HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW OMNI CRA 2002-06-24 MinutesCITY OF MIAMI
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CRA
MEETING
MINUTES
OF MEETING HELD ON JUNE 24, 2002
PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK/CITY HALL
Priscilla A. Thompson/City Clerk
1", '
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI DISTRICTS
On the 24th day of June 2002, the Board of Directors of the Community Redevelopment
Agency for the Southeast Overtown/Park West and Omni Districts of the City of Miami met at
the Old Miami Arena, VIP Room, 701 Arena Boulevard, Miami, Florida.
The meeting was called to order at 3:16 p.m. by Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr., with the
following Board Members found to be present:
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Board Member Angel Gonzalez
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
ALSO PRESENT:
Carlos A. Gimenez, City Manager, City of Miami
Alejandro Vilarello, City Attorney, City of Miami
Priscilla A. Thompson, City Clerk, City of Miami
Sylvia Scheider, Assistant City Clerk, City of Miami
Annette Lewis, Executive Director, CRA
William Bloom, Special Counsel, CRA
Chairman Teele: It is now 3 pm. Let me take this opportunity to welcome everyone that is here
that wishes to be heard, to exercise your Democratic rights, and, certainly, we're delighted that
you've taken this opportunity to petition your government. I'd like to acknowledge the presence
of a number of members of the clergy. And let me invite Bishop Roman to give an invocation.
Following the invocation by Bishop Roman, we will have the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
And then we will have, immediately, a public hearing regarding the matter that we're here for,
that was advertised at 3 p.m., regarding Camillus House and the proposal. Bishop -- would you
all stand, please, and then we will hear the word, and then we will give the pledge to our flag.
An invocation was delivered by Reverend Agustin Roman, followed by, Chairman Teele
leading those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag.
June 24, 2002
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING CHARITY UNLIMITED OF FLORIDA, INC.'S REJECTION
OF TWO SITES RECOMMENDED BY CRA AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
ALTERNATIVE SITE PROFFERED BY CHARITY UNLIMITED OF FLORIDA, INC. FOR
RELOCATION OF CAMILLUS HOUSE
Chairman Teele: Thank you all very much. This special meeting of the City of Miami Southeast
Overtown/Park West Redevelopment Area is called and has been duly noticed. The purpose of
this meeting is to consider the request made by Charity Unlimited of Florida Incorporated, which
is recommending the rejection of two sites recommended; and to further acknowledge and
discuss the alternate site proffered by Charity Unlimited of Florida. It should be noted that the
action of the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), by no means, is the definitive action,
and that final actions on this matter will be taken by the City of Miami at a public hearing. I
should acknowledge my colleague, Commissioner Angel Gonzalez, who has a number of
persons from his district that are here. And I should also defer to Commissioner Gonzalez,
immediately following any statement that Commissioner Gonzalez would like to make or Board
Member Gonzalez. We will hear from the Camillus House to offer the site, and then we will
have a public hearing. We would like to hear from the people that are in opposition, first, so that
we can conserve the time and ensure -- and we will ask everyone to limit themselves. After the
first half an hour -- after the first 30 minutes, we will ask for a two -minute. And following the
30 minutes, we will ask everyone to limit their comments to one minute. Commissioner
Gonzalez, if this is satisfactory with you, we will accept procedures that will be satisfactory to
you, sir.
Board Member Gonzalez: Yes, Mr. Chairman. I agree 100% with your proposal. The only
thing that I want to make sure is that everyone that is here from the Allapattah community be
allowed the opportunity to express their opinion in reference to this matter, as it has been
previously done with the neighborhood of Overtown, when this proposal went before them at the
CRA meeting. So, in any event that we don't have enough time to hear everyone on this matter,
I will later on introduce a motion to that effect. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Thank you, Board Member Gonzalez. And your request will be honored. At
this time, the Chair will acknowledge the Chairman of the Board or designated representatives.
The Chairman of the Board, Mr. Kislak; the representative, Mr. Simpson, of the Charity
Unlimited, commonly known as the Camillus House. Welcome, Mr. Simpson.
Dale Simpson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Commissioners and members of the community,
plus all of our members of Camillus House, Bishop Ramon, Brother Rayfield, City
Administration. I want to thank you for having us and having this hearing so that we may
proceed along the development of our City. I addressed a letter, pursuant to the CRA meeting
that was held three months ago, in which we had been offered the opportunity, should we be able
to find a more appropriate site than the two that had been proffered by the CRA, that we would
notify you of that, and we have done that. The site that has come is a site that, in our long
history, is a site that will serve us, we believe, in a way that is going to keep this organization
and this City moving forward for the next 40 years. Which two pictures do we have here?
Chairman Teele: Turn them so that the public can see them, as well. The cameras, as well.
2 June 24, 2002
Board Member Sanchez: Hopefully, when we upgrade this place, we won't be able to do that.
COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD
Mr. Simpson: There's a very simple reason why these posters are being put before you. This is
what Camillus House can do, when we're allowed to. These facilities are dignified. They've
been in their neighborhoods. They've been where they are for years. And there's a very, very
good affect on those neighborhoods. In addition to helping the people, many of whom who have
been homeless, we not only help homeless people, but we help the poor throughout the entire
community. The facility that we're replacing, the facility on 1st Avenue, we've wanted to make
look like these facilities for the last 20 years. We want this to be a facility we can all be proud
of, a facility where dignified human service is provided, a facility where we leap forward in this
City, to the point where nobody has to sleep on the streets. And, in fact, the range of services
Camillus provides goes way beyond homeless people. We feed people on every corner of this
City. We feed people who are elderly. We feed people in our cafeteria everyday, who live in
elderly housing. We do outreach services to people with illness, with disease. The homeless, the
people living right on the street, are a small fraction of what we do. This is an organization that
reclaims lives. It's an organization full of compassion, and that's what we're asking of you.
