Residents and local officials are at odds over the upcoming decision over where Miami-Dade County’s trash incinerator will be located. According to CBS News Miami, Doral Mayor Christi Fraga stated unequivocally on Instagram that it is not in the best interests of the locals to rebuild the incinerator. “While this may seem like the easiest solution, it is not the right one because it places an undue burden on Doral residents who have already endured the environmental, health, and quality-of-life impacts of hosting this facility for years,” wrote Fraga. The controversy is just getting hotter as the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to vote on the proposal on December 3.
Meanwhile, a demonstration was held in front of the Stephen P. Clark building in Miami, where both activists and locals voiced their disapproval. Against the backdrop of a city that has reluctantly harbored the waste-to-energy facility for far too long, concerns became more vocal. The protest emphasized the community’s call for a more sustainable future free from the smog-laden legacy that currently veils Doral’s skies amid persistent odors and health concerns.
The financial arguments made by county authorities were also criticized by Mayor Fraga, who summarized the financial consequences that would be borne by the households, as reported by NBC Miami. “The County claims that relocating the Waste-to-Energy Facility would cost an additional $800 million, equating to $42 per household annually over 20 years a cost that I understand may be significant for some families,” said Fraga, as reported by CBS News Miami.
In defiance, the mayor of Doral has mobilized citizens to join the battle. Other city officials, like Wayne Messam, the mayor of Miramar, have also echoed this sentiment, welcoming the removal of the Airport West site from consideration but warning that his community remains at risk until the incinerator is permanently abandoned. According to NBC Miami, Messam expressed relief at the previous suggestion made by County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, but he is still cautious, saying, “We remain vigilant to ensure that this decision is final.”
Concerns about environmental justice and mistrust are the foundations of the opposition to reconstructing the incinerator. Rebuilding it in Doral, according to County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, would be more hygienic, contemporary, and in line with the county’s zero waste objectives. But locals are still dubious. Whether the county’s future will be overshadowed by the smokestack from the incinerator or progress toward a cleaner, more fair future depends on the decision made on December 3.
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