Compiled by Christian Cipriani
Special to BT
As 2007 was drawing to a close, the BT
asked a select group of civic activists for a report on what
they wanted to see happen in their respective communities
during 2008. The responses were so thorough and thoughtful
that we didn’t have room
for all of them. To read these contributions in their unabridged
form, visit us online at www.BiscayneTimes.com.
BAYSIDE
By Christopher Harty
Harty has lived in Morningside and Bayside for the past seven
years. He is a dealer in 20th-century design and art, an aspiring
writer, and according to his friends, an opinionated, obstreperous
social critic.
Bayside is a fine place to live, so when
I asked friends and neighbors their thoughts on fixing problems
in the coming year, I did it with a smile. Here’s what
they (and I) had to say:
Security: In the past year, we’ve had numerous burglaries
and at least one robbery at gunpoint. Police presence increased
recently, but Bayside and adjacent neighborhoods are continually
targeted. Alarms, security bars, hedges, and weapons are all
solutions, but it’s a disturbing image — barricading
yourself inside with a pistol because your orchids disappeared.
Real Estate: The elephant
in the living room, along with the insurance lion, the hurricane
hyena, and the tax tiger. Their collective effect has left
most homeowners angry the state hasn’t produced real
relief, worried that assessments will increase yet again, and
confused by contrary reports about the housing market.
Sewers:
The ongoing sewer project has brought inconvenience and more
to Bayside, but it’s actually happening. Let’s
hope they wrap it in a timely way, and that it works as planned.
Wilma showed me what a sunken living room really means; it
would be nice to avoid a repeat. And please, put our [bayfront]
park back the way you found it.
The Park: Or not. I live near
the park, walk my dogs that way most days, and long for some
type of water access. Not a huge boat ramp, just a small one
for kayaks and canoes. Why not require it from whoever develops
the adjacent lots? All Miamians need more access to the bay.
NE
10th Avenue Lots: It’s too late to save the Prescott
mansion, so what’s the best use for all those waterfront
properties? I enjoy the breezes and views that emptiness makes
possible, but I’d like them to have a future as well
as a past. It’s probably a forlorn hope, but adding them
to the existing park would be ideal.
Biscayne Boulevard: Now
that the street is back, let’s
try to keep the bistro-boutique character going. Many small
business owners went under during the reconstruction. The city
needs to help suitable businesses move in and the remaining
rogues, rascals, and assorted vice mongers move out.
WYNWOOD
By Dorothy Quintana
At 98 years young, Quintana seems to grow more potent with
age. She continues to fight for improvements in Wynwood, where
she’s lived in the same house since 1957. Both residents
and politicians turn to her when it’s time to get things
done.
Roberto Clemente Park: The building named
for me in Roberto Clemente Park has spent years in disrepair,
filled with termites, with the mayor and commissioners continually
failing on promises to fix it. I’m ashamed to have
my name on it. The park needs proper restrooms, better lighting,
and for the police to stop drug use and prostitution at night.
Crime
Prevention: The area is growing less safe. For the first
time in my life I spent money on cameras and security systems;
I can’t take chances at my age. There’s a lot of
drug dealing, prostitution, break-ins, and muggings in Wynwood,
and criminals operating here from other neighborhoods. We need
support from Commander Gomez and his officers. A clinic on
NW 29th Street, between 1st and 2nd avenues, got 100 bikes
for cops to patrol our streets. We don’t even see squad
cars let alone bike patrols — day or night. What we do
see are groups of uniformed officers sitting around the NET
Office and cafés. Police don’t properly respond
to emergency calls and crime reports, that’s why you
never read about our crimes in the papers. The Miami police
need to listen better to NET leaders like Albert Zamorano and
do a better job protecting Wynwood.
Political Support: District
5 Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones came to me for votes,
and I got her votes. But she has neglected Wynwood, and Mayor
Diaz did too. They’ve both lost Wynwood’s
faith. We need new leaders in 2008.
