAR EL MEDIOAMBIENTE.

ALGUNOS DE SUS LOGROS SON:

· RECOGER MÁS DE 4,800 TONELADAS DE BASURA ILEGAL.

Y ELEVAR LA VIGILANCIA DE LAS TRAMPAS PARA MOSQUITOS.

I WANT TO THANK DEPUTY MAYOR HUDAK FOR THESE TOP ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

SHE RETIRES THIS YEAR AFTER 35 YEARS OF EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE.

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SHE HAS LED THE COUNTY'S 'MAKING STRIDES' BREAST CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS AND COUNTLESS OTHER SPECIAL PROJECTS.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY... SHE WAS THE FIRST WOMAN TO SERVE AS COUNTY MANAGER.

ALINA, WHILE YOU ARE LEAVING THE COUNTY, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE STILL GOING TO BE VERY ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'RE REALLY GOING TO MISS YOU.

THE COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF REGULATORY AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES – LED BY DEPUTY MAYOR JACK OSTERHOLT – COMBINED THE EFFORTS OF SEVERAL DIVISIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY TO FOCUS ON OUR REGION'S FUTURE RESILIENCE.

ONE IS R-E-R'S WORK WITH THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO DEVELOP PLANS FOR THREE MAJOR INITIATIVES FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

· A $2 MILLION STUDY ON BEACH EROSION WILL GIVE US A BLUEPRINT FOR FUTURE ACTION.

· A $3 MILLION STUDY OF THE MIAMI BACK BAY AREA WILL HELP MIAMI DADE ENGINEER SOLUTIONS TO DECREASE FLOODING AND STORM SURGE DAMAGE IN COASTAL AREAS.

· AND A $158 MILLION PROJECT WILL RE-NOURISH OUR SHORELINE AND PROTECT IT WHEN HURRICANES HIT.

ALL THREE OF THESE UNDERTAKINGS WILL ENSURE THAT MIAMI DADE THRIVES FOR DECADES TO COME.... SO THAT WE CAN PASS ON A RESILIENT 305 TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AND SPEAKING OF A RESILIENT 305, IN CASE YOU AREN'T YET FOLLOWING THAT HASH-TAG, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CITIES OF MIAMI BEACH AND MIAMI TO GET THE WORD OUT, THAT OUR COUNTY IS TAKING A MULTI-PRONGED, MULTI-CITY APPROACH TO COMBATTING SEA-LEVEL RISE.

ONE EXAMPLE OF OUR RESILIENCE IS HOW WE RESPONDED AFTER HURRICANE IRMA IN 2017.

DETERMINED TO SAFEGUARD OURSELVES FOR FUTURE STORMS, OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT – LED BY DIRECTOR INSON KIM – EXPANDED OUR ANNUAL HURRICANE READINESS GUIDE, WHICH REACHED MORE THAN A MILLION HOUSEHOLDS AND WAS TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH AND CREOLE.

PARTNERING WITH THE COUNTY'S I-T DEPARTMENT, THEY ALSO CREATED THE NEW APP 'READY-M-D-C,' WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO GET UP-TO-THE-MINUTE INFORMATION BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER HURRICANES.

TWO WEEKS AGO, THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT LAUNCHED THE NEW MIAMIDADE.GOV SITE IN AN EASY-TO-NAVIGATE FORMAT.

COMMUNICATIONS ALSO TEAMED UP WITH OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT,

LED BY ARLEENE CUELLAR, AND THE I-T DEPARTMENT, LED BY ANGEL PETISCO, TO IMPLEMENT A NEW EMPLOYEE PORTAL THAT INCLUDES HURRICANE SHELTERS WITH COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

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OUR COUNTY'S RESILIENCE ALSO SHINED WHEN OUR ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT SHOWED ITS ABILITY TO RAPIDLY ADAPT.

WHEN OTHER DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY FACED DAUNTING RECOUNTS DURING MIDTERM ELECTIONS, MIAMI-DADE'S ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT BECAME A NATIONAL MODEL OF EXCELLENCE BY SIMULTANEOUSLY CONDUCTING THREE STATEWIDE RECOUNTS IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK.

IT GOT DONE WITH SUCH PROFESSIONALISM AND TRANSPARENCY UNDER THE DIRECTION OF OUR COUNTY'S PROFESSIONAL– AND NOT POLITICALLY ELECTED -- SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS CHRISTINA WHITE THAT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY RECEIVED NATIONAL PRAISE.

MEANWHILE, UNDER DEPUTY MAYOR ED MARQUEZ'S GUIDANCE, THE COUNTY'S FINANCES REMAINED STRONG.

THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT'S BOND ADMINISTRATION DIVISION GENERATED NEARLY $121 MILLION IN DEBT-SERVICE SAVINGS IN 2018. THAT'S REAL SAVINGS TO OUR TAXPAYERS.

WAY TO GO, ED!

MAXIMIZING GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AND RESILIENCE GIVES US THE LATITUDE WE NEED FOR OUR CULTURAL LANDSCAPE TO THRIVE.

IN 2018, THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS – GUIDED BY SENIOR ADVISOR MICHAEL SPRING – STRENGTHENED ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND ARTISTS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY THROUGH SOLID INVESTMENTS.

THIS SUPPORT INCLUDED A $2 MILLION INCREASE IN COUNTY GRANTS FOR MIAMI-DADE'S TOP CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND ARTISTS.

