City of Sunny Isles Beach Official Website
By Alex Lama, Commissioner (Tuesday, September 5, 2023) – When the internet went mainstream in the mid-1990s and the flow of information started to proliferate, the thought was that these new sources of information would empower people to have more data and be better equipped to know the truth. It was an exciting time and felt liberating. The underlying thought …
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Florida Legislative Highlights for 2023
By Alex Lama, Commissioner (Monday, July 10, 2023) – The State of Florida concluded its 2023 legislative sessions on May 5. Below are some outcomes that affect local governments and Florida residents. Sovereign Immunity CS/HB 401 (Beltran) and SB 604 (Gruters) – The failed bills proposed an increase in the statutory limits on liability for tort claims against the state, …
Read More »Mental Health is Health
By Alex Lama, Commissioner (Thursday, May 11, 2023) – May is National Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States and the importance of mental health needs to be emphasized and brought to the forefront in our society, especially now that depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns have been amplified by the COVID pandemic and current societal and economic …
Read More »Proposed Charter Amendments – Election Results
(Friday, June 3, 2023) – On Tuesday, May 23, 2023, the City of Sunny Isles Beach held a Special Election to vote on 14 proposed amendments to the City’s Charter. The following are the results: Appointment of Vice Mayor It was proposed that the Charter be amended to provide that the Vice Mayor be elected by nomination of the Mayor, …
Read More »Resources from Miami-Dade County
By Alex Lama, Commissioner (Friday, March 3, 2023) – Hello, dear friends and neighbors – it’s been a while. I hope that you are doing well. 2022 sure tested our spirits and further trained us to be resilient. I am positive that 2023 will be a better year for us in Sunny Isles Beach and our surrounding communities. Based on …
Read More »Moving Forward
By Alex Lama, Commissioner (Wednesday, November 2, 2022) – I would like to commend and thank the Police Department, City Manager’s Office, the city staff and my fellow commissioners on the accomplishments we have been able to achieve so far in 2022. As public servants and city employees, our number one priority is to work for the well-being of the …
Read More »Beware of Fentanyl
By Alex Lama, Commissioner (August 3, 2022) – Fentanyl overdose has become the leading cause of death in the U.S. for adults ages 18-45, per the CDC, with deaths involving synthetic opioids, mostly fentanyl, rising from 50,000 in 2020 to 71,000 in 2022. Fentanyl is a synthetic drug that is very cheap to manufacture and can be 100 times stronger …
Read More »Remarkable Recognitions
By Alex Lama, Commissioner (Friday, May 6, 2022) – It is with great pleasure and admiration that I bring attention to some great deeds and accomplishments by our own Sunny Isles Beach residents and employees. Ocean Rescue Team: On February 23, 2022, Louis and Douglas from our Ocean Rescue Team Tower #174 rescued a resident who was swimming in the …
Read More »Leading by Example
By Alex Lama, Commissioner (Friday, March 4, 2022) – Elected officials are public servants chosen by residents to serve the community and make their lives better. Voters have entrusted these elected officials with the honor and privilege to carry out their duties in the most efficient, diligent and professional manner. As stewards of the community, public servants must always be …
Read More »Important State Legislation for 2022
By Alex Lama, Commissioner (Friday, January 7, 2022) – As we commence 2022, I wish you a healthy, prosperous and happy new year. I also want to inform you of important upcoming legislation proposals at the 2022 Florida Legislative Session in Tallahassee from January 11 – March 11, 2022. Local Ordinances SB 280 (Hutson) and HB 403 (Giallombardo) would require …
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