Miami-Dade commissioners want to keep meeting virtually in pandemic

The Miami-Dade Commission had another “last” meeting Monday — this will really have to be the last because the new guys get sworn in Tuesday — to vote on a resolution that would allow some of them to keep meeting virtually during the COVID19 state of emergency.

They have to have a quorum. And the people phoning it in have to have a medical reason.

But if the public wants to comment at a public hearing, it’s at your own risk.

In the wake of Gov. Ron DeSantis suspending the emergency order that allows local governments to meet virtually rather than in-person, this resolution sponsored by Commissioner Javier “Senador” Souto, who is 142 years old, was co-sponsored by every single commissioner present.

But Vice Chair Rebeca Sosa, who is a cancer survivor, wants the governor to allow local governments to decide for themselves, based on local COVID19 positivity rates, when it is safe to go back to chambers.

“It’s very easy to be up there with so little cases, than down here with so many cases every day,” Sosa said. “What we are seeing every day is more and more cases. We need to do things in a way that we keep everybody safe.”

According to the Florida Department of Health COVID dashboard Monday, Miami-Dade has had 203,654 people test positive for the Coronavirus since testing began. The median age is 41 and 52% of them are Hispanic. The county has also recorded 3,709 deaths and there are 8,368 hospitalizations.

Sosa wants the county to communicate with DeSantis and urge him to allow local governments to decide based on their numbers. “To protect the citizens who come to speak, to protect the employees who are part of our family, and to protect everybody sitting at this table.” She’s going to have to bring it up Thursday with the newbies because there wasn’t enough notice given to vote on it Monday.

Chairwoman Audrey Edmonson said that the county lobbyist, Ron Book, had approached the governor’s office about extending the order. “He said they laughed in his face,” Edmonson said.

The resolution allowing the commissioners to stay home for COVID — and it’s an honor’s system, while school teachers have to meet ADA criteria — passed 9-0. It was sponsored by all 10 of them there — it’s gotten comfy Zooming the meeting from home in your PJs — so someone must have gone home early already.

Commissioner Joe Martinez questioned how it’s going to be enforced, but he voted for it anyway.

A county attorney explained that it is only for COVID-related medical reasons, such as being in quarantine — like Higgins is right now — or being in a high risk group that is struck harder by the Coronavirus. He cited diabetes or “advanced age” as examples.

“A couple of heart attacks,” Commissioner Joe Martinez asked.

“Yes, sir,” he was told.

“Who are going to be the seven sacrificial lambs who are going to come down here so the rest of us can stay home,” Martinez asked.

The yunguns who were just elected Nov. 3 are expected to put themselves at risk to make the quorum. That would be commissioners Oliver Gilbert, Keon Hardemon, Raquel Regalado, Kionne McGhee and Rene Garcia, all of whom are sworn-in Tuesday. Plus commissioners Jean Monestime and Eileen Higgins. Plus Sosa won’t miss a meeting. She lives for this.

But why couldn’t this be added to Thursday’s agenda for the new commission, with the five new commissioners voting on it? It seems like those sacrificial lambs ought to get a say, at least.

Also, what about employees? Do county staffers and department heads get the same courtesy. Please notice the wipes and sanitizer near the county attorney’s section of the dais. She seems worried.

And what about the public? Do we the people still get to comment and participate in public hearings virtually through the Zoom platform? Or are we all forced to go to the lobby to make comments before a screen, because nobody is allowed in chambers now? What difference does it make if it’s from a screen downtown or from someone’s living room on Zoom?

So, let Ladra get this straight. The public is expected to go downtown — even if they have to take public transportation — if they want to oppose a zoning variance or otherwise participate in the democratic process. Children and teachers must go to brick and mortar schools. Doctors, nurses, firefighters and police officers and janitors must work because they are essential. So do bus drivers and waiters. People are taking the bus. Restaurants are open.

Why are electeds getting special treatment?

No. Commissioners should not be able to vote from home in virtual meetings and newly-elected Alcaldesa Daniella Levine Cava should make this her first veto. Commissioners want to stay home and participate? Sure. Add to the discussion? Yeah, ok. But they cannot vote.

Just like Commissioner Higgins participated by phone at the last “last” meeting on Friday because she’s in quarantine. One of her staff members tested positive and, she called in from home. But she couldn’t vote.

Why can’t we leave it like that? The problem with electeds phoning in a vote — like South Miami Commissioner Josh Liebman has done forever — is that we really don’t know what’s going on where they are. How do we there’s not a lobbyists holding a gun to his or her head?

If children can go to school, our electeds can meet in person.

COVID19, Javier Souto, Rebeca Sosa, virtual meetings

Miami-Dade commissioners want to keep meeting virtually in pandemic added by Ladra on November 17, 2020
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