A petition has been issued to recall Miami-Dade County Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins after she voted in favor of a development project that approved 700 townhomes on 90 acres of farmland in Redland, a historic and agricultural area of Miami-Dade County.
"We, the undersigned Miami-Dade County residents and voters, demand the immediate recall of Miami-Dade County Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins and a halt to the Bluenest development, which threatens 90 acres of Redland farmland," the petition says. "Her actions betray public trust, endanger our environment, and jeopardize South Florida's agricultural heart."
Redland is known for producing tropical fruits and crops unique to the region. The petition says the Bluenest at Krome development project would "pave over this vital resource, compromising our food security, local economy, and rural character."
The kicker is that Higgins campaigned to protect farming yet voted in favor of the project despite some public opposition. She was elected to District 8, which includes Redland, just northwest of Homestead, in August 2022.
Others have said the project is welcome.
Speaking to The Floridian, Homestead Mayor Steven D. Losner called the proposed development in Redland "inconsistent and incompatible."
"They're all finding cover under this narrative of the housing crisis. An excuse to continue the proliferation of entirely paving over South Florida, you know, no open space left at all the way to the edge of the Everglades," Losner continued.
To his point, the petition argued the project would overload local schools, hospitals, and emergency services. It also said it would increase traffic congestion and environmental degradation.
Moreover, it noted that only 20% of the project's housing units are designated for residents making 140% of the area median income. Redland is about 35 miles southwest of Miami, one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.
"You know, but the issue is that these developers can come in and offer these ridiculously high prices because they have the confidence that the units are going to be approved," Losner said.
Who stand to lose the most if this project goes through?
Florida farmers.
Agriculture is the second leading economic driver in the state behind tourism, so squeezing out small and mid-size family farms out of southwest Miami-Dade County could have a significant economic impact to the region
