Miami-Dade commission orders review and temporarily halts county payments after threats during public comment

The Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners voted to temporarily suspend county payments to two local nonprofit entities and ordered an immediate review of the county’s contracts with those organizations after public testimony at the Jan. 22 meeting included comments several commissioners described as threats.

Commissioner Keon Hardiman moved the measure and Commissioner Javier (Javier) Cabrera seconded it; the motion passed on a voice vote. The board directed the county attorney’s office and the mayor’s administration to compile and review all contracts and outstanding payments involving the two organizations and to report findings back to the commission at its next meeting.

The motion followed extensive public comment earlier in the meeting, during which Commissioner Hardiman said he had been threatened and asked the board to act. “I would request an immediate suspension of any payments being made to Nana and also to the Circle of Brotherhood,” Hardiman told the commission. He described public remarks and behavior he said had crossed a line and called for a pause while the county examined contract compliance and public-safety implications.

Vi…