VICE MAYOR MIKE HERNANDEZ STATEMENT ON MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION DECISION ON INCINERATOR SITE

Yesterday’s decision by the Miami-Dade County Commission is good news for the City of Pembroke Pines and all of Southwest Broward. Commissioner Oliver Gilbert’s motion removing Opa-Locka West Airport as a potential site to build a waste-to-energy facility was supported by a majority of his colleagues. Opa-Locka Airport West is located just .6 of a mile from the City of Miramar and approximately three miles from the western boundary of Pembroke Pines’ 4th commission district that I have the honor of representing.  

I thank Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam, the Miramar commission, their professional staff and the hundreds of residents from throughout our county who repeatedly made the trip down to the Miami-Dade commission chambers over the past year to advocate for all of Southwest Broward. I am also very proud to have voted last year in favor of Pembroke Pines contributing $100,000 to Miramar’s legal and organizing efforts to oppose the designation of Airport West as a site. 

Although yesterday was a major step toward protecting the health, safety, and quality of life for our residents, we will remain vigilant to any future effort to redesignate the Airport West site.