USA: Can Miami's 'forever bond' be a model for fair development in a flood-prone city?
By Sharon Zhang
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Over the past decade, flood events in Miami, one of the most vulnerable cities in the country to sea-level rise, have increased in frequency by 400 percent. With no choice but to adapt, Miamians in 2017 voted to allow the government to allocate a $400 million bond called the Miami Forever Bond. The purpose of Miami Forever, according to the state government's website, is to "build a stronger, more resilient future for Miami," and the bond distributes the money across five categories: flood prevention, roadways, parks, public safety, and affordable housing.
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"We see [building resilience] as a challenge that is big, it's grand, but, at the same time, it's solvable if you get the right people on board," says Steve Williamson, director of Miami's Office of Capital Improvements. In particular, he says, the "very, very, very active," parks department, which has its own advisory board, often seeks feedback from the community: When a new park is announced, they host at least three community meetings to vet the plan. Under Miami Forever, thanks to community demand, the department has created three parks in the traditionally underserved neighborhood of Little Havana.
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