District 4 Candidates Q&A

I was born and raised in Shenandoah. This neighborhood is part of who I am. My legacy should reflect that. I want to be remembered as a Commissioner who protected the character of our streets, respected the voices of our residents, and delivered real improvements from safer intersections to stronger infrastructure. Shenandoah shaped me, and I want to make sure the next generation can grow up here with the same pride and stability my family and I had.

I’d like to be remembered for significantly improving our neighborhood's quality of life, particularly by making government processes more efficient, upgrading our infrastructure, enhancing public safety without over-policing, and increasing Shenandoah’s tree canopy. While we've recently celebrated the completion of Shenandoah Park, our focus must shift to maintaining and activating our community spaces and further greening our streets. Having spent nearly a decade inside the City of Miami—including as Assistant Director of the Building Department—I understand where our services fall short and how we can effectively address these gaps. For Shenandoah, this means delivering reliable city services, fairer enforcement practices, meaningful investments in green infrastructure, and preserving our neighborhood’s character for generations to come.

Accessibility and accountability shouldn’t be campaign promises, they should be habits. I plan to hold regular office hours in the district, attend meetings, and send a dedicated representative to MSNA if I ever can’t be there in person. The entire District 4 team from Commissioner Manolo Reyes is staying on board and excited to continue their service to the community. Over the past few years, civic engagement has taken a dip, along with trust in the City government. I would like the City to create new tools for the public to increase transparency, identifying the most common questions asked and finding the solution. Hold workshops with the community for large legislative shifts, and be proactive with stakeholders. Many of our public advisory boards do not meet due to lack of quorum, I would like to ensure all appointments are filled and that they feel like they have a voice. I will press my colleagues on the dais to allow for expanded public comment and to ensure there is no fear of intimidation.  I worked inside City Hall. I know how quickly things can get ignored if you don’t follow up and I will follow up.

The City of Miami does not need more barricades or closed streets. It needs a smarter, safer design. I support traffic calming strategies like raised intersections, protected bike lanes, mini roundabouts, and traffic tables that slow cars without pushing traffic into neighboring streets.But we need to use every tool in our toolbox, which includes rethinking how we design our streets. The goal should be to protect people, not just move cars. That means more than just concrete. For example, a stronger tree canopy helps reduce speeding by visually narrowing the road, and it makes streets more comfortable for pedestrians and cyclists. 

When I talk to residents, some of the solutions they ask for go beyond the standard strategies and require coordination with Miami Dade County. That relationship has become fractured in recent years, and residents are the ones who lose when agencies do not work together.I take a different approach. I have worked with county staff for nearly a decade on public works, permitting, and emergency response. I know how to bring the right people to the table and build the kind of cooperation that helps neighborhoods move forward.

Public safety starts with trust, visibility, and preparedness. I will advocate for more patrol presence and continue strengthening community policing, not just reactive enforcement. I have worked closely with our Neighborhood Resource Officers and earned the support of first responders because I have stood with them during emergencies, in policy meetings, and on the ground.

But public safety goes beyond policing. Our fire and rescue teams need proper facilities to respond quickly and safely. The new station on Coral Way was delayed by a public benefit agreement, while the older station on Beacon still needs major repairs. We cannot afford to delay essential infrastructure.

In parts of District 4, one patrol unit covers up to two square miles. With citywide dispatch, resources are often pulled away from neighborhoods like Shenandoah. That leaves gaps in coverage.

I will also push for better lighting, clearer signage, and closer coordination with neighbors on crime prevention. Above all, I will work to restore community trust, because public safety starts with people feeling heard and protected.

I am blessed to have the commitment that Commissioner Reyes’ staff will continue the good work they have done if I am elected. But I also believe we can go further and improve beyond the personal connections we have cultivated. I have managed permitting, fleet vehicles, neighborhood cleanups, tree-trimming schedules, interdepartmental coordination, and more during my time in city government. I know how frustrating it can be when those services break down.

My goal is to restore trust by streamlining these services, digitizing outdated processes, and making it easier for residents to get answers and action. I will also use data and neighborhood feedback to identify gaps in service, address delays, and ensure every part of the district receives the attention it deserves. We cannot wait for one-size-fits-all citywide solutions when local needs are urgent and specific.

