Strong Policing, Quality of Life, and Government Transparency

My fellow residents,

2020 has been one for the history books. While a significant part of my responsibilities have centered on helping our residents navigate through COVID-19, I remain focused on improving our daily quality of life and implementing good governance measures.

Strong Community Policing

The paramount responsibility of government is to maintain the security and safety of its residents. That is why I am committed to:

✅ Strong law enforcement

✅ Community policing

✅ Increased police visibility

✅ Addressing homelessness

Over the past few months, I have held countless meetings with our Police Chief, City Manager, community leaders and concerned residents throughout our City about significantly increasing police presence, implementing police park-and-walk patrols, strict enforcement of our laws, and proactively engaging our homeless population. Many of these measures have now been implemented by our Police Department. Our residents are demanding these improvements, and so am I.

From a July Commission meeting, Re: Miami Beach quoted me saying:

Relating to increasing police enforcement Commissioner Steven Meiner told [Major] Doce, “Relentless is a good word. We’re looking for that. Actually, we’re demanding that.” Meiner, noting that he has heard “nothing but support for our police force,” said he was hearing concerns about the “lack of police visibility,” not just on Ocean Drive, but throughout the City.

New Citizens Volunteer Patrol

My sponsored legislation to implement a Citizens Volunteer Patrol (CVP) unanimously passed at the Commission's last meeting. Citizens on patrol trained by and working together with our Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) puts more eyes and ears on the street and will be an important cost-effective crime prevention tool in our neighborhoods.

I have been working on the CVP concept since before I was elected and could not be more excited for the roll-out and implementation of this initiative. Engaged residents working together with our police is a win-win for the residents of Miami Beach, our neighborhoods, and MBPD. If you have an interest in volunteering for community patrols, please be on the lookout for future application notices from our MBPD. In the meantime, please contact me or my aide Amadeus for more information.

Please click here for the City's CVP press release.

Neighborhood Lighting

In December 2019, my first sponsored resolution as Commissioner was for the installation of year-round "holiday" LED lighting on every palm tree along 41st Street (all 251 of them!). The installation is now complete and the lights look beautiful. I am thankful that the Mayor and my fellow Commissioners unanimously supported my 41st Street initiative, for the support and advocacy of the Mayor's 41st Street Committee and Mid-Beach Neighborhood Association, and implementation by our City Manager and Public Works team.

There are other areas of our City that need improved lighting. In March, I placed Citywide lighting as a topic of discussion for the Commission's Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee meeting. Improving lighting at night helps our residents feel safer, assists businesses attract customers, and looks great overall. Miami Beach's Smart City Street Lighting System is coming soon and will provide improved lighting throughout Miami Beach.

 

Reimagining Ocean Drive

Mayor Gelber last month proposed a number of initiatives to reimagine South Beach from its current party image to an internationally renowned cultural destination. After thoroughly reviewing the Mayor's proposed initiatives, I gladly signed on as a co-sponsor. Here are some of the highlights from the proposal:

✅ A midnight last call for alcohol with certain establishments exempted subject to approval from an oversight committee, the Beverage Control Board.

✅ Building owners will be held responsible for the actions of their on-sight operators.

✅ Incentivize more cultural institutions such as museums and galleries.

✅ Utilize $25 million in G.O. Bond funding to pedestrianize Ocean Drive and improve Lummus Park.

✅ Promote outdoor seating for restaurants and fine dining instead of bars.

Our residents are demanding drastic change in South Beach and we need to deliver. On September 17 at 1:00 pm, the Commission will consider these proposed changes at the Land Use and Sustainability Committee Workshop.

Deauville Update

At April’s Commission meeting, I sponsored an item to discuss the Deauville Beach Resort litigation. The Deauville is a historic crown jewel of North Beach and its shutdown since July 2017 has led to significant economic hardship for the surrounding North Beach area.

The City is in on-going mediation with the Deauville to resolve the dispute and create a viable vibrant project. On June 26, the City held a productive mediation session with the owners of the Deauville and their team where concrete plans to revitalize the Deauville were exchanged. Discussions with the City are ongoing to reach a resolution that will remake the historic Deauville into a vibrant resort destination. Reopening the Deauville is a high priority for North Beach and I am closely monitoring this vital litigation.

Good Governance and Transparency

I have devoted most of my professional career as an attorney fighting against fraud and injustice - to make sure there is a fair and even playing field for everyone. Since being elected, I have advocated for a more transparent and open government. Informed residents will have a greater voice in our Miami Beach Government and will lead to better decisions by our Commission.

City contracts. I recently sponsored an initiative to require that all City contracts be available online. I had learned that contracts under $100,000 for goods and services, and contracts under $300,000 for construction services were not publicly available. Other contracts available online were not located in one centralized database and could be difficult to find. Subsequent to my initiative, the City has created a Central Contract Repository that will be available for public use. Once the City completes the database, all contracts can be found in the link below:

https://secure.miamibeachfl.gov/contractawardsmunis/default.aspx

No-bid contracts. I have also consistently voted against awarding or extending no-bid contracts. At our last Commission meeting, two contracts were extended by waiving the competitive bidding process. I voted no to both contracts. Basic economic principles teach us and multiple studies have proven that government contracts awarded without competitive bidding cost taxpayers more money for lower quality services. Absent a credible exception, I will continue to vote no to no-bid contracts.

Please join me on September 15 for my next Virtual Town Hall

Please click the image above to be directed to Zoom.

I'd like to hear from you if you have any concerns or suggestions. Please reach out to me any time - my cell phone is 786-810-8728 and my direct City email is StevenMeiner@MiamiBeachFL.gov. Alternatively, you can contact my aide Amadeus Huff at 786-697-7763 or by email at AmadeusHuff@MiamiBeachFL.gov.

Thanks,

Steve

Posted on 13 Aug 2020, 01:40 - Category: 2020