You know, there are some very extreme issues in Miami, and many of these issues are not issues
we like to deal with very directly. City of Miami, by many measures in this area, supports major
city in the country. We have the highest percentage of people with mental illness. We have the
highest rates of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and HIV (Human
Immunodeficiency Virus). You know, there are estimated in the County, including the City,
7,100 people. Thirty-five percent of these people, who are homeless, have children. They're
small families. Miami, by the County's estimation, is short over 4,000 beds for this. What we're
doing is not presenting that we answer every problem with this facility, but in the replacement of
the facility that's on I't Avenue and 8th Street, to provide a new center for hope, a center that is
enlarged to the point where we can address a large part of the needs, a center where work
training goes on, a center where there is a continuum of care, a center where everybody can be
welcomed. I think this is a required step, if we're committed to ending homelessness in this
City. To let things stay as they are -- if you don't choose to move this project forward, you're
choosing to stay in the past. And it is, to me, from a sense of a compassionate person, an almost
unthinkable thing that we would do in this City, is to choose not to help our brothers and sisters
who need help. The facilities that you see would be the same type of facility, a facility with a
large enclosed courtyard, a facility with some play field, so that people can be outside and not
have to stay on the streets. We do rehabilitation in every form, whether it's just work, whether
it's addiction, whether it's individuals who need to find a new way to earn a living. We're ready
and we're ready to do this, and we're ready to do it with an open heart. We're open to
everybody in the community. The site, itself, has many advantages. The principal advantage
being the size of the site and the proximity to services. Joel, if you'll turn it. There you go.
Thank you. The proximity of the services at the Civic Center/Medical Center, where people
need and receive a lot of help. The two sites in red were the original sites proffered by the CRA,
and the blue are existing Camillus House sites. The amount of distance people will have to
travel to get services and to be involved in rehabilitation are much smaller. This will be a much
easier project to manage within the City. We also have the ability, on this site, to grow,
3 June 24, 2002
conceivably, into transitional housing at a later date. When we talk about homeless population
that we're talking about addressing with this facility, we're talking about on -street homeless or
chronically homeless individuals. And you'll see that in this slide, taken from Dade County's
statistics, 44% of all of those in those statistics are in the City of Miami. There is 34% non -
incorporated Miami Dade, 12% Miami Beach, and 10% in South Dade. So, the needs we're
providing for such a facility are needs that exist right at the moment. The last count had 600
people living on the streets in the City, sleeping. I'm told 1,200 in the City, on the streets. This
is something that is a manageable number. We can work with this. We can get it substantially
reduced, if not, end homelessness in this chronic stage. I'd like to ask Bishop Roman if he'd say
a few words.
Bishop Agustin Roman: I think that this room is very important, because this room work
everyday for the common good. I would like to thank the brothers of Good Shepherd, and all the
people who work for the poor people in the institution Camillus House. Camillus House is really
an open door for people who need, poor people. And I think that the Archdiocese of Miami
would like help with that. (Speaking Spanish.)
Note for the Record: At this time, Bishop Roman addressed the audience in Spanish.
Bishop Roman: Thank you very much.
[APPLAUSE]
Johnathan Kislak: Mr. Chairman and members of the Board, let me just sum up, if I may. We
have the opportunity --
Chairman Teele: Mr. Kislak, sir, would you give your name and address for the record, please?
Mr. Kislak: My name is John Kislak. I live at 3570 Battersea Road, in the City of Miami. We
have the opportunity today to make a great movement on the homeless problem. We can either
stay serving the homeless where we are, downtown, in the path of progress, or we can find a
location that is close to the courts, close to the social services, close to the hospital and, as best as
we can do it, away from housing; to create a place for us to do the proper service and not the
improper service that we are doing downtown. We are not proud of the facility that's there. It's
42 years old. It isn't the right facility. It isn't the right location, and we would like the
opportunity to move to a new neighborhood, to move up to this area, where we belong, to
provide the services the way they should be provided, in the fashion of the buildings that you've
seen built over the last years. And we hope that you'll give us the authority to do that today.
Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
Chairman Teele: All right.
Vice Chairman Winton: Mr. Chairman?
4 June 24, 2002
Chairman Teele: Commissioner -- Board Member Winton.
Vice Chairman Winton: I would like to request of the Chair, that he require that the audience,
whether they're pro or con, to not engage in clapping and cheering one side or the other, so that
this doesn't turn into a big cheering and clapping match, one way or the other. I'd like to keep
the comments very direct and short, but no cheering on either side, period.
Chairman Teele: Thank you, Board Member Winton. That is the order of the day. I guess the
important thing is to allow both sides equality. So, since we've heard from one side, would the
people that are "no", like to say "no?" And, then we'll have no more applauding or clapping.
Board Member Gonzalez: Commissioner Teele.
Miriam Urra: Buenas.
Board Member Gonzalez: Excuse me. Commissioner Teele, I -- since most of the people that are
here present from the Allapattah community don't speak English, I would like that
Commissioner Winton's request be translated, so they know what the Commissioner is asking
for.
Chairman Teele: All right. That'll be -- I think that's fair and appropriate. Do you recall what
Commissioner Winton said?
Ondina Suarez: In a rough draft. It was a while back, but yes. Basically, about the "no" --
Chairman Teele: OK. So make sure you say attributed to --
Ms. Suarez: Yes.
Chairman Teele (Translated by Ms. Ondina Suarez): -- Commissioner Winton, and then I'll give
you the -- All right. So, the rule is, there will be no applauding, please, if you're for or against
it. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, miss.
Ms. Suarez: You're very welcome.
Chairman Teele: All right. Could we see the hands of the people who would -- ma'am, you're
going to have to translate throughout, please.
Ms. Suarez: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: Get her a mic, maybe a handheld would be the most efficient way to do it.
And thank you for being here today.
