“I appreciate that. Let me just point out that we had a nice meeting recently. The City Manager, by the way, has done a great job on this. Assistant City Manager, the Zoning Department, the Building Department. And we had a lot of the I had a lot more people show up than we expected from the private sector.”

Appreciation for staff efforts and private sector engagement

“I've heard now of two businesses, two long time established businesses who are being forced out because of egregious rent raises. The Panther Coffey in Sunset Harbor got their rent jacked by $15,000 a month, which is egregious.”

Highlighting issue of landlords raising rents excessively and displacing long-established businesses

“We had this little unoccupied space up in North Beach and it has become possibly the single most successful business up in North Beach, which is Le Peuple, which is Alive Cabaret. Enclosed shows get sold out within minutes of tickets being released.”

Providing an example of successful entertainment venue that resulted from filling vacant space

“We had to throw the circuit breaker for two years. We had to disrupt and re-educate about what behavior is acceptable here in Miami Beach. But we also want people to come back to Miami Beach and treat our city with the care and respect and affection that it deserves.”

Balancing past strict measures with current efforts to welcome visitors

“The beach access, both in terms of when it is closing and how people can get onto beaches, needs to be rethought. To have only two is counterproductive.”

Arguing for increased beach access points beyond current two locations

“I don't want our police to be less vigilant, but perhaps we can delay LPRs and DUI stops until after that concert lets out and give it a little breathing room.”

Suggesting timing adjustments for police enforcement during Lady Gaga concert

“Lady Gaga is playing on Friday the 13th. It's a one night only event. It's a makeup for the night that she had to cancel last year. We need to plan proactively.”

Discussing upcoming Lady Gaga concert and traffic management plans

“The sidewalk cafes will be open during the day by default. That is a big deal.”

Confirming clarification about sidewalk cafe operations

“I'm glad that happened. For anybody who might not have seen it, I encourage you to go back and watch. It was really constructive. A lot of good ideas back and forth.”

Praising Commissioner Fernandez for convening the public safety meeting yesterday

“It's just a way to incentivize redevelopment of affordable housing rather than building new.”

Explaining the naturally occurring affordable housing pilot program in North Beach (C4-U)

“I did not know about that comment. I was there in the back talking to other people. I made very different comments. I purposely left you out of the video out of respect for your office. What I said very clearly, you are a citizen of this country. You are permitted to use your voice to express your dissatisfaction to the government. But I will withdraw my nomination. I do not believe she was being nominated or she was going to be the chair. I will commend her for her work that I know she's passionate about, but I don't think that that kind of rhetoric is appropriate. And certainly making staff cry is not appropriate. So I'm removing.”

Withdrawing Amanda Knapp's nomination

“I never would call another commissioner a puppet bitch. And if I ever appointed someone who would have talked to you that way or Commissioner Dominguez or anyone up here, I would have immediately removed my appointment immediately. And that's exactly what I did with Inez Flacks today. I didn't wait a second, and I did the right thing, because I know that people like that should not be representing our city.”

Defending his actions on appointments

“You know, I would also put into the record, physician heal thyself. You are also an agent of division. How much money did you spend against somebody who you weren't even running against?”

Responding to Commissioner Suarez's criticism of Knapp

“I don't personally particularly like these whatsoever. I do think that they unnecessarily clog our sidewalks, but we are preempted by the state. So we're trying to put some guardrails around here.”

Acknowledging personal opposition to delivery robots while explaining state preemption constraints

“I would be very happy to amend this here on the dais to ten miles an hour to get across crosswalks, to get them out of the lane of traffic and six miles an hour on sidewalks to ensure there are no or to try to ensure there are no accidents with people minding their own business.”

Proposing amendment for differentiated speed limits in crosswalks versus sidewalks

“I think it is too broad and too tall and I'm not. Maybe I'm missing it, but I didn't see in here that the planning board recommendations were incorporated in the current iteration. And so I want to support something that addresses the housing for the missing middle. It is a huge issue. But I, I think the way this is currently is too broad to draconian.”

