The City of Miami Beach has been awarded a $1 million federal grant to plant hundreds of shade trees along the recently competed Beachwalk, a more than 7-mile oceanfront promenade that spans the entire length of the urban resort island from South Beach through North Beach.

“Shade trees will only enhance the experience for people who love to walk, jog or bike on our new Beachwalk,” explained Mayor Dan Gelber. “They are beautiful and in a world that is only getting hotter, make it easier for people of all ages to take in the beauty of our beaches and obtain the health benefits associated with outdoor exercise.”

The grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Urban and Community Forestry Program will cover the cost of reforestation for program-eligible areas of the Beachwalk between 1-23 streets in South Beach, 29-41 streets in Mid Beach and 71-87 streets in North Beach. The 2024 project will be led by the city’s Environment and Sustainability Department.

Other sections of the Beachwalk that are not deemed eligible for the grant money will receive the same native and Florida-friendly canopy trees through the 2018 voter-approved General Obligation Bond.

All of the shade trees that will be used in the project were selected for their hardiness in marine environments and their environmental benefits, including protection against sea level rise, saltwater intrusion and rising temperatures. The types of trees that will be planted include gumbo limbo, live oak, green buttonwoods, stoppers and sea grapes.

The Miami Beach City Commission adopted an Urban Forestry Master Plan in 2020 that seeks to expand the city’s overall tree canopy from 17% to 22% by 2040. Expanding Green Infrastructure is a key action in Resilient305, the shared resilient strategy among Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, and the city of Miami.

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Boxing legend Muhammad Ali, a beloved former mayor, a renowned preservationist and the 12-time Grammy Award-winning co-founder of the New World Symphony are among eight new inductees who will be honored and enshrined in the Miami Beach Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. in the Miami Beach Convention Center.

“It’s important to recognize the people that have made our City so extraordinary and unique,” explained Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, whose late parents are among the 2023 inductees.

The new inductees will join Michael Aller, former Mayor Matti Bower, Norman Braman, Barbara Capitman, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, Tony Goldman, Jorge M. Gonzalez, Morris Lapidus, Dr. Solomon “Sol” Lichter, Stephen Muss and Mitchell “Micky” Wolfson, who were previously inducted.

The 2023 class consists of Ali, Judy Nelson Drucker, Russell Galbut, Seymour and Edith Gelber, Jerry Libbin, Nancy Liebman, Mark Samuelian and Michael Tilson Thomas. Eligible candidates must have been born in Miami Beach, made Miami Beach their place of residence or business and/or had a positive and lasting impact on the community.

“I am deeply honored to have served as the chair of the Hall of Fame Committee for our beloved city,” shared Robin Jacobs. “This role allowed me to be part of a wonderful journey, preserving the legacies of those who have made remarkable contributions to our community. It’s a privilege to have been surrounded by a dedicated committee, and work with our city’s leadership and the incredible team of Tourism and Culture at the City of Miami Beach to celebrate the outstanding individuals who have shaped our history. Together, we are fostering a sense of pride and inspiration that will resonate for generations to come.”

A permanent plaque bearing the likeness and accomplishments of each inductee will hang in the South Hallway of the recently renovated Miami Beach Convention Center at 1901 Convention Center Drive.

About the 2023 Inductees

Muhammad Ali

The legendary boxer and civil rights activist overcame 8-1 odds to defeat then heavyweight champion Sonny Liston at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Feb. 25, 1964 in what Sports Illustrated called one of the top 10 sports moments of the 20^th Century.

Still known as Cassius Clay at the time of the championship bout, the fighter changed his name to Muhammad Ali a short time later. He trained at the famed Fifth Street Gym in Miami Beach for much of his professional career and went on to win some of his most memorable contests, including the “Rumble in the Jungle” and the “Battle of New Orleans” during his time here.

Known for his flamboyant style and love of the limelight, it didn’t take long for Muhammad to become a fixture in Miami Beach. Today, he is celebrated around the world as one of the greatest athletes and cultural icons of all time. His fight at the Miami Beach Convention Center placed the city on the world stage like few events could and left a lasting legacy in Miami Beach. Convention Center Drive, which runs along the exterior of the Miami Beach Convention Center, has been co-named Muhammad Ali Way in the fighter’s honor.

