Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Public Comments Submitted Online for the March 11, 2022 City Commission MeetingSpecial Commission Report - March 11, 2022 Special Commission Meeting Public Comment - March 11, 2022 March 11, 2022 3:12 PM MST Public Comment motero@miamigov.com Street First Last Age Nam Nam et nda Public Comment Addr e e Item ess 1. ABSOLUTELY UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD COCONUT GROVE BE REDISTRICTED AND Disc 3508 MUCH LESS BE REDISTRICTED TO AN EXTENT WHERE JOE CORRUPT CAROLLO CONVENINTELY Edu Garc Hibis ussi SLIPS HIS REAL HOME IN THE DISTRICT SO AS TO NOT LOSE IT IN HIS LAWSUIT WITH BALL AND ardo is cus on CHAIN. We want only 1 commissioner for the entire community. If this re -districting proposal passes I will Redi St personally undertake a campaign to make sure Carollo gets voted out of office next election cycle he runs strict in. KEEP YOUR MONEY GRUBBING CORRUPT FINGERS OUT OF COCONUT GROVE ing 2 Grov e 1. Isle Disc Do not destroy the grove. We are one neighborhood and splitting this area up for political reasons is Iren War Dr ussi subversivesubversive and destroys the one remaining area in Miami that represents a broad spectrum of Miami I am e ner 805 on a native miamian and have lived in this area for a good part of my adult life. Don't destroy this District for Miami Redi purely political power strict FL ing 3314 4 1. Disc 3980 Hard ussi John de on — ie Redi Ave strict ing First: The Miami-21 code emphasizes the importance of neighborhoods in the development of Miami, but the consultant was told to give preserving neighborhoods the very least weight in making redistricting decisions: "2.1.2 Intent The Miami 21 Code is intended to advance the interests of both conservation and development.... a. The conservation goals include: 1. Preserving Neighborhoods, Historical Resources and the natural environment" Thus the foremost Goal of the Miami 21 code was directed by the commission to be given the very least weight in making decisions about redistricting. The Friday, March 2nd community meeting for district 2 revealed key information for the first time. According to consultant Miguel DeGrandy Some previously split neighborhoods could be reunified by any of several alternative plans. Two alternative plans presented at that meeting met the legal criteria of reducing the population variance below 10% while resulting in fewer neighborhoods being divided. Currently about ten Miami neighborhoods have been split by previous districting exercises. The proposal under consideration by the commission would add Coconut Grove to that list, splitting the oldest Miami neighborhood dating from 1873, between three different districts. 96 Grove residents testified against the proposal, declaring that all Miami neighborhoods deserved coherent representation. Suggestions that the commissioners pause to examine better alternatives were explicitly rejected in favor of getting it done fast. Miami -Dade Supervisor of Elections Christine White was cited as saying there was no 'hard and fast' requirement to redistrict quickly; waiting 'would be well worth it'. Particularly if it enabled getting it right. Second: Redistricting is necessitated by the population growth of the city; Population has increased by 28.8% since 2000 and yet the consultant was told not to increase the number of districts. There have been five districts since at least 1990. Having ever increasing numbers of constituents means Miami charter 'Citizens Bill of Rights' (A) This government has been created to protect the governed, not the governing...... The shortcomings of the process seem to us grievous errors of the commission; which we would like them to reconsider. We implore them to get it done right even if it cannot be done fast. 11597 Submittal -Public Comments Submitted Online for the March 11, 2022 City Commission Meeting First Last Nam Nam e e Rhia Purd n y Stre et Addr ess 2994 Ruth Stre et Mia mi Flori da 3313 3 Age nda Item 1. Disc ussi on — Redi strict ing 3757 CAR 1. LAG MEN Disc RAN CLA COU ussi GE UDI RT, on — KAU A MIA Redi FMA MI strict N 3313 ing 3 2843 S Bays hore 1. Disc Dr ege Apt ussi Fred on— r Redi Mia strict mi, ing FL 3313 3 Miria Card m et 2425 SW 27 Ave. Mia mi Fla 3314 5 1. Disc ussi on — Redi strict ing Public Comment Greetings. We who live in the Grove, those who established themselves in the Grove due to the uniqueness of the community appear to be in a constant battle to preserve the identity of the neighborhood we live in, raise children in, pay taxes in, and own property in. It is appalling to see the decorum in which some of the elected officials not only conduct themselves but use our neighborhood to meet the needs of the greedy developers and investors that serve only to make money at our expense and at the expense of our unique biome. We matter and see through the transparency of the re -districting lines to make sure that protectors of our neighborhood be silenced as well as, the redistribution benefits to 2 of the commissioners here today. We implore that the re -district map be done in a manner that allows for equal representation despite economic status or location and that the decision not serve to meet the special interests of 2 of the commissioners today. District 2 stands in high opposition to the proposed re- district lines that serve to silence the opposition to inappropriate growth/violations in building codes/removal of our trees/ killing of our peacocks/silencing black voters and the abuse of power by 2 commissioners to meet their own individual needs and political agendas. My personal thanks to Commissioner Russell for being our voice and fighting the fight. Their are other re -district options ! There is a opportunity to say No to allowing the obvious corrupt ideology to allow for the current plan to meet the needs of silencing District 2 while meeting the needs of 2 obvious commissioners. Commissioner Carollo you are corrupt, a bully, and a disgrace. We find your decorum appalling and we see through the new re- district lines intention to serve you personally, as well as to silence current District 2 constituents who see you utilize your power to serve the needs of not those who live here, but yourself and those who will make a profit destroying our neighborhood. Thank you for your time. I SUPPORT KEEPING THE GROVE TOGETHER. I OPPOSE REDISTRICTING THE GROVE. I WAS AT THE HEARING THIS MORNING, AND UNFORTUNATELY I HAD TO LEAVE, BUT I NEED THE BOARD TO KNOW MY POSITION AS A RESIDENT AND PROPERTY OWNER IN COCONUT GROVE I am violently opposed to the District 2 redistricting Plan. Coconut Grove has a unique ambiance and cohesiveness that would be badly damaged or destroyed by splitting it into several other districts. One of the reasons that I moved into the Grove is it's unique presence. Please, please, do not destroy the unity of the Grove. I disagree with splitting Coconut Grove into separate districts. Keep the Grove exactly how it is, all in district 2. Thank you Street First Last Age Nam Nam nda Public Comment Addr e e Item ess I have lived in Coconut Grove since April 1989 when we purchased our home in North Coconut Grove. I'm a member of the Church of St Hugh and my daughter attended Coconut Grove Elementary and Carrollton. 1847 I am a strong supporter of remaining One Grove. We have concerns such as the tree canopy, construction, Crys 1. traffic gridlock among others that require one commissioner and not dealing with 3 separate tal Disc McG commissioners to hear our concerns. Today's open meeting component clearly indicates how the current Mari uire- Terra ussi commissioners are interested in hearing our concerns since a few have chosen to leave. I hope this latest na MCC ce on — map will be adopted. The version presented 2 weeks ago placed my home in an odd extension of District Coc Redi abe 3 that crosses US 1. In that proposal 2 blocks south of my house is District 2, 3 blocks west, District 2, 2 onut strict blocks North a hard stop of US1 and about 5 blocks East is District 2. The only connection to the Larger Grov ing district 3 is 17th Avenue. I think the only 2 blocks of 17th Avenue that is NOT zoned commercial. Please e vote for the map that keeps us all in one district. We are the Village of Coconut Grove. Our voices should be heard as one and not 3 factions. 1. 3620 Disc I would like for the members of the commission to take this redistricting requirement as a time to consider, Ewin Perci ussi according to the census related demographic information, district borders as a way to re -unify historic Ruth g val on neighborhoods while maintaining other historic neighborhoods specifically Coconut Grove and communities Redi Ave within District 5. strict ing 1344 SW SP - I would like to voice my opposition to the proposed redistricting. It appears to be more of a move to 17th SPE personally benefit member(s) of our local government than a legitimate cause. This can be surmised Gilm TER CIAL simply by looking at the proposed district boundary. Please consider the greater good of the community Nick Mia ore MEE over the disguised benefit of the few. Our government's role is to serve the overall community, and frankly mi mi, TIN this proposed districting stinks. As the old saying goes: if it stinks, it's probably rotten. Thank you for the FL G opportunity to be heard. 3314 5 If Coconut Grove is split into Districts 2, 3, and 4, the various community groups will have to interact with three different commissioners to advocate for neighborhood projects. To make matters even more 2645 complicated, Florida's Sunshine Law prohibits elected officials from the same body from gathering at the sw 1. same time outside of scheduled public meetings. That means the three commissioners who oversee 17 Disc D Coconut Grove wouldnt be able to attend a single community meeting together. This is ineffective just to Felip Eche ave ussi not say idiotic. Commissioners are elected to represent the people not their own interests, I say this verri e Mia because suddenly the not coherent distribution of the Districts proposed lands Joe Corrello's house on his a mi fl R Redi district, pure personal gain and corruption, by the way putting my house and many others out of district 2 3313 strict and the grove community we very much love. There is not a single resident that agrees with this. We are 3 ing all imploring to keep the Grove together. So please listen to the people who you are supposed to represent and see how the plan proposed by Commissioner Russel solves the population growth issue while keeping the grove together. 1. 5955 Disc NE ussi Please add at least two additional districts, one for downtown and one for the upper east side without Pete Wag 6th on — diluting either Little Haiti or the east of Biscayne populace. DO NOT fragment the Grove. Do not r oner Ave Redi gerrymander any district to provide residency where none previously existed. Thank you. ue strict ing Street First Last Age Nam Nam nda Public Comment Addr e e Item ess 90 SW 3rd 1. St Disc #220 ussi Please keep ALL Coconut Grove in district 2 only. Dividing the Grove into 3 districts is not conducive to Miria Meri 3, on — good government Managenent, and most importantly, your constituents don't want this. Do not divide m no Mia Redi Coconut Grove. mi,Fl strict ing 3313 0 1. 409 Disc Fran Macl VIS ussi Please maintain the integrity of the Grove. Don't chop it up to serve the purposes of those who don't live nt r y CAY on — ces e A Redi there. AVE strict ing 3275 McD onal SPE Shame on our elected officials for even allowing this to be a possibility! I want to say that I am beyond d St SPE disappointed that the representative I voted for would endorse this, and had I known how ineffective and Ka l CIAMEE Jill Mia spineless he would be in such a vital matter where he could make a difference and represent his an mi, constituents! Shame on gerrymandering! Shame on our politicians for entertaining this dreadful FL. TIN redistributing of a cohesive and diverse community like the grove. 3313 G 3 Since Coconut Grove was incorporated into the city of Miami in 1925, city officials have done everything in their power to disenfranchise and disempower black residents from Village West. Nearly 100 years later, city commissioners like Joe Carollo and Manolo Reyes are continuing the legacy of Jim Crow segregation SP- in our "magic city" by attempting to dilute the black vote in West Grove by redistricting the neighborhood 2355 SPE into two separate districts. Essentially, these commissioners are cutting the historic community in half and Lind McEI Tequ CIAL making it more difficult for black residents in Village West to unify against any issue that uniquely affects MEE their community because the small neighborhood will have two different representatives. The current say roy esta redistricting proposal is racist and does not consider the unique historic circumstances of Coconut Grove. Lane TIN All of us are begging the commissioners to reconsider the current redistricting proposal, as it is being G pushed for the personal political gain for a select few of our commissioners rather than better representation for all of the people. I would also like to put it on the record that Joe Carollo's expensive Coconut Grove house very conveniently falls within the newly designed boundary for his district. If this measure passes, the city is simply enabling his corruption. First Last Street Age Nam Nam Addr nda Public Comment e e Item ess The Friday, March 2nd hearing on Miami's commission district boundaries revealed key information for the first time. Miami's previously split neighborhoods could be reunified by any of several alternative plans, testified mapping consultant Miguel DeGrandy. Miami -Dade Supervisor of Elections Christine White was cited as saying there was no 'hard and fast' requirement to redistrict quickly; waiting 'would be well worth it'. Currently about ten Miami neighborhoods have been split by previous districting exercises. The proposal preliminarily approved by the commission vote would add Coconut Grove to that list and uniquely split that oldest Miami neighborhood dating from 1873, between three different commissioners. 