In 2016, the Town of Miami Lakes got a new mayor and a new council member, the former mayor’s lawsuit against the town was dismissed, and residents approved several charter changes, among other top headline news last year.
Cid becomes new town mayor in a landslide
Councilmember Manny Cid defeated incumbent mayor Michael Pizzi by 77 percent of the vote in a run-off election to become the new mayor.
Cid initially chose to run for his seat for District 5, but changed his mind following a call for new leadership by his supporters.
And it showed.
In the general election, Cid collected 46 percent of the vote but was forced into a run-off since neither candidate garnered 51 percent to win outright.
The 77 percent victory was the largest margin in the town’s history, as Cid snapped Pizzi’s undefeated streak in local elections at eight.
Pizzi’s lawsuit against city tossed
A judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by former mayor Michael Pizzi, who was seeking $2.5 million in attorneys’ fees from the town for his federal bribery corruption trial in 2014, when a jury acquitted him, and ignited another legal battle that returned him to political office.
Last month, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Antonio Marin granted a motion to dismiss the complaint without prejudice, after determining the complaint didn’t prove that Pizzi was serving a public purpose in seeking the town’s reimbursement of his fees, among other issues.
Pizzi had 20 days to amend his lawsuit against Miami Lakes, where he served as mayor for two-terms.
Advocate for senior citizens wins Town Council seat, Luiz Collazo, former chair of the Miami Lakes Elderly Affairs Committee, is the new face on the town’s council, winning Seat Five, which Manny Cid gave up to run for mayor.
Collazo, a 42-year-old health care administrator, collected 51 percent of the vote (6,602), while Esther Colon, a 62-year-old retired government administrator, mustered 24 percent (3,181), and 38-year-old attorney Nayib Hassan got 2,986 votes (23 percent).
Collazo campaigned on his community service experience such as working with the elderly and as a former president of Celebration Point Homeowners Association, that earned him accolades that included Volunteer of the Year award and a Key to the Town award.
The longtime Miami Lakes resident said he’s pushing for new exit points to alleviate traffic congestion, and advocate for a new advanced MDFR life support transport to reduce response times during emergencies.
Residents amended town charter to reflect a town council-manager form of government
In a mail-in ballot, residents voted to approve several significant charter changes that were suggested by the Miami Lakes Charter Review Committee.
Residents approved allowing the entire town council to pick its next town manager and town attorney instead of the mayor; the vice mayor fills the vacancy of the mayor for the duration of the vice mayor’s term and by special election in the event that the remainder of the mayor’s term is longer than the vice mayor’s term in office; and amended the Citizen’s Bill of Rights to provide that the town designate the representatives rather than the mayor to represent the town at all proceedings before the county, state and federal governments .
Miami Lakes on the brink of landing zip code
Miami Lakes is one step closer to getting its own zip code that would help lower residents’ auto insurance, among other issues.
Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill for an independent postal code for Miami Lakes, thanks to Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart.
The bill must be passed again in the new Congress and then heads to the Senate for a final vote and the town could have its own zip code sometime this year, perhaps by September.
Mayor Manny Cid has been leading the charge for an independent zip code since he was a council member.
Classic Cars event a fundraising success
The annual Miami Lakes Cars for a Cure, an event that raises money for the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, raised $10,700, three times the amount raised in 2015.
The event was such as success that the third annual event has already been scheduled for Sunday, April 2 at 10 a.m. on Main Street.
00020000052D0000109B527,The event honors Miami Lakes first vice mayor and organizer of the first classic car event on Main Street, Roberto Alonso, who had an affinity for classic cars. Following his death from cancer, his son, Roberto Alonso Jr., kept the showcase alive by raising cancer awareness and money to combat the deadly illness.
Dade Christian volleyball team crowned FCAA state champs
Last year’s Dade Christian girl’s volleyball team fell short of their goal of winning the state title. This year, the Crusaders made sure the championship trophy came home.
In dominating fashion, Dade Christian defeated Liberty Baptist in straight sets, 25-2, 25-7, to capture the FCAA state championship in Ft. Pierce, Florida.
It’s the first state title for the school’s volleyball team.
Led by Katherine Kemp, Lily Sierra, Samantha Dorta, Elizabeth “Lulu” Maldonado, Gabriella Gonzalez and Mallory Carrasco, the Crusaders cruised through the regular season and won the district championship.
They dominated the regionals and went undefeated in the state tournament to capture the championship trophy.
Dade Christian track and field standout brings home state title
Dade Christian track and field athlete Milton Ingraham won the state championship in the discus with a 157-10 score in the final competition and finished sixth in the shot put.
0002000003F6000015C23F0,Ingraham, a sophomore, won the state title in the discus as a middle school student at Dade Christian.
He also plays basketball for the Crusaders, a power forward who averaged six points and seven rebounds a game this past season.
Doreen Mercer, Dade Christian’s track and field coach said Ingraham is very committed to discus, holding records in the track and field event. He also made The Miami Herald’s All-Dade First Team in track and field.
“He has the talent to compete in Division 1A in college, Mercer said. “His passion is basketball but getting into college, his strength is track and field.”
Miami Lakes honors former Dolphins running back whose life story inspired a movie
Miami Lakes honored former Miami Dolphins running back and resident Tony Nathan with a proclamation during a Town Council meeting.
Then-Councilmember Manny Cid sponsored legislation to celebrate his life accomplishments from his rise from high school and college in Alabama to the NFL, where he played in two Super Bowls.
000200000363000019B235D,Nathan’s personal life story was brought to the big screen in a movie entitled Woodland which reflected on the racially-torn and turbulent period throughout the 1960s and 1970s in Birmingham, Alabama, where his high school football team helped ease racial tension.
Miami Lakes Middle girl’s basketball team does it again
For the second consecutive season, the Miami Lakes Middle girls’ basketball team finished the season undefeated and won the North Dade County Middle School Championship, a 54-20 victory over the Southwood Middle.
The Warriors (8-0) defeated the Superstars last year to win the title.
Miami Lakes Middle head coach Tracie Pullum said she coached a great group of girls, some who have graduated and are attending high school.
Pullum said Warriors players Veonce Powell, Colleen Bucknor, Darria Whitley and Kiara Cruz are the MVPs of the team.