HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubstitution Memo from City AttorneyCITY OF MIAMI
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Victoria Mendez, City Attorney gz_w�
DATE: May 26, 2021
RE: May 27, 2021 Commission Meeting Agenda — Substitution of RE.6 -
Co -Sponsorship - The Showing of Los Plantados
File No. 9058
Item RE.6 on the May 27, 2021 City Commission Agenda requests that the City
of Miami ("City") co-sponsor the showing of the film titled "Plantados" at the City -
owned property known as the Historic Olympia Theater. The item has been updated to
include the showing of the film at either the Historic Olympia Theater, Manuel Artime
Theater, or other City -owned facility approved by the City Manager and on a date to be
determined and approved by the City Manager. The item also waives the facility rental
fees associated with the event.
cc. Arthur Noriega, V, City Manager
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Miriam Santana, Agenda Coordinator
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City of Miami
` X l)I
Legislation
K ` Resolution:
File Number: 9058
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Final Action Date:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION CO -SPONSORING THE
SHOWING OF THE FILM TITLED "PLANTADOS" AT THE CITY OF MIAMI
("CITY") OWNED PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE HISTORIC OLYMPIA
THEATER, MANUEL AIRTIME THEATER, OR OTHER CITY -OWNED FACILITY
ON A DATE TO BE DETERMINED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY MANAG9R o
("EVENT"); WAIVING THE FACILITY RENTAL FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THg N
EVENT.
7, - —�
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Manolo Reyes C -�.i
WHEREAS, in 1961, the Cuban penal system introduced a progressive "rehabilitati="
program for those who opposed the Communist Revolution of Fidel Castro; and =={ as
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WHEREAS, prisoners who participated in the "rehabilitation" program willingly MterM%d
political indoctrination classes, performed manual labor, and in return, received better treatment,
were allowed more visits, and released from prison sooner; and
WHEREAS, according to Miguel Sanchez, author of Vivencias Cubanas: Recuredos de
una Tierra que Lievamos en el Corazon (Cuban Experiences: Remembrances of a Land That
we Keep in our Hearts), "Los Plantados," translated as the "Immovable Ones," refers to Cuban
political prisoners who opposed forced labor and refused to accept the "rehabilitation" programs
of Fidel Castro and were characterized by maintaining an iron, vertical, firm, unbreakable
position of stoicism and rebellion without giving up; and
WHEREAS, despite the prison authorities' demands, the Plantados refused to wear the
same uniforms as criminals because they believed that they were political prisoners and not
common criminals, leaving them imprisoned with nothing but underwear, and those who tried to
keep their clothing were brutally beaten; and
WHEREAS, due to the Plantados' lack of cooperation, resistance against forced labor,
and general rebellion to the Castro Communist dictatorship while imprisoned, the Plantados
endured the harshest punishments of all prisoners including repeated beatings and inhumane
tortures; and
WHEREAS, Plantados, a movie directed by Lilo Vilaplana and filmed in the City of Miami
("City"), "depicts the horrors of political imprisonment in Cuba... and recounts the most horrible
tortures that these men preferred to suffer before negotiating with the Castro regime"; and
WHEREAS, the City and the Greater Miami area received approximately 500,000
Cubans in the fifteen (15) years following the Castro Communist Revolution in Cuba; and
WHEREAS, the City and the Greater Miami area received approximately that same
number of Cubans after 1980; and
City of Miami Pagel of 2 File ID: 9058 (Revision:) Printed On: 0512612021
File ID: 9058
Enactment Number:
WHEREAS, the Cuban born and Cuban American population is a significant portion of
the population in the Greater Miami area; and
WHEREAS, Plantados tells the story of many Cubans living in exile today and is
generally about the Cuban refugee experience, of which the City is emblematic; and
WHEREAS, the Historic Olympia Theater, located at 174 East Flagler Street in
Downtown Miami ("Olympia Theater"), is a jewel of Greater Miami's arts and entertainment
facilities; and
WHEREAS, the City owns the Manuel Artime Community Center & Theater ("Manuel
Artime Theater") which is named in honor of Dr. Manuel Artime Buesa, a hero of the Cuban
Brigade 2506, and which is in the center of an area transformed by immigration into what is now
commonly referred to as "Little Havana"; and
WHEREAS, the Olympia Theater, Manuel Artime Theater, or other City -owned facility
will serve as the venue for a viewing of Plantados ("Event") on a date to be determined and
approved by the City Manager; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to sponsor this Event and waive all City costs and fees for
the rental of the approved City -owned facility, exclusive of third party fees ("Rental Fees"); and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Commission hereby co-sponsors the Event to take place on a date
and at a City -owned facility to be determined and approved by the City Manager, subject to
availability.
