Real solutions for Key West District 2 — grounded in 45 years of lived experience and 10 years of proven public service.
Why the Rossi Approach Is Different
Prioritizing Long-Term Solutions
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"I've called Key West home for over 45 years. I know every street, every neighborhood, every challenge. This isn't about politics — it's about protecting the place we love."
— Mark Rossi, Candidate for City Commissioner, District 2
The Rossi Difference
Blueprint vs. Band-Aids
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Explore the Blueprint
Issue by Issue
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Workforce Housing
Teachers, Nurses & First Responders Can't Afford to Live Here.
Garrison Bight protections. Deed-restricted housing. No more displacing the people who keep Key West running.
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The housing crisis isn't just a quality-of-life issue — it's an existential threat to Key West's functioning. When teachers, firefighters, and nurses can't afford to live here, the entire community suffers. Mark's approach is pragmatic: use the tools city government actually controls to keep workers in Key West.
Why Garrison Bight Matters
The Garrison Bight liveaboard community represents one of the last affordable housing options for working locals. Any development plan that displaces those residents accelerates the exodus of the very workforce our city depends on. Mark will protect those rights vigorously.
Specific Commitments
1
Defend liveaboard rights at Garrison Bight — no displacement for commercial redevelopment
2
Leverage city-owned parcels for deed-restricted workforce housing through public-private partnership
3
Require affordable unit set-asides in any new development receiving city incentives or zoning variances
4
Oppose vacation rental conversions that reduce the long-term residential rental stock
Do You Agree?
Tell Mark where you stand on workforce housing.
312 Key West residents have weighed in
Thank you — Let's keep Key West livable for working families.
Share this with a neighbor.
Thank you. I want to hear your side.
Mark reads every message personally.
Sent. Thank you.
⛵
Liveaboard Rights
Protecting Garrison Bight — A Community That Deserves to Stay
Liveaboard residents are part of Key West's unique character. Mark will fight for them.
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Garrison Bight's liveaboard residents are working people who have found an affordable way to live in an increasingly unaffordable city. Any policy that displaces them without equivalent alternatives is simply housing policy that benefits developers at the expense of residents.
Specific Commitments
1
No displacement of Garrison Bight liveaboards without community-approved, equivalent alternatives
2
Engage the liveaboard community directly in any marina planning discussions
3
Oppose commercial redevelopment of Garrison Bight that displaces residential liveaboards
Do You Agree?
Tell Mark where you stand on Garrison Bight.
189 Key West residents have weighed in
Thank you — Protect liveaboard rights — defend this community.
Share this with a neighbor.
Thank you. I want to hear your side.
Mark reads every message personally.
Sent. Thank you.
🌊
Storm Surge & Environment
Our Reefs and Shoreline Are Under Threat. Reactive Patching Is Not a Plan.
Proactive, engineered shoreline protection — not quick fixes after every storm.
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Key West is on the front lines of storm surge and coastal flooding. The current approach of reactive patching after each flood event is both ineffective and expensive. We need a proactive, engineering-based strategy. Mark will champion long-term shoreline defense as a core city infrastructure priority.
The Cost of Inaction
Repeated flooding damages homes, depresses property values, disrupts businesses, and erodes the tax base. Investing in real shoreline defense now costs a fraction of the cumulative damage from continued reactive patching.
Specific Commitments
1
Commission a comprehensive storm surge and flood vulnerability assessment for District 2 — published publicly
2
Develop a 10-year sustainable shoreline protection capital plan
3
Pursue state and federal matching funds for shoreline infrastructure
4
Require environmental impact review for any coastal development proposals
Do You Agree?
Tell Mark where you stand on storm surge defense.
287 Key West residents have weighed in
Thank you — Let's build real protection for our shoreline.
Share this with a neighbor.
Thank you. I want to hear your side.
Mark reads every message personally.
Sent. Thank you.
🚧
Streets, Sidewalks & Drainage
Our Streets Are an Embarrassment. It's Time to Fix Them for Real.
A 90-day independent audit, a multi-year repair schedule, real flood mitigation — not more patch jobs.
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The state of Key West's streets, sidewalks, and drainage infrastructure is a source of justified frustration for every resident. Repeated temporary patches have masked a systemic failure of planning and investment. Mark's approach starts with an honest, independent assessment — no more pretending.
The Flooding Problem
Three significant flooding events in District 2 this past season alone. This isn't just inconvenient — it's damaging homes, disrupting businesses, and degrading property values. The fix requires real engineering assessment and real capital commitment.
Specific Commitments
1
Commission a 90-day independent infrastructure audit — publicly published, no redactions
2
Deliver a multi-year road repair schedule with quarterly public progress reports
3
Prioritize flood-prone intersections and drainage systems in the first capital budget
4
Require city staff to respond to street damage reports within 48 hours
Do You Agree?
Tell Mark where you stand on streets and drainage.
254 Key West residents have weighed in
Thank you — Let's fix these roads once and for all.
Share this with a neighbor.
Thank you. I want to hear your side.
Mark reads every message personally.
Sent. Thank you.
⚓
Balanced Budgeting & Tax Policy
A Business Owner Who Knows What Government Gets Wrong — And How to Fix It
Hold the property tax rate steady. Full transparency. No salary accepted.
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Having managed a successful business in Key West for over 41 years, Mark understands that fiscal accountability is non-negotiable. He served 10 years as commissioner without ever accepting a salary or city health insurance. He will bring that same discipline to every budget decision.
The Property Tax Promise
Mark commits to holding the current property tax rate steady. Efficient government doesn't need to raise taxes to deliver results — it needs to spend what it has more wisely.
Specific Commitments
1
Hold the current property tax rate steady — no increases on residents or businesses
2
Conduct a line-by-line budget review in the first 90 days — publish findings publicly
3
Accept no commissioner salary or city benefits — same as his previous 10-year term
4
Streamline city permitting — cut timelines through digital modernization and accountability
Do You Agree?
Tell Mark where you stand on balanced budgeting.
241 Key West residents have weighed in
Thank you — Taxpayers deserve transparency and steady tax rates.
