Miami, FL

Memo sheds light on events leading to North Miami city manager’s firing

Published

2 years ago

May 8, 2024

Memo sheds light on events leading to North Miami city manager’s firing

NORTH MIAMI, Fla. – Following a 3-1 termination vote Tuesday night, it’s still unclear why a group of North Miami city councilmembers voted to fire City Manager Rasha Cameau. But Local 10 News has obtained a memo from the now-ousted top administrator that sheds light on her forced departure.

Residents packed Tuesday night’s special city council meeting in an attempt to save Cameau’s job. They credit her with cleaning house and turning the city around.

“You run (the city) like a banana republic,” resident Mary Brown told councilmembers.

Vice Mayor Mary Estimé-Irvin and councilmembers Pierre Frantz Charles and Kassandra Timothe were the deciding votes. Longtime Councilman Scott Galvin voted against firing Cameau.

Mayor Alix Desulme, who wasn’t present at the meeting, had previously expressed opposition to firing Cameau, calling the passage of a motion to consider her firing in April a “sad day” for the city.

Residents booed the council following the vote.

None of the councilmembers have elaborated on why they wanted Cameau out.

Residents point to Cameau declining councilmembers’ requests for unbudgeted money to spend, including for a festival, as she righted the city’s financial decline.

Local 10 News has learned that Cameau, seeing the writing on the wall, memorialized the signs in a memo, in which she described herself as “busy putting out fires.”

The memo is titled “Re: Events That Led Up to My Termination.”

She documented efforts to hold the public works director accountable for failures with a multi-million dollar water project, only to have councilmembers backdoor her to spare him, violating the city charter.

They got outsiders to intervene: one of them was a longtime city lobbyist who claimed people thought her actions were racially-motivated.

She wrote that she was told that “the word on the street is that I am firing Haitians and replacing them with ‘blans,’” the Creole term for non-Haitians.

Cameau is a Haitian-American.

Read the memo:

The council appointed Anna-Bo Emmanuel as interim city manager.

That raised even more questions. If councilmembers collaborated behind the scenes, it would violate Florida’s Sunshine Laws.

Following Tuesday night’s vote, Cameau told local media outlets, “I’ve been a public servant for over 20 years and I will be there to serve the public again.”

Cameau is expected to request a public hearing on her termination, which she is entitled to.

Residents are discussing recalls of the councilmembers, as well as lawsuits.

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Miami, FL

Miami Central students prepare for life changing trip to Zimbabwe amid funding challenges

Published

4 hours ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

Miami Central students prepare for life changing trip to Zimbabwe amid funding challenges

A group of South Florida students is preparing to travel more than 8,000 miles to Zimbabwe next Wednesday, though organizers say reaching their fundraising goals has become increasingly difficult this year.

Ten students from Miami Central Senior High School are scheduled to spend 18 days in the country as part of the Blindfolded International Student Cultural Exchange Program (BISCEP). The initiative aims to provide students with cultural immersion and foster global relationships.

“I’m really excited but also a tad bit nervous,” said 11th grader Shonneice Ferris.

For student Samir Rios, the trip offers a chance to engage with a new community. “The most anticipated thing that I’m looking forward to is most likely the students and the kids,” Rios said.

During the 18-day excursion, students plan to attend local schools, volunteer at an orphanage, and visit sites including Victoria Falls. “The first week we’re going to be going to school in Zimbabwe,” Ferris said.

Despite the program’s history of successful trips, BISCEP founder Edwin Sheppard said fundraising efforts have stalled. Many longtime donors have reduced their contributions due to budget constraints.

“A lot of our donors, our past donors, have not been able to donate what they’ve donated in the past,” Sheppard said. “A lot of budget cuts, and so we’re still struggling to raise all of the funding.”

Organizers confirmed the trip will proceed as scheduled despite the financial hurdles.

“This is two different schools, two different sides of the world and two different continents, and I think we’re going to do something amazing out of this,” Rios said.

The students are scheduled to depart next Wednesday. Organizers continue to seek donations to cover the remaining costs. Those interested in supporting the Miami Central Senior High students can find more information at biscep.org.

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Miami, FL

Miami ‘At the Top’ for Star In-State 2028 Running Back

Published

14 hours ago

June 18, 2026

Press Room

Miami ‘At the Top’ for Star In-State 2028 Running Back

The contact period for 2028 recruits officially opened on June 15th, and Miami has been active on the recruiting trail.

Now more than ever, recruiting players early matters, with several committing before taking their official visits in their senior season.

Miami has been high on 2028 running back Terriel Harmon for a while, and he discussed the Hurricanes with Miami Hurricanes on SI.

READ MORE: Miami Hurricanes’ 2027 Football Commitment Tracker

The Hurricanes contacted Harmon almost immediately after the contact period opened and got down to business with him.

“The running backs coach (Coach Merritt) hit me up, and we just talked about the leadership I am going to bring to Miami and the environment of Miami,” Harmon said.

Even before the contact period opened up, Harmon already had a sense of what Miami was like.

“They bring the energy,” Harmon continued. “I love the players like Javian Mallory, Malachi Toney, and Mark Fletcher.”

Mallory is an incoming freshman running back at Miami, and he played high school ball at West Boca. Harmon just transferred to the South Florida power. The two of them have a great connection, and Mallory is recruiting Harmon to join him in college.

“He’s been telling me that Miami is the place to be and that it is great,” Harmon said.

Even though it’s still early in his recruitment, the Hurricanes are still in a prime position for the local three-star running back.

“I’m still not sure where I will go to school, but Miami is for sure at the top,” Harmon finished.

More About the 2028 Class

Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal reacts after the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The 2028 class will be crucial for the future of Miami. Arguably, the two best prospects of the past few years, Amir Sears and Bryson Wright, are right in the Hurricanes’ backyard, and the two could change the course of Hurricanes football if they come.

Overall, the 2028 class in Florida might be one of the best in any state ever. There is so much talent throughout the state, and Miami is looking to get a class that rivals this 2027 class, which is the top three in the country per Rivals.

Some other in-state prospects that the Hurricanes are targeting include Gabriel Player (four-star linebacker), Asher Ghioto (four-star defensive lineman), Antonio Thompson Jr. (four-star defensive back), and George Selvie (four-star offensive lineman), amongst a ton of others.

While Harmon is only a three-star now, it would not be surprising if he becomes a four-star by the end of his senior season.