A recent article from CBS News Miami (link) highlighted a challenging situation, where an elderly couple in their 80s is facing over $366,000 in fines related to code violations on their duplex.
To be fair, it’s entirely possible the article doesn’t tell the full story. There may be additional context — perhaps the property owners are habitual offenders, or the violations were more severe than described. Municipal enforcement is rarely black and white.
That said, the overall optics of this case are concerning. Regardless of any missing context, this situation has created a narrative that reflects poorly on the city — and that’s something most municipalities would want to avoid.
There are a few important lessons worth reflecting on:
1. Communication Matters — Even When It’s Limited
During a public meeting, city commissioners were informed of the case by a reporter. Their decision not to respond may have been due to the issue being in active litigation — a perfectly valid reason to withhold comment. That said, even a brief explanation such as “We’re unable to discuss ongoing legal matters at this time” would have signaled to the public that the matter is being taken seriously and not ignored.
In sensitive cases, communication — even when limited — helps build public trust.
2. Delays and Discretion: A Need for Flexibility
The more substantial concern involves the timeline and the fine structure itself.
According to the article, the homeowners believe they addressed the violations promptly. Yet it reportedly took more than 220 days for the city to return and verify compliance. Perhaps there was a breakdown in communication — maybe the city was never notified that the work was completed. Still, such a long delay raises questions about the system’s efficiency and responsiveness to timely resolutions.
What really stands out, however, is what happened after compliance. Once the property was brought up to code, there doesn’t appear to have been a clear, accessible path to drastically reduce or rescind the fines. While every city needs safeguards to ensure fairness and prevent abuse, there must also be room for discretion — especially when dealing with long-time residents and unique circumstances.
To an outsider, this situation called for a “slap on the wrist” penalty, not a “$366,000 sledgehammer.”
Moving Forward
Again, there may be more to this case than what has been publicly reported — and perhaps that additional context would help explain how things escalated. But from a public policy perspective, it’s hard not to conclude that this situation could have — and should have — been handled differently.
To be fair, many code enforcement departments are operating with limited resources. Staffing shortages, increasing caseloads, and budget constraints all impact the speed and consistency of enforcement activities. It’s entirely possible that delays or missed opportunities in this case were not due to neglect, but to overburdened staff doing their best under pressure. Code enforcement officials are deeply dedicated public servants who want what’s best for the community as a whole — and for its residents in particular. But without the proper support and flexibility in the system, even well-intentioned efforts can produce unfortunate outcomes.
A more flexible and transparent code enforcement process could have saved the city time, money, and the damage of negative media exposure.
Code enforcement is a vital municipal function, but it works best when it’s seen as fair, efficient, and responsive to the people it serves. Everyone benefits when systems are designed to resolve issues quickly and equitably.
No system is perfect, and enforcement is rarely simple. But cases like this are reminders of the human impact behind these processes. With thoughtful updates to policy — and a bit more flexibility and communication — similar situations can often be resolved with less stress, less cost, and greater community goodwill.
Ideally, we should all be working toward systems that uphold standards while also supporting the people who live in our neighborhoods.