Axios Miami

September 24, 2026
Happy Thursday!
π§οΈ Today's weather: Chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high of 88 and a low of 77.
π Happy birthday to our member Karim Antonio Lesina!
Todayβs newsletter is 1,057 words β a 4-minute read.
1 big thing: Governor candidates debate the issues
Florida's gubernatorial candidates' stances on statewide issues like property taxes, housing and immigration came to a head Tuesday β albeit separately β during an economic forum hosted by WLRN.
Why it matters: The candidates won't be debating before the November election.
Between the lines: Each candidate had 30 minutes with Hudson. Here's what each said on the most pressing issues:
Amendment 3
The measure would drastically reduce property taxes in Florida, lowering homeowners' tax bills, but would cost local governments billions.
Donalds will vote yes.
- "When they raised the homestead exemption 25 years ago, [county] services didn't go away."
- "I do acknowledge that fiscally-constrained counties [are] our problem." He suggested creating a state "funding formula" for those counties to rely on "a consistent flow of revenue."
Jolly acknowledged that residents are "desperate" for lower taxes, but doesn't think the math works.
- "It will create a crisis" and hurt the smaller municipalities, he said.
- He supports a first-time homebuyer exemption and said the state should consider local control of homestead exemptions.
Immigration
Donalds said the immigration system "has to be one based upon legal immigration with assimilation, period, full stop."
- Donalds said he disagreed with GOP Rep. Maria Salazar's message to President Trump saying his immigration crackdown had gone too far.
Jolly would not renew DeSantis' state of emergency regarding immigration, which the governor issued in 2023.
Data centers
Donalds, who has accepted campaign donations from companies behind data center growth, said local governments have the final say.
- "As governor, we're not going to preempt that," he said. "And we're not going to let utility bills increase because of a data center. And we want to keep them away from people's homes."
Jolly supports a one-year moratorium on data centers in the state and a third-party economic impact study. "Let the other 49 states build them."
- "75% of Florida" doesn't want them, he said, and "that should be enough" to put a pause on them, adding the environmental and economic impacts are still unknown.
Zoom out: If elected, Donalds said his tenure will resemble DeSantis' in his commitment to law and order and "conservative common sense principles."
- He said he'll focus on housing affordability, developing "real workforce training systems for juniors and seniors in high school" and the environment.
Jolly said he'd focus on housing, health care and education, and an overhaul of the state's appointments process.
- He said he'd fire Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and choose someone who believes in evidence-based science.
- When it comes to scaling up workforce housing, Jolly said there's an existing fund that "could be deployed" but no agency to oversee it.
2. Things to do this weekend
Here's what's going on in Miami this weekend.
π‘ DΓLE ZINE RADIO: The show goes live from Fuku in Coral Gables for a night of magazine-making, drinks and good music.
- Tonight, 7-10pm. Free + 20% off all food, beer and wine.
π¨ Art Club Club Show: The Collective at Dania Beach hosts public gallery art rooms featuring local creatives. There'll be DJs, vendors, food, a collage workshop and an "Art Build" activation.
- Tonight, 7pm-12am.
πΏ Open Decks: Head to Jolt Radio for a chance to DJ your favorite vinyl (30-min slots).
- Tonight, 6-9pm
π©π΄ Latino Flag Day: ParaΓso Pa' Ti is throwing a Hispanic Heritage Month dance party at 1-800-Lucky in Wynwood. Expect "nonstop ritmos de LATAM." Bring your flags.
- Saturday, 8pm-3pm. RSVP (Free until 10pm)
π Full moon viewing: Watch the Harvest Moon by a bonfire at Fruit & Spice Park. Bring your own telescope. S'more kits and drinks available while supplies last.
- Blankets, lawn chairs and small coolers are welcome. No pets allowed.
- Saturday, 6:30pm-9:30pm. Adult tickets $10.
π‘ Understanding Property Taxes: Join a dozen organizations for a community event focused on explaining how the county's property tax system and proposed Amendment 3 could impact them.
- Saturday, YWCA Overtown (also online), 8am-12:30pm. Light breakfast provided.
π» Cheap night at the symphony: New World Symphony fellows perform a pre-season chamber music concert at the South Beach performance hall. Entry is pay-what-you-wish starting at $1.
- Saturday, 7:30pm.
3. Cafecito: π¦From Chicago to Palmetto Bay
π― A new Chipotle is opening next Tuesday in North Miami at 12571 Biscayne Blvd.
π The Original Rainbow Cone β a Chicago mainstay known for its five-flavor stacked cones β is opening a new ice cream shop next Monday in Palmetto Bay at 14475 S. Dixie Highway.
π A Colombian man was charged with impersonating a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official and threatening a Miami Gardens food truck employee. (U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida)
π The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority announced a 10% increase in Tri-Rail fares taking effect October 1.
4. βοΈ Miami's coffee kudos
Two Miami coffee roasters brought home medals in the Global Coffee Awards.
How it works: Two days of double-blind judging took place in Houston last month, in which the judges didn't know which roaster they were tasting. The winners were announced this month.
- Local roasters competed against others in the U.S. and Canada. The competition has separate regions for Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East and North Africa.
Zoom in: Fincas Coffee in Upper Buena Vista won silver in the Single Origin Flat White Plant Based subcategory. (The coffee is from Honduras)
- Per'la Coffee won bronze in the Blend Espresso subcategory.
Meanwhile, WalletHub just ranked Miami as the third-best coffee city in the U.S. ahead of National Coffee Day on Sept. 29, according to the Miami Herald.
5. π± 1 scary thing to go
A new Halloween carnival is joining Miami's spooky offerings this fall.
The big picture: We've told you about the House of Horror Haunted Carnival (open today) at Tropical Park and the Horrorland at Jungle Island (already open).
Also opening today: Sounds of Screams, a new Halloween attraction at the Miami-Dade Fair & Expo Center.
- The 13-acre carnival includes five haunted houses, including "Mitos y Leyendas," inspired by Latin American legends from Cuba, Colombia and beyond.
- You can also expect scare zones, carnival rides, cocktails and food.
- Tickets start at $45.
π₯² Sommer would love a sunny day.
π Martin is slowly recovering from his cold.
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Thanks to Jeff Weiner for editing.
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