Sabina Covo is a "rarity" in Miami politics. The Commissioner for the city's District 2 is a young, Democratic woman. She supports progressive positions, such as the rejection of the restriction on the abortion right. Something else, she is of Latin origin, but she is not Cuban. Covo was born in Medellin and raised in Cartagena. She still has a hint of coastal accent. She graduated as a political scientist from Florida International University and worked as a political journalist. Before making the electoral leap (she was the most voted last February), she covered the presidency of Donald Trump. "I was so tired after that... I think that is why I retired from my work as a journalist," the Commissioner said ironically from her office in the City Hall. Covo criticizes the former Republican President and Governor Ron DeSantis, while working for the resurrection of the Democratic Party in Florida.
How did you make your move from journalism to politics?
I studied journalism and political science at Florida International University. During 15 years, I covered politics for different television channels in Miami. I learned a lot about local, city, county state and national politics. I covered the 2020 election and I was offered to be a spokesperson at the Miami-Dade Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
But until then you had never been in an election...
In that position, I felt the desire to stand for public service. The possibility of running for this position was opened, and I won.
"El ciudadano de a pie de Miami va a necesitar dos vidas de trabajo para ver jugar a Messi"
You district includes Coconut Grove, Downtown and Brickell, where home prices have skyrocketed in recent years. Do you have proposals in this regard?
Rental prices rose 30%. I have lived in District 2 for more than 22 years. I know it well. I was a street reporter for a long time and I closely followed the issues of the city. Affordable housing is a problem that, although it does not have an immediate solution, it can be reversed with positive steps.
What do you propose to reverse the housing problem?
In the four months I've been here, we've changed part of the legislation so that the rezoning asks the builder to include affordable housing. We needed zoning changes with density. We did this for West Grove. I'm pushing to assign more than 2 millions for affordable housing. I hope my colleagues support me with their votes.
Why would real estate developers bet on social housing?
Builders have little incentive to make affordable housing because they earn less with it, so more luxury housing is built. Actually, the solution is more inventory so that not only rental prices go down, but sales prices as well.
Was Miami's infrastructure prepared for the growth it had in the last 15 years?
We have a structural problem. We are a very young city that is adjusting to go from being horizontal to vertical. Our Zoning Code, the so-called Miami 21, is more than two decades old and accumulates more than 200 recommendations that have not been implemented.
Flooding is another chronic city problem, and you are working on it.
That's right. We had the initiative to allocate more funds. It was approved unanimously. I asked the Commission of the Department of Public Works to hire more people to verify that the drainage systems are clean. We also arranged the purchase of two suction/vacuum trucks. We are preparing for the hurricane season that lasts until November. And we launched an efficient response unit: "the ecological green team," a group that checks the drainage systems and talks to the residents to see where the problems are.
Alex Otaola: "Un latino está por llegar a la Casa Blanca, pero no será demócrata"
The accumulation of garbage in Miami is a common complaint of the citizens. What do you propose?
It is a serious problem: garbage overflows and enters the drainage system. We are analyzing which neighborhoods in the district need more garbage trucks.
Miami is registering record hot days. However, Governor Ron DeSantis discredit climate change. What do you think?
It is completely unfortunate that Governor DeSantis is still in denial about climate change. We have a real problem and it is scientifically proven. The city of Miami - together with the County - is working on barriers, whether they be walls, boardwalks or eco-barriers to neutralize storm flooding or rising tides. The heat wave is a reality and we arrive late to accept it and relieve future generations.
What are your criticisms of Mayor Francis Suárez management?
I interviewed Francis Suárez as a Commissioner and Mayor many times. I think he did a good job: he put Miami on the international map. But some details were missing during his public management. Now he is focused on running for President. I wish him the best of luck.
What details did his public management miss?
He should have planned better the previous years, but it is not just the Mayor's job. We do not have a strong mayor. At the legislature and mayoral level, we should have taken into account the number of people who come to Miami. With the pandemic, many people wanted to move to Miami. And that got out of hands.
Suárez is being investigated by the FBI, accused of having collected money from a real estate developer with businesses in the city. What do you think?
It is an open investigation. Out of professional courtesy, any time one of the officers is in a legally difficult situation, let the legal system decide. The commissioners and the mayor have the power to continue working because they are part-time positions. The important thing is to have our financial statements in order and all the details in public records. But I don't like to comment on an open case.
