Miami New Times

Between the?high cost of living?and?unaffordable housing market, Miami-Dade County residents are being squeezed left and right.?And evidently, thousands of people have had enough. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, between July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2024, Miami-Dade experienced the highest net domestic migration of all Florida counties — meaning, domestically, more people are moving out of Miami-Dade than in. The data reveals that 67,418 people moved out of the county, either to other parts of the Sunshine State or to a different state entirely. The two counties to the north — Broward and Palm Beach — both experienced net domestic migration losses last year. More than 26,000 residents in Broward and 7,500 in Palm Beach left the respective counties they once called home. It appears people are no longer?moving to South Florida in droves like they were during the pandemic?as result of the state's less restrictive COVID-19 policies, low taxes, and what was perceived as a more conducive business environment. The soaring housing costs, nonstop traffic, and rising inflation rates in Miami, in particular, have left people no choice but to leave to other parts of the country. Residents have recently taken to the r/Miami subreddit?to complain about their wages not keeping up with the rising housing costs. Yet, the data shows that, aside from 16, most of Florida's 67 counties had a positive domestic net migration in 2024.?Pasco County, located on Florida’s west coast, saw the highest influx of new residents, with more than 20,000 people moving there. Read the story below:

Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner fought back tears Wednesday morning as he announced he'd?withdraw his plan to evict O Cinema and revoke outstanding funding from the arthouse theater?in response to?its decision to screen?No Other Land. The mayor also said he'd defer discussion of his alternative resolution, a proposal introduced Tuesday night encouraging O Cinema to show a film about the October 7 attacks from the Israeli perspective. His surrounding commissioners, most of whom spoke against Meiner's initial proposal, patted his back as he announced his decision. "I'm trying not to get emotional," the mayor said, "but I legitimately view this as a public safety threat — not immediately. I don't think anyone in Miami Beach is going to get hurt or attacked because this movie is being shown." "What I was trying to do was highlight a level of hurt and what propaganda — yes, it all needs to be heard — but a level of propaganda that eventually can lead to devastation," the mayor added as his voice shook. Nevertheless, the mayor announced he'd revoke his initial resolution. His announcement was met with claps in the room as he added,?perhaps?with?the knowledge that this story has gone global, "Even though some of you said some things [that] were hurtful, I love you all.?I really, really do. We're all Americans, we're all proud to be in this country, it is a great country, and I really just want what's best for us, our city, and our country, and the world. God Bless." Meiner's decision came after more than two hours of public comment from members of the local film community, Greater Miami, and many in the Jewish community of Miami Beach. Read the story below:

Last week, O Cinema became the first theater in Miami to screen the documentary?No Other Land,?which profiles the Masafer Yatta community in the occupied West Bank as its homes are demolished to make way for an Israeli military training zone. Given the subject matter, the film has elicited strong reactions, as has O Cinema's decision to screen it. On Tuesday night,?Miami Herald?reporter Aaron Leibowitz?reported Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner was proposing terminating O Cinema's lease?over the theater's screenings of the film. In an email newsletter that included updates on?Miami Beach's Real-Time Intelligence Center, the city's?Drone First Responder Pilot Program, and the ongoing dispute over?the sheltering of unhoused individuals at?the Bikini Hostel, Cafe & Beer Garden,?Mayor Meiner explained he'd made the move after O Cinema went ahead with screenings despite his plea for their cancellation: "Miami Beach leases a City-owned theater located on Washington Avenue to O Cinema," he wrote. "That's a good deal for them. It becomes a bad deal when O Cinema decides to air a film that can best be described as a false, one-sided propaganda attack on the Jewish people that is not consistent with the values of our City and residents (I watched the film)." Mayor Meiner wrote that after he sent a letter requesting the cancellation of screenings on Wednesday, March 5, O Cinema CEO Vivian Marthell responded that the theater would cancel the screenings "due to concerns of antisemitic rhetoric." But the screenings went ahead anyway — the theater even added four new screenings set for next week, when it reopens after a one-week closure to upgrade its screen. Read the story:

I was looking through old photos this past weekend and came across this one. Last week marked my one-year anniversary at Miami New Times. It's surreal to think that this young girl, enjoying Frankie's Pizza while reading the newspaper, would one day be part of their staff and even have her photography featured on the cover. Thank you, Tom Finkel, for the amazing opportunity! ??? ?? Read the story by Naomi Feinstein: https://lnkd.in/evwYDvUT

?????Excited to see Sixty Vines featured in Miami New Times as a must-visit new restaurant in Fort Lauderdale. Wine on tap, chef-driven dishes, and an effortlessly cool vibe—what more could you ask for? According to the article, "you'll walk out tipsy, full, and definitely posting about it." Sounds about right. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/gHEEy7Qi

Excited to share that I recently got to interview the Irish indie-rock band Inhaler for Miami New Times. I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity and would like to thank Rachel Goldberg from Interscope, Robert Keating, Elijah Hewson, and my Senior Music Editor Jose Duran for their hand in making this article possible. Dublin-based indie-alternative band Inhaler will?soon visit South Florida?-- for the first time -- as part of the North American leg of its Open Wide Tour. Comprised of vocalist and guitarist Elijah Hewson (the son of U2 frontman Bono), bassist Robert Keating, lead guitarist Josh Jenkinson, and drummer Ryan McMahon, Inhaler has found its footing -- with sold-out shows to prove it. Ahead of the band's show at?Revolution Live?on Friday, March 14, Hewson and Keating spoke with?New Times?about their current tour and the success of?Open Wide. To read more, check out the link below:

My documentary short is screening in Miami on Wednesday night at one of my favorite dive bars alongside three other talented filmmakers. Thanks to Miami New Times for the write up, and Subtropic Film Festival & The Video Consortium for organizing and hosting the event. Tickets are sold out but if you want to pull up, shoot me a message! https://lnkd.in/eUEhjWkg

I was looking through old photos this past weekend and came across this one. Last week marked my one-year anniversary at Miami New Times. It's surreal to think that this young girl, enjoying Frankie's Pizza while reading the newspaper, would one day be part of their staff and even have her photography featured on the cover. Thank you, Tom Finkel, for the amazing opportunity! ??? ?? Read the story by Naomi Feinstein: https://lnkd.in/evwYDvUT

A beloved Florida national park is among the hardest hit by recent layoffs at the United States National Park Service. As the Trump administration and Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) move to slash federal jobs left and right, hundreds of national park employees have been laid off across the nation. According to a?spreadsheet?shared with?Axios?by a U.S. park ranger, Florida’s Everglades National Park is one of the most affected sites. The data shows that while parks like Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee and Rocky Mountain in Colorado have each lost an estimated 12 workers, Zion National Park in Utah has seen 11 employees fired, and Everglades National Park has lost 15 employees — tied for the most nationwide with Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Read the story below:

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