Florida state legislators Sen. Bryan Avila, R-Miami Springs, and Rep. Tom Fabricio, R-Miami Lakes, celebrated what they view as Florida’s positive upward trend while also touting the state money they brought back to Miami Lakes during their visit to the Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce.
Avila and Fabricio spoke to a room of about 90 business owners at the monthly chamber luncheon at the Miami Lakes Hotel. Other elected officials present included Miami Lakes Vice Mayor Bryan Morera, Councilmembers Angelo Cuadra Garcia, Ray Garcia and Alex Sanchez, Town Manager Edward Pidermann; Miami-Dade County Commissioner René García and Florida Rep. Alex Rizo, R-Hialeah.
“For me it’s a great honor to represent Miami Lakes,” Avila said.
Avila said he did not have a “senator mentality” back when he was growing up and spending time on Main Street.
“It is a special community, it is one of a kind in my opinion,” Avila said.
On more current matters, Avila said it was joint effort to secure $200,000 for the Chamber of Commerce to grow its reach, as well as a heftier sum for the town.
“For Miami Lakes, the town itself, this session we were able to bring back $2.65 million for drainage improvements, flood mitigation and transportation solutions,” he said.
Avila thanked the town council and the town manager for their efforts to make the town more appealing and to ensure the streets don’t flood. He also spoke about the growth of the state and how the state government is trying to make it easier for small business owners.
“We value each and every business in the State of Florida,” Avila said.
Avila said that in the last five years the state has returned $5.5 billion dollars to taxpayers.
“We want to make sure the financial burden is as low as humanly possible,” he said.
One of the ways they are doing that is helping businesses that may encounter roadblocks.
Both Avila and Fabricio mentioned receiving calls about permits being stalled or slowed.
“Please feel free to reach out to our offices,” Avila said. “The last thing we want is for your business to be stalled in some way, shape or form.”
Fabricio spoke after Avila and thanked the business owners for making Miami Lakes thrive. He also thanked his and Avila’s aides who do much of the on-the-ground community work.
The pair then took questions from the audience but also received a thank you from Miami Lakes Town Manager Edward Pidermann, who noted that the $2.65 million was the most Miami Lakes has ever received from Tallahassee. Pidermann said as Miami Lakes resident himself, he was thankful for the money that came back to the town to make improvements.