Ms. Suarez: Well, I can always pull this one to the side, since they are not going to be --
Chairman Teele: No, no, no. We have two.
5 June 24, 2002
I. -
Ms. Suarez: OK.
Chairman Teele (Translated by Ms. Ondina Suarez): All right. Could we see the hands of the
people that would like to speak today? All right. All right. Then what we would like to do is
ask, at all times, for at least four or five people to be lined up. You'll be limited for the first 30
minutes to two minutes each, and then, after that, we'll see if we reduce the amount of time, if it
gets repetitious. Board Member Gonzalez, is there anyone that you would like to be afforded the
opportunity to give extended remarks first?
Board Member Gonzalez: Yes. I believe that Ms. Miriam Urra should be allowed the time to
make remarks.
Chairman Teele: All right. Ma'am.
Miriam Urra (Translated by Ms. Ondina Suarez)
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gonzalez, did you -- would you state the name again, who you
felt?
Board Member Gonzalez: Miriam Urra.
Chairman Teele: Miriam -- Miriam, please. Commissioner -- ma'am, you're going to have to
translate. Commissioner Gonzalez has asked that you be given extended time. And, so, there
will be no direct time limit on your remarks. She can just speak right into the mic there.
Ms. Urra: (Comments in Spanish)
Ms. Suarez: She wishes for me to say it in English --
Ms. Urra: Yes.
Ms. Suarez: -- so that she can be understood by the community.
Ms. Urra: Yeah. I would like to speak in Spanish --
Chairman Teele: Yeah, that's fine.
Ms. Urra: -- so she can translate in English, so the residents of the Allapattah area can
understand what we're saying.
Chairman Teele: That's perfect. Thank you.
Ms. Urra: Thank you very much.
Chairman Teele: Thank you.
6 June 24, 2002
1, ,
Ms. Urra (Translated by Ondina Suarez): Good afternoon to Commissioner Teele. My name is
Miriam Urra. I'm a resident of the City of Miami for the last 30 years. I know a few here
probably already know that. The reason we find ourselves here today is to request of you, please
do not support the relocation of Camillus House to our area, Allapattah. We, the residents of
Allapattah, have absolutely nothing against the homeless, as we refer to in our native. We do
want to congratulate the community and the members here of the Catholic Church that are
present for the wonderful labor of (INAUDIBLE). (INAUDIBLE) in the year of 1992, the
Miami Commission, back then, wanted to have the Camillus House taken to the area of
Allapattah. And the reason why we, the citizens of the area of Allapattah, were opposed to this
situation was because we did suffer the fact the suffering of the homeless in our area, and have
seen how these gentlemen in the area, that do, unfortunately, have a dependency on drugs and
alcohol in the area, will go out into the streets and steal. They do attack the residents. Because
once you are under the influence of drugs and alcohol and all of that, you do not realize the --
when you do commit these acts where your right hand or your left hand is. A lot of the times
they are not responsible for some of the crimes and things that they do commit, because they do
not know what they are doing. Now, most of you here do know me, and we have battled hard in
that area. Most of you Commissioners do know me from the past. In order to not take a lot of
your time, you all know here that the homeless will be walking in our neighborhoods, that that
translates to the fact that there will be crime increasing. We all know that they do need to steal
in order to be able to keep up with their habits. And this does mean that our businesses will end
up having to close down, and some of the people in our neighborhoods will be posting "For
Sale" signs on their properties, and this will bring down the community. We do want this
Commission to help Camillus House to find the funds, but to please have it taken to an area
where it will not cause any problems for anyone. We ask that you, Chairman Arthur Teele, to
you, Commissioner Tomas Regalado, to you, Commissioner Joe Sanchez, and to you,
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez, we do agree, and I wish for you to help Camillus House to find
the funds to be able to relocate to another area. But we do ask you to, please, (INAUDIBLE)
19t' and 7th (INAUDIBLE) that location --
Ms. Urra: It's 19th Street Northwest 7th Avenue.
Ms. Suarez: Nineteenth Street, Northwest 71h Avenue.
Ms. Urra: On the east side. Yes.
Ms. Suarez: On the east side.
Ms. Urra (Translated by Ms. Ondina Suarez): I cannot agree that, in order --
[APPLAUSE]
Ms. Suarez: No, no, no. This is very difficult. I'm going to have to speak to them.
7 June 24, 2002
Ms. Urra (Translated by Ms. Ondina Suarez): We cannot agree that, in order for you to be able
to move the homeless out of downtown and clean out that area, they be taken to our area, and
(INAUDIBLE)
Board Member Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman, if you allow me, I would like to call Mr. Ruben
Valdes, who is the Chairman of the Allapattah Chamber of Commerce. And, also, he's one of
the biggest investors in the Allapattah community. Ruben Valdes is the owner of Basan of
Miami, and a different chain of stores, who spends between 350,000 and half a million dollars
($500,000) every year on promoting, not only his business, but the Allapattah community and
the businesses on 20th Street.
Chairman Teele: Before you speak, sir --
Ruben Valdes: Yes.
Chairman Teele: Thank you for being here. Let me just publicly acknowledge, again, Mrs. Urra
and her remarks. We all -- all of us and many all over this community appreciate the hard work
of Mrs. Urra and her late husband. And I will admit, Mr. Attorney, that I have drank -- I have
had many cups of coffee, and many moments there. And I want to pay my great respect to the
late Orlando Urra and his wife, again. And I would ask that we waive the rules and give both
Orlando and his widow a salute.
