CITY OF MIAMI COMMITS TO KEEPING SIDEWALKS PROTECTED AND OPEN DURING CONSTRUCTION

NO MORE CLOSED SIDEWALKS FORCING WHEELCHAIR USERS AND ALL PEDESTRIANS TO UNNECESSARILY CROSS DANGEROUS TRAFFIC

“…the City Commission approved our legislation requiring overhead pedestrian protection instead of simply closing sidewalks during construction.

Thank you to my colleagues who co-sponsored this important safety and quality-of-life initiative.” -- Miami City Commissioner Damian Pardo.

Kudos to Commissioner Damián Pardo and fellow Miami City Commissioners for approving this.

It is a crucial element of mobility for people with disabilities. 

I was proud to discuss this with Commissioner Pardo during a Miami DDA downtown block walk, to offer Universal Design insights to Alexandra Alexieva and to speak about the economic benefits of a walkable city in front of Mayor Eileen Higgins and the Commission at the first reading of this legislation.

I stand with this leadership to convince Miami-Dade County to adopt similar legislation to prevent the dangers of closed sidewalks on County streets.

 

PHOTO OPS AT WORLD CUP PARTIES ARE FUN

SAVING LIVES IS ESSENTIAL

I am begging Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins to take swift action to collaborate with Miami-Dade County to reduce unsafe conditions for pedestrians.

A Miami Herald story this week documented that greater Miami is one of the most dangerous places for pedestrians in the entire U.S.

I have supported and voted for Higgins since she ran for elected office in the County.

I attended her kickoff meeting when she successfully ran for mayor.

She has given me a proclamation for my artistic work to support historic preservation.

I now call on my fellow believer in public service and colleague to take decisive action.

A Chief Mobility Officer could save lives and increase safe mobility for all.

A city executive focused on stopping pedestrian deaths and severe injuries would be especially valuable for vulnerable residents who are disabled, elderly or very young.

More than 1/3 of Miamians cannot or do not drive.

That makes for a large constituency that would benefit from wide, unobstructed sidewalks, stiff fines for cars that park on them, longer better protected crosswalks and street redesign that slows down our dangerous drivers and protects mobility by foot, wheelchair or bike.

I suggested the Chief Mobility Officer position (full disclosure: yes, I would be interested in being the humble public servant who takes on this noble role) at the outset of 2026.

But I have yet to hear from our city's progressive mayor. 

Sorry that the Miami Herald chooses to keep this life safety story behind a subscription pay wall -- but you can get the gist from the free video at this link:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/traffic/article316075848.html