Expressing concerns about scope and lack of planning board recommendations in Washington Avenue plan

“I would like to make sure it doesn't happen. I would like to say not more than three projects, let's say until we know. And this is what I said about town center. You know, with the micro units, I'm like, yeah, they they could be amazing. They could be great for a certain subsegment of the population. So let's try a building.”

Proposing limitations on number of projects allowed under new zoning

“We have 1439 new units between residential units and co-living units in, in North Beach. And that was done as of right with no community benefits negotiated. Those developers are not working towards improving parks or water quality or infrastructure. Nobody is dealing with the horrific traffic.”

Discussing lack of developer contributions in North Beach developments

“I've always been a vocal opponent of TDRs. I don't think we have the the self-control as a community to do that the right way. And so I'm not a fan and, you know, I, I have been living in North Beach since 2016. And I saw what happened when we upzoned where we went from an agreed, I think it was 8 to 12 stories to 22 stories for the most egregious example with no developer benefits.”

Discussing North Beach upzoning and infrastructure concerns

“Yeah, it's not for study about affordable housing. It's a totally different item. So I was initially very supportive of this concept, and I share my colleague's concern about the lack of housing for the missing middle. I think where I got concerned, am concerned is that it is an enormous swath going up to 100ft as opposed to 75ft, which I was much more comfortable with.”

Expressing concerns about height limits in Washington Avenue zoning plan

“The problem lies when there are no immediate responses to very valid questions, because I think conversation diffuses a lot of the concerns... We had a very robust public conversation in this chamber... It was cathartic... And that didn't happen here. And I urge us all where if we are put in situations where there are questions asked, that we answer them transparently and quickly and with full disclosure.”

Comparing current response to O Cinema incident from previous year

“Free speech is absolutely sacrosanct in my view. You can have the greatest opinions in the world. You can have the most hideous opinions in the world when it rises to a possibility of a public safety issue. That's a different conversation.”

Balancing First Amendment rights with public safety concerns

“These three hateful individuals with large platforms who are alleged sex traffickers and rapists and avowed proud anti-Semites... thought that this was cool in a nightclub on a Saturday night, drinking, partying... What would have stopped anything from going from this group of idiots in a nightclub to ginning themselves up and taking to the streets and saying death to Jews along Washington Avenue?”

Discussing Vendome incident and public safety implications

“Our first job up here is public safety. We can agree or disagree on zoning or opening hours of businesses or anything else. But at the end of the day, it's public safety for our residents, our elected officials, our visitors.”

Opening statement on priorities following anti-Semitic incidents

“I'm done with it. I don't want to approve single applications anymore. I want to build a city. I want to build a community where our kids can grow up.”

Expressing commitment to comprehensive zoning reform rather than case-by-case development

“Tallahassee came and took those decisions out of our hands. You know why we deserved it. We deserved it.”

Referencing state preemption of local zoning decisions and accepting responsibility

“We've added in the past 12 years, thousands, thousands of hotel rooms. But when we look at non-waterfront residential housing that's been added in the past 12 years citywide, do you know how many units? Under 200.”

Comparing hotel development to residential development over past 12 years

“We all talk about housing affordability. Every single one of us puts them on the cute fliers. What have we done? We talked about it on the planning board six years ago, my daughter's moms moved out of the city, and she can't even live in the same city.”

Expressing frustration with lack of progress on housing affordability

“Single use commercial corridors are living in when the zoning was created for it in the 1980s. It is just it's not a way modern cities function anymore.”

Explaining the need to move away from single-use commercial zoning

“A reimagination of Washington Avenue is the most consequential thing that we can do for our city. I don't care about any other legislation that I've had in the past two years.”

Expressing strong support for the Washington Avenue revitalization proposal

“It's just a way to incentivize redevelopment of affordable housing rather than building new.”

