On Monday, February 7, 2022, Holland & Knight attorney and lobbyist Miguel De Grandy presented the preliminary redistricting plan in hope of balancing the population of each district.

The data showed that District 2, which includes most of Miami’s coastal neighborhoods stretching from Coconut Grove up through Brickell, downtown, and Edgewater and Morningside, grew so much that it was overpopulated compared to other districts.

To even things out, De Grandy took western swaths of Miami’s coastal neighborhoods and moved them into abutting districts to the west. Under the proposal, District 1 would extend further east along the Miami River, District 3 would add a sliver of Brickell southeast of The Roads, District 4 would absorb part of the West Grove and District 5 would add Midtown, among other changes. As the Herald reported, here.

The Grove residents showed up in numbers to advocate towards keeping the Grove together. Which led Commissioner Russell to state that they could redraw the lines and take parts of Brickell, Downtown, and Edgewater in order to keep Coconut Grove together. The proposal will divide our community, minimize our vote, and we will have a harder time getting our issues resolved since we will work with 3 Commissioners through the City.

If we desire to stay together we must also go and advocate on our behalf.