Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava PHOTO COURTESY OF FLORIDAPOLITICS

Miami – During her fourth State of the County Address in January, MiamiDade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the county’s future looks bright as her administration and county commissioners are continuing to tackle some of the most pressing issues including affordable housing, economic development, transportation, job growth and climate change.

To close out Black History Month, Cava delivered a report on the State of the Black Community Address which outlined key investments made to enhance infrastructure in the predominantly African American, Caribbean and Haitian communities, "whose rich culture and contributions added to the county’s history, growth and economic development."

Cava said the county committed more than $380 million for capital improvement projects in the Black communities and added $12 million as part of a significant investment in community outreach for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

The projects include assisting homeowners and expanding housing options, supporting families and youth, strengthening trust and public safety, connecting communities through transportation, securing tech and environmental equity for the Black community, and supporting Black Businesses and Black Institutions including the Historic Hampton House Hotel.

“From Florida City to Richmond Heights to the City of Miami Gardens, the Black community in Miami-Dade County is a testament to our county’s resilience,” said Cava. “I am proud to deliver on commitments made to our Black community. We have witnessed a transformational journey towards a more inclusive and equitable MiamiDade which has been a hallmark of my administration, prioritizing the equitable investment of County resources to meet the needs of today and tomorrow for every community.”

Cava said county commissioners approved a tax cut for the second consecutive year to help champion her efforts to provide housing relief for families during the affordable housing shortage.

She said seniors in the Black community received $617 checks to support their basic needs of living including groceries, transportation, and leisure time.

Cava said homeowners experiencing economic hardship received up to $3,500 for their mortgage and utility bills and the county secured $10 million in additional federal funding to assist low-income residents pay their water and sewer utility bills.

Homeowners in unincorporated Black communities and Black business owners received a 35 percent discount on flood insurance when Miami-Dade secured a high rating from the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System, Cava said.

The system reports that the new rating will result in an estimated $12 million savings on flood insurance premiums.

For education, the county, in partnership with Miami-Dade College, launched the Future Ready Scholarship in which low-income residents can earn their degrees with zero cost, and created the free Financial Literacy Pilot Program for families at three public libraries, Arcola Lakes Library, South Dade Regional Library, and North Dade Regional Library.

The libraries are in predominantly Black neighborhoods.

To address food insecurities for youth in Black communities during the summer, the county launched the Summer Food Service Program in coordination with local organizations to provide safe and free nutritious meals to youth 18 years old and under.

Cava said Miami-Dade also launched a program for new media and music opportunities for youth by opening a new recording studio at the NFL Youth Education Town at Gwen Cherry Park in Liberty City, and a program to connect families affected by substance and domestic violence to resources through innovative programming.

Cava said the county is providing jobs and internships to youth through the nationally recognized Fit2Lead Jobs program and Miami-Dade County Internship program.

Facing an increasing trend of gun violence in the Black community, Cava said violent crimes in Miami-Dade are down, despite turmoil in the police department when former Police Director Freddie Rameriz attempted suicide in Orlando last year following a domestic dispute with his wife.

Cava appointed the first Black woman Stephanie Daniels the new police director and she continued with the 20-year, $90 million Peace and Prosperity crime prevention program to bring down the crime rate.

Cava credits Commissioner Keon Hardemon for creating the program. "Violent crime has gone down and solving crimes have gone up," Cava said.

For transportation, Cava said the county expanded MetroConnect service and partnered with Uber to provide transportation vouchers for residents and coordinated with municipalities to improve transit connectivity through trolley services.

Miami-Dade is continuing with construction on the South Dade Bus Rapid Transit Corridor to improve connectivity and reduce pollution in South Dade neighborhoods including Richmond Height and Goulds.

Other investments made in the Black communities include installing the county’s first solar array at North Dade Regional Library in Miami Gardens; partnered with faith leaders to expand the tree canopy in Miami-Dade County by planting trees on the campuses of churches; installed energy efficient air conditioning units in all public housing units; increased budget for the MiamiDade Economic Advocacy Trust to expand its work to address issues of equity in the Black communities, and added funding to expand programming for Black Owned Business Month in August; partnered with Black Owned Media Alliance and Haitian media owners to increase awareness of county services in minority communities; and investments for programs including Strive305, the Larcenia Bullard Plaza Innovation Center in Richmond Heights, and the BizUp program which provides grants of $50,000 to $100,000 to emerging local businesses.

Bullard was a longtime Florida state Senator who died in 2013.

Cava said county commissioners played major roles in her efforts to conquer the challenges residents face.

Commission Chair Oliver Gilbert said Cava is an advocate for all residents despite their color, culture, sex and even the music they listen to.

For example, Gilbert said Cava quoted local Hip Hop mega star Rick Ross’ song ‘Everyday I’m Hustlin’ during a county event.

"She used that quote because she is hustlin everyday," Gilbert said. "She understands everyone’s culture." County Commissioner Keon McGhee echoed similar sentiments.

"Whether you are Black, white, Haitian, Hispanic or gay, you will have a fair shake here in the county," he said. "I see opportunity but more than anything I see progress."