Explaining the naturally occurring affordable housing pilot program in North Beach (C4-U)

“I did not know about that comment. I was there in the back talking to other people. I made very different comments. I purposely left you out of the video out of respect for your office. What I said very clearly, you are a citizen of this country. You are permitted to use your voice to express your dissatisfaction to the government. But I will withdraw my nomination. I do not believe she was being nominated or she was going to be the chair. I will commend her for her work that I know she's passionate about, but I don't think that that kind of rhetoric is appropriate. And certainly making staff cry is not appropriate. So I'm removing.”

Withdrawing Amanda Knapp's nomination

“I never would call another commissioner a puppet bitch. And if I ever appointed someone who would have talked to you that way or Commissioner Dominguez or anyone up here, I would have immediately removed my appointment immediately. And that's exactly what I did with Inez Flacks today. I didn't wait a second, and I did the right thing, because I know that people like that should not be representing our city.”

Defending his actions on appointments

“You know, I would also put into the record, physician heal thyself. You are also an agent of division. How much money did you spend against somebody who you weren't even running against?”

Responding to Commissioner Suarez's criticism of Knapp

“I think it is too broad and too tall and I'm not. Maybe I'm missing it, but I didn't see in here that the planning board recommendations were incorporated in the current iteration. And so I want to support something that addresses the housing for the missing middle. It is a huge issue. But I, I think the way this is currently is too broad to draconian.”

Expressing concerns about scope and lack of planning board recommendations in Washington Avenue plan

“I would like to make sure it doesn't happen. I would like to say not more than three projects, let's say until we know. And this is what I said about town center. You know, with the micro units, I'm like, yeah, they they could be amazing. They could be great for a certain subsegment of the population. So let's try a building.”

Proposing limitations on number of projects allowed under new zoning

“We have 1439 new units between residential units and co-living units in, in North Beach. And that was done as of right with no community benefits negotiated. Those developers are not working towards improving parks or water quality or infrastructure. Nobody is dealing with the horrific traffic.”

Discussing lack of developer contributions in North Beach developments

“I've always been a vocal opponent of TDRs. I don't think we have the the self-control as a community to do that the right way. And so I'm not a fan and, you know, I, I have been living in North Beach since 2016. And I saw what happened when we upzoned where we went from an agreed, I think it was 8 to 12 stories to 22 stories for the most egregious example with no developer benefits.”

Discussing North Beach upzoning and infrastructure concerns

“Yeah, it's not for study about affordable housing. It's a totally different item. So I was initially very supportive of this concept, and I share my colleague's concern about the lack of housing for the missing middle. I think where I got concerned, am concerned is that it is an enormous swath going up to 100ft as opposed to 75ft, which I was much more comfortable with.”

Expressing concerns about height limits in Washington Avenue zoning plan

“I'm done with it. I don't want to approve single applications anymore. I want to build a city. I want to build a community where our kids can grow up.”

Expressing commitment to comprehensive zoning reform rather than case-by-case development

“Tallahassee came and took those decisions out of our hands. You know why we deserved it. We deserved it.”

Referencing state preemption of local zoning decisions and accepting responsibility

“We've added in the past 12 years, thousands, thousands of hotel rooms. But when we look at non-waterfront residential housing that's been added in the past 12 years citywide, do you know how many units? Under 200.”

Comparing hotel development to residential development over past 12 years

“We all talk about housing affordability. Every single one of us puts them on the cute fliers. What have we done? We talked about it on the planning board six years ago, my daughter's moms moved out of the city, and she can't even live in the same city.”

Expressing frustration with lack of progress on housing affordability

“Single use commercial corridors are living in when the zoning was created for it in the 1980s. It is just it's not a way modern cities function anymore.”

Explaining the need to move away from single-use commercial zoning

“A reimagination of Washington Avenue is the most consequential thing that we can do for our city. I don't care about any other legislation that I've had in the past two years.”