Section 3. The City Commission hereby waives the City's Rental Fees for the Event.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
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City of Miami Page 2 of 2 File ID: 9058 (Revision:) Printed on:0512612021
City of Miami
- Legislation
Resolution:
File Number: 9058
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Final Action Date:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION CO -SPONSORING THE
SHOWING OF THE FILM TITLED "PLANTADOS" AT THE CITY OF MIAMI
("CITY") OWNED PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE HISTORIC OLYMPIA
THEATER ON A DATE TO BE DETERMINED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY
MANAGER ("EVENT"); WAIVING CERTAIN CITY FEES AND COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE EVENT INCLUSIVE OF FACILITY RENTAL FEES.
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Manolo Reyes
WHEREAS, in 1961, the Cuban penal system introduced a progressive "rehabilitation"
program for those who opposed the Communist Revolution of Fidel Castro; and
WHEREAS, prisoners who participated in the "rehabilitation" program willingly attended
political indoctrination classes, performed manual labor, and in return, received better treatment,
were allowed more visits, and released from prison sooner; and
WHEREAS, according to Miguel Sanchez, author of Vivencias Cubanas: Recuredos de
una Tierra que Llevamos en el Corazon (Cuban Experiences: Remembrances of a Land That
we Keep in our Hearts), "Los Plantados," translated as the "Immovable Ones," refers to Cuban
political prisoners who opposed forced labor and refused to accept the "rehabilitation" programs
of Fidel Castro and were characterized by maintaining an iron, vertical, firm, unbreakable
position of stoicism and rebellion without giving up; and
WHEREAS, despite the prison authorities' demands, the Plantados refused to wear the
same uniforms as criminals because they believed that they were political prisoners and not
common criminals, leaving them imprisoned with nothing but underwear, and those who tried to
keep their clothing were brutally beaten; and
WHEREAS, due to the Plantados' lack of cooperation, resistance against forced labor,
and general rebellion to the Castro Communist dictatorship while imprisoned, the Plantados
endured the harshest punishments of all prisoners including repeated beatings and inhumane
tortures; and
WHEREAS, Plantados, a movie directed by Lilo Vilaplana and filmed in the City of Miami
("City"), "depicts the horrors of political imprisonment in Cuba... and recounts the most horrible
tortures that these men preferred to suffer before negotiating with the Castro regime"; and
WHEREAS, the City and the Greater Miami area received approximately 500,000
Cubans in the fifteen (15) years following the Castro Communist Revolution in Cuba; and
WHEREAS, the City and the Greater Miami area received approximately that same
number of Cubans after 1980; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File ID: 9058 (Revision:) Printed On: 512712021
File ID: 9058
Enactment Number:
WHEREAS, the Cuban born and Cuban American population is a significant portion of
the population in the Greater Miami area; and
WHEREAS, Plantados tells the story of many Cubans living in exile today and is
generally about the Cuban refugee experience, of which the City is emblematic; and
WHEREAS, the Historic Olympia Theater, located at 174 East Flagler Street in
Downtown Miami ("Theater"), is a jewel of Greater Miami's arts and entertainment facilities; and
WHEREAS, the iconic Theater will serve as the venue for a viewing of Plantados
("Event") on a date to be determined and approved by the City Manager; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to sponsor this Event and waive all City costs and fees
related to the rental of the Theater in an amount not to exceed two thousand five hundred
dollars ($2,500.00); and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Commission hereby co-sponsors the Event to take place on a date
to be determined and approved by the City Manager.
Section 3. The City Commission hereby waives the facility rental fees for the Event in an
amount not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00).
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and
signature of the Mayor.'
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
i ria I " ndez, ity ttor ey 5/17/2021
1 If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10) calendar days
from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective
immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.
City of Miami Page 2 of 2 File ID: 9058 (Revision:) Printed on: 512712021