Twenty-first century History of Miami

in recent years, miami has promoted arts, business , performing arts, such adrienne arsht center performing arts, second-largest performing arts center in u.s. other projects include new miami marlins stadium, miami streetcar, port of miami tunnel , museum park includes miami art museum , miami science museum.

in 2000, elián gonzález affair immigration battle in miami area. controversy concerned six-year-old elián gonzález rescued waters off coast of miami. u.s. , cuban governments, father juan miguel gonzález, miami relatives, , cuban-american community of miami involved. climactic stage of prolonged battle april 22, 2000, seizure of elián federal agents, drew criticism of many in cuban-american community. during controversy, alex penelas, mayor of miami-dade county @ time, vowed nothing assist bill clinton administration , federal authorities in bid return six-year-old boy cuba. tens of thousands of protesters, many of whom outraged @ raid, poured out streets of little havana , demonstrated. car horns blared, demonstrators turned on signs, trash cans, , newspaper racks , small fires started. rioters jammed 10-block area of little havana. shortly afterwards, many miami businesses closed, owners , managers participated in short, one-day boycott against city, attempting affect tourism industry. employees of airlines, cruise lines, hotels, car rental companies, , major retailers participated in boycott. elián gonzález returned cuba father on june 28, 2000.

in 2003, controversial free trade area of americas negotiation occurred. proposed agreement reduce trade barriers while increasing intellectual property rights. during 2003 meeting in miami, free trade area of americas met heavy opposition anti-corporatization , anti-globalization protests.

high rise construction in downtown miami in 2007

on june 27, 2005, popular ex-city commissioner arthur teele walked main lobby of miami herald headquarters, dropped off package columnist jim defede, , told security guard tell wife stephanie loved , before pulling out gun , committing suicide. suicide happened day alternative weekly miami new times published salacious details of teele s alleged affairs, including allegations teele had sex transsexual prostitute , used cocaine. @ time, teele being investigated federal authorities fraud , money laundering allegedly taking $59,000 in kickbacks businessman millions of dollars in contracts @ miami international airport. teele suspended job in 2004 florida governor jeb bush after being arrested trying run police officer off road. teele charged in december 2004 ten counts of unlawful compensation on charges took $135,000 tlmc inc., promising awarded lucrative contracts redevelop neighborhoods in miami. teele found guilty in march 2005 threatening undercover detective.

in latter half of 2000–2010 decade, miami has seen extensive boom of high rise architecture, dubbed miami manhattanization wave. has included construction of many of tallest buildings in miami, 20 of cities tallest 25 buildings finished after 2005. 2008 , 2007 saw completion of more of these buildings. boom has transformed of downtown miami, considered have 1 of largest skylines in united states, ranked behind new york city , chicago. boom slowed after 2008 global financial crisis, projects being put on hold , none of cities tallest buildings being constructed in 2010.

in may 2010, construction began on major port of miami infrastructure project known port of miami tunnel, total estimated cost of 1 billion dollars , estimated 2014 completion date.