ARTS AND CULTURAL ENDEAVORS GENERATE A CUMULATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MORE THAN $1.4 BILLION, WITH 41,000 FULL-TIME WORKERS EMPLOYED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE LOCAL ARTS SECTOR.

MORE THAN 16 MILLION PEOPLE ATTEND ARTS AND CULTURAL EVENTS EACH YEAR IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY.

LAS INICIATIVAS ARTÍSTICAS Y CULTURALES EN NUESTRA REGIÓN GENERAN UN IMPACTO ECONÓMICO DE MÁS DE $1.4 MIL MILLONES, CON 41,000 TRABAJADORES Y MÁS DE 16 MILLONES DE PERSONAS QUE ASISTEN A EVENTOS ARTÍSTICOS Y CULTURALES CADA AÑO EN EL CONDADO DE MIAMI DADE.

THE COUNTY ALSO ENRICHES OUR MINDS AND BODIES THROUGH ITS LIBRARIES AND PARKS.

THE MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM – LED BY DIRECTOR RAY BAKER – EXPANDED FUNDING AND INCREASED OPERATIONS TO NOW OFFER MORE HOURS OF SERVICE THAN AT ANY TIME IN ITS HISTORY. WHAT A DIFFERENCE SIX YEARS MAKES!

AND FINALLY, I AM GOING TO WRAP THIS UP WITH NEWS FROM OUR 'PROS' – OUR DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACES.

UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MARIA NARDI, OUR PARKS SYSTEM IS CELEBRATING 90 YEARS OF ENRICHING PEOPLE'S LIVES!

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SO HERE IS SOME GREAT NEWS ABOUT OUR PROS:

THE COUNTY IMPLEMENTED ITS MASTERPLAN GREENWAY SYSTEM WITH THE $25 MILLION PURCHASE OF LUDLAM TRAIL, THANKS TO VICE CHAIRWOMAN REBECA SOSA'S ADVOCACY.

THIS MARKS A GIANT STEP TOWARD FULFILLING THE COUNTY'S VISION OF CONNECTIVITY.

LUDLAM TRAIL IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE MIAMI LOOP THAT INCLUDES THE MIAMI RIVER GREENWAY, RICKENBACKER PARK AND CAUSEWAY, AND THE UNDERLINE, WHICH JUST BROKE GROUND.

PROS ALSO PLANTED NEARLY 3,500 TREES AND GAVE ANOTHER 2,000 AWAY FREE-OF-CHARGE TO RESIDENTS THROUGH OUR 'MILLION TREES MIAMI PROGRAM.

AND, REALLY, WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT PARKS WITHOUT MENTIONING SENATOR JAVIER SOUTO.

HIS COMMITMENT AND ADVOCACY ARE TIRELESS.

TOGETHER, WE'VE COME A LONG WAY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN EASY, BUT THE PROOF OF OUR SUCCESS IS IN OUR ECONOMIC VITALITY, THE GOOD-PAYING JOBS WE ARE ATTRACTING AND THE MANY PROJECTS UNDER WAY TO IMPROVE OUR CITIZENS' QUALITY OF LIFE.

CERTAINLY, MUCH WORK REMAINS AHEAD FOR MIAMI-DADE TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE.

COUNT ON ME TO WORK WITH YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

LET'S GET IT DONE.

NOW BEFORE WE GO.

TODAY WE ALSO CELEBRATE A LIFETIME OF PUBLIC SERVICE BY MY DEAR FRIEND AND MENTOR MAURICE FERRé.

THE FORMER MIAMI MAYOR AND M-D-X CHAIRMAN IS BEING HONORED JUST UP THE STREET AT 1095 BISCAYNE BLVD.

MUSEUM PARK WILL OFFICIALLY CHANGE ITS NAME TO MAURICE A. FERRé PARK! THE CELEBRATION LASTS UNTIL 1:30 P.M.

SO THERE'S TIME TO SWING BY AND GIVE THIS VISIONARY STATESMAN OUR SUPPORT ON THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR HIM.

AS A CUBAN-AMERICAN, AND THE MAYOR REPRESENTING 2.8 MILLION MIAMI DADE RESIDENTS... MANY OF WHOM HAVE SUFFERED UNDER OPPRESSIVE REGIMES...

I WOULD BE REMISS TO NOT SPEAK UP FOR THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA. I AM GLAD THE ADMINISTRATION AND LEADERS OF VARIOUS OTHER COUNTRIES RECOGNIZE THE NEW INTERIM PRESIDENT GUAIDÓ.

QUIERO HABLAR UN POCO EN DEFENSA DEL PUEBLO DE VENEZUELA. ME ALEGRÓ SABER QUE LA ADMINISTRACIÓN EN WASHINGTON Y LÍDERES DE VARIOS OTROS PAISES RECONOCIERON AL NUEVO PRESIDENTE GUAIDÓ.

VENEZUELA, ESTAMOS Y ESTAREMOS CON USTEDES AHORA, MAÑANA Y SIEMPRE.

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DURING MY TRIP TO BRAZIL I WAS HEARTENED BY THE VIEWS OF THE NEW FOREIGN MINISTER AND THE ACTING PRESIDENT TOWARD THE MURDEROUS MADURO REGIME.

VENEZUELA, MIAMI DADE COUNTY STANDS WITH YOU TODAY, TOMORROW AND ALWAYS!

¡VIVA UNA VENEZUELA LIBRE!

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE WITH ME TODAY.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU, AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

THANK YOU.