Dariel Fernandez

09/02/2026

Florida is making sure the next generation learns the truth about communism through history, facts, and the documented suffering caused by communist regimes.

I commend Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Legislature, and the State Board of Education for requiring Florida students to learn this history. For those of us who came from Cuba, and for so many families across Miami-Dade who lived under communism or were forced to flee it, this issue is deeply personal.

Our students deserve to understand what happens when government power destroys individual liberty, silences opposition, and strips people of their fundamental freedoms. Teaching that truth isn’t about looking backward. It’s about making sure the next generation understands the value of freedom and knows why it must always be protected.

Florida continúa asegurando que la próxima generación conozca la verdad sobre el comunismo a través de la historia, los hechos y el sufrimiento documentado causado por los regímenes comunistas.

Reconozco al gobernador Ron DeSantis, a la Legislatura de Florida y a la Junta Estatal de Educación por exigir que los estudiantes de Florida aprendan esta historia. Para quienes llegamos de Cuba, y para tantas familias de Miami-Dade que vivieron bajo el comunismo o tuvieron que huir de él, este tema es profundamente personal.

Nuestros estudiantes merecen entender lo que ocurre cuando el poder del gobierno destruye la libertad individual, silencia a quienes piensan diferente y les arrebata a las personas sus libertades fundamentales. Enseñar esta verdad no es mirar hacia atrás. Es asegurar que la próxima generación comprenda el valor de la libertad y sepa por qué siempre debemos protegerla.

Dariel Fernandez
Miami-Dade County Tax Collector

09/02/2026

Public service is about people. It is about looking someone in the eyes, extending your hand, listening to their story, and making sure they know they are not alone. Every handshake reminds me why I chose this path. Behind every person is a family, a struggle, a dream, and a reason to believe that government can still serve with compassion and dignity.

As Miami-Dade County Tax Collector, the people will always be at the heart of everything we do. We are here to serve, to listen, and to help. Because putting people first is not just something we say. It is a promise we make every day, with every person we serve. And that promise will always come first.

El servicio público se trata de las personas. Se trata de mirar a alguien a los ojos, extenderle la mano, escuchar su historia y asegurarnos de que sepa que no está solo. Cada apretón de manos me recuerda por qué escogí este camino. Detrás de cada persona hay una familia, una lucha, un sueño y una razón para creer que el gobierno todavía puede servir con compasión y dignidad.

Como Recaudador de Impuestos del Condado Miami-Dade, nuestra gente siempre estará en el corazón de todo lo que hacemos. Estamos aquí para servir, escuchar y ayudar. Porque poner a las personas primero no es simplemente algo que decimos. Es una promesa que hacemos cada día, con cada persona que servimos. Y esa promesa siempre será nuestra prioridad.

09/01/2026

More than $13 million in savings for Miami-Dade residents. This is what responsible financial management should look like: finding ways to reduce the burden on taxpayers while protecting the quality services our community depends on.

Thank you to Chairman Anthony Rodriguez for working with my administration to make this important step possible. We will continue looking for ways to save taxpayers money and put Miami-Dade residents first.

Más de $13 millones en ahorros para los residentes de Miami-Dade. Así debe funcionar una gestión financiera responsable: buscando maneras de reducir la carga de los contribuyentes mientras protegemos la calidad de los servicios que nuestra comunidad necesita.

Gracias al presidente de la Comisión, Anthony Rodriguez, por trabajar junto a mi administración para hacer posible este importante paso. Continuaremos buscando maneras de ahorrar el dinero de los contribuyentes y poner a los residentes de Miami-Dade primero.

Dariel Fernandez
Miami-Dade County Tax Collector

09/01/2026

It was a pleasure visiting Ortega Nursery Farms and spending time with Carlos Ortega Sr. and his family, who have built a business that has served our South Florida community for three generations.

Since 1999, their family has grown this nursery through hard work, dedication, and a deep connection to agriculture. Family-owned businesses like Ortega Nursery Farms create jobs, strengthen our local economy, and are an important part of what makes Miami-Dade special.

Supporting those who invest, work, and create opportunities in our community will always be important to us.

Fue un placer visitar Ortega Nursery Farms y compartir con Carlos Ortega Sr. y su familia, quienes han construido un negocio que ha servido a nuestra comunidad del sur de Florida durante tres generaciones.

Desde 1999, su familia ha hecho crecer este vivero con trabajo, dedicación y una profunda conexión con la agricultura. Negocios familiares como Ortega Nursery Farms generan empleos, fortalecen nuestra economía local y son una parte importante de lo que hace especial a Miami-Dade.

Apoyar a quienes invierten, trabajan y crean oportunidades en nuestra comunidad siempre será importante para nosotros.

Dariel Fernandez
Miami-Dade County Tax Collector

Community PeopleFirst

09/01/2026

I strongly support the action announced by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to crack down on 110 driving schools tied to approximately 5,000 English-language proficiency violations involving commercial drivers. Operating a commercial motor vehicle is a serious responsibility, and the standards designed to protect everyone on our roads must be enforced.

