The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners held its regular meeting on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, beginning at 9:30 AM in the Commission Chambers. The meeting covered a wide range of items including special recognitions, consent items, public hearings, ordinances on first and second reading, and numerous departmental and commissioner-sponsored resolutions. Key highlights included the termination of a federal consent decree for the corrections department, adoption of a peafowl mitigation policy for District 12 and District 7, approval of a land exchange for the Harry Cain public housing site, and discussions on the sale of the historic county courthouse.
I know we're starting a little later than we thought. But I think the bed sheets caught my colleagues today. They wrapped up my colleagues and not letting them out of bed. Or there's just accidents out there, unfortunately, which is what I'm really told. All right, guys, thank you for being here. Wow, we have a lot of. So who is who is guarding our jails today? Seriously. Who is guarding the prisoners? All right. We are going to start with a recognition proclamation for Miami Dade Corrections Department for Distinguished Service and termination of the consent decree. I think it is the first time in over 13 years that we're not over federal oversight. So that's a big deal. Congratulations, actually. That's a big deal. This achievement uh not only reflects years of reform in jail conditions, but also medical and mental health care and suicide prevention. And it's the result of strong collaboration between MDCR and Jackson Health Systems, Corrections Health Services as well. Is Jackson in the house as well or not? All right. We'll have Jackson in the house. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you to everyone, the administration, my colleagues, Jackson, Corrections Department, our chief, our director, everyone that had a hand in uh in making this happen, and those that perhaps are not even here today, uh, but had a hand in in making sure that this uh federal consent decree was was lifted. Um if the chief and uh director could could join us up here, uh and Madam Mayor, I'll let you uh say some words and then present the official proclamation, and then I think Director Green might have something as well, right? Madam Mayor. Wow. I am overflowing with joy and gratitude for your being here to be acknowledged for the incredible work that you do each and every day, taking care of people who are in our custody and who need you not only to be strong, but to be compassionate. And truly, we've turned the corner because culture has changed in our corrections department, because we know we have a responsibility to take care of each other, keep each other safe, which we have done, you have done, and to make sure that our inmates as well are safe. The challenges that we faced. And when I came to understand them, I dedicated myself fully. Who just held their heads high and just never gave up, never never gave up. We forged new relationships of collaboration, which had not been so collaborative before with Jackson, and Dr. Susan Payton is here representing Jackson, and she has really been instrumental in this journey. But it's the men and the women who were here today who made it possible. Your commitment, your dedication, and you had always been committed and dedicated, but your spirits were low. Am I right? And it starts with you. We have to show you how much we value you. How we depend upon you, and we believe in you, and truly, truly, that's what we have today in our Miami Dade Corrections Department. It wasn't easy. And there were a lot of bumps in the road. Our lawyers, and I'm gonna say to Jerry and to Gerald who are here representing them, we had the finest legal counsel. We had a great partnership, as I said with Jackson. And by the way, it's not just physical care, it was emotional care. Because as was mentioned by the chair, you know, a lot of this is self-harm. A lot of what you have to deal with is self-harm, and how to be sure to protect people from themselves. That was a journey as well. But everything from the cleanliness to the repairs to the facilities, uh, which we're building a new one. All right, we're building a new one. Yeah, that's an applause line.