Innovating in Miami
October 28, 2004

By Shelly Sigo

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz on Tuesday was named the Urban Innovator of the Year for 2004 by the Manhattan Institute, which recognized the steps his administration has taken to rebuild the city's government.

Diaz became a member of the Center for Civic Innovation advisory board earlier this year, joining other urban mayors recognized for "achieving dramatic improvements in their cities through pragmatic, innovative public policy programs," according to the institute's publication, City Journal.

"Mayor Diaz has taken a city that was nearly bankrupt and restored an A-plus credit rating, while also cutting crime and improving the quality of life," center director Henry Olsen said when Diaz joined the board.

After years of financial difficulty for Miami, Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings in February upgraded the city's general obligation rating to A-plus and A-minus, respectively, from BBB-plus. Moody's Investors Service upgraded Miami's GOs late last year to A3 from Baa1.

The nonprofit Manhattan Institute is a policy research think tank based in New York.

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