[APPLAUSE]
Chairman Teele: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Valdes: OK. My name is Ruben Valdes, and I have my own business on 20th Street --
exactly on 20th Street and 20th Avenue. Plus, we have -- our company have an investment for
over fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) just in Allapattah area. We arrived to Allapattah in
1986, and we found an area very poor conditions. Nobody wants to be in Allapattah. Fifty
percent of the commercial warehouses and stores in Allapattah was empty, and everybody called
Allapattah like the disaster area. We trust in Allapattah. During 50 years, we have been putting
all, until our last penny, in this area. Thank God, right now we have a very prosperous area, and
we think that every day our area is going to be growing stronger. But, right now, we found that -
- I don't know what's the reason -- that a problem that have this City and downtown, they want
to move to our area. I'm 100% sure that every morning, when 600 people wake up and
(INAUDIBLE) 7th Street, they don't have nothing to do. Unfortunately, I don't like to say, here
we have work for everybody. Unfortunately, they don't have too much things to do. And, I
(INAUDIBLE) are going to see -- we are going to see those people walking around, hangin
around 20th Street, looking for help, soliciting. And, for sure, our area -- don't forget that 20t
Street is an international area. We -- 50% or more than 50% of our customers are out of Miami.
When they found -- when they go to see that kind of people walking in our area, I know what is
going to happen. They are going to feel afraid. They are going to move. And, finally, and
thanks to this bright, bright idea, our area is going to be in the same condition that 5th Avenue,
and the same condition that, right now, is downtown. We have around 100 people working for
our company. There are -- that means 100 families are living for money that we are making in
8 June 24, 2002
20th Street. And I'm disappointed with this decision. I would like that all of you take care again
about this idea and, please, don't kill Allapattah. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: All right. Commissioner Gonzalez, is there anyone else that you wanted to
recognize out of -- ?
Board Member Gonzalez: Mr. Mariano Cruz.
Chairman Teele: All right. Mr. Cruz. Board member.
Mariano Cruz: Mariano Cruz, 1227 Northwest 26th Street. First, I'd like to --
Chairman Teele: What was the address again?
Mr. Cruz: 1227 Northwest 261h Street, 11 blocks from the proposed site. Eleven blocks. OK. I
want to make a statement here. First, that I say that we are treated different. The only thing we
want to be treated is the same way that other communities are. Because all my friends here, they
could be Dominicans and Cubans, but they are all taxpayers, regardless. And they come here
because they are being treated different than Coconut Grove. Coconut Grove, who's got the
naval reserve right there. It's vacant. Nobody use it.
Unidentified speaker: That's a good point.
Mr. Cruz: Yeah. The naval reserve is there. When it was going to be given to them, you know
what happened? The City Commission gave Coconut Grove people ten thousand dollars
($10,000) to fight that, and it's still vacant. And the first use by the Federal government is that
the first people that are allowed to take pick on that are homeless. Not only you can go down
(INAUDIBLE) and say, "I see a lot of -- people; I'm going to go out of the --. It bothers me.
You can go hear about loving your neighbor. You know, "Love thy neighbor," said the Bible in
that second commandment, "as yourself' -- "as thyself'. But, period. Many people say, "Love
thy neighbor as long as he's not homeless, or as long as he's not Cuban or he's not Black," or
whatever, or something. You know, it's like that hypocrites. That's what they are. Because
down here, you got the mercy grounds there from the Catholic Archdiocese. They've got plenty
of ground there. They got health care facilities there. They got church facility (Spanish
comments). Everything is there. They can move Camillus House there at the Mercy grounds.
Right there. It's right there. Don't tell me it's good, because the only thing they're doing is
compounding -- compounding the problem. Because you've got 10 years, and we said that at the
beginning, 10 years ago, in October or November 1992, here at City Hall, and there at the Dining
Room in Allapattah, "Solve the problem of downtown." Did we say, even there, if the facility is
going to be so good -- at the time it was going to be only 100 people. If the facility is going to be
so good, why don't you build it yourself, have it for yourself? It will be too good, for Allapattah.
Six hundred people, 600 beds there, it will be a Hilton. Everybody would like to be there.
Because you will see the tourists from every place, the snow birds, and everybody coming down
to Allapattah, eating there, and then heading down 20th Street, 7th Avenue, whatever, you know,
you will see there. First, going back to my first statement, I say that we're going to be treated
different because, if you look at this thing for the other day here of the special public hearing --
9 June 24, 2002
at what time was the special public hearing of Overtown? Five p.m. Five p.m. Allapattah, 3
p.m. And people here know, because when I was at the Miami Arena, they said it's going to be
6/24, first starting at 4 p.m. Now, everything changed. The ad, the ad. Your paper say here --
your paper right there, legal mumbo jumbo, your high -paid lawyers. It says here, unlimited -- an
alternative site. And it's stating the location of the developable site in the ad. You look here, in
Spanish, it doesn't say -- only -- it don't say Camillus House. The only one that came right with
everything was the one that came in Miami Today. Completely, everything in detail. Everything
is right. You tell me how many people in Allapattah read Miami Today. Maybe me only. I am
the only one that reads Miami Today. OK. You, too. But, you know, it bothers me that we are
treated in a different way. And everything has been done in a hidden way. Because, listen, we
didn't need all of these 56 pages, with all the alternative sites the 167th Street, 1900 Miami Court
and the P Court and 6th Street, 24963, all blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. When you already got the
site picked out, you could have saved all this money, and maybe give all this money for the park
or something. Because, you know, this is smoke and mirrors. That's what they did -- you know
what --to distract us from the real issue, and they give thanks to those things. But you don't fool
me. You don't fool me, because I make a point of reading papers. The same thing that what --
the same thing that the lawyer does, I do. You send me the agenda for the Civil Service, I read it
completely, even labels things. The whole thing. You send me this, I read it. And when I read
this thing -- and I get this agenda May 18, 2002 -- I see "Discussion concerning the transfer of
surplus property for the specific use for the Florida Department of Transportation to the City of
Miami generally described, as being bound to the north by Northwest 19t Terrace; on the south,
by Northwest 18th Terrace. I told Jose Carallas (Phonetic), he's there." This is the site of
Camillus House." It doesn't say what -- doesn't say what, but that was in the blue pages, or it's
like a -- in a way, pocket item or something. And then, that was -- I received that in the mail
May the 18th. Then, when I go to the agenda there at the CRA, I get this other paper. I don't
know how many hundreds of dollars this paper cost. But you can see, it's -- uh huh. Here,
"discussion item." May 21 st. May 21 st. This -- I don't know. Sunshine rule or whatever.
