Mayor Higgins Advocates for Miami Infrastructure at National Winter Conference

Mayor Higgins Joins National Leaders in Washington D.C.

City of Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins is attending the final sessions of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C., today, Friday, January 30, 2026. Mayor Higgins joined municipal leaders from across the country for the three-day summit to discuss urgent local solutions regarding housing affordability, aging infrastructure, and economic development. As the conference concludes today, Miami’s leadership is focused on securing federal partnerships to support the city’s ongoing transit expansions and climate resilience projects.

Legislative Tension Over Urban Development Boundaries

While the Mayor represents Miami on the national stage, political attention remains fixed on Tallahassee where state lawmakers are advancing legislation that could significantly alter Miami-Dade County’s governance. House Bill 399, which recently cleared a key House panel, continues to be a major point of contention for local officials today. The bill proposes a state-mandated study on eliminating the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) in Miami-Dade, a move critics argue would strip local government of its land-use authority and threaten sensitive environmental areas such as the Everglades.

Local advocacy groups and residents have been vocal this week, with many traveling to the capital to oppose the measure. The legislation seeks to replace local charter requirements for supermajority votes on land-use changes with a simple majority, making it easier for developers to build outside current boundaries. State Representative David Borrero, the bill’s sponsor, maintains the measure is a necessary step to address the region's housing shortage by increasing available inventory.

Senior Rental Assistance Program Update

On the administrative front, the City of Miami continues to process a high volume of applications for the Senior Rental Assistance Program (SRAP), which officially reopened earlier this week. The program, designed to provide financial relief to low-income residents aged 62 and older, will remain open for new applications through February 20. City officials noted that the reopening is part of a broader push by the Higgins administration to address the cost-of-living crisis that has disproportionately affected the city's elderly population.

Looking Ahead

As the Mayor returns from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the focus will shift back to local commission chambers. The City of Miami is currently in the midst of several public art and development reviews, with more formal commission sessions scheduled for early February to address the outcomes of today’s national policy discussions and the evolving legislative landscape in Tallahassee.