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SILVIA TARAFA , a veteran educator, is the only political newcomer to the Key Biscayne Council this election year. The former principal of the K-8 Center, she has an up close and personal perspective of the reasons behind declining enrollment and test scores at the only public school on the island.  Should the Village try to supplant the Miami-Dade School district? What about the other big island issues like flood control and the Rickenbacker Causeway? Join Thom and Tony for an interview Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

OSCAR SARDIÑAS is one of two incumbents asking for another 4-year term on the Key Biscayne Village Council. An avowed supporter of outgoing mayor Joe Rasco and Village Manager Steve Williamson, we ask about the rejection of the $300 million Big Dig project that he supported until the final rejection.   Thom and Tony ask about the future of public education, e-bikes, the Rickenbacker Causeway, and government transparency Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

LUIS DE LA CRUZ is looking to come back to Key Biscayne's Village Council after a prior stint 8 years ago. His signature issue for the last two years has been  opposition the Big Dig stormwater project - a project he succeeded in stopping.  But what about the other big issues facing the barrier island? Join Thom and Tony for in interview Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

FOUR CANDIDATES are competing for three seats on the Key Biscayne Village Council in 2026. Our first guest is FERNANDO VAZQUEZ, an incumbentwho ran as "your flood control engineer" four years ago -- but that was before the Big Dig stormwater project ran into opposition and was scrapped.  Thom and Tony revive Anti-Social for an interview about his campaign to be re-elected.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

OUR SHOW RESUMES at the 20th annual Key Biscayne Rib-Off, which has become a place where pork and politics mix under the  haze of cooking meat. Our guest,  one of the contest judges, is former WFOR-TV anchor Eliott Rodriguez, who told us he is likely to challenge GOP Rep. Maria Salazar as Key Biscayne's in Congress. Rodriguez is a former Key Biscayne resident.  It's a show done LIVE on location at the site of the Rib-Off, a charity event benefitting medical education. Special host THOM MOZLOOM is back, too.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

THE STOCK MARKET is soaring, but weak employment numbers and stubborn high prices are making many Americans feel uneasy as 2025 comes to a close. Our guest is veteran financial analyst MARK HAMRICK, who synthesizes the trends and says there is some hope that things will change course in 2026. And, he has some good financial tips of use to every household.  And -- we announce the winner of KBI's annual Newsmaker of the Year contest -- both the reader's and the editors choices.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

A HISTORIC AND POPULAR  nature center near Miami has some environmental advocates feeling wronged by a government that wants to monetize a building named after ecology pioneer Marjory Stoneman Douglas. The center in Crandon Park teaces marine ecology to thousands of children each year -- but was facing eviction as part of plan to generate revenue for the cash-strapped parks system.  While the eviction notice has been withdrawn,  the fate of the center is still very much unknown. Our guests, Mark Diaz and Theodora Long, are in charge of the nonprofit and respond to what they say are inaccurate statements by County officials.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

IN THIS SPECIAL edition of Anti-Social, live from the Give Miami Day Mission Control center, we interview two nonprofits that are using donor dollars for good.  Maj. Gene Hogg of the Salvation Army talks about how his organization handles disasters -- both natural and large, and personal and tragic.  Debra Albo-Steiger of the Children's Bereavement Center talks about how her group helps families deal with grief -- an often overlooked need that is so important when families deal with loss.  These are just two organizations of about 1,400 that will benefit from Miami's single biggest day of community generosity.  Listen, give, and know how much your gift helps others!  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

A DISPUTE OVER A BELOVED NATURE CENTER is just one of the topics that one of Florida's top elected leaders is contending with. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava says she wants a deal to keep programming - but also says she's facing a budget "storm" that is only likely to get tougher.  We ask the mayor -- and Transportation chief Stacy Miller -- about the sale of the Miami Seaquarium, the fate of the Rickenbacker Causeway, and big political moves that are happening in the County  It's a show you won't want to miss.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

THE TRUMP Administration is expanding its deportation efforts, leading to protests across the country. In Miami, where a majority of residents are Hispanic, a new campaign is seeking change from Republican members of Congress who -- so far-- have largely supported the crackdown.  Our guests are Michael Putney, formerly of WPLG-TV Channel 10, and Leticia Callava, a former anchor for Univison, who tell us why they are getting involved on the ICE crackdown issue.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

COMMUNITY GROUPS lift a city in so many ways. The Miami Women's Club can point to 125 years of bringing women together from the city's earliest days to the vibrant multicultural metropolis it is today.  Our Guest is Metris Batts-Coley, the organization's first black president who shares with us the clubs's history, goals, and growth. We also talk about how she is working to fight food insecurity as Miami-Dade County braces for the loss of SNAP benefits.  FOOD DONATIONS: LINK HERE  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

WE START OUR TWELFTH SEASON by talking to a former investigator of the January 6th committee who is running for Congress in from Miami and Key Biscayne  ROBIN PEGUERO is a Harvard grad, novelist, and former Miami prosecutor who wants to be your next member of Congress. He's one of two Democrats hoping to unseat Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar Listen and learn more!  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

INSURANCE, REPAIRS and high costs are just some reasons being given for a downward trend in home values in South Florida of late, but out guest KEN JOHNSON crunches numbers across the nation and his conclusions are -- different.  If you have to pay for a roof over your head -- buy, sell, or rent --- it's a show you don't want to miss.  Ken Johnson is the creator of a widely-known index that helps buyers and sellers understand the value of their homes compared to general market trends -- and he shares his decades of insight.  After years in South Florida, he is now the Christie Kirkland Walker Chair of Real Estate and Professor of Finance at the University of Mississippi School of Business Administration. LINKS MENTIONED ON SHOW from  the Beracha and Johnson Real Estate Initiative HOME PRICES https://therealestateinitiative.com/housing-top-100/  BUY VS RENT  https://therealestateinitiative.com/price-to-rent-ratios/#about-rankings   RENTS https://www.ares.org/page/waller-weeks-johnson-rental-index  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

THE 2026 MIDTERMS ARE A LONG WAY OFF, but two Democrats are already vying to take on incumbent Maria Elvira Salazar. Sensing growing disapproval with President Trump on topics like immigration and the economy, businessman Richard Lamondin announced a bid earlier this year. He will face former Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey in August. We ask him about his background, the main issues, and how he expects to be viable in a district that has shifted to the GOP.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

President Donald Trump wants to zero out funding to public radio and TV, cuts that would affect the programming you hear and see in South Florida. Measures in Congress would also cut funds for WLRN and WPBT, the stations that provide unique local news and entertainment programming, as well as bringing NPR and PBS programs free of charge to you.  Our guest is Sergio Bustos, the vice president of news for WLRN, whose department creates strong local reporting in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today