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As we head into a new year, I want to thank the families of Miami-Dade County for the opportunity to serve you. Over the course of twelve town halls, more than two hundred community events and neighborhood visits, and thousands of calls, emails, and text messages, my team and I have heard directly from residents. The issues vary, from potholes and illegal dumping to speeding and traffic safety. One concern is universal. Affordability.
Residents ask me a simple and serious question. Do I ever truly own my home, or am I just renting it from the government? That question is always on my mind.
Homeownership matters. It is how families build security, remain rooted in their neighborhoods, and pass something on to their children. When housing costs rise, people feel insecure.
That is why I support real reform at the state level to cut or eliminate property taxes, especially for seniors who deserve certainty and peace as they age in place. Long time residents should not be taxed out of the homes they spent decades working to keep. And property taxes should not determine whether a young couple buys their first home or delays starting a family.
At the county level, homeowners deserve a government that respects their money and prioritizes life safety and core services. That is what residents tell me every day. It means holding the line on taxes and fees, cutting waste, and demanding accountability for every public dollar. A great example was our recent legislation aimed at reforming how Miami-Dade funds Community Based Organizations. I worked with my colleagues to advance legislation requiring greater transparency, performance review, and accountability, because every dollar spent comes from family budgets.
That same discipline must apply to life safety. We advanced an initiative to evaluate countywide emergency response times, because when seconds count, government performance is not optional.
Residents also deserve a government that is easy to reach and responsive. That is why we hold Mobile Office Hours every Monday in different parts of the community. We launched a text message helpline so people can request assistance without delays or bureaucracy. Through neighborhood outreach, our office listens directly, answers questions, and connects residents with real help.
Last year, our office handled more than one thousand constituent cases by phone, text, email, and in person. We assisted residents at more than two hundred community events and home visits. We supported the resurfacing of nearly thirty miles of roadways, added more than eighty new 25 mph signs near schools, and installed speed tables in high crash zones to protect families. None of that happens without a team that understands service and follows through.
This year, the focus continues on lowering taxes, making life more affordable, and getting back to basics, meaning responsible spending, reliable services, public safety, and attention to the everyday issues families face.
Moving forward, we must continue examining how government operates, including procurement. Recently, I pushed for a best and final offer on a contract that delivered three million dollars in savings, proof that when government tightens its processes, taxpayers keep more of their hard earned money.
That same approach guides our work to protect homeowners today. Through expanded property tax outreach, we have helped residents better understand exemptions, payment options, and appeals so rising costs do not force families out of the homes they worked hard to build.
That is how we protect homeowners. That is how we respect taxpayers. And that is how we keep Miami-Dade a place where families can build a life and stay rooted for generations.
If you have questions about property taxes, exemptions, neighborhood concerns, or ideas to make Miami-Dade more affordable and more responsive, please call or text my office at 305 267-6377.
