• 4 min de lectura
• 4 min de lectura
When newly named PortMiami Director Jonathan Daniels went before Miami-Dade County commissioners Tuesday, he acknowledged coming into challenges and some lawmakers were wryly blunt.
"Anyone who takes this job deserves a round of applause," Commission Chairman Anthony Rodriguez said. "Congratulations, and we hold you to the fire."
"I don't know whether to say congratulations or condolences," Commissioner Raquel Regalado said.
She also hoped Daniels would stick around for an "interesting" discussion about a proposed resolution authorizing the county to issue up to $700m in bonds for seaport construction and capital improvements.
Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins welcomed and congratulated Daniels but immediately brought up his predecessor, Hydi Webb.
"You have very big shoes to fill," she said. "Our former port director was an extraordinary member of our Miami-Dade County team. We all miss her and wish her well in her future endeavors."
Daniels doesn't officially start until Aug. 10. His appearance before the commission was a formality, and he was glowingly introduced by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who called PortMiami "one of our most important economic engines," supporting more than 340,000 jobs across Florida and $61b in economic impact, "so strong leadership is essential."
The mayor pointed to Daniels' more than three decades of seaport experience, including leading the Port of Baltimore through one of the most challenging moments in US maritime history, the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and before that, how he advanced a $3b strategy to expand cargo, cruise and energy operations at Port Everglades.
"He's built a reputation as a thoughtful and collaborative leader," Levine Cava said, expressing her confidence Daniels has the "experience, the vision and the steady leadership" to "build on PortMiami's momentum." For good measure, she added that Daniels' father and grandfather were longshoremen.
For his part, Daniels was "humbled and honored" to be chosen to helm "The Cargo Gateway to the Americas" and "The Cruise Capital of the World," which he noted are registered trademarks but "more than that, they're promises that we as PortMiami are making to the stakeholders" using PortMiami as their gateway.
Daniels called 8.5m passenger moves last year "a solid number" but Miami had "stepped back a little" to a "port to the north of us that has taken over" as the busiest. He didn't name it, but Port Canaveral tallied 8.6m passenger moves in fiscal 2025, edging out Miami's 8.56m.
The Fisher Island fuel depot crisis wasn't mentioned while Daniels was at the podium though the county is pursuing eminent domain to try to secure the facility. In her later remarks about the proposed seaport bonds, Regalado argued commissioners should hold off in part because of the fuel depot litigation and not knowing the price for it.
Also, she advocated waiting for Daniels to start and hearing his perspective on the bonds.
Daniels said one reason the PortMiami position appealed to him is because he's worked with many of the staff in the past. He felt enthusiasm when meeting with directors on Monday. "This is a team that is ready to move forward" and has the "ability and vision to advance in cargo and cruise.
"Yes, we have challenges," Daniels acknowledged. He's overcome many before, including rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina (at the Port of Gulfport), running the world's third biggest cruise port (Port Everglades) during the pandemic and, six weeks after arriving at the Port of Baltimore, the collapse of the Key Bridge.
"All those issues were unexpected. They allowed us to use a creative approach, a team approach, and ultimately come out the other side," Daniels said. "We have set records after each of those instances and that is the passion I want to bring to this team."