Somebody -- some way, something is confused. Because they were asking then, on May 30th, to
approve something that the Commission has already approved. Because here they were being
specific: "On behalf of the Camillus House," blah, blah, blah, blah. Carlos Gimenez, blah, blah,
blah. And, you know, all of this was -- you know, look at that. That cost a lot of money.
Lawyers, they all making money. Here -- when you go here --
Chairman Teele: All right.
Mr. Cruz: OK. The only thing I ask, in view of all this, and seeing that nothing has been done
with transparency, I ask we do not want the Camillus House here. The same thing -- the same
situation applies, that applies 10 years ago. Now, our situation over there is a lot better in the
neighborhood, but they haven't done nothing there. You know why? Because they keep that
thing there. How come they are different with (INAUDIBLE)? How come the Rescue Mission
is different. We have a Salvation Army in Allapattah, and we have a Camillus SRO at 2126
Northwest 8th Avenue. I never said anything wrong about that, because that's been there for
years. So, tell me how many other communities have Camillus House inside over there?
Chairman Teele: All right.
10 June 24, 2002
M
Mr. Cruz: Bar none.
Board Member Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman?
Mr. Cruz: OK.
Chairman Teele: All right.
Mr. Cruz: The only thing is --
Chairman Teele: I think --
Mr. Cruz: --just get the message.
Chairman Teele: I think we've gotten the message. I think what we're going to do, with your
permission, is, we're going to go to a strict two -minute rule. It's very clear that the discussion is
becoming very repetitive and that's unfortunate, I think, for everyone. Madam Clerk, would you
set the clock? I want to just -- because I think, Madam Director, you know, we need to make this
very clear here. And I would ask you to get some maps. Work with the Planning Department or
my staff here. This site is in Overtown, and it's very interesting now. No one has said Overtown
yet. Everyone's saying Allapattah. And this area, 7th Avenue, has been very much the dividing
line. And the residential people that are adjacent are -- certainly, the closest proximity is the
Overtown community. And I think, not for the purpose of debate, I'm willing to, certainly, agree
that Allapattah is in the general vicinity and nearby, but it is physically in Overtown. And I think
the record should be clear about this, that this is physically in Overtown and at 17th Street, where
the road goes underneath 95. There is less than one lot that separates, at least -- only 95
separates the community. So, it's very important, I think, that, at least a point of reference be
made very, very clear, that the site is in the boundaries of -- the historical boundaries ever since -
- before the rail -- before 95 was built, the railroad was built. And I think the record will reflect
that Colored Town," as it was platted, and it was described, and it was designated, went to 7th
Avenue and, indeed, in portions, all the way over to 12th Avenue. But I want to put that on the
record, because it is certainly in the district that I represent, and it is geographically in the district
that I represent. And I'm very pleased that we have so many people that are here that are
concerned about both Allapattah and Overtown. But there can certainly be no impact on
Allapattah that is not also on Overtown. But I'm willing to certainly agree that the facility, if it
is as Mrs. Urra and others have intelligently described today, if those impacts were to come
about, it would have an impact on Allapattah. And, so, I don't want to debate.
Board Member Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman, if you allow me.
Chairman Teele: Yes, Commissioner Gonzalez.
Board Member Gonzalez: As a point of clarification, in fact, the site, under the map of districts,
is in your district, which is Overtown, but the -- as a purpose of the NET (Neighborhood
Enhancement Teams) Office, it's served by the Allapattah NET Office. And, on top of that --
and I'm sure you're familiar with this -- there is a buffer line between where this proposed site is
11 June 24, 2002
_ . 10
and your community, and that buffer line is nothing more and nothing less than I-95. I don't
believe any homeless will try to cross I-95 to go into Overtown. And, in other hands, in order to
walk into Allapattah, all they have to do is just cross the street, cross 7th Avenue, and then start
walking down on 20th Street, and in the entire neighborhood. Now, we propose, maybe, to build
another I-95 or to build a wall on 7th Avenue that will become a buffer line. Then we will be in
similar situations, you and I. But, at this point, the way it's being proposed, the area that is going
to have the most negative impact from this project will be Allapattah. And now -- you
mentioned that nobody had referred to your people in Overtown. Remember, that when it was
proposed to be placed in Overtown, the only Commissioner in this dais that voted "no" and
expressed that I didn't want to vote for your community. What I don't want for my community
was "aye." And I was the only vote -- the only Commissioner that voted "no" to put it in
Overtown. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gonzalez, I'm certainly not going to disagree with you, in
public, on a matter of your own view. But I will say this: You're correct, that you did vote "no."
You were the only "no" vote on that particular round. But I would certainly have a substantial
disagreement with you on any potential impact. I think, if we both walked that area hand -in -
hand, and if we go south to 17t , and then go east, or go north to 19th, and then go east, I think
there's no question what the natural flow of human beings will be. And it is certainly not across
7th Avenue. It would be down the dark corridors, along 17th and 20th Streets. But you and I can
walk hand -in -hand at another date.
Board Member Gonzalez: Please, whenever, you know, it's convenient to you, I'll be more than
happy, and I'll be honored, to walk with you.
Chairman Teele: Thank you. All right. Let's hear from the members of the public. We're
going to limit everyone to two minutes, please. And we'd ask you, please, not to be redundant.
Welcome.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Excuse me, Commissioner.
Chairman Teele: Thank you.
Ms. Thompson: Excuse me. Because we have the interpreter, she needs to give them
instructions, because it's hard if they don't pause in between.