Shenandoah is already one of Miami’s most beautiful neighborhoods. We just need to protect and strengthen that. I support expanding our tree canopy by increasing plantings, focusing on heat-vulnerable areas, and giving residents the tools and support to care for new trees.We also need to preserve what we already have. I will work with local organizations to create educational programs that highlight the benefits of canopy coverage and advocate for a new process that allows us to maintain large, healthy trees, especially considering state laws that have led to unnecessary removals.

I have worked on green infrastructure programs throughout the city, and I would like to see efforts like the Southwest Streetscape Master Plan fully realized, with District 4 as the centerpiece of that vision. Our streets can set the example of how beautification and resilience go hand in hand by creating shaded, walkable corridors that enhance daily life for everyone.

Absolutely. I was proud to support Commissioner Reyes’ commitment to parks, and I will continue that legacy. Shenandoah Park should be a space that welcomes everyone, from seniors in the Active Adults program to kids in after-school care and summer camps. I will work to expand youth programming, fund mentorship and sports leagues, and make sure our parks are clean, safe, and well staffed.

One area I want to strengthen is inclusive programming for children and adults with disabilities. As many of you know, my niece and nephew, Bela and Sebastian, are both on the autism spectrum. While programs like those offered at the Sandra DeLucca Developmental Center provide valuable services such as life and job skills training and recreational therapy, they are limited in scope and reach. We need more accessible and inclusive options throughout our park system. 

Parks are not extras. They are essential to our community’s health and connection. Everyone deserves a space where they feel welcome, supported, and seen.

As a Certified Floodplain Manager and national expert in resilience planning, I have led major reforms to Miami’s floodplain management. That includes closing building code loopholes that allowed stormwater to enter ground-level lobbies and creating the city’s first drainage recertification program to ensure long-term system performance. I have worked closely with Miami-Dade County and collaborated with the Army Corps of Engineers on the Back Bay Study to shape long-term coastal flood protection.

I have also been deployed after hurricanes to verify on-the-ground damage, support recovery operations, and advocate for policy rooted in real-world conditions.

Shenandoah needs more than sandbags. We need permanent, well-designed solutions like modern drainage infrastructure, permeable pavement, and minimum standards that reflect how long these systems need to perform, not just how they function on the day they are installed.

I support responsible development that respects the scale, affordability, and character of Shenandoah. I do not support zoning changes that promote unchecked density or displace longtime residents. When it comes to proposals like Ancillary Dwelling Units, or ADUs, I believe the community should lead the conversation, not developers. I worked on the ADU ordinance at the City of Miami and understand both its potential and its risks. ADUs can support aging in place and multigenerational living, which are one of the charms of Shenandoah; but only if they are implemented with care and safeguards. Miami 21 needs a lot of “cleanups” amendments to reflect the realities of today. 

I will continue to advocate for local input, thoughtful planning, and policies that protect the integrity of our neighborhoods.

Because I live here. Because I have served here. Because I know how the city works and how it does not. I have spent years working on the issues that affect Shenandoah, from inside the Building Department, the City Manager’s Office, and as a trusted advisor to the late Commissioner Manolo Reyes.

I learned from those who led with quiet strength and deep respect for this community. Even as dysfunction and chaos grew around them, they stayed focused on the work. That example shaped me. I was asked to run to honor the legacy of Commissioner Manolo Reyes, but I chose to run because I believe we cannot allow that culture of decency to disappear.

I have seen firsthand how a culture of fear can take hold, how it affects city employees, small businesses, and even residents who just want to be heard. How it paralyzes our government, making it about control, not community.

I believe City Hall should work for the residents, not for political games or personal agendas. I have seen what happens when politics replaces purpose. And I have also seen what is possible when government listens, respects, and follows through.

Throughout my career, I have listened to residents, small business owners, and city employees who are too often left out of the conversation. The best policies come from those living the realities, not just those writing the rules.

This campaign is about protecting the neighborhood that raised me, restoring trust and decency to city government, and making sure the next chapter of our city reflects the values that made this community strong in the first place.