As we talk about what's new and what's changed in the past year… we must also look ahead to what's next.

Elections
Following a nearly flawless primary in January, our Elections Department is now focused on successfully transitioning to a new voting system.  We expect another record turnout.  Commissioner Pepe Diaz sat on our canvassing board on primary night verifying absentee ballots.  He understands, as do I, that there is no greater testament to a free society than the right to vote.

With little time left until the general election, we must urge the State to certify the optical scan machines as soon as possible.  They provide what voters have been clamoring for - a verifiable paper trail.  What it won't have is the technological ease we have all become accustomed to.  The optical scan machines involve old-fashioned paper and a pen.  Voters will fill in the appropriate bubble to mark their preferences.

Despite the simplicity, voter education is key.  We must make sure every vote counts!  Like the elections of 2000, the world will be watching.

As we act locally, we're also thinking globally about places and projects that will fuel our local economy and keep us on the map as a prime business and tourism destination.

Much has been said about the "global agreement."  I support this agreement because it maximizes our financial resources.  I support it because it creates local jobs - good-paying jobs at a time when our community really needs them.  Most importantly, I support the agreement because each project - taken on its own merits - makes sense.

Let's start with the port tunnel.  I'll put it bluntly.  We're losing cargo business.  Cargo makes up 50% of what we do at the seaport.

The bottom line is cargo companies can't make money if they can't move merchandise.  A port tunnel enables our seaport to compete by getting trucks in and out of the seaport efficiently - and without disrupting downtown traffic. 

The State came to us with $650 million dollars to build, operate and maintain the tunnel.  It's a gift we'd be foolish to give back.   And no matter what, Miami-Dade County won't spend one more penny than promised. 
We're also forging new deals with port operators that will take us into the next few decades.

As we move forward, we are mindful of our cruise industry.  We covet their business and the title "Cruise Capital of the World".  Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian will always have a home at the Port of Miami.

Another prong of the "global agreement" is building a stadium not for the Marlins, but for Miami-Dade County residents.

After years of discussion and weeks of negotiations, we have forged an agreement with team owners and the City of Miami.  If both the City and County Commissions sign off tomorrow - this public-private partnership is one we can all put in the "WIN" column.

The question is often asked, why should government be involved in the building of stadiums?  It's a fair public policy debate.

Two weeks ago, baseball great and local hero Mike Lowell came to County Hall.  He said, "The thing I appreciate the most and what I did not have as a kid was being able to see professional baseball growing up in Miami.   I want to commend the Commission and everyone in Miami-Dade County for their efforts in keeping professional baseball here."

Ladies and gentleman, baseball is for families.  We're not building a baseball stadium to the exclusion of everything else.  We're building a stadium along with everything else.

As we move forward with projects in the "global agreement," a new vision will guide the way we think about all development in Miami-Dade County.  Two years ago, we began crafting a Parks and Open Space Master Plan.  It's now complete. 

We're changing the way we all think about building the public realm:  parks, public spaces, and natural and cultural areas.  A sidewalk is not just a lump of concrete, it's a tree-lined path that can connect a library to a park, or a park to a school.  A street is not just for moving cars, but for moving people, whether walking on a tree-lined sidewalk or riding a bicycle on a designated bike-lane.  A street is a linear park.

Commissioner Javier Souto has proven again and again his love for our parks and open spaces.  My call to action is that our departments, as well as our local, state and federal counterparts buy into this vision of an interconnected park system that can guide future development.  A beautiful park realm should be embedded into the goals and policies of every County department and public agency.

Every prosperous and livable community has a great park system.  Places like New York, Seattle, and Washington DC.  When great parks systems are talked about, Miami-Dade County should be a part of the conversation.

Programs and projects are just part of "what's next" for Miami-Dade County government. Thanks to a committed Charter Review Task Force, we now have 18 recommendations that have the potential to improve our basic structure of government.

Let's give Commissioners a full-time salary for a full-time job.  Let's raise the bar and make it harder to move the Urban Development Boundary.  Let's streamline the petition process to ensure voters can successfully seek change at the grassroots level.

I want to acknowledge the Chairman of the Charter Review Task Force, Victor Diaz, for leading a process that was serious, meticulous and above reproach. 

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