UNEMPLOYMENT RISES: Miami-Dade County unemployment hit a three-and-a-half year high as it rose to 3% in September, its highest level since it was at 3% in March 2022, new figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show. Release of the figures was delayed by five weeks during the federal govern ment shutdown. Unemployment has been gradually rising here since January with a single dip to 2.4% in June, followed by 2.8% in July and 2.9% in August, the bureau’s figures show. Florida as a whole shows 3.9% unemployment, up from 3.8% in August. The national unemployment rate for September was 4.4%, up from 4.3% in August. LOBBYING FOR MIAMI: A Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce team met in Tallahassee last week with the majority of the Miami-Dade legislative delegation for the chamber’s annual fly-in, including hosting a dinner in partnership with the Canadian Consulate General. The chamber team also dined at the home of Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez. The chamber says its focus was on Miami’s priorities for the upcoming legislative session. It listed those priorities as advocating for protecting transportation funding, adding affordable and workforce housing, workforce development programs, resilience funding for Biscayne Bay and the Everglades, and dealing with fiscal perils to the area’s working families. Sit-down sessions were held with House Speaker Daniel Perez, Senate President Ben Albritton, House speaker-designate Mike Redondo and incoming speaker Sam Garrison. CUTLER BAY TREES: Cutler Bay is in line for a $250,000 county grant to plant nearly 5,000 trees in a new town park and remove 9.5 acres of prohibited tree species in the park. The town has a $500,000 match in a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to the town. The county money would come from the Tree Trust Fund, which has about $2 million available to plant trees on public land. The money in the trust fund comes from mitigation contributions tied to tree removal permits; grants and donations; and fines and penalties for environmental damage to tree and forest resources. The property where the trees are to be planted is south of Southwest 184th Street and east of Old Cutler Road. The county’s Recreation and Tourism Committee recommended the tree funding last week with no discussion. The full county commission is to consider the grant on Jan. 21. DOGGING IT: Miami-Dade pet owners may get an online portal to allow them to electronically pay license fees and register dogs. Commissioners voted 11-0 to ask Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to evaluate the feasibility of creating a portal for registered dog owners to electronically pay fees.  These are some of the FYIs in this week’s edition. The entire content of this week’s FYIs and Insider sections is available by subscription only. To subscribe click here. The post FYI Miami: December 18, 2025 appeared first on Miami Today. ...read more read less