Expressing strong support for the Washington Avenue revitalization proposal

“This is a simple replacement of the rainbow crosswalk that was torn up at the request. The mandate of our state government. The artists and architects and landscape architects who were involved in its original creation donated their services pro bono to the city to come up with a very understated way to honor the crosswalk by flipping it almost exactly into the park in Lummus Park.”

Explaining rainbow crosswalk restoration project

“I don't personally particularly like these whatsoever. I do think that they unnecessarily clog our sidewalks, but we are preempted by the state. So we're trying to put some guardrails around here.”

Acknowledging personal opposition to delivery robots while explaining state preemption constraints

“I would be very happy to amend this here on the dais to ten miles an hour to get across crosswalks, to get them out of the lane of traffic and six miles an hour on sidewalks to ensure there are no or to try to ensure there are no accidents with people minding their own business.”

Proposing amendment for differentiated speed limits in crosswalks versus sidewalks

“I've heard now of two businesses, two long time established businesses who are being forced out because of egregious rent raises. The Panther Coffey in Sunset Harbor got their rent jacked by $15,000 a month, which is egregious.”

Highlighting issue of landlords raising rents excessively and displacing long-established businesses

“We had this little unoccupied space up in North Beach and it has become possibly the single most successful business up in North Beach, which is Le Peuple, which is Alive Cabaret. Enclosed shows get sold out within minutes of tickets being released.”

Providing an example of successful entertainment venue that resulted from filling vacant space

“We had to throw the circuit breaker for two years. We had to disrupt and re-educate about what behavior is acceptable here in Miami Beach. But we also want people to come back to Miami Beach and treat our city with the care and respect and affection that it deserves.”

Balancing past strict measures with current efforts to welcome visitors

“The beach access, both in terms of when it is closing and how people can get onto beaches, needs to be rethought. To have only two is counterproductive.”

Arguing for increased beach access points beyond current two locations

“I don't want our police to be less vigilant, but perhaps we can delay LPRs and DUI stops until after that concert lets out and give it a little breathing room.”

Suggesting timing adjustments for police enforcement during Lady Gaga concert

“Lady Gaga is playing on Friday the 13th. It's a one night only event. It's a makeup for the night that she had to cancel last year. We need to plan proactively.”

Discussing upcoming Lady Gaga concert and traffic management plans

“The sidewalk cafes will be open during the day by default. That is a big deal.”

Confirming clarification about sidewalk cafe operations

“I'm glad that happened. For anybody who might not have seen it, I encourage you to go back and watch. It was really constructive. A lot of good ideas back and forth.”

Praising Commissioner Fernandez for convening the public safety meeting yesterday

“The problem lies when there are no immediate responses to very valid questions, because I think conversation diffuses a lot of the concerns... We had a very robust public conversation in this chamber... It was cathartic... And that didn't happen here. And I urge us all where if we are put in situations where there are questions asked, that we answer them transparently and quickly and with full disclosure.”

Comparing current response to O Cinema incident from previous year

“Free speech is absolutely sacrosanct in my view. You can have the greatest opinions in the world. You can have the most hideous opinions in the world when it rises to a possibility of a public safety issue. That's a different conversation.”

Balancing First Amendment rights with public safety concerns

“These three hateful individuals with large platforms who are alleged sex traffickers and rapists and avowed proud anti-Semites... thought that this was cool in a nightclub on a Saturday night, drinking, partying... What would have stopped anything from going from this group of idiots in a nightclub to ginning themselves up and taking to the streets and saying death to Jews along Washington Avenue?”

Discussing Vendome incident and public safety implications

“This is a simple replacement of the rainbow crosswalk that was torn up at the request. The mandate of our state government. The artists and architects and landscape architects who were involved in its original creation donated their services pro bono to the city to come up with a very understated way to honor the crosswalk by flipping it almost exactly into the park in Lummus Park.”

Explaining rainbow crosswalk restoration project

“Our first job up here is public safety. We can agree or disagree on zoning or opening hours of businesses or anything else. But at the end of the day, it's public safety for our residents, our elected officials, our visitors.”

Opening statement on priorities following anti-Semitic incidents