Ms. Suarez: I wish to be the most accurate, as possible, and it's very hard, because we,
Hispanics, are very passionate and we get a little carried away when we speak. So, I will be very
grateful if they can pause so that I may be 100% accurate, for your benefit. OK.
Note for the Record: At this time, Ms. Suarez addressed the audience in Spanish.
Chairman Teele: OK. Thank you.
Angel Urquiola: Good evening, Mr. Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Teele --
Commissioner Teele, why you cutting my time right now to two minutes? In two minutes, I can
12 June 24, 2002
say nothing. Why? Why? (INAUDIBLE) tell me the truth, Mr. Teele. See, everybody got 10
minutes. I have to get 10 minutes. It's no fair. It's not fair you cut my time. You see. And
that's -- already I have 30 seconds, and I don't say nothing. If you don't want me to talk? You
don't want me to talk, I leave. I don't say nothing. OK. I like it, what the father say, what -- the
work that they do with these poor people is good. I have the same problem, eight years ago, with
Miami Mental Health Care Center. Everybody say, `Beautiful. Ali, they nice. The peoples nice.
They make a wonderful job for the poor people." You know what they put in front of my house?
Drug dealers, drug addicts, alcoholics, crazy people, criminals. (INAUDIBLE) for that. I don't
believe in this kind of war, because they job been made long time ago -- eight years ago. I still
fight in my neighborhood. They killed my neighborhood, a neighborhood who pay taxes more
than Coral Gables. Mr. Commissioner, Regalado know, Mr. Sanchez know, Winton don't know,
because I saw Mr. Winton over there one time. And now they change it for (INAUDIBLE)
another one. It's beautiful. I help, in Camillus House, collect the money for them. Pero these
people from Allapattah, they don't (INAUDIBLE). They put it there, and make a miser of their
life. Because -- to make it miser. And one thing, I am in the middle of a transaction to buy a
building on 7th Avenue and 34th Street. If the Camillus House, they put it there, I resign. I don't
put a building in Allapattah. I don't want to be robbed every night, and they cancel my
insurance. You have to think about this. It's very important. And, remember, we are the vote.
We are the people who put you people there to represent us, and the best thing for the taxpayers.
Because the only City, in the 33 cities Dade County has, the only one who has all these kind of
miseries is Miami. Why they don't put in Coral Gables? Why they don't put in another City?
Ali, because the Commissioner, the Mayor, and everybody in Miami is very nice. They giving
money. They giving everything. And 80% of the people don't belong to Miami. They belong to
another place. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. And, please, listen careful. Think it twice, what
you vote today. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Thank you very much. Next, please. We can use two microphones, by the
way. Next, please. Why don't some of you just go over here to the other mic, so
(INAUDIBLE). Go right ahead, ma'am.
Pura Vidal: Good afternoon. My name is Pura Vidal. I'm the only real estate broker that has a
full service office in Allapattah. After eight years in Century 21, serving the community of
Allapattah, I decide to come to the area and open my business. But I want the people to know,
the Spanish people, what I'm saying. I would like the lady to translate for me.
Note for the Record: At this time, the following comments were translated by Ms. Ondina
Suarez.
Ms. Vidal (Translated by Ms. Ondina Suarez): My name is Pura Vidal. I am a real estate broker
in Allapattah. I was brave enough, after a year and a half with Century 21, to come to Allapattah
to work with the people in Allapattah. How many of you have properties in Allapattah right at
this moment? I want the Commissioners to know that the taxes in Allapattah have gone up. I
want to remind them of that. And that the majority of the people have a home in Allapattah on
one side of the reserves, and they're saving, and this is all they are going to have when they sell
their property to retire. And the younger people that are houses now in Allapattah are raising
children. What is going to happen to those children when Camillus House is placed in that area?
13 June 24, 2002
Allapattah does not (INAUDIBLE) from 4th Avenue, because you know the high price of the
houses. When people come to my office looking for a house, they stay from the 1st Street of
Northwest to 371h Avenue. Thank you very much.
Chairman Teele: Thank you very much.
Ismael Naraujo, Jr.: Good afternoon. I'm a member of the Allapattah Day Care Center, and I
want to thank all of you. And, please, I'm begging you to keep it in mind. The Allapattah Day
Care Center is a beautiful center. That's all I'm asking you for. Keep it in mind, please. Thank
you very much.
Chairman Teele: Thank you very much. Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
Chairman Teele: Ma'am. Yes, ma'am.
Ada Iris Cuevas: Good afternoon, Commissioner Teele, Commissioners, ladies and gentlemen.
Chairman Teele: Pull the mic to you, ma'am.
Ms. Cuevas: Good afternoon, Commissioner, Bishop, Commissioner Teele, ladies and
gentlemen. My name is Ada Iris Cuevas, known as Iris. I have three beautiful girls and elderly
couple. I live at 2617 Northwest 25th Avenue. Excuse me. I can't hear myself. Thank you. I
missed a day of work because I read The Herald. You know, I will quote The Herald at three
o'clock. I would have preferred this at six o'clock, but that's not your problem. Your problem is
what I'm going to tell you now. Today, I'm here before you regarding the relocation of Camillus
House from downtown renaissance into the Allapattah. As you are aware, Allapattah itself is
known to have crime, drug houses, robberies, and drunk youth gangs, and so on. I can go on, but
it's going to take up my two minutes. I will quote the editor of The Miami Herald, "If the
Commissioner fail to do so, as have previous Commission, it will doom the growth of dynamic
entertainment and business district that could enhance," meaning, bring in, (INAUDIBLE) and
tourists 24 hours a day, also. It, again, will fail to deal with estimate 600 homeless people who
roam the Downtown area. It says, "We can commend Commissioner Art Teele, John Winton,
Tomas Regalado for the leadership they have shown." I thank you for wanting Camillus House.
