The City of North Miami Beach approved the NMB Water Relief Act, the largest water relief package in the city’s history affecting over 100,000 Miami-Dade County residents. This relief program is launching amidst what they say is Miami-Dade County Commissioner Oliver G. Gilbert III’s attempt to restrict the city from providing such relief programs with bureaucratic obstacles.
“While Miami-Dade is raising water rates, as your mayor, North Miami Beach is leading with relief for homeowners. We know every dollar counts, and despite the County’s pushback, we’re standing firm. Because when it comes to our community, we believe in lifting people, not holding them down,” said Mayor Michael Joseph.
The NMB Water Relief Act, sponsored by Mayor Michael Joseph and co-sponsored by Commissioners Phyllis Smith and Fortuna Smukler, establishes a voluntary program offering a 10% discount on water bills, up to $100 annually, for customers who qualify for specific state homestead exemptions. Eligible residents include those aged 65 and older, individuals who are totally and permanently disabled, deployed service members, surviving spouses of first responders, and veterans who have died in the line of duty.
Additionally, the city is introducing a program that provides a prorated water bill discount, not exceeding $50 annually, for customers who enroll in automatic bill payment services.
“I would like to express my gratitude to my colleagues on the City Commission for their swift action in establishing the NMB Water Relief Act,” said Mayor Michael Joseph. “Their support for our NMB Water customers during this critical period is commendable. I am dedicated to leading with transparency and providing relief to our water customers is essential, for fairness and protecting families from unnecessary financial burdens.”
Despite the city’s efforts to alleviate financial burdens for all customers, progress has been challenged. This follows Governor Ron DeSantis’ veto of House Bill 11 earlier this year, which was Miami-Dade County Commissioner Oliver G. Gilbert III effort to control North Miami Beach over the issue of its water rates. Now, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Oliver G. Gilbert III has intervened, again, hindering progress. His opposition raises concerns about the county’s commitment to supporting local initiatives aimed at providing essential relief to constituents. At the same time, the Miami-Dade County Commission approved a 6% water rate increase where the average household would pay more than $43.56 in order to raise funds to resolve their $402 million budget deficit.
In conjunction with the NMB Water Relief Act, the City of North Miami Beach is launching NMB Water’s Facts First campaign, a new public education initiative aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and long-term resilience.
“The goal of the campaign is to educate our customers about water conservation and efficiency, and ensure our community continues to have access to safe, reliable, and affordable water service,” said Mayor Michael Joseph.
City of North Miami Beach customers can visit www.FairWaterFacts.com to learn how to take advantage of current and forthcoming discount programs in the NMB Water Relief Act.
Positioned at the ‘Crossroads of South Florida,’ North Miami Beach lies midway between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, adjacent to the Golden Glades Interchange where I-95, Florida’s Turnpike, and the Palmetto Expressway converge. This prime location, coupled with convenient access to major thoroughfares such as West Dixie Highway, Biscayne Boulevard, and 163rd Street, has made North Miami Beach easily accessible and well-connected.
North Miami Beach Mayor Michael (née Mike) Joseph and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Oliver G. Gilbert III are competing clowns in an ever-widening political circus in South Florida. Gilbert, a former Mayor of the fledgling and still mismanaged City of Miami Gardens, incorporated in 2003, is nothing but a power-hungry megalomaniac. He has had a years-long beef with his arch-nemesis Michael Joseph, who has committed multiple crimes of corruption (including extortion) since darkening the dais at North Miami Beach City Hall — first as a commissioner and now as mayor during what is an illegal term of office according to the City Charter that State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle (a vile corruptocrat in her own right) will not enforce unless it suits her political agenda.
The only reason that Michael Joseph is not in prison is because he’s been protected by even more corrupt lawyer members of the Haitian Mafia, er, I mean, the Haitian Lawyers Association, and especially by the absolute most corrupt lawyer of them all, Hans Ottinot, whose unethical and corrupt actions as a municipal “attorney” are legendary.
In any event, it’s extremely entertaining to watch Joseph and Gilbert duke it out in the public arena, especially when no one cares who wins because both of them are the biggest losers in a county filled with scores of them.
The best part, though, is that in an arena where identity politics trump actual policy, and clowns like them love to play the race card to avoid intellectual debate, their race-hustling arsenal has been rendered impotent by the fact that they are both black.
The irony is beyond ironic, and so very popcorn-worthy.
I can’t love this more!