FYI Miami: March 9, 2023

Bellow 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.

PORT PLANS PARKING: As the cruise and cargo industries among ports across Florida are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels, a PortMiami spokesperson said that the port is “consistently engaging with our neighbors and partners to identify options that will allow our growing number of visitors and staff to park remotely, if needed in the future.” This comes after record-breaking year in which Florida ports handled 112.5 million tons of cargo, up 6% from 2021 and up 0.5% from 2019. In addition, the cruise industry recorded 10.77 million passengers last year. Florida legislation has proposed a 2023-2024 budget that would provide $105.5 million for ports, including cruise terminal developments at PortMiami.

BONDS FLY HIGHER: After a year in which Miami International Airport (MIA) reclaimed the title of Florida’s busiest, Fitch Ratings raised Miami-Dade County’s $4.9 billion of aviation revenue and revenue refunding bonds to A-plus from A. “Miami stands out as one of the nation’s strongest international gateway airports with a dominant position for Latin American and Caribbean air services,” the agency said. MIA exceeded its pre-pandemic traffic high in 2022 by nearly 10%, reflecting the airport’s “outperformance in enplanement recovery,” Fitch said. MIA moved 50.6 million passengers last year, breaking its previous record of 45.9 million in 2019. MIA nosed out Orlando International Airport as the busiest, handling half a million more passengers.

CRIME RISES IN COUNTY: Violent crimes rose 3.36% in January from January 2022 in areas patrolled by the Miami-Dade County Police Department, according to a report released by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s office. Nonviolent crime rose 5.73%. There were seven homicides, up from five the prior January. Aggravated assaults rose from 402 to 421 cases, and robberies rose from 74 reports to 81. Burglaries rose from 403 cases to 421 and larcenies rose from 1,597 reports to 1,740 for the month. There were declines: rapes fell from 44 to 36, and car thefts declined from 327 to 303 for January. The statistics do not include crimes reported in areas patrolled by municipal police departments throughout the county.

ELECTRIC BILLS RISE: State regulators Tuesday signed off on plans that will lead to higher FPL electric bills in April because of hurricane costs and higher-than-expected natural gas prices last year. A customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a month currently pays $129.59. That amount will go to $144.38 in April. But FPL projects such bills will go down to $139.95 in May because of lower-than-expected gas prices in 2023.