[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6641202,"mediaKeyId","2547303-c30268e632f9539986ece1f23d6b183d","parentId",2547303,"title","Commission opens formal process to consider naming new Justice Center after Osvaldo Sotto; asks mayor to identify site to honor Harvey Rubin","audioSeconds",6715,"startMs",6727000,"endMs",13442000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2547303-c30268e632f9539986ece1f23d6b183d&start=6727&end=13442","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2547303-c30268e632f9539986ece1f23d6b183d/thumbnail_6727000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6641202/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/Commission-opens-formal-process-to-consider-naming-new-Justice-Center-after-Osvaldo-Sotto-asks-mayor-to-identify-site-to-honor-Harvey-Rubin","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641202-070a762e77080b95609dc30b176fa1c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1774981989&Signature=HOkFq1Dsv7Q6ZX09OMU8nVJ-5EPf9xX77BNrBmzXPl5a0tLNFgt35yuivi5rADiVwZDgLc3miO6dU904jVY8bpyZZFWhETYIrWaTTktAtX4VIIYq8IxikI034FlA1y2aAxjXIhdCZbRHWSJzdgm8VeI9hgaTrn3q2XhpggMnjlYKIGzu249dV2MZ5APvE1OrCek601zUgp71-hQle56T15mFR0ByEGxFxsTd1ObvkYkemxRoG~9eQW5lt2CV-TaXwZVivoD-GXIQdrrrQqiYCC77Y6gVoAS178R5~Xbvdsuxk9ZlVEC3vFyeeB9kIG98903~tgMOSkEO8ayOMWObEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Miami-Dade County","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Miami-Dade County infrastructure committee heard more than two hours of public comment on who should be honored by naming the new civil courthouse. Speakers representing a broad cross-section of the legal community urged the commission to recognize either Osvaldo Sotto — a longtime civil-rights advocate and lawyer — or Harvey Rubin — a 52-year elected official who served as county commissioner and as clerk of courts.

After extensive testimony, committee members voted unanimously to ask the county attorney to prepare an item for the full board to consider renaming the Justice Center after Osvaldo Sotto and directed the county mayor, working with the chief judge, to recommend a suitable county facility to name for Harvey Rubin and report back within 90 days.

Why it matters: The request responds to dozens of speakers from the legal, civic and business communities who urged honoring a civic leader whose work opened the local legal profession to Hispanic and other minority attorneys, and to a longtime public official credited with modernizing county court operations. Commissioners described the choice as difficult and instructed staff to find additional ways to honor both legacies.

Most important facts
- The committee held a public hearing that produced sustained advocacy for both Osvaldo Sotto and Harvey Rubin; dozens of attorneys, judges and community leaders spoke on the record.
- The committee approved a motion to instruct the county attorney to prepare an agenda item for the March 18 commission meeting proposing that the newly named Justice Center be named for Osvaldo Sotto. Commissioner Higgins made the motion; the body recorded a unanimous vote.
- Separately, the committee directed the county mayor to coordinate with the chief judge and return within 90 days with a recommendation of a county facility or other appropriate recognition to honor Harvey Rubin.

What commissioners said and did
Committee chair Commissioner Joe Gonzales and other commissioners acknowledged the strong and often personal testimony for both men. Commissioner Marlene Bastian and others asked the administration to find a way to honor the distinct contributions of both Sotto and Rubin rather than force a single public choice without broad consensus. The committee voted to advance the Sotto-renaming item and simultaneously directed the mayor to identify suitable recognition for Rubin.

Public testimony
Speakers included past and present judges, the Miami-Dade state attorney and leaders of the Cuban American Bar Association and other civic organizations. Remarks detailed Sotto's civil-rights advocacy (including opposition to an \"English-only\" ordinance) and his role mentoring Hispanic attorneys; they also recounted Rubin's decades of public service as commissioner and clerk and his stewardship of court infrastructure and technology.

Actions and next steps
- The committee's motion will be drafted by the county attorney and placed on the commission agenda for next week with a request that the full board consider renaming the Justice Center after Osvaldo Sotto (motion made by Commissioner Keon Hardiman and supported in committee by recorded unanimous consent).
- The mayor's office was directed to coordinate with the chief judge and return within 90 days with a recommendation for a county facility to be named for Harvey Rubin.

