Miami-Dade County putting people first by considering social impact of future legislation before it becomes law

(MIAMI-DADE, FL) – The County will begin taking a closer look at how its actions could affect residents’ quality of life and pocketbooks under a new set of rules adopted at the Sept. 1 Miami-Dade County Commission meeting.

The new procedures, which were approved as part of a groundbreaking ordinance sponsored by Chairman Jean Monestime, call for the mayor’s office to produce a “social equity statement” on the potential impacts of any proposed ordinance on the quality of life, including in the areas of housing affordability, public and private employment opportunities, wages and benefits, and cost of living. Commissioners Barbara Jordan and Daniella Levine-Cava were co-prime sponsors of the ordinance, which represents a major policy shift in how the County approaches legislation.

“We have a responsibility as the governing board of Miami-Dade County to ensure that our policies are not negatively impacting our residents’ quality of life or contributing to greater income inequality,” Chairman Monestime said. “Including a social equity statement in proposed ordinances reinforces this County’s commitment to putting people first.”

The new rules grew out of recent discussions by the Chairman’s Council for Prosperity Initiatives, which was set up early this year by Chairman Monestime with the objective of identifying ways to reduce the County’s income gap. The next Council for Prosperity Initiatives meeting is scheduled for Sept. 28.