Miami-Dade Information

Vol, 3, No. 15 2 July 2022

4th of JULY

In case you missed* the recent SoMi INSIDER, here's what's happening in our City:

* You can subscribe to the INSIDER's mailing list here. Scroll down and click on the orange "Please click here ... issues."

Miami-Dade County is putting on their own display:

"Miami-Dade County Parks kicks off Parks and Recreation Month at Tropical Park, July 4, 2022, with a 4th of July Fireworks Celebration. The free event will take place from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the park, located at 7900 SW 40 Street, Miami. Bring along family and friends, a blanket and lawn chairs and settle in for an evening of good old-fashioned fun.

Of course, I believe the South Miami event will be much more satisfying. I know quite a few of the musicians who will be playing. Along with Slippery Tim, Rachel Coba will be singing and playing. Coyote has some wonderful renditions of old favorites.

THE MODELS

Buddy A235530 has been looking forward to his #HotPetSummer since January, when he first arrived at the Pet Adoption and Protection Center. This handsome 5-year-old boy will show you how he can sit and might even give you paw if there’s a treat involved!

Leo A2347614 is a 5-year-old boy with the most gorgeous orange fur. His favorite past times include napping and receiving head scratches from loving humans. Leo is ready to go home today and celebrate the rest of his #HotPetSummer with his fur-ever family.

The two gorgeous creatures at the top of this page are models for the following announcement:

"Miami-Dade County Animal Services, FoMA, and Wings of Rescue partner to launch Operation Pit Stop offering free spay and neuter services throughout the month of July Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department (Animal Services) in partnership with Friends of Miami Animals Foundation Inc. (FoMA) and Wings of Rescue today launch Operation Pit Stop. During the month of July, Operation Pit Stop will provide free spay and neuter services, vaccines, and microchipping for five hundred bully breed dogs.

Services will be provided at the (1) Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department clinic in Doral, at the (2) Animal Services Cutler Bay facility, as well as through weekend events via the (3) Mobile Animal Clinic (MAC). Over five hundred owned bully breed dogs will receive services to help prevent unwanted litters and improve pet health. The MAC spay and neuter weekend events will take place in areas within the community to expand services beyond the Doral and Cutler Bay clinics. + + +

Miami-Dade County residents can register their pets and learn more by visiting www.operationpitstop.com or calling 311. In addition to the free health services, bully breed pet owners will get the opportunity to enter to win cash and other prizes, including weekly cash prizes, gift cards or one of several high definition 70” televisions."

ADDITIONAL TIPS TO STAY BITE-FREE THIS SUMMER

· Apply a mosquito repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR-3535 prior to venturing outdoors · Discard yard objects no longer in use, such as toys, and pots, planters, tires, and home appliances · Install fine mesh screens over windows, doors, porches, and patios, and keeping them in good repair thereafter · Check lawn faucets and air conditioning units to make sure they are not pooling water, which creates breeding sites · Clear out rain gutters from time to time to avoid clogging and standing water · Keep swimming pool pump equipment running on a timer and water chemicals properly balanced · Fill tree and yard holes with sand · Replace the water in outdoor pet dishes and birdbaths at least once a week · Store water tables and kiddie pools upside down when not in use · Ensure that car, boat, and other tarps are not collecting water

Residents can a request a mosquito inspection of their homes or businesses by calling 311 or clicking miamidade.gov/311direct.

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS

The Miami-Dade Public Library System (MDPLS) has officially opened its summer programming, including the annual Summer Reading Challenge, Homework Help and Tutoring summer sessions and many more fun events and activities. The programs sound wonderful: I'm tempted to volunteer for the Tutoring program. In addition card holders can borrow computers. Everything you need to know about the summer Library System offerings can be found here.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Did you know that "affordable housing" is defined as housing costs that are 30% or below a household's annual income? Currently, for a household of one the range of "affordable housing" annual income limits is $1 - $81,960, as far as I can figure out. This works out to rent ranges below $ 0.03 - $ 2,049/month. I have been unable to find a quotable range, and, thus, do not know what is meant by "affordable" in the following statements:

"A new goal to have at least 18,000 units of affordable and workforce housing* in financial closing by the end of 2023, in addition to the 14,000 units already in the pipeline, for a total of 32,000 additional units that will be added to the housing supply. The administration is partnering with the University of Miami (UM)'s Office of Civic and Community Engagement to create a real-time dashboard to monitor units from planning to completion since the beginning of the mayor's [Daniella Levine Cava's] term (November 2020) to December 2023. To see the dashboard, visit https://miamidade.gov/housingtracker."

"A commitment of up to $100 million from the Healthy Housing Foundation to invest in affordable housing in Miami-Dade, part of the mayor's efforts to convene funding partners and bring significant new investment to build affordable housing in our community. $5 million will go towards Mayor Levine Cava’s recently launched Building Blocks Fund – increasing the funds available to $75 million to finance the development and preservation of affordable and workforce housing in Miami-Dade County."

As I read it, this means that developers who are going to build "affordable and workplace housing" can get grants to help toward the cost of construction.

*"Workforce housing is defined as housing that is affordable for families whose incomes are within 60 to140 percent of the County's area median income" (AMI). Miami-Dade County's AMI is $ 68,300. Thus, the monthly rent for "workforce housing" would be $ 3,415 - $ 7,502.

REVISION

Literally, I've had a revision - a review - if you will, of some of my thoughts about the RTZ proposal. I have been assured that South Miami does not stand in jeopardy of losing control of its zoning along the MetroRail. That is because the zoning South Miami has in place is adequately dense. Pushing that South Miami is against the RTZ proposal is not a good political move. Perhaps linking (1) the need for affordable housing, (2) the availability of funding for developers, and (3) the totally inappropriate building proposal on the South Miami MetroRail site would be helpful. All the members of the Chairman's Policy Council are Miami-Dade Commissioners who will be voting on both drafts at a full Commission meeting after the drafts pass through the July 13th hearings.

Thanks for bearing with me.

Stay well and keep safe!