Not only did Muhammad win some of his best-known fights during the time he trained here, he also became a beloved member of the local community. His presence brought attention and tourism to the area and inspired young boxers and athletes to follow in his footsteps. Muhammad’s legacy as a civil rights activist and his willingness to speak out on social justice issues continues to inspire the people of Miami Beach and beyond to fight for equality and justice. Muhammad is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time, with a professional record of 56 wins (37 by knockout) and only five losses. He won the world heavyweight championship three times and defended his title a total of 19 times. Muhammad also won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Olympics in Rome.

Judy Nelson Drucker

Born in New York on June 20, 1928, Judy made a lasting impression on the City of Miami Beach. As a child prodigy of music, Judy studied piano at the New York College of Music and voice at the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music. Judy later studied voice at the University of Miami’s School of Music. She sold out all the major venues in South Florida, including the Miami-Dade County Auditorium, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, New World Center and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Judy brought the most talented and sought-after artists to Miami Beach, including Luciano Pavarotti, Beverly Sills, Isaac Stern, Vladimir Horowitz, Yo-Yo Ma, Leonard Bernstein, Itzhak Perlman, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Evgeny Kissin, Richard Tucker, Twyla Tharp, Zubin Mehta, Pinchas Zukerman, Daniel Barenboim, Wynton Marsalis, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Cecilia Bartoli and the Three Tenors along with conductors James Conlon, Michael Tilson Thomas and Ramón Tebar.

Russell Galbut

Born and raised on Miami Beach, Russell is the third generation of a multigenerational family with five generations — over 100 family members still living in Miami Beach. The family presence has helped shape our Miami Beach community for almost 90 years. The place of one’s birth is always special, and Russell’s heart and soul are embedded in this wonderful city. Galbut’s noteworthy Miami Beach Historic restoration projects include The Alexander, The Shelbourne, The Mondrian, and The Gale and Decoplage to name a few. He was the first to embrace Barbara Capitman and her Art Deco Building Preservation, and his architectural contributions are notably evidenced by the colors and interior at the Shelbourne, and south beach renovations of The Gale, The Mondrian and Kaskades hotels.

As a civic leader, Russell’s role in building The Miami Beach Jewish community Center (MBJCC) is monumental. In 1980, he gifted over $2 million dollars to develop this recreational center on Pine Tree Drive. The Russell and Ronalee Galbut Foundation, established in 2006, is another way the Galbuts give back to the community. Contributions have been made to Camillus House, ASPCA, local Miami Beach food drives and other local Miami Beach charities through this foundation.

Seymour and Edith Gelber

The history of Miami Beach couldn’t be written without considering the accomplishments of Seymour and Edith Gelber. In the early 1990s, the city was at a major inflection point. The previous mayor had been indicted, emerging Hispanic and gay populations felt unseen and unheard and the county’s tourism industry was beset with a “Black boycott.” Miami Beach was in the midst of a true identity crisis. Seymour and Edith came upon the scene as a team and were just what the doctor ordered.

Seymour was a universally respected local judge, former prosecutor and professor who, like so many who benefitted from the GI Bill settled in Miami Beach after his service as an Army Air Corps Buck Sergeant in World War II. Edith was an arts-loving, Ivy League-educated foreign languages teacher cherished by nearly five decades of Miami Beach students. The Gelbers came to Miami Beach from different boroughs of New York but met as teachers at the Normandy School in North Beach in the 1950s — Edith, the intellectual Latin and Spanish teacher and Seymour, the school’s not-so-intellectual athletic director. They fell in love, and for every day of the rest of their lives, never fell out of love.

After retiring from the Circuit Court as the Chief Judge of the Juvenile Court, Seymour decided to run for mayor. Edith, who was also retired from teaching, was up for the adventure. While Seymour received most of the accolades as mayor, anyone who knew them as a couple understood how impactful Edith was in helping shape the character and nature of her husband’s service, especially when it came to the arts.

