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AFFIDAVIT

My name is Daniella Levine Cava.  I am the Mayor of Miami-Dade County.

On March 9, 2020, the Governor of Florida issued Executive Order Number 20-52, declaring a State of Emergency for the State of Florida related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Section 252.38(3)(a), Florida Statutes, gives authority to political subdivisions to declare and enact a Local State of Emergency for a period of up to seven days, thereby waiving the procedures and formalities otherwise required of the political subdivision by law.

Because COVID-19 posed a public health, safety, and welfare risk to Miami-Dade County residents, a Local State of Emergency was declared on March 12, 2020 to respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and to provide for emergency measures to deal with COVID-19. The declaration of a Local State of Emergency has been extended every week since March 12, 2020. Section 8B-6 of the Code of Miami-Dade County Code, Florida (County Code) provides that the Mayor of Miami-Dade County is authorized to declare a Local State of Emergency.  However, the County Code further states that if the declaration is to exceed 30 days, then the Mayor shall present to the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners an additional affidavit stating the reasons for the extension. The initial affidavit was presented to the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners on April 10, 2020. On August 31, 2020, the Board of County Commissioners adopted Ordinance No. 20-87, which amended Section 8B-6 of the Miami-Dade County Code, requiring the County Mayor, or in the County Mayor’s absence, the Chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners, to present an additional affidavit every 15 days for the duration of the declaration.

I am presenting this affidavit in compliance with Ordinance No. 20-87 as explanation for the current extension of the Local State of Emergency that was originally declared on March 12, 2020. Additional affidavits in compliance with Ordinance No. 20-87 will follow every 15 days, as necessary.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect our community and nation. As of October 15, 2021, more than 3,620,562 resident cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Florida, including more than 667,933 in Miami-Dade County.

Due to the continued threat posed by COVID-19, I believe the declaration of a Local State of Emergency must be extended to allow me, as Mayor of Miami-Dade County, to continue to take the extraordinary and immediate actions required to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the 2.8 million residents of Miami-Dade County. Additionally, extending the Local State of Emergency will allow Miami-Dade County to seek reimbursement from state and federal governments as well as to qualify for available state and federal funding to aid in economic recovery efforts.

Further Affiant sayeth naught.