Ending note
Commissioners described the situation as an unusual but welcome dilemma: two widely respected civic leaders with distinct legacies. The committee's actions set a formal path for the full board to consider a courthouse renaming while asking the administration to propose a separate, prominent recognition for the other figure.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Miami-Dade County - Miami-Dade Safety and Health Committee - Mar 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After extensive public testimony for two community figures, the commission directed staff to bring a renaming item for the new Justice Center and asked the mayor and chief judge to recommend a county facility to commemorate longtime clerk Harvey Rubin.","taxTitle","Miami-Dade County, Florida","taxId",2864,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6641207,"County panel hears scientific and community concerns about water fluoridation",3924,2229000,6153000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2547303-c30268e632f9539986ece1f23d6b183d&start=2229&end=6153","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2547303-c30268e632f9539986ece1f23d6b183d/thumbnail_2229000.jpg","/articles/6641207/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/County-panel-hears-scientific-and-community-concerns-about-water-fluoridation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641207-1a924b4c0a09e1975bd4b43493a9b90b/orig.mp4?Expires=1774981989&Signature=Gn0VblulH-JPYMh13intXGk1BfNYZQs74U7YFIbqD2TIH5g8~Aho-8nCmjD2BHLOBnpn2b0P5YB3ik5r~WV4t2oSq0lflPdnRIOOfWEeRHzRVI7HXJs5pSzZoeSlpEGZTRWO2RL2kNmaclZMz2EG-rvzuAHyhbgVYaup4-gtD9MdPMYlvYf1ENh1l2U5tIstloRkab9OzuuY2w9njXtMTSJywp-gBaRiUuV-Pek91XklS8QEpOEX3JUgk5hPbhP~2K7iJs4it6ozBV4BompHskttIaAxu5u9pyXQNA6IH3c5GSIOzDSrIOoiIbyztbfiUu~EnlUNA64qZnF0c9xLjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo and three researchers told a Miami-Dade County committee that recent scientific reviews and studies raise concerns about potential neurodevelopmental effects from community water fluoridation.

The experts — Florida Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo, University of Florida epidemiologist Ashley J. Mallon, dentist Claire Stagg and dentist Maya Azzi — told the infrastructure committee that a federal review and multiple recent studies suggest a dose–response relationship between fluoride exposure and reduced child IQ and other neurodevelopmental outcomes. Surgeon General Ladapo said the National Toxicology Program \"found substantial evidence for neurotoxic effects and other harms associated with fluoride,\" adding that he was \"floored by what I found\" when he reviewed the literature.

Why it matters: Commissioners said they convened the meeting to hear from experts and the public rather than to take immediate action. Commissioners and speakers emphasized possible impacts on pregnant people, infants who consume formula and other vulnerable groups, and asked county staff to follow up with more information about local water quality and alternatives.

Most important facts
- The presenters told the committee that a recent National Toxicology Program (NTP) review and related meta-analyses find associations between prenatal or early-life fluoride exposure and lower measures of child neurodevelopment in multiple studies. Dr. Mallon summarized the NTP finding that there is \"moderate confidence in the body of evidence that estimated fluoride exposure is inversely associated with IQ in children.\"
- Panelists noted the commonly used community fluoridation concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter and cited prior US guidance that lowered recommended ranges because of dental fluorosis; Mallon said dental fluorosis was detected in about 70% of US children in recent NHANES data.
- Presenters distinguished topical fluoride use (toothpaste, dental treatments) from systemic dosing via drinking water and urged that alternatives — including targeted topical programs and increased dental access — could be used instead of adding fluoride to the public water supply.

Expert testimony and public comments
Surgeon General Ladapo described reviewing dozens of studies and concluded there is evidence supporting neurotoxicity at population exposure levels. Mallon summarized the NTP systematic review and associated meta-analyses, telling the committee that when the NTP restricted its review to higher-quality studies the majority still showed an inverse association between fluoride exposure and child IQ. Dr. Stagg and Dr. Azzi, both dentists and parents, said they were concerned about involuntary mass medication and emphasized the importance of informed consent and individualized risk assessment.

Public commenters included residents and activists who urged the county to stop water fluoridation now, and others who urged caution and a comprehensive review; speakers described local campaigns in several Florida counties and cities that recently voted to end fluoridation. Several parents and students described concerns for infants and children.

What the county did and did not decide
No final county policy change or vote on fluoridation occurred at the meeting. The chair explicitly framed the session as a listening and information-gathering event: \"The sole purpose of this meeting is to listen to the community. There's gonna be no action taken here today as it relates to fluoride,\" he said. Commissioners asked staff and the visiting officials questions about legal authority, alternatives (toothpaste distribution, clinics) and the state-level regulatory environment.

Context and next steps
Commissioners asked the state and county staff for more information about (1) the legal authority and any pending state legislation that could preempt local action; (2) local water-system practices and the composition of fluoridation chemicals used in Florida; and (3) programs that could expand topical fluoride access or dental education for underserved populations. Several commissioners expressed interest in convening a broader, nonpartisan follow-up that would include scientists on both sides of the question before any decision.

Ending note
Speakers urged the commission to weigh the recent scientific reviews and community concerns before changing policy. The meeting record shows broad interest across the county in further study and in possible alternatives to community-wide systemic fluoride dosing.","Miami-Dade County commissioners heard experts and residents weigh recent scientific reviews linking fluoride exposure to neurodevelopmental risks; no policy decision was made at the meeting.","actionData","errors"]

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Commission opens formal process to consider naming new Justice Center after Osvaldo Sotto; asks mayor to identify site to honor Harvey Rubin

County panel hears scientific and community concerns about water fluoridation