In the area of arts and culture, Seymour and Edith brought transformational change. Edith was a true believer that a commitment to the arts could elevate a community. Even after retirement from teaching, she volunteered as a docent at our city’s museums. Mayor Gelber, with his wife’s guidance, changed the cultural landscape of our city. He created our Cultural Arts Council and grants process, started the public art program and began discussions with a little art fair at the time from Basel, Switzerland. Seymour played an instrumental role in emphasizing the expansion needs of our established arts organizations such as the Miami City Ballet, New World Symphony, The Wolfsonian and Bass Museum.

Jerry Libbin

Jerry moved to Miami Beach in 1982 and became the executive director of the Miami Beach Jewish Community Center (JCC). He has been involved in numerous civic organizations throughout his life, including the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, where he is an honorary lifetime trustee. He also served as president of the Miami Beach Rotary Club, president of the North Beach Development Corporation, president of the Normandy Shores Homeowners Association (HOA) and has been active in the Nor-Isle Optimist Club. In 2005, Jerry was elected to serve on the Miami Beach City Commission. Shortly after his reelection in 2009, he was hired as president and C.E.O. of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce. After 13 years of service, Jerry will retire from the Chamber of Commerce at the end of 2023.

In his role at the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, Jerry has often been called upon to organize our community business leaders around significant issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jerry was asked by then City Manager Jimmy Morales to bring together business leaders from every major industry as well as representatives from the religious community to develop recommendations for the City Commission on how to safely reopen each sector. Almost every recommendation was subsequently approved by the City Commission. Jerry takes great personal satisfaction in knowing he was able to play such a vital role in getting our residents and businesses back to a new normal.

Jerry’s efforts have contributed to Miami Beach’s status as an iconic destination, attracting visitors from all over the world. He continues to make lasting impressions on Miami Beach through his hard work, determination and persistence in supporting Miami Beach residents as well as the arts and culture scene.

Nancy Weinstein Liebman

In 1959, Nancy and her husband, Norman, moved to Miami Beach from Jersey City, New Jersey where she studied education at the Teacher’s College of New Jersey State. One of Nancy’s first successful projects was in the 1980s, where she and other activists prevented Miami-Dade County from changing the Venetian Causeway into a four-lane highway. Nancy served for nine years as a board member of the Miami-Dade Heritage Trust. In 1982, Nancy helped organize the National Trust’s first visit to Miami Beach in advocation for the protection of historic buildings. The visit led to further protections against the demolition of other historic buildings on a local level. Nancy was appointed to the Historic Preservation Board in 1987, which she chaired for six years. In 1989, Nancy was appointed executive director of the Miami Design Preservation League. She successfully lobbied in Washington, D.C. to have Miami Beach’s historic buildings legally retain their original names.

Nancy dedicated her life to Miami Beach, culminating with her appointment to the Miami Beach City Commission in 1993, where she served until 2001 as she continued to support historic preservation. She also wrote hundreds of pro-preservation letters, many of which were published on the editorial pages of the Miami Herald. Her goal was always to maintain Miami Beach’s original character and charm.

Mark Samuelian

Mark Samuelian’s roots in South Florida and Miami Beach ran deep. His grandfather lived in Coral Gables and Mark’s love for the area started in early childhood. A homeowner in Miami Beach since 2003, he enjoyed the richness and diversity of its residents and neighborhoods. Mark met Laura Dominguez, his life partner, in 2012, and they resided on Belle Isle on the Venetian Islands.

Mark’s passion for his community allowed him to be elected to the Miami Beach City Commission in November 2017 with overwhelming resident support. He received 68% of the votes cast and won all 24 precincts. In 2021, he was reelected to office without opposition.

While serving on the Miami Beach City Commission, he was a member of the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee, which adopts the city’s financial policies and oversees the creation and execution of the municipal budget. He also chaired the Land Use and Sustainability Committee, responsible for implementing land use regulations and sustainability policies to include resiliency and sea level rise. Along with his commission aide, Mark addressed over 1,000 resident inquiries and concerns while passing multiple initiatives to enhance the city’s resiliency, public safety and quality of life. Mark served on the Board of Directors for the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, The Board of Governors for the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and as an advisory board member of the World Affairs Council of Miami. He was also the past president of Miami Beach United.

