US 1 Traffic Issues Boil Over
Residents Request County Officials
Attend US 1 Listening Session
Florida Keys community organizations have invited Monroe County Commissioners to a “Listening Session” to hear about safety issues, business losses, and disruption to daily life caused by chronic US 1 traffic jams in Tavernier and Islamorada. The event will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at 53 High Point Road, Tavernier. All community members are welcome to attend. Attendees will have three minutes each to present their concerns to the County Commissioners, and at the end of the session, County Commissioners will have three minutes each to respond and offer their solutions.
Due to an expected full house, residents who wish to comment at the event are encouraged to reserve a speaking slot below. If you can’t attend in person, a Zoom link is provided — feel free to join virtually, even if you don’t plan to speak.
MISSION
The Keys Accountability Project supports Monroe County residents as they press for a smaller, more responsive county government that focuses on fundamental obligations — safe neighborhoods, prompt action on urgent resident-identified issues, and elimination of non-essential spending.
Monroe County Commissioners are addicted to spending ever more tax dollars. After they raised spending by $200 million in the last two years to a record $667 million, commissioners immediately began pushing for a charter government proposal that would give them even more spending and taxing power.
Keys Accountability Center will use research, analysis, education, communication, and advocacy to help citizens push against Monroe County government’s unfettered taxing and spending growth and Its regulatory and programmatic excesses.
THE PROBLEMS
The $667 million ‘23/’24 county budget, the Charter government proposal for higher taxes, the Department of Sustainability, and arrogant Commissioners and true-to type bureaucrats are problems because there has been no forceful pushback. The Keys Accountability Project will inject fiscal restraint, transparency, and accountability into Monroe County governance.
Here’s a recent headline in the local papers: “State Attorney Seeks Grand Jury on Tourist Development Council.” Since politicians and bureaucrats are clueless money managers, a
$667 million budget all but guarantees mismanagement.
COMMISIONERS DON’T LISTEN TO YOU!
Commissioners will increase the Tourist Development Council’s budget this year by $50 million (totaling $125 million). No one reasonably thinks the Keys or US1 needs more tourists.
