After almost 14 years serving as commissioner for Miami’s District 4, Tomás Regalado is moving on up to the second floor of Miami City Hall to occupy the mayor seat.
Though no longer having a vote in his new role, Mr. Regalado plans to use his power as mayor to bring big changes to city hall. Making the decision-making process more transparent, he says, and making the administration more accountable is a big priority.
As of this week, Mayor Regalado said, he is to open under the mayor’s office the “Office of the Residents,” where residents will get to meet with his staff to discuss issues and concerns. To further engage the public, he plans to restructure the city’s Channel 77, a government access cable channel, to begin holding homeowner association and community meetings at the chambers and televise them for the public.
Some administrative changes are also coming to departments such as finance and code enforcement, he says, because residents need to be better served.
“There should not be doubt in anybody’s mind that my goal is to change the culture and, if necessary, the direction of every department in the City of Miami,” he said.
Mayor Regalado, following a promise made to constituents during his campaign, is making the restoration of the 1964-built Marine Stadium Marina in Virginia Key a major goal of his administration.
With the Marlins stadium construction to occur during his term, he says, he is to keep a close eye on every stadium-related decision to ensure that city funds are not misspent.    In his first day in office, Mayor Regalado shared his plans and the changes coming under his leadership with Miami Today reporter Yudislaidy Fernandez at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove.