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Legislation
Resolution: R-21-0431
File Number: 10815
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Final Action Date: 10/14/2021
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION CO -DESIGNATING
NORTHEAST 59TH STREET FROM NORTH MIAMI AVENUE TO NORTHEAST
4TH COURT, MIAMI, FLORIDA AS "VITER AND MARIA JUSTE WAY"
PURSUANT TO SECTION 54-137 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO
TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE HEREIN DESIGNATED
OFFICIALS.
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
WHEREAS, Viter Juste ("Mr. Juste") was born on December 15, 1924 and passed away
on November 19, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Juste was a Haitian -born American community leader, businessman,
and activist who moved to the City of Miami ("City") in 1973 with his wife, Maria Juste ("Ms.
Juste"); and
WHEREAS, Ms. Juste was born on June 29, 1927 and passed away on December 10,
2008; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Juste was born in Cuba but later moved to Haiti before coming to the
United States; and
WHEREAS, together, Mr. and Ms. Juste started their own newspaper business by
selling the "Observate&', a Haitian newspaper, to the Little Haiti community to keep the
community informed on U.S. immigration policies and other news; and
WHEREAS, during the 1980's, Mr. Juste successfully organized and led other
community members in advocating against the Miami -Dade School Board's policy of prohibiting
children of undocumented Haitians from attending school, ultimately resulting in the School
Board changing its policy; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Juste helped found the Haitian American Community Association of
Dade, which was one of the first social service organizations founded specifically to cater to the
needs of the Haitian community in the City; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Juste also opened Les Cousins records and bookstore on the 7800
block of Northeast Second Avenue, which thrived for more than two (2) decades; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Juste—who is considered the father of the City's Haitian American
community —coined the name "Little Haiti", which is the center of the Haitian American
community in Florida; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File ID: 10815 (Revision:) Printed On: 111112021
File ID: 10815
Enactment Number: R-21-0431
WHEREAS, Ms. Juste returned to school to become a Registered Nurse ("RN") in her
mid-60's before working as an RN at the Miami Jewish Hospital where she inspired and
encouraged other Haitian women to get their RN licenses; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Juste was a community activist who also helped to raise funds for
Haitian families in need of financial support; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Juste is considered the matriarch of Little Haiti for all of her
contributions to supporting the community; and
WHEREAS, Mr. and Ms. Juste married for 60 years and were both important figures in
supporting the Little Haiti Community in the City; and
WHEREAS, the City would like to honor Mr. and Ms. Juste by co -designating Northeast
59t" Street from North Miami Avenue to Northeast 4th Court, Miami, Florida as "Viter and Maria
Juste Way";
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 co -designates that portion within the City's limits of
Northeast 59t" Street from North Miami Avenue to Northeast 4th Court, Miami, Florida as "Viter
and Maria Juste Way".
Section 3. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to the
Departments of Police, Fire -Rescue, and Solid Waste; the Miami -Dade County Department of
Transportation and Public Works; the Miami -Dade County Commissioner of District 3; the
United States Postal Service; and, if a State of Florida road, to the Florida Department of
Transportation, District Six, for sign installation within the newly designated roadway.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
1
i ria i "ndez, Cify Nttor iey 10/1/2021
City of Miami Page 2 of 2 File ID: 10815 (Revision:) Printed on: 111112021