During the public comment period of Wednesday’s Miami Gardens City Council meeting, residents raised concerns about the city’s spending on a Juneteenth event that, according to one speaker, “totaled over 400,000 dollars.”
The resident, referencing a city report, noted that the event was exorbitant. Holding up a sign displaying the report’s line items — including acts like “Jagged Edge (80,000)” — she asked council members, “I ask you, is this being a good steward of our taxpayer dollars?”
She went on to highlight community needs, saying that local organizers had been asking for support with home repairs and senior citizen services. The resident also referenced the past incident involving Councilwoman Katrina Wilson, stating, “I am not an idiot as referred to by this dais on March 26, 2025.”
A second resident took the podium in solidarity, saying she was “not being an idiot,” addressing the earlier incident and adding, “If you cannot influence without authority, then what good are you?”
Following public comment, Councilmember Katrina Wilson did not immediately respond to the residents’ remarks. Instead, she delivered a report on her recent event with Dr. Steve Gallon and spoke to the issue of school system underenrollment.
“We have excellent principals in Miami Gardens… quality educational services are being delivered. The more that we support… the better this community becomes,” Wilson said.
She later reflected on the importance of historical awareness, emphasizing the significance of Juneteenth.
“We must know our history,” she said, adding, “we must galvanize behind preserving and passing down the accomplishments and the hurdles our people have had to overcome in order to know freedom.”
Some items on the agenda were more lighthearted and forward-looking. Vice Mayor Robert Stephens highlighted the city’s new environmental services training program, which began Monday, October 20. The 120-hour program aims to prepare residents for jobs in the growing environmental and sustainability sectors.
The council also discussed Ordinance 9.1, authorizing the sale of city-owned property at 15880 NW 27th Avenue to Sunshine Meat Market and Beverage Inc. for $1,060,000. The ordinance allows the city manager and city attorney to take all necessary steps to complete the sale.
Vice Mayor Stephens questioned the project’s timeline, saying, “Does the timeline need to be completed before selling?” He added that there should be “an aggressive project timeline in place… I don’t want 2030 to come, and the land is still vacant.” The property, city documents note, spans over 6,000 square feet.
Councilmember Linda Julien voiced her support for the sale but emphasized that having sufficient parking is a priority. Councilmember Reggie Leon added that “he would like for this to look like the community,” explaining that the project should reflect local needs and demographics through appropriate legal mechanisms.
Councilmember Wilson described Sunshine Meat Market as a “community staple in Miami Gardens” that also supports other small businesses by selling their products.
Before adjourning, Councilmembers Leon and Wilson discussed the structure of future meetings and how to better manage discussion time. Wilson noted, “Now we’re taking our comments as a council and putting it at the very end of the meeting.”
Mayor Rodney Harris asked members whether they wanted to maintain the two-to three-minute speaking limit, prompting Wilson to add that “those from the dais” sometimes leave before the discussion concludes.
Hy Lo News will continue to monitor what is happening in the Miami Gardens City Council meetings.
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