City Commissioner Aleman Decides Not To Seek Re-election

(Miami Beach, FL) Feb 13, 2019 -

This is an Open Letter to Miami Beach from City Commissioner John Elizabeth Alemán.

I write to share with you that I will not be seeking re-election as your City Commissioner in Group 6 in the upcoming November 2019 election.  This decision is strictly personal and made with the full support of my family.

As greatly as I bear my responsibility to all of the residents of Miami Beach, I am a mother first.  While I may consider a future role in public service, the timing is right for me now with both sons in their teens to focus on their needs and see them successfully launched on to college and their own adult lives.

I am very proud of my accomplishments in service to you and our City.  Miami Beach is well positioned, with a newly completed Convention Center, a much needed Convention Center Hotel on the way, an approved General Obligation Bond that will yield two new parks, a new public library, stronger public safety and even more beautiful, shady neighborhoods, not to mention a bright future for North Beach with the Town Center and Historic Districts created last year.  There have been other accomplishments that perhaps garnered less press, but that I am very proud of, including zoning changes to protect neighborhoods from the invasion of commercial sober houses and detox centers, measures to control excessive proliferation of cannabis dispensaries, a human trafficking initiative that resulted in the closure of four massage parlors, and many resident-friendly code changes that ease transition for homeowners as the City installs new underground infrastructure and raises our City streets.

I may not have always told constituents what they wanted to hear, but certainly always what they needed to know, even at the risk of being the bearer of unwelcome news.

While Miami Beach is poised for greatness, there is still a lot of work to do, particularly to prepare for climate change and sea level rise while protecting our homes and property values.  The timing of my announcement is intended to give my fellow residents plenty of time to launch a successful Commission campaign to keep our City on the right track.  I hope that anyone reading this press release hears my call to action to get involved, and participate in our local government: it is not overly dramatic to say that the future of our City at this critical juncture in time rests in the hands of our locally elected Mayor and Commissioners.  Choose wisely.

In the final 10 months of my Commission term you will see no change in how I act or vote: I have always voted on what I expected to be best for the City overall, not what was popular in order to get re-elected.  I will continue to provide you with exceptional constituent service.  I will continue to advance and fight for the solutions that will strengthen our City and ensure our resilient future.

I want to express my heart-felt thanks to my Commission Aide, Cilia Maria Ruiz-Paz, our City Manager Jimmy Morales, City Attorney Raul Aguila, City Clerk Rafael Granado and their fine staffs. I thank my fellow Commissioners for the personal sacrifices they make to serve Miami Beach.  It has been my pleasure to serve with you.

For all of you, my friends, who have supported me and appreciated my hard-working, fair and honest approach to policy making: we will be getting together soon to talk one on one about the future.  In the meantime, my voice will continue to be heard through November, and I will continue to be a caring custodian of the trust the public has placed in me.

I close this letter thinking of all the moments I fondly remember: all the times that you called me, and I was able to help you, solve a problem for you, give you the information you needed, or put your great ideas into action.  It has been a privilege. Through your eyes I have seen the City in new ways and love her even more for the experience.  I am able to share a perspective with my children that otherwise would have been out of reach.  For the honor to serve you and your families for these four years, I will forever be grateful.

Thank you for trusting in me, it has been a pleasure to work for you and the people of Miami Beach.

I wish you all God’s speed.

Commissioner John Elizabeth Alemán
Read in full during the City Commission Meeting