Why we at City Debate believe in Ricky Arriola:
1)Led the effort to permit homesteaded property owners to rent out existing accessory-dwelling units or backyard cottages to moderate-income individuals and families.
Proposed for all future city-owned parking garages to be designed with convertibility in mind. When parking demand decreases with the rise of car-sharing and vehicle autonomy, underutilized garages will be transformed into affordable housing units.
2) Enacted a Transportation Master Plan, which aims to build 23 miles of protected bike lanes within 10 years. By the end of 2019, we plan to finish a new 2.8 miles of bike lanes.
Continued route improvements for our citywide trolley system, which now carries an average of 14,044 riders a day. When we take cars off the streets our air is cleaner, and our pedestrians are safer.
3) Proposed a 1% Homelessness and Domestic Abuse tax that will go to fund a best practice, housing first policy that provides an apartment and wrap-around services to individuals experiencing homelessness. By doing so, Miami Beach will join most of Miami-Dade County municipalities that contribute to the Miami-Dade County’s Homeless Trust’s mission to end homelessness.
Secured a partnership with Camillus House that brings in professional medical practitioners to conduct specialized outreach to mentally ill homeless persons under Project Lazarus.
Participated in several Point in Time (PIT) Counts, which are required for municipalities to receive funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
4) Fought to pass a $169 million GO Bond to modernize our parks system with the goal of making it first in class. Park design, fixtures, and playgrounds should all be artistic, beautiful, and functional!
Collaborated with the local fitness community to rebrand the fitness area in Lummus Park as Muscle Beach South Beach, which now includes a purposeful fitness sculpture that has raised our profile as a health and wellness destination.
Negotiated a public-private development agreement that will yield a new 3-acre public park along Alton Road and another new 3-acre public park in North Beach
