The Town of Miami Lakes is enjoying the lowest crime rate of its 20-year history, according to Mayor Manny Cid.
Cid credits additional police hires and license plate recognition cameras for the accomplishment.
“Today our town is stronger than ever, and it continues getting stronger every single year,” Cid said.
Cid’s comments came during his annual State of the Town address, which was held on Oct. 21 at Miami Lakes AutoMall.
The event was hosted by his son, Noah Cid, 10. Cid’s wife Melissa Cid and their son Manny Cid, Jr., 12, also participated.
Cid’s words were hopeful as the town battles the COVID-19 pandemic and businesses struggle with restrictions on the size of customer crowds.
The town closed its major parks and playgrounds to comply with Miami-Dade County orders for several months this year, in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Some companies, including restaurants, lost revenue and several went out of business.
But still, Cid said, “Miami Lakes is the place to be. The demand to live here is at an all-time high.
"Keeping the millage rate flat, we didn’t have to fire any employees, we didn’t have to reduce services, we didn’t have to do any of that,” Cid said. “I'm very proud to announce that our town is moving in the right direction."
Cid said public safety is the top priority for residents. The town installed four cameras at different intersections and police use a mobile camera system too.
The cameras are connected to software that alerts law enforcement when tags reported stolen are in town or the owners are wanted by law enforcement.
During the two years since use of the cameras began in October 2018, Miami-Dade Police Maj. Javier Ruiz said:
--Officers discovered four stolen tags and made two arrests;
-- Police recovered 14 stolen vehicles and seven people were taken into custody;
--A person was arrested in connection with a stolen car investigation;
--Four people were arrested under fugitive warrants;
-- There was a narcotics-related arrest;
-- A vehicle suspected in a hit and run crash was found;
-- And two firearms were recovered from stolen cars.
"We know there’s people out there that want to come into our community and create issues," Cid said when describing how the town hired more police officers in recent years.
“Having a safe community has led to the highest property values that our community has ever had," Cid said, crediting the town council’s decisions for making that happen. “The demand to live here is through the roof.”
Cid also praised several town departments, including Building and Public Works, as well as Town Clerk Gina Inguanzo.
Inguanzo was consulted by other cities about how to present municipal meetings online, with resident participation, which was already a town practice before the pandemic.
Cid proclaimed Oct. 21 “Nelson Rodriguez Day” and gave him a key to the town.
Rodriguez was term-limited after serving two consecutive terms.
A Coral Gables firefighter who's retiring from the fire service next year, Rodriguez told The Miami Laker he is planning to run for mayor in 2024.
Cid said Rodriguez is a strong public servant and a family man who as a councilman helped boost wi-fi access in parks, improved traffic conditions and encouraged outdoor dining during the pandemic, among other accomplishments.
“Everywhere we go, he talks about his family,” Cid said.
Rodriguez credited his wife, Lisa Rodriguez, for getting him involved in public service, starting with Parent-Teacher Associations.
Rodriguez said his goal as a councilman was to leave Miami Lakes in better shape than when he found it.
"I wanted to foster the environment where the residents understand they are the government, an environment where they can be heard and understood, to fostering an environment in our council where we can agree to disagree without disrespecting each other,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said there's work left undone.
"I wanted to finish redevelopment of our parks," he said. "Those parks, especially Optimist Park, need to be finished."
Cid also announced municipal awards:
--Business of the Year: Pharma Natural, Inc.
--Volunteer of the Year: Robert Hubbard
--Town Employee of the Year: Miami Lakes Leisure Services Manager Kristina Labossiere
--Town vendor: Yuri Rivera Betancourt from Juniper Landscaping.