Written by Miami Today on January 14, 2026
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TOWER POWER: Miami Dade College will resume management of the Tower Theater, the century-old cinema at 1508 SW 8th St., after three years of city control. Miami commissioners on Jan. 8 directed the city manager to negotiate a lease with MDC for a minimum of 20 years with automatic five-year renewals. MDC managed the theater from 2002 until January 2023, overseeing festivals, educational programs and arts initiatives without city operating subsidies. City leaders say returning management to the college preserves the theater’s historic mission and legacy and protects its programming, cultural significance and long-term stability.
WATSON ISLAND SALE STANDS: An item to reconsider sale of 3.2 city-owned acres on Watson Island at 888 MacArthur Causeway, which voters approved in August 2024 and commissioners approved in a 4-1 vote for $29 million in December, was withdrawn without comment at the Jan. 8 Miami City Commission meeting. The reconsideration was requested by Ralph Rosado, who cast the lone dissenting vote in December and raised concerns about the property’s valuation and the deal structure. Now the previously approved agreement with BH3 Management and Merrimac Ventures remains in place. Developers can proceed with the planned mixed-use development, which includes condominiums, hotels, retail, public amenities and a 2.2-acre promenade along Biscayne Bay, along with a $9 million public benefits package that funds affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, arts programming, and job training initiatives.
MORE CITY POLICE: Miami will hire 24 new police officers through a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, with a required city match of $7.6 million, bringing the total project to $10.6 million. Commissioners on Jan. 8 authorized the city manager to accept the grant, establish a special revenue fund for the program and execute documents. The grant supports salaries and benefits for the new officers, who must be retained for at least one year after the five-year grant ends.
TAX COLLECTIONS GAIN: Driven by sales taxes, state general revenue collections in November topped expectations by 6%. Florida collected $4.031 billion in net general revenue, $228.7 million higher than an August forecast. General revenue plays a major role in funding education, health and prison programs. The state collected $3.014 billion in sales taxes, $172.1 million more than expected. Earnings on investments came in at $137.6 million, $18.6 million more than forecast.Â
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