Blight: Wynwood is filled
with abandoned and decaying houses, and no one is renting the
ones that have been refurbished. Homeless squat in and around
empty houses, and empty lots are used for illegal dumping.
If you ask me if all the art galleries and Midtown Miami made
Wynwood better, I say, “Better
for what?”
UPPER EASTSIDE
By Patrick McCoy
McCoy is a 15-year resident of Morningside, past president
of the Morningside Civic Association, founding president of
the Morningside Historical Education Society, and currently
runs his own business as a Realtor with Fortune International.
If wishes did come true, this is what the Upper Eastside would
ask for:
Police: Fairly paid and motivated rank-and-file police officers
who respond quickly to 911 calls, being led by a chief who
is beyond reproach.
Parking: Simply put — parking for
the MiMo District.
Litter: No trash left behind! Make our city beautiful! The
Upper Eastside needs a comprehensive code enforcement program
with follow-up and ticketing.
Public Transportation: Bus drivers
who stop at red lights and follow traffic rules! Covered bus
benches would also be nice.
Streetscape: Sidewalk, curb, gutter,
and paving improvements to all Upper Eastside neighborhoods
is now long overdue.
Miami
21: Will someone please tell us what this is?
Homelessness:
We need a major solution to the homeless situation. It increasingly
appears to be out of control and does not help the “City
Beautiful” image that our leaders continue
to talk about.
Traffic: It’s becoming gridlock out there.
I wish for an effective mass transit plan to ease inner-city
congestion. We would like to see NE 82nd Street revert to two-way
traffic and 79th Street converted into a business-friendly
corridor, with slowed traffic and street beautification.
EDGEWATER
By Richard Strell
Strell is an eight-year resident of Edgewater who works in
the real estate industry. He’s long been involved with
local issues, most recently as president of the Neighborhood
of Edgewater Area Residents (NEAR).
Edgewater’s population is growing fast. Neighboring
Wynwood is also emerging as an important arts center, and Midtown
Miami complements the growth of both areas. But Edgewater’s
gentrification has brought new — and renewed — challenges.
Environment: Residents aren’t waiting for our “green” mayor
to fund neighborhood initiatives over giant public-works projects.
We’ve got our own point people to address problems exacerbated
by the many the empty lots.
The Homeless: A large percentage
of Edgewater’s homeless
couldn’t hold down a job in the best of circumstances,
but they have very limited housing and social-service options.
This is not to excuse the crimes they generate on our streets,
but it’s a problem that needs compassionate solutions
in 2008.
Crime: Many 911 operators lack patience and
basic communication skills. And local cops aren’t easily
able to cull information and connect the dots when it comes
to researching crime patterns from recent reports. These are
very fixable problems we hope will change in 2008.
Miami 21:
The city’s planning department has been unable
to explain Miami 21, millions of dollars and years after starting
the process. For Edgewater, illustrations show the waterfront
looking like Ocean Drive, but reality will mimic what we’re
used to — 48-story monoliths with cyclone-fenced alleyways
shut at night.
Social Fabric: Edgewater is a natural urban
mix of people of all economic backgrounds — new and old businesses,
large and small buildings. It’s what makes the community
great. New and old Edgewater residents are working to make
it an increasingly desirable place to live and work. They don’t
want to just drive past their security gate, take the elevator,
and order take-out. They want to feel safe walking around outside
at night, to shop at local stores, and visit parks and local
events.
LITTLE HAITI/BUENA VISTA
By Pradel Denis
For the past year, Denis has served as president of the Buena
Vista East Historic Neighborhood Association. A trained civil
engineer, among other things, Pradel is the president of Land,
Home and Beyond, a contracting firm.
The Little Haiti/Buena Vista area would like
to see the following improvements and initiatives happen during
2008:
Derelict Properties: Having the Miami City
Commission pass the abandoned-and-derelict-properties ordinance,
introduced by the Little Haiti NET office and Buena Vista East
Historic Neighborhood Association.