Commercial drivers must be properly trained, qualified, and able to meet federal safety requirements, including English-language proficiency requirements that have existed for decades. Fraud, shortcuts, and failure to follow these standards can put lives at risk.

I commend President Donald J. Trump, Secretary Sean Duffy, and our federal partners for taking action to strengthen accountability and highway safety. I am also grateful to the federal government for giving us the opportunity to work together, share our message, and continue advancing our common commitment to protecting the public and the integrity of our driver licensing system.

And this is just the beginning. Here in Miami-Dade County, we will not allow driving schools or anyone involved in the licensing process to compromise public safety, manipulate the system, or ignore the law. If you operate a driving school, you have a responsibility to follow the rules, properly train drivers, and protect the integrity of the process. We will continue strengthening oversight, identifying irregularities, and working with our state, local, and federal partners to ensure that violations and suspected fraud are addressed.

Our message is simple: the rules exist for a reason, and public safety must always come first.

Dariel Fernandez
Miami-Dade County Tax Collector

CDL

09/01/2026

I really enjoyed spending time with the Dominican American Chamber of Commerce of Florida at their Business and Networking Luncheon at Milly’s Restaurant. We had a great conversation about property taxes, the challenges facing our local businesses, and what we can do to better serve our residents.

For me, this is what public service is all about: getting out into the community, sitting at the table, listening, answering questions, and hearing directly from the people we serve. Thank you to the Dominican American Chamber of Commerce of Florida for the invitation and for always supporting our business community.

Disfruté mucho compartir con la Cámara de Comercio Dominico-Americana de Florida durante su almuerzo empresarial y de networking en Milly’s Restaurant. Tuvimos una excelente conversación sobre los impuestos a la propiedad, los retos que enfrentan nuestros negocios locales y lo que podemos hacer para servir mejor a nuestros residentes.

Para mí, de eso se trata el servicio público: salir a la comunidad, sentarnos a la mesa, escuchar, responder preguntas y conocer directamente las necesidades de nuestra gente. Gracias a la Cámara de Comercio Dominico-Americana de Florida por la invitación y por apoyar siempre a nuestra comunidad empresarial.

Dariel Fernandez
Miami-Dade County Tax Collector

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

I strongly support the action announced by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to crack down on 110 driving schools tied to approximately 5,000 English-language proficiency violations involving commercial drivers. Operating a commercial motor vehicle is a serious responsibility, and the standards designed to protect everyone on our roads must be enforced.

Commercial drivers must be properly trained, qualified, and able to meet federal safety requirements, including English-language proficiency requirements that have existed for decades. Fraud, shortcuts, and failure to follow these standards can put lives at risk.

I commend President Donald J. Trump, Secretary Sean Duffy, and our federal partners for taking action to strengthen accountability and highway safety. I am also grateful to the federal government for giving us the opportunity to work together, share our message, and continue advancing our common commitment to protecting the public and the integrity of our driver licensing system.

And this is just the beginning. Here in Miami-Dade County, we will not allow driving schools or anyone involved in the licensing process to compromise public safety, manipulate the system, or ignore the law. If you operate a driving school, you have a responsibility to follow the rules, properly train drivers, and protect the integrity of the process. We will continue strengthening oversight, identifying irregularities, and working with our state, local, and federal partners to ensure that violations and suspected fraud are addressed.

Our message is simple: the rules exist for a reason, and public safety must always come first.

Dariel Fernandez
Miami-Dade County Tax Collector

08/31/2026

Bruno Rodríguez, what human rights are you talking about? There are limits to cynicism.

The July 26 Movement used bombings, attacks, sabotage, and political violence in Cuba before 1959. Fidel Castro led the movement, and Raúl Castro was one of its principal members. After 1959, the communist socialist system they imposed continued with executions, political imprisonment, persecution, repression, and serious human rights violations.

Bruno Rodríguez, you represent a murderous communist socialist system that has repressed the Cuban people for decades and continues to imprison those who dare to demand freedom.

Don’t be so cynical. Those who have persecuted, imprisoned, and repressed the Cuban people cannot present themselves to the world as defenders of human rights.

Cuba deserves freedom. Cuba deserves democracy. Cuba deserves to live without political prisoners and without fear.

Bruno Rodríguez, ¿de qué derechos humanos estás hablando? El cinismo tiene límites.

El Movimiento 26 de Julio utilizó bombas, atentados, sabotajes y violencia política en Cuba antes de 1959. Fidel Castro encabezó el movimiento y Raúl Castro fue uno de sus principales integrantes. Después de 1959, el sistema comunista socialista que impusieron continuó con fusilamientos, prisiones políticas, persecución, represión y graves violaciones de los derechos humanos.

Bruno Rodríguez, tú representas a un sistema comunista socialista asesino que durante décadas ha reprimido al pueblo cubano y que todavía encarcela a quienes se atreven a exigir libertad.

No seas tan cínico. Quienes han perseguido, encarcelado y reprimido al pueblo cubano no pueden presentarse ante el mundo como defensores de los derechos humanos.

Cuba merece libertad. Cuba merece democracia. Cuba merece vivir sin presos políticos y sin miedo.

SOSCuba PatriaYVida