A citizen-led petition drive has surpassed the signature threshold required to place sweeping Miami charter reforms on this year\u2019s ballot.<\/p>\n
Stronger Miami<\/a> just announced that it collected more than 20,500 signatures, exceeding both the legal requirement and its own 20,000-signature goal.<\/p>\n Organizers said a recent surge in volunteer-led outreach helped propel the effort across the finish line after it reported in late January<\/a> that it was within 2,000 signatures of qualifying.<\/p>\n Supporters framed the milestone as a demonstration of citywide demand for structural changes at City Hall.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is what democracy looks like when residents demand better,\u201d Mel Meinhardt of One Grove Alliance<\/a>, one of the groups backing the initiative, said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cMore than 20,500 Miamians signed their names to say they want real reform at City Hall, and Stronger Miami has delivered.\u201d<\/p>\n Monica Bustinza of Engage Miami<\/a> called the total \u201cproof that this movement has broad, deep support across every corner of Miami.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis campaign was built by the community coming together to demand accountability,\u201d she said in a statement.<\/p>\n The proposed charter amendments would expand the Miami Commission<\/a> from five to nine members, creating smaller districts that supporters argue would make Commissioners more accountable to the communities they represent.<\/p>\n The measures would also move city elections to November of even-numbered years, aligning them with state and federal contests, likely increasing voter participation and reducing the cost of standalone elections \u2014 without extending current officials\u2019 terms, unlike what city officials tried to do last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n Further, the proposal would establish enforceable redistricting standards designed to ensure district boundaries reflect communities rather than political interests. The changes would build on Miami\u2019s recently approved<\/a> Citizens\u2019 Redistricting Committee, which is tasked with drawing Commission maps after each census.<\/p>\n State records list Stronger Miami\u2019s principals as lawyer Anthony Parrish; Joseph Dye, a former ACLU of Florida associate who now runs a political strategy firm; and BFF Compliance partner Gloria Maggiolo, who has served as Treasurer for dozens of state and county political committees, primarily for Democratic candidates.<\/p>\n