Russell's Tenure on the Miami City Commission (2015–2022)
From 2015 to 2022, Russell served as a member of the Miami City Commission, representing District 2. This pivotal district encompassed the majority of Miami's coastal neighborhoods, spanning from Coconut Grove in the south through Brickell, Downtown, and Edgewater, up to Morningside. Russell's entry into local politics was driven by grassroots activism in 2013, when he and other Coconut Grove residents successfully advocated for the removal of toxic soil from a local park rather than simply covering it.
Russell first won the District 2 seat in 2015, succeeding Marc Sarnoff, who was term-limited. Although Russell secured 42 percent of the vote—short of the threshold to avoid a runoff—the second-place candidate withdrew, granting him the victory. He was subsequently re-elected to a second four-year term in 2019.
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Key Facts
- District Representation: Represented District 2, covering coastal areas from Coconut Grove to Morningside.
- Housing Advocacy: Sponsored inclusionary zoning and co-living ordinances to combat housing shortages.
- Environmental Leadership: Authored a unanimous water quality ordinance to reduce fertilizer pollution in Biscayne Bay.
- Urban Vision: Supported the $27 million Flagler Street redesign and "The Underdeck" park project.
- Political Transition: Resigned in December 2022 following a campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Housing, Homelessness, and Urban Development
A primary pillar of Russell's commission work was housing affordability. In December 2018, he sponsored an inclusionary zoning ordinance—a policy requiring developers to include affordable units in new projects—specifically for the Omni district (the Arts & Entertainment District). However, this effort was nullified in 2019 when Governor Ron DeSantis and the state legislature passed a bill preempting the ordinance.
To further address the housing crisis, Russell sponsored an ordinance in late 2020 to permit co-living spaces (residential arrangements where residents share living areas). This initiative was developed in collaboration with Mayor Francis Suarez and supported by developer Rishi Kapoor. Years later, when reports emerged that Mayor Suarez had received consulting payments from Kapoor, Russell stated he was unaware of the financial relationship and had supported the ordinance solely as a solution for housing needs.
Russell's commitment to housing extended to his leadership of the West Grove Community Redevelopment Agency. He frequently clashed with other commissioners over homelessness policies. In June 2020, he was the sole dissenting vote against an ordinance requiring permits to provide food to large groups of homeless people. Similarly, in 2021, he stood alone in opposing an ordinance that outlawed homeless encampments. Russell argued that the root cause of homelessness was a lack of affordable housing and proposed using 2018 voter-approved bond money and federal COVID-19 relief funds to build 500 affordable units on public land.
Downtown Revitalization
Russell envisioned a reactivated downtown that could rival the vibrancy of the Design District, Wynwood, and Midtown. He emphasized infrastructure as the primary tool for filling vacant storefronts, supporting the $27 million pedestrian-friendly redesign of Flagler Street, which utilized curb-less concrete pavers. He also advocated for the reconstruction of the Dolphin East-West Expressway, which includes "The Underdeck," 30 acres of public parkland and trails designed to complement The Underline.
Environmental Protection and Water Quality
Environmental stewardship was a central focus of Russell's legislative agenda. In response to a severe fish kill in Biscayne Bay in 2020, Russell authored a water quality ordinance. Developed alongside the city's Office of Resilience and organizations like the Sierra Club, the ordinance was adopted unanimously.
The legislation aimed to decrease algae blooms—rapid increases in the population of algae in water systems—by reducing fertilizer pollution. To ensure compliance, the ordinance introduced new penalties for those polluting the waterways.
Other Legislative and Political Activities
Beyond housing and the environment, Russell sought to modernize the city's language. In 2017, he proposed replacing gendered terms such as "policeman" and "fireman" with the gender-neutral "police officer" and "firefighter" within the city charter and code.
Russell also made several attempts to enter federal politics. He announced a run for Florida's 27th congressional district in 2017 but withdrew in 2018. In 2021, he launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Marco Rubio, later switching back to the race for the 27th congressional district in May 2022. He ultimately lost the primary election on August 23 to Annette Taddeo.
Resignation and Departure
Due to Florida's "resign-to-run" statute, Russell was required to leave his commission seat to pursue his congressional campaign. While he initially planned to resign on January 3, 2023, he moved his departure date up to December 29, 2022, as a matter of protest.
The protest stemmed from the council's decision to cancel the December commission meeting. Russell had intended to use that final meeting to push for zoning changes that would facilitate affordable housing in Coconut Grove. When the motion to cancel the meeting passed 3–1 (with only Commissioner Manolo Reyes dissenting), Russell resigned early and left the meeting. Subsequent attempts to call a special meeting to reinstate the December date failed due to a lack of quorum.
| Category | Key Initiative / Event | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Inclusionary Zoning (Omni District) | Adopted 2018; Nullified by State in 2019 |
| Housing | Co-living Spaces Ordinance | Adopted and implemented |
| Environment | Water Quality Ordinance | Adopted unanimously (2020) |
| Infrastructure | Flagler Street Redesign | Supported $27M pedestrian-friendly project |
| Social Policy | Gender-Neutral Charter Terms | Proposed in 2017 |
| Political | 2022 Congressional Primary | Lost to Annette Taddeo |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Russell's primary focus regarding housing in Miami?
Russell focused on increasing housing affordability through inclusionary zoning in the Omni district and the legalization of co-living spaces to address the city's housing shortage.
How did Russell approach the issue of homelessness?
He opposed ordinances that penalized providing food to the homeless or outlawed encampments, arguing instead that the city should use bond and federal COVID-19 relief funds to build 500 affordable housing units on public land.
What was the purpose of the water quality ordinance authored by Russell?
The ordinance was designed to reduce fertilizer pollution in waterways to prevent algae blooms, specifically in response to a major fish kill in Biscayne Bay in 2020.
Why did Russell resign from the City Commission earlier than planned?
Although he had to resign due to a "resign-to-run" law for his congressional campaign, he moved his departure to December 29, 2022, to protest the council's cancellation of the December meeting, which he had planned to use for affordable housing zoning requests.
Which areas of Miami were included in District 2?
District 2 included most of the city's coastal neighborhoods, stretching from Coconut Grove in the south through Brickell, Downtown, and Edgewater, up to Morningide.