As we close out 2023, Change.org has compiled a list of the cities with the most active changemakers and their respective petitions. While cities across the U.S. contributed significantly to the tapestry of change, Miami lands in the top ten – with the seventh most petitions created in 2023. 

Below, you can find a list of ten standout petitions that focused on Miami, as well as the full list of our top change-making cities of 2023. The petitions below demonstrate inspiring stories of resilience and courage, and the power of local advocacy to shape a community. 

TOP TEN STANDOUT PETITIONS FROM MIAMI:

1. Set free Romeo the Manatee – Romeo the Manatee, neglected and confined at Miami Seaquarium for decades, has been granted a reprieve following a victorious petition by Gabrielle Miller. The collective efforts of more than 46,000 people led to Romeo’s relocation to Tampa Zoo on December 5th, marking a significant improvement in his living conditions, with ongoing hopes for a possible transfer to a sanctuary.
2. Unite Against Discrimination: Stop SB 264 and End AAPI Hate in Florida – Jenny Liu continues her fight against Florida’s discriminatory property law, SB 264, gaining momentum as advocacy groups, including the ACLU of Florida, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, AALDEF, and CALDA, filed a lawsuit challenging the law’s constitutionality. With an emergency motion for a Preliminary Injunction filed on June 6, 2023, these groups are actively working to halt the implementation of SB 264, emphasizing the urgent need to counteract hate and discrimination targeting the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. More than 45,070 people have signed the petition. 
3. Keep Lolita in Florida – The group Truth4Toki, consisting of 35 marine mammal experts and joined by more than 43,000 people who have signed the petition, urged authorities to reconsider the plan to release Lolita (Toki), a killer whale, to her home waters in Puget Sound. Expressing concern based on their collective 350 years of experience, they advocated for transporting Lolita to SeaWorld Orlando, where she could live out the rest of her life in the company of two Pacific White-Sided dolphins, emphasizing the importance of considering her age, chronic illness, and potential challenges associated with relocation. Unfortunately, Lolita died before she could be transferred.
4. Reunite Li’i with Loke and Elelo – Ashleyn started her petition that seeks the attention of the Shedd Aquarium to consider taking in Li’i, the remaining pacific white-sided dolphin, at the Miami SeaQuarium, and reunite him with his family, Loke and Elelo, who were recently relocated to the Shedd Aquarium. More than 10,700 people have joined in on the petition, aiming to ensure Li’i does not remain alone and urging Shedd Aquarium to provide him a home alongside his family.
5. Carnival Cruise Lines: “Where is Kevin McGrath?” – Shelby Bart started a petition directed at Carnival Cruise Lines urging full transparency in the case of Kevin McGrath’s disappearance during a cruise aboard the Conquest. More than 7,200 people have signed the petition that demands the docking of the Conquest in the Port of Miami for a search, proof of the active MOBtronics system, and the release of all CCTV footage for the weekend of September 1, 2023 – September 4, 2023, seeking answers about Kevin’s whereabouts.
6. Call for the Removal of Duane Heydt as an NFL Referee – Allen Mithenbaum started a petition that calls for a review of referee Duane Heydt’s performance in the National Football League due to perceived bias and controversial decisions, particularly in the Miami Dolphins vs. Philadelphia Eagles game. More than 6,300 people have signed the petition and urge Commissioner Roger Goodell to assess Heydt’s impartiality and competence, expressing concern that such issues compromise the integrity and fairness of the NFL.
7. Stop and Oppose Proposed Landfill (DUMP) just south of Keys Gate Communities – Sean Fletcher leads a petition alongside residents of Homestead and South Miami-Dade that asks Miami-Dade Commissioners to reject a proposed landfill site bordering the Keys Gate Community. The residents and almost 5,000 petition signers cite concerns about the proximity to established communities, public and environmental health, impact on a future golf course development, environmental wetlands, and potential threats to the safety and security of the Homestead Air Reserve Base.
8. Save Our Need for Speed: Demand a Recreational Motorsports Park in Miami-Dade County – The South FL Racing community, led by Mario L Ojito and Brandon Roth, petition for the reinstatement of a Recreational Motorsports Park in Opa-Locka West, Dade County, FL, which Mayor Daniella Levine Cava denied on July 10th, 2023. More than 3,700 people have signed the petition highlighting the efforts and financial investment made to create a world-class Motorsports facility, emphasizing the need for a dedicated space for racing enthusiasts and urging Miami-Dade County officials to reconsider their decision.
9. Miami Says “NO” to GIANT LED BILLBOARDS – 2,000 people have signed a petition that opposes a proposed ordinance change in Miami that would permit an excessive number of large LED billboards in the downtown area, impacting the city’s aesthetic appeal and reputation. The petition highlights concerns about the size and brightness of the billboards, comparing them to iconic locations like Times Square, and emphasizes the safety hazard posed by allowing the billboards to remain anchored to buildings during hurricanes.
10. KEEP FRITZ & FRANZ BIERHAUS IN CORAL GABLES – Harald Neuweg started a petition that opposes the termination of his business, Fritz and Franz Bierhaus’s lease by the City of Coral Gables, which has served the community for over 24 years. The petition emphasizes the Bierhaus’s importance as a community institution and calls on citizens to support efforts to negotiate an extension of the Bierhaus’s lease. Almost 5,000 people have signed his petition. 

You can find a list of all ten petitions mentioned above here. Our top ten change-making cities in order are New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Miami, Denver, Dallas, and Charlotte. 

This list was compiled by Christina Martin, Change.org’s Senior Local Media Specialist. Are you a member of the press who would like to write about a Change.org petition? Christina can help. Email cmartin@change.org with your inquiry.