I have nothing against them. It also -- I quote, "The Commissioner's meeting today at the City
Redevelopment Authority should vote to move forward and allow Camillus House to pursue." I,
again, agree with this, but not at Allapattah, and not at my expense. I've spoken -- I previous
have spoken to Commissioner Angel Gonzalez regarding my status. We've met.. Yes, he's
helped the neighborhood, but still needs lots of improvement. Two days ago, Channel 7, 4, and
other TVs (Televisions), they just had a crime: Drugs, two blocks from where I live. Three
blocks more from where I live, they have a crack house, and they're still investigating that. And,
yet, you want to bring more crime into my business, into where I work, into where my kids are
growing up. They tell me, "Mom, why can't we go outside and play in the yard?" Two days
ago, they had nine cops bringing what you call "marijuana" out of a house two blocks from my
house. My daughter cannot walk out that day. I stayed home from work, because I don't know.
14 June 24, 2002
I've been robbed more than five times. I have records to prove it, but it doesn't matter, because
Camillus House is going to go. Commissioner Teele, Tomas Regalado, Johnny Winton, all I'm
here to ask for is, think about the future. If we can't control the future, the past is already there.
What's happened has happened. Don't bring it to my neighborhood. Put it in someone else's
neighborhood. I pay. I do own a house. And taxes do go up. I can -- I told -- I asked Angel
Gonzalez regarding my status, I told him, I had no plans of moving away. I have no plans of
leaving my community, where I work. I have no plans of leaving my friends. Is this a way for
you, Commissioner Angel Gonzalez, to tell me to get the hell out of Allapattah? I don't like it. I
am here asking for your help. I have nothing against the Camillus House. I'm going to quote -- I
was sitting there -- sorry. I know my two minutes are up. I will quote a person that was over
there. They said, "It doesn't matter. They won't even be around." They're right. They won't,
but I'm here today and they're there tomorrow. I will quote what they said: "They're right.
They won't." I am here today. Thank you for your time.
Chairman Teele: Thank you, ma'am. Yes, sir.
Arismendy Mateo: OK. My name is Arismendy Mateo. I live in 1940 Northwest 33 Street. I
want to speak in Spanish, please.
Note for the Record: At this time, the following comments were translated by Ms. Ondina
Suarez.
Mr. Mateo (Translated by Ms. Ondina Suarez): My name is Arismenday Mateo. I live at 1940
Northwest 33rd Street. Since 1992, we've been fighting over this issue of Camillus House.
Allapattah was a neighborhood that (INAUDIBLE) the homeless, delinquent, prostitutes, people
selling drugs. And, today, these days, we have cleaned up the park that today is called Juan
(INAUDIBLE). We have cleaned today 17th Avenue to the extreme that our properties have
started to go up in value. Year after year, we have been coming to this very Commission to fight
for that neighborhood. We believe, as the Chairman and the Reverend from Camillus House was
stating earlier, that this building that they are planning on constructing, that if the homeless are
not going to be going out anywhere, they have the best place then to build it, which is downtown,
the very same place where they're at now. Build that building and control the homeless. But,
please, do not bring any more problems to Allapattah. We have a (INAUDIBLE). We have a
human resource. We have the Salvation Army. We have plenty of problems. We have fought
very hard against the crime in Allapattah. So, it's just a few that come and bring problems to
Allapattah, and to come to a neighborhood and postpone (INAUDIBLE).
Board Member Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman, if you allow me, I would like to recognize Mr.
Arismendy Mateo, and we also have a few representatives here of the Dominican community in
Allapattah. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gonzalez, why don't you just control for the next 30 minutes.
All right. Thank you. Who did you want to recognize, Commissioner Gonzalez?
Board Member Gonzalez: Whoever is in turn to speak. I just want to recognize that we have
people here also from the Dominican community. Thank you.
15 June 24, 2002
Chairman Teele: All right. Thank you very much.
Rafael Alvarez: Thank you very much. I want to talk in Spanish for all people right here. Mr.
Tomas Regalado -- and my name is Rafael Alvarez -- Mr. Teele, Mr. Joe Sanchez, and Manuel
Diaz.
Note for the Record: At this time, the following comments were translated by Ms. Ondina
Suarez:
Mr. Alvarez (Translated by Ms. Ondina Suarez): Thank you for this opportunity --
Chairman Teele: Excuse me.
Mr. Alvarez: Yeah.
Chairman Teele: Did you acknowledge Commissioner Winton, as well?
Mr. Alvarez: What he say?
Ms. Suarez: (Comments in Spanish)
Mr. Alvarez: OK. No problem. No problem. OK, sir. We're going to continue? I can.
Note for the Record: The following comments were translated by Ms. Ondina Suarez:
Mr. Alvarez: I represent part of the enterprises in Allapattah. A year and a half ago,
(INAUDIBLE) half a million dollars ($500,000) in a commercial project. And, at this date, it's
growing and growing. We cannot permit -- we cannot allow for this to continue and happen the
way that you are trying to do. More families are coming to Allapattah. They want to invest in
Allapattah. We cannot go back with the investments and (INAUDIBLE) from Allapattah. Right
now, we have a company coming from England and they wish to invest in Allapattah. If this
comes to Allapattah, this (INAUDIBLE) will be going backwards. Commissioners, do not allow
the future to go backwards. A lot of (INAUDIBLE) the small and the big commercials, we have
a right and we are going to demand it. Thank you very much.
Salvador Rivas: My name is Salvador Rivas. I'm a Director of the Florida (INAUDIBLE)
Association. This is an organization that represents the (INAUDIBLE) industry in the State of
Florida. A couple weeks ago, maybe a little longer than that, Commissioner Gonzalez met with
some of our representatives, and brought us to -- brought to us a situation that you may or may
not be aware of. This situation is another problem that you have that would be similar to the
problem that you would be having if this thing goes through. And that is the Dade County Jail.