Michael Tilson Thomas

Michael Tilson Thomas is artistic director laureate of the Miami Beach-based New World Symphony (NWS), as well as music director laureate of the San Francisco Symphony and conductor laureate of the London Symphony Orchestra. With a career spanning nearly six decades, he is one of the most renowned and respected conductors in the history of orchestral music with 12 Grammy Awards. Michael co-founded the New World Symphony in 1987, choosing Miami Beach as its home. A postgraduate orchestral academy dedicated to preparing young musicians of diverse backgrounds for leadership roles in classical music, the New World Symphony has long been at the forefront of developments in the arts and in education. As artistic director laureate, he works with orchestral fellows to further their performance abilities and expand their understanding of professional responsibilities in an ever-changing musical environment. His vision for New World Center was to have it serve both as a home for the symphony as well as a cultural hub where the Miami Beach community could enjoy free concerts in SoundScape Park outside the concert hall. When not in use for live performances, Michael committed that New World Center would display visual art on the exterior wall that could be enjoyed by all residents and visitors.

Though Michael’s career is international, he often says his legacy lies in Miami Beach through the New World Symphony. In its first 35 years of operation, New World Symphony produced more than 1,200 alumni, 90% of whom maintain careers in music working in over 30 countries. In Miami Beach, fellows perform more than 60 concerts each season. More than a third of the performances are free to the Miami Beach community. Michael has also crafted community engagement activities that place New World Symphony fellows in schools, hospitals and community centers for educational performances and lectures. After their three-year fellowship ends, many alumni have stayed in Miami Beach to continue the community connections developed while they were fellows. Michael fosters this entrepreneurial spirit and connection to the community. He has inspired the talented youth of South Florida through the symphony’s annual Side-by-Side Concerts, where local young musicians perform alongside fellows at the New World Center. He has also led the creation of Project 305, in which NWS sourced materials from the local community to create the symphonic documentary, “Miami in Movements.” The project provided an authentic representation of our city that embraces issues of race, class, ethnicity, wealth disbursement, sea level rise, natural disasters and community well-being. With the New World Center campus and NWS’s WALLCAST® concerts, Michael has invigorated the Miami Beach cultural scene. Outdoor audiences are frequently a melting pot of ages, cultures and languages that reflect the diversity of the community. Michael’s contribution to Miami Beach was also reflected in his selection for the only human-inspired token to be included in the Miami and the Beaches Monopoly game.

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The Miami Beach Hispanic Affairs Committee has announced the winners of the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Awards, which honor individuals or businesses from the Hispanic community who live or work in Miami Beach and have made a positive contribution to the community.

“We are pleased to once again celebrate Hispanic Heritage month in the City of Miami Beach,” shared Hispanic Affairs Committee Chairperson Rosary Plana Falero. “In doing so, we proudly recognize distinguished Hispanic businesses and individuals within our city that contribute in their own respective ways to the safety, education, culture and health of our entire community. We are proud and honored to have this opportunity to celebrate all of the award recipients and their accomplishments.”

The 2023 Hispanic Heritage Award winners will be honored on Thursday, Oct. 5 during a 6 p.m. ceremony at the Rum Room Miami Beach (2100 Washington Ave.):

Adult Contributing to Success of Youth

• Enrique Villa, Miami Beach Parks & Recreation

Artist

• Anabela de las Nieves Bergero

Artist Supporting Elderly

• Kiley Hernandez

Business

• Cortadito Coffee House
• Miami Beach Life Magazine

Educator

• Monica Varela

Hispanic Community Member

• Louis Aguirre
• Dan Rios

Outstanding Individual in a Non-Profit Supporting Arts in the Community

• Silvia Karman Cubiña

Public Safety Personnel

• Noel Castillo, Miami Beach Police
• Walter Javier, Miami Beach Fire

Social Service Provider

• Magui Benitez

Youth Under 18 Involved in Community Service

• Alejandra Rain Jimenez
• Gabriela Suarez

The Hispanic Affairs Committee is an advisory body to the Miami Beach City Commission and the administration on matters pertaining to the Hispanic community in the City of Miami Beach.

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To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (five-day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or participate in any city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2489 and select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 6; TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service).