"Los latinos van a votar por Trump porque lo que DeSantis propone es demasiado anti-inmigrante"
Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo was convicted by an alleged extortion against two Little Havana businessmen. And they demand that the City take charge of the compensation. What is your point of view?
He is in an appeal process. The correct thing, in case Carollo is finally found guilty, is that those 63 million dollars that would have to be paid are not contributed by the constituents. This compensation does not have to be publicly assumed, if the demand is on a personal level.
Is it difficult to do politics in Miami as a Democrat?
No. Miami-Dade County has historically been Democratic. It is true that we have had some changes in the recent electoral map. In the last election, Republicans took almost all the seats. In fact, I am the only Democrat elected in South Florida, even though this position is nonpartisan. I work well with Republicans and Democrats. Many of the votes I got came from both parties.
Did Florida become a Republican state for good?
I know the state and county Democratic Party is working hard on their Hispanic strategy. And we hope a successful campaign.
The new chairwoman of the Florida Democrats, Nikki Fried, seeks to give the party a more combative stamp. Do you agree with that strategy?
I totally agree, and I admire Nikki Fried so much. She was my boss in the Department of Agriculture. I work very closely with her. It is a good moment for the Democrats, and there are many conspiracies and ideological conflicts that could cost the Republicans their vote. Not just the Hispanic vote.
Are you referring to the domestic affairs between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis?
Not only to the affairs between Trump and DeSantis, but to the liberties that are weakened so that children do not learn Afro-American studies at school. That shouldn't be happening. We have a history not only with African-Americans, but with our natives, who are the Indians, and also with other minorities, such as the immigrants who recently arrived. History is written, it should not be prohibited. Neither should be the freedom for women to choose what they want to do with their bodies.
What do you think of the tightening of the immigration law that DeSantis applied?
We are not only waiting for some kind of amnesty for the people who arrived a while ago, and should already have been legalized in one way or another, but also regarding the crisis over family separations. Agriculture and construction industry are largely led by immigrants who do not have papers. Those industries are going to suffer.
Do you have data on undocumented workers who have left Florida and gone to other states?
We are seeing immigrant families moving to other states. And jobs are feeling the effects. This can cause the food price to rise. We do not have exact data, but we do have complaints and we know some complicated cases.
Is DeSantis even more conservative than Trump?
There is a difference: DeSantis puts religion in the middle. And that explains why he is a little more conservative in his ideology. Keep in mind that Trump has not always been a Republican.
Does the progress of the investigations and trials against Trump harm him?
It is amazing that with all these open investigations he is still running and has the popularity he has. It doesn't really surprise me because he is quite a controversial person. I covered his entire presidency. I was so tired... that is why I retired from my work as a journalist.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava is up for re-election. Does she have your support?
Mayor Levine Cava has all my support. She has supported my campaign. We are working very close to the County. We have many common problems, such as those of traffic. We have to get to the county to get more resources. Traffic studies, planning, we have to go to the county. And in each case she has been a wonderful Mayor and I hope she continues on that path.
Is President Joe Biden going to be re-elected?
The Democratic Party is going to support him because he is the person in the White House. We are seeing that the popularity numbers are very similar to those the Republican Party candidate would have. Trump is ahead of DeSantis, but tie with Biden's numbers.
How do you assess the government of the Colombian President Gustavo Petro?
I am an opponent of Gustavo Petro. I supported Federico Gutiérrez, who was one of his most important contenders. Petro has caused the dollar to fluctuate, to go up and down like a pendulum. And businessmen panic. There are companies coming to the United States, worried about what may happen in the future. We are analyzing. For the time being, Colombia has remained stable.
With the exception of Cubans, are Latinos underrepresented in US politics?
It would be nice - and I would like to be an inspiration for other Hispanic women so that we have more representation, not only female but Hispanic of different nationalities. We have a Cuban-American representation well above other nationalities. So yes, I would love to see people from other parts of the world: Argentines; Colombians; Venezuelans who are now very involved here; see Central Americans doing politics.
What impact will the Lionel Messi phenomenon have on the city of Miami?
It is going to bring a lot of opportunities to Miami. I would love to see the tickets cost less because unfortunately they are not being affordable for the average family. It is something we have to work on. With the large number of children wanting to play soccer and with the World Cup coming up, I hope it can bring jobs to the people who live here. So that children of all ages and of all incomes can enjoy Messi and soccer too.
Translator: Bibiana Ruiz.
Please do not cut or paste our notes on the web, you have the possibility to redistribute them using our tools.
