Government NEWS

Miami Beach Names Debbie Tackett as New Planning Director

Debbie Tackett, a 20-year veteran of Miami Beach city government and former chief historic preservation officer, has been unanimously confirmed as the city's new planning director.

Journal Staff Jul 24, 2026

Planning

Government ANALYSIS

City Will Raise Water and Sewer Rates After Rejecting Two Bond Plans

On the last day it could have placed a question on the November 3 ballot, the Commission rejected both general obligation bond options and voted 5-2 to fund roughly $450 million of water, sewer and stormwater work through utility rates alone — a program about half the size of the one staff brought in. How much bills will actually rise won't be known until September.

Journal Staff Jul 24, 2026

Budget Infrastructure

Parking NEWS

Commission Passes Curb Color Crackdown, Reversing Purple Markings

The Miami Beach City Commission took up a resolution directing staff to stop painting curbs in non-traditional colors and repaint any altered curbs back to standard markings.

Journal Staff Jul 24, 2026

Arts & Culture NEWS

Weekend Plans: July 24–26, 2026

7 things to do in Miami Beach this weekend — from a free-all-ages psych-cumbia celebration to 18 years of Go-Go culture, Jack Pierson at The Bass, a free outdoor farmers market, and more.

Journal Staff Jul 24, 2026

Real Estate ANALYSIS

Buyers Say a Maggot-Filled Composter Hid the Truth About a $6.5M Miami Beach Home. The Sellers Say They Never Applied for a Mortgage.

Mediation failed at midday Tuesday; by evening, both sides had sued. The dueling complaints tell opposite stories about why the N Bay Road deal collapsed — with a $500,000 deposit sitting in escrow until a court sorts it out.

Journal Staff Jul 23, 2026

Housing Litigation

Government NEWS

What's on the Agenda: Miami Beach City Commission, July 22 — Flood Bonds and Big Zoning Votes Before the Recess

The last Commission meeting before the August recess is stacked: resolutions calling a November 3 special election on hundreds of millions in flood-infrastructure bonds, a voter question on a decades-long city-land lease, first readings on two major residential upzonings for Lincoln Road West and Washington Avenue, a final vote on the 1250 West Avenue tower, and a possible legal challenge to the state's Live Local Act.

Journal Staff Jul 21, 2026

Public Safety NEWS

Property Manager Fires Back in Miami Beach Stolen-Ferrari Suit

The first defendant to answer the lawsuit over a rare Ferrari stolen from a Collins Avenue condo's key room has fired back with a sweeping denial, 22 affirmative defenses, and a demand for a jury trial.

Journal Staff Jul 21, 2026

Litigation

Business NEWS

Vacchi's $95M Fraud Case Against Developer Michael Stern Escalates: A Blown Deadline, a 'Phantom' Lawsuit, and Defamation Claims

Two weeks after Miami's highest-profile development fraud case became public, an amended complaint escalates it sharply — adding new defaults and defamation counts, and deepening the financial case against the developer behind the $95.75 million claim.

Journal Staff Jul 21, 2026

Litigation

Government NEWS

Miami Beach City Meetings Scheduled for Week of July 27–31

A reference of the week's public city meetings

Journal Staff Jul 22, 2026

Real Estate ANALYSIS

Miami Beach Homeowner Sues Interior Designer Over $6.3M in Allegedly Fraudulent Invoices

A Miami Beach property owner is suing interior design firm Dida Home, LLC, claiming the company overbilled him across a sweeping Palm Avenue renovation and may have doctored vendor invoices to inflate costs.

Journal Staff Jul 18, 2026

Housing Litigation

Government ANALYSIS

Commissioner Fernandez Pushes "Truth in Transparency" Resolution on City Pay Portal and Personnel Costs

A resolution headed to Miami Beach commissioners would overhaul the city's employee salary portal, cap long-term personnel cost growth, and launch a new compensation study — all under the banner of fiscal accountability.

Journal Staff Jul 16, 2026

Budget

Public Safety NEWS

Commission to Review MBPD Conduct Policies and Disciplinary Standards

Commissioner David Suarez is bringing Miami Beach Police Department employee conduct policies before the City Commission for review, questioning whether current disciplinary frameworks adequately protect public trust.

Journal Staff Jul 16, 2026