Code Enforcement: Stricter code enforcement
of ordinances that pertain to the aesthetics of commercial
and residential properties in the City of Miami.
Revitalization: The creation of a partnership
between the City of Miami and business owners in Little Haiti/Model
City and Buena Vista to oversee needed infill projects and
coordinate the revitalization of existing buildings along major
corridors — NE
2nd Avenue and N. Miami Avenue from 54th to 79th streets.
Architecture:
Make façade improvement grants accessible
to property owners along the aforementioned major corridors,
and encourage the use of Caribbean and Britannia Bay gingerbread
architecture.
Streetscape: The implementation of a streetscape
project for NE 2nd Avenue and N. Miami Avenue — new infrastructure,
new drainage system, new curbs and sidewalks, new medians with
irrigation systems and lights, new street lights, lots of trees.
Pedestrians:
Realization of pedestrian-friendly sidewalk market structures
along NE 2nd Avenue and N. Miami Avenue from 54th to 79th streets.
Utility lines: The replacement of all overhead
utilities along the aforementioned routes; all wires need to
be buried underground.
Community
Center: Secure funding for a state-of-the-art community center
in Little Haiti, where licensed carpenters, electricians, plumbers,
contractors, programmers, and AUTOCAD drafters can give our
children hands-on experience using projects within the community
itself.
Empowerment Zone: Including Little Haiti
in the next empowerment zone.
Police: Having our own police commander to oversee the Little
Haiti NET area, thus prompting more officers to serve as roving
patrols within our community.
NORTH MIAMI
By Mike McDearmaid
The term “civic activist” was coined with someone
like McDearmaid in mind. Aside from serving as president of
the Central Homeowners Association, he has devoted himself
to the North Miami Jaycees, the Community Redevelopment Agency’s
advisory committee, the North Miami Police Department’s
strategic planning committee, and the national youth and elderly
support group NANAY, among other organizations.
When thinking about how to address North
Miami’s wishes
for the New Year, someone suggested I walk along NE 125th Street
and maybe NW 7th Avenue to ask business owners their opinions,
and to ride the bus. Here are some of the initial comments
I received while riding the bus:
“The world seems to be
going mad.”
“It’s about the rich getting richer, and the poor
getting poorer.”
“My family can’t even afford a doctor anymore.”
“Nothing seems like its gotten better this year.”
“Everything seems to be going faster and faster, like
being on a bicycle that’s out of control and you can’t
get off.”
Yet one thought on everyone’s mind — and
North Miami’s first wish for the New Year — was: “It’s
so violent and crazy out there, everyone needs to come to their
senses.”
When pinning down what North Miami families want for 2008,
I was surprised to hear — overwhelmingly — a desire
for homeownership. As one bus-rider told me: “We’ve
been hearing about affordable housing for many years now, and
I keep getting on waiting lists, but nobody is getting a place
to live.”
The next big thing on people’s minds
is the need for more police officers. Crime is out of control
in North Miami, especially, as several people noted, the gang
situation. This topic even got the bus stoics talking. Some
described how they are always fearful for their safety. Others
chimed in with accounts of how crime and violence had affected
them, their family, and their friends.
Third on everyone’s
wish list: education. And although I mentioned our brand-new
schools, people said the quality of education in the schools
is lacking. Quality daycare is, too. North Miamians have been
hearing about jobs coming to the city for years. Well, many
people were riding the bus because they still have to travel
to other cities for work.
The number-one need expressed by business
owners was police protection, followed by more city initiatives
to help support and stimulate business. They feel that North
Miami tries to make it difficult to get anything done. Number
three on their list was the general state of the city. As one
businessman phrased it: “The city needs to get organized
and clean itself up.”
Speaking with homeowners, it’s
clear that crime and the need for more police is a top concern,
followed by code-enforcement issues, or the lack thereof. Residents
also feel the city needs a clear vision, and that things like
branding workshops were just window dressing. As one resident
put it: “We need
to figure out who we are as a city, where we want to go, and
instill pride once again in our citizens.” And last but
not least, North Miami needs more recreational facilities and
parks.
