MIAMI – For the first time in 14 years the City of Miami could be increasing a service that many homeowners have considered effective. 

“I think it’s excellent, they’re always here,” said Sally Howie about the trash service in Miami, where she has lived since 2005. 

In June, Miami commissioners voted 4 to 1 in favor of increasing the cap on garbage fees from $380 to a $60 increase for a total of $440.  

“I think it’s a reasonable request because it’s been 14 years, so it seems reasonable to me,” said Howie. 

“I voted against it,” said Manolo Reyes, Miami Commissioner for District 4, who opposed the measure, among other things because of people on fixed incomes.

“For those people, those households an increase of 60 dollars means a lot for them,” said Reyes.  

“I can understand if someone has a fixed income and bills increase, they’re not going to like it,” said Howie, who lives in Coconut Grove. 

Damian Pardo, recently elected as Miami Commissioner voted in favor of increasing the cap.   

“Unlike any other municipality, we’re paying a much lower fee,” said the commissioner for District 2.  Homeowners in Unincorporated Miami-Dade pay $547 a year. 

Pardo says the garbage fee in Miami not only applies to trash collection but also to recycling service and what is known as bulky trash – piled garbage from debris, branches, or when people remodel their houses. 

“They’re getting bulky trash pick-up every single week unlike any other municipality,” said Pardo.

CBS Miami reached out to the City of Miami for a request for an interview, they replied with a statement saying: 

“The level of (trash) service provided exceeds what we currently charge, thus the consideration of increasing the fee to $440 per household.” 

“The difference between the actual cost of service and what is charged to households is being offset by General Fund money.  The possible increase would reduce the reliance on general fund dollars to support the delivery of solid waste residential services.”

CBS News Miami asked Commissioner Reyes, “How soon Miami residents would actually see an increase on the garbage fee?”

“It’s up to the administration,” he replied. 

Pardo replied differently, “The cap doesn’t mean there’s any increase at all, it just provides flexibility in the future should residents decide that they want an increase as opposed to losing services.”

Both commissioners said there should be another meeting if the city does decide to increase the fee any time soon.

MIAMI – Police announced the arrest Tuesday of a man who they say vandalized a bagel shop in Miami last month.

According to an arrest affidavit from the Miami Police Department, 28-year-old Kenneth Guerrera is facing one count of criminal mischief with prejudice, a hate crime enhancement.

Josh Nodel, the owner of Holy Bagels & Pizzeria, located at 93 NW First St., told Local 10 News that one of his shops was targeted around 4:45 a.m. on June 14.

Numerous volunteers came to clean up the graffiti that read, “Free Palestine End Genocide.”

Surveillance video obtained by Local 10 News showed Guerrera spray painting the message on the shop’s front windows, according to police.

An affidavit stated that Guerrera was also seen ripping down an Israeli flag that was hung above the entrance of the restaurant.

Police said he then proceeded to spray-paint the flag on the ground.

An officer in the area said she identified Guerrera through a Miami police wanted flyer and surveillance video.

After being taken into custody, police said Guerrera agreed to speak with detectives without an attorney, but his full confession was redacted in the publicly released report.

“It’s unbelievable,” Nodel told Local 10 News last month. “It’s an act of violence against the Jewish nation and an act of violence against the law of Florida.”

Nodel reported another incident back in December at Bagel Time Cafe, located at 3915 Alton Road, which had Israeli and American flags vandalized by different suspects since war broke out in the Middle East.

Police arrested another suspect in one of the incidents.

Local 10 News has requested Guerrera’s mugshot after he was not listed as an inmate on Miami-Dade Corrections’ website as of Tuesday evening.

Miami Police Chief Manny Morales released a statement following Guerrera’s arrest which you can read below.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

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