Miami Beach cancels ballot measure on homeless and domestic violence tax after voting begins

Miami Beach commissioners voted 4-3 on Wednesday to cancel a referendum question on the Nov. 5 ballot seeking voter approval to allow the city to collect a 1% tax on food and beverage sales, mostly to benefit the homeless.

The commission’s decision means that even though thousands of voters cast ballots in early voting, none of their votes will be counted.

The tax would only be levied on businesses that sell alcohol and make at least $400,000 a year. Hotels and motels are excluded.

The money would go to fund programs for housing-challenged residents as well as programs for victims of domestic violence through the Miami-Dade County Homeless Foundation.

Commissioners who voted to repeal the measure said the city stands to gain nothing and risks having no control over the money.

Mayor Steven Meiner voted in favor of rescinding the ballot measure, led by Commissioner David Suarez, who questioned whether the council could benefit from the county’s funding for the Homeless Foundation (an organization based outside the city of Miami Beach that has no written obligation to allocate). “Any funds will be returned to our city.”

“This proposed homeless tax is a master class in mismanagement,” Suarez said.

Suarez drew attention to major developers who donated political action Committee supporting ballot measure “Residents United to End Homelessness” like Lennar Corporation donated $100,000.

“Ask yourself, why are developers pouring so much money into this? This isn’t out of compassion or charity. It’s a money grab. It’s like Robin Hood taking away from hard-working local hospitality businesses that aren’t part of the luxury hotels and giving it away to billionaire developers.” It benefits lobbyists and special interests.”

Commissioner Laura Dominguez denied Suarez’s claim, saying she had spoken with Homeless Foundation officials and was confident the money would go to help the city’s most vulnerable population.

“They are an honest organization that is trying really hard to help with the homeless problem,” Dominguez said. he said.

WLRN reached out to Homeless Trust officials, but they did not immediately respond for comment.

However Homeless Trust President Ron Book told the Miami Herald on Wednesday that the city commission “completely ignored” factual information presented at the meeting and that the agency “will explore all options” to ensure voters’ voices are heard on the measure.

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Commissioner Tanya Katzoff Bhatt said she voted Opposed to canceling the ballot to respect votes already counted. More than 20,000 Miami Beach voters have already cast ballots during early voting, city officials said.

“I think it’s terrible practice and a very bad precedent for little ‘D’ democracy to start telling voters that we’re just kidding,” Katzoff Bhatt said. “You’re not smart enough to make a decision. You’re not smart enough to understand the political troubles we all face, whether we run for office or not.”

A city attorney told commissioners the previous commission had approved the ballot measure and was expected to raise $10 million annually for services.

Commissioner Joe Magazine, who voted against the ballot measure, questioned whether money raised through the tax would alleviate the homeless crisis. She noted an alleged rape by a homeless man one morning earlier this month. According to local media reportsHe argues that money will not reduce crime.

“Would putting $10 million of our taxpayers’ money into the Homeless Foundation prevent this?” Magazine asked rhetorically. “The most serious problems we face in our city “It was solved by putting more and more money into nonprofits.”

Bal Harbor’s Nov. 5 ballot includes a similar item. If the city approves the tax, Miami Beach and Surfside would be the only municipalities in Miami-Dade that do not contribute to the county’s homeless and domestic violence tax program.

Late Wednesday, the Miami Herald Editorial Board hit Commissioners of the “anti-democratic” movement.

“It’s an 11th-hour move to scrap a question on the November ballot that would have asked voters whether commissioners would authorize tax hits in an anti-democratic effort to overturn a potential election result they disagree with.”

The influential panel had recommended that voters in Miami Beach and Bal Harbor certify the ballots.