{"id":7542,"date":"2026-03-02T13:06:43","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T13:06:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ampsmagazine.com\/?p=7542"},"modified":"2026-03-02T13:06:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T13:06:43","slug":"why-miami-gardens-is-stronger-this-year-and-why-mayor-rodney-harris-deserves-the-applause","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ampsmagazine.com\/?p=7542","title":{"rendered":"Why Miami Gardens Is Stronger This Year\u2014and Why Mayor Rodney Harris Deserves the Applause"},"content":{"rendered":"
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At AMPS Magazine, we spend a lot of time listening\u2014not just to artists and entrepreneurs, but to the people shaping the cities where culture, business, and community intersect. Few places embody that intersection quite like <\/span>Miami Gardens<\/span><\/span>. As the city prepares for another year of global attention through Jazz in the Gardens, we sat down with Mayor\u00a0<\/span>Rodney Harris<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0to talk honestly about growth, responsibility, and why 2026 feels different\u2014in a good way.<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/article>\n
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A City That Keeps Getting Better<\/h3>\n

Nineteen years ago, Jazz in the Gardens began as a modest concert in a parking lot. Today, it stands as one of the largest Black-led music festivals in the United States. Mayor Harris is quick to point out that this success didn\u2019t happen overnight, nor did it belong to one administration alone. The city\u2019s first mayor launched the festival. The second mayor sustained it. Harris sees his role as steward and builder\u2014charged with protecting its legacy while pushing it forward.<\/p>\n

That mindset mirrors what\u2019s happening across Miami Gardens itself. Compared to last year, the city is financially stronger, more confident, and more strategically positioned for the future. Residents haven\u2019t seen a millage rate increase in over a decade\u201412 to 13 years, by Harris\u2019s count\u2014yet city revenues continue to rise thanks to increased property values and smart fiscal management. What does that mean in real terms? Nearly $60 million in reserves, a Triple-A credit rating, and a city that can pursue grants and investments without hesitation.<\/p>\n

For residents, that translates into stability. Services remain top-notch. Parks are active. Police, fire, and public works departments remain funded and functional. In an era when many cities are cutting back, Miami Gardens is holding steady\u2014and t<\/p>\n

Jazz in the Gardens: More Than Music<\/h3>\n

If there\u2019s one event that captures the spirit of Miami Gardens, it\u2019s Jazz in the Gardens. And despite the name, this is no longer a single-genre festival. Harris explained that evolution clearly: the city listens to its people. Every year, surveys go out asking residents what they want more of\u2014and the answer has been diversity.<\/p>\n

Today, Jazz in the Gardens is a multi-genre experience. R&B, old-school soul, hip-hop, gospel, reggae, and yes, jazz all share the same stage. Last year alone, audiences were treated to unforgettable performances and surprise moments\u2014from New Edition to Lauryn Hill to Beenie Man\u2014while celebrities quietly enjoyed the show from the crowd. This year, excitement is already building for legendary acts like the\u00a0Isley Brothers<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and Stephanie Mills, alongside newer voices that speak directly to a younger generation.<\/p>\n

Mayor Harris describes it best: Jazz in the Gardens is no longer just a festival\u2014it\u2019s an experience. A family reunion. A weekend where worries get left at the gate and joy takes center stage.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Better This Year Than Last?<\/h3>\n

The biggest improvement isn\u2019t just who\u2019s on the stage\u2014it\u2019s how the city functions behind the scenes. This year, Miami Gardens enters Jazz season from a position of confidence. Financial reserves are stronger. Partnerships are deeper. And the collaboration with the\u00a0Black Promoters Collective<\/span><\/span>, now in its third year, has injected new life into the festival.<\/p>\n

That partnership came at the perfect time. Jazz in the Gardens had reached a moment where change was necessary. Attendance was strong, but the energy needed refreshing. BPC brought national reach, production expertise, and cultural insight\u2014while keeping the festival rooted in the community. The result? Bigger crowds, broader appeal, and renewed excitement that spans generations.<\/p>\n

Leadership That Thinks Ahead\"\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

One of the most compelling parts of our conversation with Mayor Harris was his transparency about challenges ahead\u2014particularly property tax reform in Florida. While the idea of eliminating property taxes may sound appealing to residents, Harris understands the consequences. Those taxes fund essential services. Remove them without a plan, and cities suffer.<\/p>\n

What sets Miami Gardens apart is preparation. Because the city has maintained consistent tax rates and built strong reserves, it\u2019s better positioned than most to weather potential changes. That foresight matters. It\u2019s the difference between reacting to crises and managing them before they happen.<\/p>\n

Why Residents Should Be Proud<\/h3>\n

Pride isn\u2019t just about flashy events or big names. It\u2019s about trust. Under Mayor Harris\u2019s leadership, Miami Gardens has grown from a city valued at roughly $2 billion in 2003 to nearly $10 billion today. That growth didn\u2019t come at the expense of residents\u2014it came alongside stable taxes, improved services, and a city government that listens.<\/p>\n

Jazz in the Gardens symbolizes that balance perfectly. It brings the world to Miami Gardens, fuels local businesses, supports vendors, and showcases hospitality that visitors remember long after the music stops. People come from the Caribbean, from New York, Chicago, Atlanta\u2014and they come back year after year.<\/p>\n

The AMPS Magazine Takeaway<\/h3>\n

From our perspective, Miami Gardens is a case study in what happens when culture, fiscal discipline, and community leadership align. Mayor Rodney Harris doesn\u2019t claim to be a celebrity\u2014he claims to be a servant of the city. And judging by the numbers, the energy, and the pride felt across Miami Gardens, that approach is working.<\/p>\n

As Jazz in the Gardens enters its 19th year, the message is clear: this city isn\u2019t just hosting a festival\u2014it\u2019s building a legacy. And if you live in Miami Gardens, that\u2019s something worth standing tall for.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At AMPS Magazine, we spend a lot of time listening\u2014not just to artists and entrepreneurs, but to the people shaping the cities where culture, business, and community intersect. Few places embody that intersection quite like Miami Gardens. As the city prepares for another year of global attention through Jazz in the Gardens, we sat down […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":7543,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[525,53],"tags":[721,484,720,719,57],"class_list":{"0":"post-7542","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-featured","8":"category-politics","9":"tag-florida-mayor","10":"tag-jitg","11":"tag-maimi-gardens","12":"tag-mayor-rodney-harris","13":"tag-miami"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ampsmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/images-5.jpg?fit=309%2C163&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ampsmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7542","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ampsmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ampsmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ampsmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ampsmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7542"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ampsmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7542\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7545,"href":"https:\/\/ampsmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7542\/revisions\/7545"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ampsmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ampsmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7542"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ampsmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7542"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ampsmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7542"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}