Describe Rebecca Sosa hereRebeca Sosa has served on the Miami-Dade County Commission as District 6 commissioner since June 2001. She has been re-elected three times - most recently in 2010 without opposition - to represent the communities of City of Miami, Coral Gables, West Miami, Hialeah and Miami Springs. On November 20, 2012, she was elected by her colleagues as Chairwoman of the County Commission where she will serve a two-year term.
Chairwoman Sosa was born in Camaguey, Cuba. She received her Bachelor Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Puerto Rico and a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education from Saint Thomas University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She holds certifications both in elementary education and as an instructor for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Chairwoman Sosa has been an educator for more than 30 years and is currently a teacher-trainer for Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Prior to joining Miami-Dade County, Chairwoman Sosa served as mayor of the City of West Miami from 1994 to 2001 where her leadership resulted in the city's recovery from a 52% budget deficit, thus removing it from the Governor's Emergency List. During her tenure, she was able to secure more than $5 million in grants for the City for capital improvemedjbdfjbfidbfjubasdv bsdfvbsdlvnsdfd Veronica.
Leadership
Chairwoman Sosa served as Chair of the Miami-Dade County Economic Development and Social Services Committee, which is responsible for providing oversight and guidance to those departments and agencies charged with promoting economic development and revitalization, encouraging public-private partnerships while attracting businesses to Miami-Dade County.
Chairwoman Sosa served as Chair of the Miami-Dade County Performance and Efficiency Committee. She was tasked with identifying inefficiencies in departmental operations and recommending processes to improve customer service.
Chairwoman Sosa served as Chair of the State Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee, which has oversight over all aspects of the County's state legislative agenda.
Chairwoman Sosa served as Vice-Chair of the Health and Public Safety Committee, which oversees matters relating to the health, protection and safety of County residents. She is also a member of the Airport and Tourism and Budget and Finance Committees as well as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
Chairwoman Sosa served as Chair of the Procurement Management Policy Subcommittee, where she was responsible for many positive initiatives including new procedures to ensure that County Departments monitor contracts within their jurisdiction, mandatory ethics training for all procurement department employees, a standard process for evaluating the work of construction contractors and consultants during and after a project completion, and a tracking system that will red-flag any company that has not lived up to its contractual obligations.
Chairwoman Sosa served as chair the Community Outreach, Safety & Healthcare Administration (COSHA) Committee and was a member of the Regional Transportation Committee and the Internal Management & Fiscal Responsibility Committee.
Accomplishments
Since joining the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners, Chairwoman Sosa has:
- Spearheaded direct flights between Miami International Airport (MIA) and Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, in a partnership with government officials from the Canary Islands and AirEurope. This has resulted in four additional flights between Miami International Airport (MIA) and Madrid, Spain.
- Been appointed to the South Florida Regional Planning Council, whose mission is to identify the long-term challenges and opportunities facing Southeast Florida and assist the region's leaders in developing and implementing creative strategies that result in more prosperous and equitable communities, a healthier and cleaner environment, and a more vibrant economy.
- Presented checks totaling $6.151 million from the District 6 General Obligation Bonds toward the construction of multi-purpose facilities in the cities of Miami, Miami Springs, and West Miami.
- Been a leader in the prevention of elder abuse and neglect, including by sponsoring a resolution authorizing the County Manager to form what would become the Elder Abuse Task Force to make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on issues addressing the detection and prevention of elder abuse and/or neglect in Assisted Living Facilities, nursing homes, convalescent homes or other facilities that house or care for the elderly in Miami-Dade County.
- Been presented with the “Government & Law” award at the 21st Annual In the Company of Women Award Ceremony for her proven leadership, creativity and vision in addressing community issues in Miami-Dade County.
Sponsored Legislation
- A resolution urging the State Board of Education to adopt the recommendations of the Education Commissioner’s Task Force to level the playing field by reversing the State Board of Education decision to count the FCAT scores of English Language Learners (ELL) and students with disabilities before these students have achieved certain basic competencies. File #121303
- Resolution urging the Florida Legislature to enact comprehensive Assisted Living Facility legislation during the 2013 session to protect the elderly and other vulnerable populations that reside in such facilities. File #121830
- Resolution urging Congress and the federal government to increase funding for the Head Start and Early Head Start programs to reduce the number of children on the waiting list. File #121831
- Resolution urging the Federal Government to pass the Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act of 2012, which allows certain disabled veterans to qualify for additional federal housing benefits. File # 121800
- Resolution supporting the completion of a Project Implementation Report (PIR) to address key obstacles to freshwater flows and implement meaningful ecological and economic benefits by restoring the Everglades.File #121703
- Resolution directing the Mayor to review the February 2006 recommendations of the Elder Abuse Task Force and provide an update on which recommendations have been implemented by the County, the Florida Legislature and other State of Florida administrative departments. File #121690
- Resolution directing the Mayor to conduct an educational campaign to inform the public about the County’s current regulations against dumping or blowing grass clippings and other yard trash onto roads, drains, gutters and sidewalks, which can negatively impact public health, safety and welfare, create an eyesore, and present a public nuisance by clogging or slowing drains. File #121564
- Resolution urging the Florida Legislature to ban texting while driving to address alarming statistics such as 25,000 distraction accidents in Florida in 2011, with more than 8,200 of them in Miami-Dade, which may include drivers who were texting at the moment of the accident. File # 121522
- Resolution urging the Florida Legislature to reinstate “for cause” absentee ballot requirements that were in place prior to 1997. File #121726
- Resolution urging the Florida Legislature to pass the Urban Job Creation Investment Act or similar economic development legislation that would create incentives for businesses to invest. File # 122033
- Resolution urging the Mayor to identify additional sources of available funds to help fund improvements to Miami-Dade County’s water and sewer infrastructure, which is deteriorating and vulnerable to failure.File# 122286
- Resolution urging Congress to pass legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the Trafficking Victims Protection Act to address the disturbing phenomenon of human trafficking, a form of modern day slavery forcing victims to work against their will.. File# 122137
- Resolution urging the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security to provide more U.S. Customs & Border Protection staffing at Miami International Airport. File# 122145
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