Eileen Higgins on Running for Miami Mayor: Addressing Chaos and Restoring Trust

Campaign Vision and Motivation

• 💡 Eileen Higgins is running for Miami Mayor because she is dismayed by the perceived chaos and believes the city isn't serving its residents' needs.
• 🎯 Her goal is to transfer her track record from the county commission to the city to restore trust in City Hall and achieve tangible results for the people.

Personal Transformation and Public Service

• 🧠 Higgins shares a pivotal moment in her corporate career where writing her own obituary led her to leave the corporate world.
• ✈️ This led to a career shift into public service, including directing the Peace Corps in Belize and serving as a diplomat in southern Africa and Mexico.

Addressing Miami's Housing Crisis

• 🏘️ Higgins emphasizes that the key to solving the affordability crisis is building affordable housing, utilizing the city's abundant land.
• 📈 She highlights her success at the county level, opening nearly 4,000 units of affordable housing on county-owned land, contrasting it with city projects.
• ⏳ A major obstacle identified is the city's deplorable permitting system, which can take years for affordable housing developments, compared to the county's much faster process.

Restoring Trust and Effective Governance

• ✅ Higgins asserts that her approach to governance is characterized by actions speaking louder than words, avoiding yelling and drama.
• 💰 She points to her investments in small businesses, securing federal funding for a new train line, and building affordable housing as evidence of her effectiveness.
• 🤝 Her focus is on ensuring economic prosperity in every neighborhood, not just the affluent areas, addressing issues like food deserts and access to amenities.

Evaluating Current Leadership and Future Plans

• 📊 Higgins gives current Mayor Francis Suarez a 'C' grade, acknowledging his skill in promoting Miami but criticizing his shortcomings in administrative