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Miami Mayor's Three Step Formula that Made It the Happiest and Healthiest City in America

June 04, 2025 / 01:10

This episode discusses Miami's success under Mayor Francis Suarez, focusing on low taxes, safety, and innovation. Key topics include economic growth, crime reduction, and budget management.

Mayor Francis Suarez outlines his approach to making Miami the happiest and healthiest city in America. He emphasizes the importance of low taxes, stating that he has lowered them to the lowest levels in history, which contributed to a 140% growth in the economy over nine years.

Suarez highlights Miami's achievements, including the lowest unemployment rate and the highest median wage growth in the country. He connects happiness and health to economic stability, arguing that a thriving economy reduces homelessness and crime.

He reflects on Miami's transformation from a city in bankruptcy in 2009 to a prosperous community with a balanced budget. Suarez mentions the importance of not raising taxes and implementing pension reforms to achieve this success.

Finally, he contrasts Miami's current safety with its past, noting that the city has shifted from being one of the murder capitals of America to one of the safest large cities.

TLDR

Mayor Francis Suarez shares Miami's success formula: low taxes, safety, and innovation leading to economic growth and reduced crime.

Episode

1:10
00:00:00
We were ranked the happiest city in America, the healthiest city in America. If you had to lay out the road map for
00:00:04
other cities, but frankly for other states, the rest of the country, what's the road map? The Francis Suarez road
00:00:08
map. The formula for success is simple. Keep taxes low. Keep people safe. Lean into innovation. I lower taxes to the
00:00:15
lowest level in history. And we've seen 140% growth in 9 years. So, the economy is robust. We have the lowest
00:00:21
unemployment in America. We have the highest median wage growth in America. Frankly, if you're happy, you're
00:00:26
healthy, and you're working, you're probably not homeless. And I took the city in 2009 as a councilman out of
00:00:30
bankruptcy. We decided not to raise taxes. We cut costs. We didn't let anyone go, but we had tiered salary
00:00:35
cuts, pension reform, and we balanced our budget. And we had 10 years of prosperity. And that prosperity led to a
00:00:42
tripling of the size of our government. So we went from a $500 million government to a billion and a half
00:00:46
dollar government while lowering taxes. When you have a place where there's prosperity and where people are
00:00:51
investing and where people are employed, there's not as many social problems. So
00:00:55
they're not out there killing people. the 1980s, we were one of the murder capitals of America and we're now one of
00:00:59
the safest big cities in America. This formula for success, what seems simple, other cities are getting it wrong
00:01:05
completely backwards, right? Their taxes are high. It's not safe.

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Episode Highlights

  • The Road Map to Success
    Francis Suarez outlines his formula for a thriving city: low taxes, safety, and innovation.
    “The formula for success is simple.”
    @ 00m 08s
    June 04, 2025
  • From Bankruptcy to Prosperity
    In 2009, the city faced bankruptcy, but strategic decisions led to 10 years of prosperity.
    “We had 10 years of prosperity.”
    @ 00m 37s
    June 04, 2025

Episode Quotes

  • The formula for success is simple.
    Miami Mayor's Three Step Formula that Made It the Happiest and Healthiest City in America
  • If you're happy, you're healthy, and you're working, you're probably not homeless.
    Miami Mayor's Three Step Formula that Made It the Happiest and Healthiest City in America

Key Moments

  • Economic Growth00:17
  • Safety Transformation00:57