96 Grove residents testified against the proposal, declaring that all Miami neighborhoods deserved coherent representation. Suggestions that the commissioners pause to examine inclusive alternatives were explicitly 1. rejected and the fastest possible timetable was adopted. Mr. DeGrandy, the consultant, also testified that 3980 Disc he had held multiple conversations with each of the commissioners and had received from each Cind Sny Hard ussi commissioner specific guidance when creating the boundaries proposed. Both Commissioner Russell and y der ie independent citizen groups presented alternative district maps that reunited split neighborhoods and Redi R Ave bettered the numeric criteria by which districts are evaluated. The city's approved map presented the most strict divergent populations of the four alternative maps. "2.1.2 Intent The Miami 21 Code is intented to advance ing the interests of both conservation and development while responding to the existing conditions of the City, its regional context, and its natural features, infrastructure and Buildings. a. The conservation goals include: 1. Preserving Neighborhoods, I repeat, (preserving neighborhoods), Historical Resources and the natural environment:' Remarkably, the very first Goal of the Miami 21 code was directed by the commission to be given the very LEAST WEIGHT in making decisions about redistricting. 'Citizens Bill of Rights' (A) This government has been created to protect the governed, not the governing...... The shortcomings of the process seem to us grievous errors, we would like the commissioners to reconsider. We implore them to do so. Finally, it seems that Dist.3 Commissioner Carollo has a personal conflict of interest in this matter and should recuse himself entirely from the issue of redistricting immediately. 1. McEI 2355 Disc The comissioner's attempt to break up Coconut Grove does not align with what the people in this Cath roy Tequ ussi community want, it only disenfranchises black voters from West Grove who have already been historically y Irela esta disenfranchised by the City of Miami. Better alternatives have been outlined that do not separate the Redi R nd Lane historic village of Coconut Grove. strict ing 2325 Tequ 1. The need to keep Coconut Grove as one district is about recognizing the contiguous nature of the entire Wals estaDisc community - with a shared belief in the value of its essentially (dare I say uniquely?!) Bohemian nature of Lane he ussi the Grove; and a vision for a cohesive community, centered on our newly revamped downtown. Strength in Clio Cra Coc on — numbers and a unified voice (and wallet!) for our common vision is key. Coconut Grove Arts Festival; onut wfor ! ! To Redi Oktoberfest; symphony in the park... what are these if not community spirit writ large and in action!!?? Grov d strict dilute this spirit would have a hugely detrimental effect on the heart of the Grove. Simply put: Coconut e e FL FL ing Grove is Better Together. 3 2500 Abac 0 1. aven Disc Fran Nor ue, ussi The redistricting proposition approved by Michael De Grundy at previous has been revised without Bois woo Coc on — dismantling Coconut Grove and fullfills the requirements for redistricting. Refusing to acknowledge that is e d onut Redi an admission of nefarious intent in the future by the commissioners who refuse to accept it. Grov strict e FL ing 3313 First Last Street Age Nam Nam Addr nda Public Comment e e Item ess Edu Ferr ardo az 2475 S 1. Bays hDisc ore ussi Dr This is a unnecessary change in the charter, only designed to weaken the voices and the will of the Mia on Coconut Grove residents We are opposed to it Eduardo Ferraz Soraia Valladares Mariana Bolognani Redi mi FL strict 3313 ing 1 2620 Hilo[ 1. We, the people living in Coconut Grove, do not want to be divided into 3 districts. The growth that a Disc triggered the redistricting did not come from within the Grove but the high-rise buildings in the northern Stre Brigi Molit et, ussi part of District 2. Our current commissioner never called the people speaking up at the meetings: tte Mia on — "Activists, Ambulance Chasers or Losers". He actually appreciates the people's input and fights for their or Redi rights. We'd like to keep it that way. Having Commissioner Carollo carve out a piece of the Grove just so mi, Fl Fl strict that he can include his house in his own district, is exactly the reason why people in the Grove stop 3313 ing believing politicians in Miami. End of Report