Xavier Suarez on Running for Miami Mayor in 2025

Motivation for Running

• ⚡ Suarez is running for mayor again due to his abundant energy and experience, feeling it is his "moment" to bring stability and unity to Miami.
• 💡 He contrasts his approach with the current mayor, describing himself as a "pothole mayor" and micromanager, while acknowledging similarities in ideology and analytical ability.

Addressing Housing Affordability

• 🏠 A key proposal is to reduce property taxes by increasing the homestead exemption, which he believes would benefit 80% of Miamians and make housing more affordable.
• 🛠️ He asserts that streamlining bureaucracy, which he has done before, is necessary to implement these tax reductions.

Public Safety and Youth Crime

• 🚨 Suarez highlights the city's intelligence center with cameras and the "eyes of God" initiative (churches with cameras) as effective public safety measures.
• 👮 He expresses pride in the well-trained police force and their commitment to community policing.
• 🤝 Regarding undocumented immigrants, he prefers to avoid acting as immigration agents but acknowledges past cooperation agreements on the county level, focusing on financial aspects.
• 🚀 To prevent youth crime, he emphasizes the importance of employment, after-school programs, and vocational training, initiatives he has previously supported and funded.

Political Reforms and Representation

• 🏛️ He supports moving city elections to even years and expanding the number of city commissioners from five to at least nine to ensure closer representation, citing the principle of subsidiarity.
• 📈 While acknowledging that city elections might be overshadowed in presidential years, he believes people want reform and that this change is important.

Connecting with Younger Generations

• 💬 Suarez feels he identifies well with the younger generation, finding them enthusiastic and receptive to his common-sense approach and relatable communication style.
• 🗣️ He aims to connect with and reach out to the next generations, emphasizing that he tries to talk in a way that is understandable and not condescending.