MIAMI SHORES
By Mark Sell
Sell has lived with his family in Miami Shores since 1989.
A veteran editor, writer, and public-relations consultant,
he has served on various community boards. He is director of
client services for Wragg & Casas Public Relations.
If composing a Miami Shores “wish list” for
2008 is a fool’s errand, here is one anyway, most of
it — despite
appearances — beyond the control of elected or appointed
municipal officials.
Sewers: We need them, along 2nd Avenue
and throughout Miami Shores, Biscayne Park, and El Portal.
This won’t happen,
as North Miami is not accepting new connectionsjor unable to
pay, and NE 2nd Avenue is already chopped up — without
sewer lines.
Downtown: A vibrant downtown, outdoor and indoor cafés
with interesting food, thriving professional offices, and galleries,
boutiques and specialty stores sprinkled among the Starbucks,
Quiznos, and Subways. We love the notion but must shelve this
thought until the roadwork is done in spring 2009.
Bookstores:
A thriving independent bookstore and intellectual center near
Barry University. A bookstore might need a lock on textbooks
as a profit center, as margins are brutal in the independent
bookstore and nonblockbuster publishing business. South Florida
could use a real university district, but doesn’t
have one — not near the University of Miami, Barry, nor
the region’s various Brutalist-architecture campuses.
Underground
Utility Cables: Weston’s got them and its
power was out 45 minutes during Wilma. We were out 15 days — the
price of relative historic charm. Good luck paying for this
one.
Public Transportation: Light-rail system along
FEC tracks and Metrorail up Biscayne Boulevard. The former
is a distinct possibility by 2020; the latter a bit farther
away. This need will only grow more apparent. Once again, Miami-Dade
is true to form, ensuring that development outpaces infrastructure.
Informed
Residents: We must build a caring, independent-thinking citizenry
looking beyond their backyards to their neighbors, and to people
in other neighborhoods and stations in life. The obverse of
Shores community spirit is an occasional smug, beady-eyed “Not
In My Back Yard” streak. The village’s
motto — Viventes En Sole (“To Live in the Sun”) — is
not exactly a bracing call to civic action, but “Not
In My Back Yard” isn’t either.
EL PORTAL
By Slade Cole
Cole has lived in the Miami area for 14 years and currently
resides on the Little River in El Portal, where he likes to
canoe and walk his dogs. In addition to civic leadership in
such neighborhoods as Oakland Grove and El Portal, he’s
a Realtor with Keller Williams and also runs a residential
painting business.
If the Village of El Portal could have its
wishes fulfilled in 2008, they would be the following:
Taxes:
The community needs to support of the proposed 1.35 percent
property tax-cap amendment, and the village council should
be resourceful in still providing essential services without
having new residents pay an unfair amount. Residents should
visit this www.CutPropertyTaxesNow.com and submit the petition.
The Seawall: El Portal needs an alternative
to the village council’s current plan to erect an industrial
seawall along the Little River. Among other things, a seawall
would destroy the backyards of most residences along the river.
Crime:
We need to reduce the number of burglaries and break-ins, in
part by better securing chronic hotspots for crime, like the
footbridge at NW 2nd Avenue and 86th Street.
Conservation:
The Little River area should be designated historic and its
wildlife better protected.
Informed Citizenry: It would
be great if more El Portal residents took time to become aware
and engaged in village issues.
Environment:
El Portal needs to continue to expand and protect its tree
canopy and vegetation. Continue planting oak trees along roads
and funding projects like the native landscaping recently installed
at village hall. We could also use medians along N. Miami Avenue
and NE 2nd Avenue, with royal palms or oaks trees.
Speeding:
Implementing a few speed bumps or other speed-reducing devices
on several key streets in El Portal would deter speeding drivers
from using them as shortcuts and make our village safer.
Feedback: letters@biscaynetimes.com
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