Your Concern is My Concern

Recently I met with a group of residents who made me smile when they called me the “Law and Order Commissioner.” Reducing crime is the reason I ran for office four years ago. It’s the same reason I am now running for Mayor. I won’t stop until Miami Beach is the safest city in America. It can be done. I consider it my mission and moral duty. 
 
How did I earn the label “Law and Order Commissioner” and what does it mean? It means I have been at the forefront requiring a visible police presence proactively enforcing all of our laws, even during the height of the defund the police movement that had captured much of our nation. 
 
Being the law and order Commissioner means that I transformed our municipal prosecution team from an only 8% successful conviction rate to near 90% today. After my diligence uncovered the lack of prosecutions, I introduced over 15 legislative items that our Commission passed leading to our current near 90% successful conviction rate! 
 
Being the law and order Commissioner means I was the first to expose the Miami-Dade County judiciary’s misguided plan to eliminate bail for misdemeanor crimes that would have created a dangerous arrest and immediate release scenario. I then worked tirelessly to ensure its ultimate defeat. 
 
Being the law and order Commissioner means I am proposing that Miami Beach create its own drug testing laboratory to ensure that drug dealers are arrested and prosecuted. Today too many drug dealing arrests are never prosecuted because of the County’s backlog on testing drugs. The failure to prosecute needs to end, and it would with our own drug testing lab. 
 
Law and Order also means holding our police and City administration accountable. The fact that we continue to have bike groups terrorize residents unimpeded is unacceptable and inexcusable. We must make every effort to prevent these criminal bike groups from entering Miami Beach and if that fails, police must escort the bikers until they exit our City to ensure the safety of our residents. These are day one policy changes I would seek to mandate. 
 
Being the Law and Order Mayor means I would require a more robust visible police presence on foot proactively enforcing every one of our laws, including the homeless who violate our laws. Being the law and order Mayor means tracking arrests to ensure the appropriate prosecution for criminal offenders, especially repeat offenders, working closely with our State Attorney’s Office, and appealing unwarranted judicial dismissals.
 
We need to take back control of our streets and public spaces from petty crime, drug dealers, and homeless camping on our streets. 

Below are highlights of my prosecutorial legislative initiatives already implemented:  

• Added additional misdemeanor crimes to our municipal prosecution coverage to ensure accountability Read More
• Requiring the prosecution of crimes committed by repeat offenders Read More
• Opposed and helped defeat proposal to eliminate bail for misdemeanor crimes Read More
• Added probation and stay away orders as criminal sentencing options Read More
• Requiring appeals of unwarranted judicial dismissals to a higher court Read More
• Hired two (2) new prosecutors to our Municipal Prosecution Team Read More
• Creation of a pre-trial diversion (rehabilitation) program for those arrested in need, at no cost to Miami Beach Read More
• Ensuring Police are alerted to the issuance of bench warrants for criminal defendants failing to appear in court Read More
• Created the Civilian Volunteer Patrol (CVP) program Read More

 

Police Presence and Enforcement

A visible engaged police presence is a major deterrent to crime and provides a sense of safety. Legislative initiatives I am currently working on:

• Creation of a Miami Beach crime laboratory to test substances seized during drug dealing arrests Read More
• Proactively enforce and prosecute street-level drug dealing Read More
• Implement secured perimeters by Ocean Drive during next year's Spring Break to ensure weapons and drugs are excluded Read More
• Enhanced high visibility police presence and foot patrols Read More
• Add additional misdemeanor crimes to our municipal prosecution coverage such as assault and petit theft Read More
• Vigorous enforcement against criminal conduct of dangerous biker and bicyclist groups Read More
• Lighting enhancements throughout Miami Beach to improve public safety Read More

Neglecting quality-of-life issues, turning a blind eye to misdemeanor crimes, and allowing public spaces to become havens for crime is what destroys cities. 
 
It is my moral imperative as an elected official to provide for the safety of our residents to enjoy being anywhere in our City at any time without fear of becoming a victim of crime.
 
As your next Mayor I will continue with a strong sense of urgency fighting crime. I won’t stop until Miami Beach is the safest city in America.

Posted on 30 Sep 2023, 22:28 - Category: 2023