The City of Miami Beach will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m. to mark the start of construction on the planned $42.8 million Bayshore Park (just south of 2530 Pine Tree Drive), which will feature a passive park, playground, an outdoor amphitheater and six lighted multipurpose tennis and pickleball courts.

“We continue our march to create the most beautiful and unique open spaces in the world. What has been a barren lot for years, will now became a center of community activity to be enjoyed by all,” said Mayor Dan Gelber.

Partially funded by the 2018 voter-approved General Obligation Bond, the new park will also include a dog park named after the late former Miami Beach Commissioner Jorge Exposito, jogging trail, pathways, boardwalk, pavilion, Vita Course and fitness cluster, butterfly garden as well as a linear water feature.

“Bayshore Park will be an incredible new gathering place for our residents and visitors to enjoy with their families while also being a model of sustainability and environmental stewardship,” added Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez.

Resiliency improvements planned for the project include a central lake with circulation and an ozone water treatment system along with a lake overlook and stormwater infrastructure to collect and retain a portion of the stormwater runoff from the surrounding area.

Located on the site of a former par 3 golf course, Bayshore Park will be equipped with a motion-activated lighting system and security cameras. The project includes the replacement of existing water and sewer lines and the construction of an off-street parking lot.

Bayshore Park is slated to be completed by fall 2025.

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The City of Miami Beach Environment & Sustainability Department invites volunteers who participate in this year’s International Coastal Cleanup Miami-Dade event to cool down with a refreshing bubly™ sparkling water and some light snacks at the Coastal Cleanup After-party.

The After-Party takes place immediately following the cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 11 a.m. in the Radisson Miami Beach Backyard at 4343 Collins Avenue. The complimentary bubly™ sparkling water will be provided courtesy of PepsiCo Beverages North America, which recently entered a 10-year plastic-free contract with Miami Beach.

“We wanted to do something to recognize the volunteers who give up part of their weekend to help keep our beaches pristine,” explained Miami Beach City Manager Alina T. Hudak. “I also want to thank PepsiCo Beverages North America and our local sponsors for their generous contributions that make this Cleanup After-party possible.”

There’s still time to sign up for the International Coastal Cleanup, which is the world’s largest, one-day volunteer effort to reduce marine debris with millions of worldwide participants.

Spearheaded globally by the Ocean Conservancy, VolunteerCleanup.org organizes Miami-Dade’s local participation in the annual event with more than 50 simultaneous shoreline cleanups throughout Miami-Dade County.

Organizers will provide garbage bags, gloves, data collection cards and a souvenir tote bag that reflects this year’s seahorse marine animal theme.

To register for the International Coastal Cleanup Miami-Dade, please visit tinyurl.com/MBCoastalCleanup.

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La Ciudad de Miami Beach se ha asociado con La Liga Contra El Cáncer y H3: health.hope.healing para ofrecer mamografías gratuitas a mujeres sin seguro de salud el viernes 20 de octubre, de 8 a.m. a 4 p.m., cuando el autobús de mamografías estará en el estacionamiento de la Biblioteca de North Shore Branch, ubicada en 7501 Collins Ave.

“El cáncer de mama ya no tiene que ser una sentencia de muerte, pero el pronóstico de recuperación es mucho mejor cuando la enfermedad se detecta temprano”, explicó el Comisionado de Miami Beach, Alex Fernández. “Le debemos a las mujeres en nuestras vidas asegurarnos de que la detección temprana esté disponible en nuestra comunidad para todas las mujeres, sin importar si tienen seguro de salud”.

Es necesario programar una cita para recibir una mamografía. Estas citas están disponibles para mujeres de bajos ingresos entre las edades de 40 a 60 años que no tienen seguro de salud y no tienen implantes mamarios. Para registrarse para una cita, llame al 786.353.1944.

“Nuestro compromiso de proporcionar mamografías gratuitas refleja nuestra dedicación inquebrantable a garantizar que la atención médica sea un derecho, no un privilegio”, dijo Fernández. “Unámonos para apoyar a esas mujeres que de otra manera podrían ser pasadas por alto y no detectadas”.

Octubre es el Mes de Concienciación sobre el Cáncer de Mama, y la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de los Estados Unidos informa que una de cada ocho mujeres en los Estados Unidos desarrollará cáncer de mama durante su vida. Según la agencia, más de 40,000 mujeres mueren de cáncer de mama cada año.

