Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins Holds First Commission Meeting, Sets Cooperative Tone

New Leadership and Cooperative Tone

• 💡 Mayor Eileen Higgins presided over her first city commission meeting of 2026, setting a tone of cooperation with her colleagues.
• 🤝 Higgins expressed her honor in working with the commission and looks forward to collaborating on district priorities.

Key Appointments and Decisions

• 🎯 The commission approved the appointment of James Reyes as city manager, despite concerns over his $475,000 salary and the lack of a national search.
• 💰 Reyes defended his salary, stating it was negotiated in good faith and is less than his predecessor's total compensation package, while also noting he is foregoing certain benefits.
• 🗳️ Mayor Higgins secured another win with the approval to separate the mayor's office from a planned voter referendum concerning the shift of city commissioner elections to even-numbered years.

New Commission Dynamics

• 👥 The meeting introduced new faces, including District 3 Commissioner Rolando Escalona, who replaced longtime commissioner Joe Coroyo.
• 📈 Higgins vowed to improve city services, particularly permitting processes, and to transform how services are delivered to residents.
• 🗓️ The full commission has until May 22nd to approve the language for the referendum before it goes to voters later this year.