FYI Miami: October 21, 2021

Below are some of the FYIs in this week’s edition. The entire content of this week’s FYIs and Insider sections is available by subscription only. To subscribe click here.

BID TO USE FOREIGN SAND SITS: “Senator Rubio reintroduced the SAND Act earlier this year because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cannot even evaluate, let alone acquire, non-domestic sand for federal beach renourishment. This flexibility could lead to cheaper sand sources that are better for the beaches, the community and the environment,” according to Sen. Marco Rubio’s office. His SAND bill, the Sand Acquisition, Nourishment and Development Act, was introduced in unsuccessfully in 2017 and again in 2019. “Florida’s beautiful beaches draw visitors from around the world and are vital to our state’s local economies,” the senator said on rubio.senate.gov. “Healthy beaches also provide an essential buffer to severe weather that affects Florida’s coastal communities.” The sand would come from the Caribbean. When the bill was introduced a third time March 2, it was referred to the Committee of Environment and Public Works. A decision has not been made and it sits there, according to congress.gov/bill/117th. 

CAREER ACADEMY IN FILM AND ENTERTAINMENT: A resolution by Sen. Rene Garcia directs the Mayor’s Office to determine the feasibility of creating a career academy in the film and entertainment industry. The document was adopted at a commission meeting Tuesday.  The document dictates the mayor would have to report within 90 days including a recommended outline of the program and identify funding, if necessary, to implement it. “Miami-Dade County has been a world-class production hub for film, television, television commercial and digital media thus helping boost the economy locally,” says the document.

MORE DUBAI FLIGHTS?: Emirates Airlines based in Garhoud, Dubai, the primary air carrier from Miami to Dubai, may soon add more flights here, says Greg Chin, communications director for Miami International Airport. The flight is roughly 14 to 15 hours. “There are four weekly flights, which is a typical start,” he said. The flights have eight first-class seats, 42 business class and 304 economy seats, putting total capacity at 354. “I expect the flights to increase,” he said, “but I’m not positive yet.” 

COSTLY TREAD: Think you spend a lot on tires for the car? Miami-Dade County has just agreed to pay Michelin almost $13 million for tires for county buses for the next three years – and that’s just to lease the tires. Costs would have risen to almost $25 million to actually buy bus tires and mount them for the next five years. Of the other major manufacturers, Goodyear lost out in the bidding and Bridgestone said it couldn’t provide all the tires needed so it decided not to bid. County commissioners approved the deal this month.