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The City of Miami Beach has partnered with Liga Contra El Cancer and H3: health.hope.healing to offer free mammograms to women without health insurance on Friday, Oct. 20 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the mammogram bus rolls into the North Shore Branch Library parking lot at 7501 Collins Ave.

“Breast cancer no longer has to be a death sentence, but the recovery prognosis is much greater when the disease is caught early,” explained Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez. “We owe it to the women in our lives to make sure early detection is available in our community to every woman regardless of whether they have health insurance.”

Appointments are required to receive a mammogram. They are open to low-income women between the ages of 40 to 60 who do not have health insurance and do not have breast implants. To register for an appointment, call 786.353.1944.

“Our commitment to providing free mammograms reflects our unwavering dedication to ensuring that healthcare is a right, not a privilege,” Fernandez said. “Let us stand together to support those women who may otherwise be overlooked and undetected.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that one out of eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. More than 40,000 women die from breast cancer each year, according to the agency.

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The City of Miami Beach Procurement Department has been awarded the Quality Public Procurement Department accreditation by the National Institute for Governmental Procurement (NIGP) — the largest public procurement organization in the United States and Canada.

“We are very proud that our procurement department has been able to achieve this rigorous accreditation,” said Miami Beach City Manager Alina T. Hudak. “Only 5% of the 3,000 government agencies that are members of NIGP have earned this honor.”

The NIGP accreditation, which recognizes excellence in public procurement, is awarded to public procurement departments that have demonstrated their operations, practices and abilities are consistent with established best practices and standards.

NIGP was formed during World War II — largely through the efforts of then-New York City Mayor and U.S. Conference of Mayors President Fiorello LaGuardia — to elevate the purchasing profession, accelerate performance and make a positive difference in communities throughout the world.

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First responders from the City of Miami Beach Fire and Police Departments will hold a joint observance on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 to honor the memory of the 2,977 victims who died during the 9/11 terror attacks more than two decades ago.

“This day reminds us that there will always be those who threaten to take away our freedoms, but that we must come together as Americans to reject tyranny and stand for freedom,” Miami Beach City Manager Alina T. Hudak said.

The Miami Beach ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m. outside Fire Station 2. A moment of silence will be observed at 8:46 a.m. as first responders lower the American flag to half-staff.

Visitors and guests are asked to assemble behind the circle of first responders.

The total number of victims includes the first responders who died while attempting to assist other victims but does not include the 19 terrorists killed while perpetrating the attacks that began with four hijacked airliners on Sept. 11, 2001.

Two aircraft were flown into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City while another was flown into the Pentagon. The remaining aircraft crashed into a Pennsylvania field when passengers bravely resisted their attackers.

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What: City of Miami Beach Joint 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

When: Monday, Sept. 11 at 8:30 a.m.

Where: Fire Station 2 at 2300 Pine Tree Drive, Miami Beach

Join the City of Miami Beach on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. in the New World Center for the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Wayne A. Jones, who will become the city’s 21^st Miami Beach Police Chief.

Chief Jones has been with the Miami Beach Police Department since 1996 and has held every rank, including patrol officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major, and, most recently, deputy chief for the past four years. His promotion makes him the city’s first Black police chief.

Over the past 27 years, Jones has been an integral part of the department’s growth. He created the human trafficking unit, which went on to lead Miami-Dade County in investigations and arrests for sex trafficking offenses. As a sergeant in community affairs, he developed the structure of what would later become the nationally recognized Homeless Resource Officer Program. In addition, Jones implemented new recruitment strategies to boost the number of female police officers from 12% to 18% of all new hires.

Jones obtained his undergraduate degree in political science and public administration from Florida Memorial University and his master’s in public administration from Florida International University. He completed the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police program.

An aviation enthusiast and licensed pilot, he also holds an associate degree from Miami Dade College in professional piloting and technology.

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WHAT:            Miami Beach Police Chief Swearing-In Ceremony

WHEN:            Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 at 10 a.m. (Doors open at 9 a.m.)

WHERE:         500 17 Street (New World Center)