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Miami-Dade commissioners on Wednesday approved ballot language for a Nov. 4 referendum on FIU’s proposed expansion to land adjacent to its Modesto A. Maidique Campus.
“We are thankful for the support the County Commission and Mayor Carlos Gimenez and his staff have shown for the future of FIU and our community,” said President Mark B. Rosenberg. “Our proposition is very simple: FIU seeks a win-win-win opportunity for this community. We seek this at no cost to the county. Our initiative is to keep our sons and daughters and our grandsons and granddaughters, in this community, getting the high-quality university education that they deserve.”
The ballot language reads:
“Charter amendment exempting from Article 7 Florida International University’s expansion onto Youth Fair site.
The Dade County Youth Fair site at Tamiami Park is exempt from the public park purposes use restrictions and construction limitations in Article 7 of the charter. Shall the charter be amended to:
- Extend this exemption to Florida International University (FIU) for its expansion onto up to 64 acres of such site upon relocation of the Youth Fair; and
- Provide that no county funds be used for FIU’s expansion and the Youth Fair’s required relocation?”
Commissioners also approved a memorandum of understanding between the county and FIU, paving the way for relocation of the fair to a new site and the referendum, which will be part of November’s general election.
Both items were sponsored by Commissioner Esteban L. Bovo, District 13.
Rosenberg outlined the key points about the impact that the Expand FIU initiative would have:
- FIU’s increased capacity would provide a world-class college education to a greater number of young men and women in the community.
- The expansion would have a projected initial economic impact of $1.8 billion and an additional annual recurring economic impact of $541 million to the community, above the $8.9 billion FIU already provides.
- Jobs would be created to support FIU’s expanding student population.
- There would be no cost to Miami-Dade County or students: FIU will seek financing for the expansion without affecting tuition.
For more information on Expand FIU, please visit http://expand.fiu.edu/
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I completely disagree with the expansion. How will FIU contribute to Miami-Dade County’s economic growth? The average FIU graduate is unemployed, and FIU does not produce enough graduates. On the contrary, FIU administration is not a student-friendly organization. The only economic growth that will contribute to FIU will be the increase in upper administrative salaries.
The Fair has more of a right for that land than FIU. FIU is already a big campus. What more does the president want? What’s next? Moving the entire shopping that’s located across the street?
Those are interesting statements regarding employment for FIU graduates. Can you provide verified statistics for those claims? In any case, The University seems to be growing and heading in the right direction but I think more should be looked at before expanding in this way.