In a testament to growing community resistance, and reminiscent of Miami-Dade's historic 2011 recall election, a Change.org citizens’ petition calling for the recall of Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins has reached the critical milestone – 1,000 verified signatures.
The effort draws parallels to the county's last successful recall, when in March 2011, Miami-Dade voters removed both Mayor Carlos Alvarez and County Commissioner Natacha Seijas in a landslide vote, with 88% of voters favoring Alvarez's removal.
According to the Miami-Dade County Charter Article 8, Section 8.02, a recall petition requires signatures from at least 4% of registered voters in the commissioner's district to trigger a recall election.
The controversy first gained public attention when The Floridian broke the story on May 14, 2025, revealing that the Bluenest at Krome development would convert 90 acres of protected farmland into 700 townhomes, with projected sale prices starting at $650,000 despite being marketed as "workforce housing". Since that initial report, community opposition has grown steadily, culminating in the current recall effort milestone.
For many residents, the stakes couldn't be higher.
Evan, who lives a block from the proposed development, explains the practical challenges: "I regularly drive behind slow tractors and agricultural trucks on 272 and 264, which are tiny roads and the only way to get to US1 and Turnpike. The traffic, noise, and crime from the proposed density would make living here unbearable."
The controversy has exposed deep fissures between local government and community interests. Cohen Higgins, who was re-elected to District 8 in August 2022 after campaigning on protecting farming communities, has faced intense criticism for supporting the development despite significant public opposition.
The community's frustration is palpable in their comments. "Our community is being destroyed," says Kathleen, a local resident. "We're overrun by traffic on roads that were never designed to accommodate this level of vehicles. No improvements of police or fire services – we are being dumped on and ignored by our county officials."
Linda, another petition signer, emphasizes the infrastructure concerns: "The area does not have the infrastructure and services to support this rampant growth. Traffic is already abysmal and the character of the area is being completely destroyed so developers can further line their pockets."
Homestead Mayor Steven D. Losner, speaking to The Floridian, called the proposed development "inconsistent and incompatible" with the area. "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 stated.
The public hearing process has particularly angered residents. Vanessa, who attended recent commission meetings, reports: "I attended the County Commission Meeting and was utterly disgusted with how Cohen-Higgins blatantly ignored the very valid concerns of the South Dade residents who literally gave their entire day to travel downtown to attend the meeting."
The 1,000 verified signatures is a strong start – if the official recall effort succeeds in gathering the required signatures, the Supervisor of Elections must verify them within 30 days. Should a recall election be triggered, it must be held 45-90 days after the signatures are certified. The 2011 recall serves as a reminder that such efforts can succeed when public sentiment is strong enough - that recall saw the highest voter turnout for a special election in county history.
Key concerns raised in the petition and by residents include:
- Only 20% of housing units designated for residents making 140% of the area median income
- Projected strain on local schools, hospitals, and emergency services
- Increased traffic congestion on rural roads
- Environmental impact on the sensitive ecosystem
- Threat to local food production and agricultural employment
The petition states: "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. Her actions betray public trust, endanger our environment, and jeopardize South Florida's agricultural heart."
The residents' ultimate success would mark another significant moment in Miami-Dade County politics, following the precedent set by the 2011 recall when voters demonstrated their willingness to remove officials they felt weren't representing their interests. That recall resulted in significant changes to county governance and remains the largest successful recall in the county's history.