From what I hear today, is the concern that undesirables, people that are homeless, people that
don't have any jobs, criminals are going to be released in the neighborhood of Allapattah
everyday. You have that now everyday, criminals, defendants, being released from Dade County
Jail, from 75 to 100 people, that don't have anything to do, but to roam the City of -- the
16 June 24, 2002
neighborhood of Allapattah. I'm not here to speak against Camillus House or for it. I'm just
here to advise you, too, that you're going to have this problem, that you're going to have -- that
you do have this problem, and you're going to be hearing about it in the future, because there are
some conversations between the Commissioners and some of our organizations that -- to address
this problem. I just -- I asked Commissioner Gonzalez to let me speak today, just to bring this
thing out, and we'll be having some other meetings. Thank you very much.
Chairman Teele: Thank you for being here.
Jorge Bautista: Good afternoon. My name is Jorge Bautista from (Spanish comments), 1864
Northwest 35`h Street. Mr. Mayor, Commissioners, thank you very much for giving me this
opportunity to speak to you again. I haven't been here in a long, long time. I'm glad that I'm
back, especially, you know, to have -- to talk about the problems that we have in Allapattah.
Before I continue, I would like to thank you very much for passing through the situation
concerning the police at the new organization that we have that would control the police. That
was something that we've been fighting about for the last 20 years. So, thank you very much.
Thank you very much. I would like to take this opportunity, again, to discuss something that
probably some of you are not thinking about, and that's the youngsters that live in Allapattah. A
couple of months ago, we met with people and instructors from Jackson Senior High School.
We also met with a lot of youngsters. Most of them Dominican youngsters from that area. And
one of the things that the school requested from us, as an organization, to see if we could bring
people in the community that could serve as role models for those students there. The school
officials expressed concern that the youngsters, all what they were seeing was, what we might
call people that are involved in negative activities, such as, drug dealing and -- as you know. By
bringing Camillus House into our community, that will further affect a situation that we've been
fighting for the last 30 years. I hope that when you vote today, that you will take into
consideration the young people of Allapattah.
Chairman Teele: All right.
Mr. Bautista And, also, take into consideration -- just one second -- into consideration. This
businessmen that we have here, that has been very hard without almost any help from this -- you
know, from the Commission here, to be able --
Chairman Teele: What Commission? Who are you talking about?
Mr. Bautista: I'm talking about businessmen that we have, like him, you know, from Allapattah.
Chairman Teele: All right.
Mr. Bautista: We also have so many businessmen around here. He also has a business there.
It's been so hard for them to be able to bring up their businesses. And by bringing that problem,
again, to our community, it's in a worse situation than we have today. Again, I thank you very
much for your time.
Chairman Teele: Thank you. Thank you very much. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
17 June 24, 2002
Carmelo Infante (Translated by Ondina Suarez): Yes. My name is Carmelo Infante. I represent
the (INAUDIBLE). We get together for sports on Sunday at the park, Juan Duarte. Tomas
Regalado was invited to one of our sports that we have out there every Sunday. We have
nothing against the homeless, as you are calling them. We have nothing against Camillus House,
who we know are fighting a great, hard fight for these people who have absolutely nothing. But
we well know what the area of the park of Duarte is, and the area of Allapattah. We have a
program where we are training children and, still, even though we clean up the park quite a bit,
we are still having problems with the homeless and with the people that are in the area that use
drugs. A lot of times we have to fight with them, because they want to be using drugs in front of
the children that we have. I repeat: I have nothing against the Camillus House, and what the
homeless issue is. Please help us with the situation we have in Allapattah, so that we may go
right ahead. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Thank you very much. Yes, sir.
Antonio Fajardo: Good afternoon, Chairperson, Commissioners, and Mayor of the City of
Miami. My name is Antonio Fajardo. I live at 1951 Northwest 22"d Place. A couple of days
ago, I seen the homeless around drinking as always. And, of course, they went into my
neighbor's yard and, of course, stole. Now, I am not contradicting, I am not judging the
homeless. Most of them do not do what they do, but most do do drugs, steal, and, of course, give
bad impressions. I have a 10-year-old sister that saw these actions when it occurred. I am
scared, because I do not want her to see this and I do not want anything to happen to her. I am
not asking not to build the Camillus House. I'm glad that they are building it, because I do not
want to see homeless. But I'm only asking that we relocate this house to another place.
Allapattah is not asking for you to leave the homeless in the streets. We're not asking for you
not to do anything for them, because we do care for them. But we are only asking one thing:
that we -- you search another place to put them, and we will really appreciate this. I live in this
neighborhood. I love my neighborhood, and I'm thinking I would like to help the homeless, too.
And I'm a volunteer at the community center. But, as I said, I do not want to see this in our
neighborhoods. I do not want to see homeless sitting, drinking, and making our children look
bad. Of course, I do not have any children, but I have seen most little kids, teenagers, looking at
these homeless, and doing what they do. And this is all I ask. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Sir, what's your name again?
Mr. Fajardo: My name is Antonio Fajardo.
Chairman Teele: Antonio, thank you for coming. And I really appreciate your testimony.
You've made a very important point. Thank you. Sir.
Ramon Guillen (Translated by Ondina Suarez): My name is Ramon Guillen. (INAUDIBLE)
knows me very well. This City is like my home, but I am going to make a joke to Mr. Arthur
Teele, my friend. On one occasion, I was in love with an American woman. And if there's any
proper word in English, I thought I was saying "I love you." Instead, I had to say "my lover."
That meant that I had to think about the rest of my community, and I am thinking today of the
18 June 24, 2002
Allapattah community. (INAUDIBLE) Mr. Teele, as you well know, (INAUDIBLE) with all
respect due to you, sir. (INAUDIBLE) with regards to all the crime that's happening in
Allapattah. (INAUDIBLE) very serious. I hope you will accept my testimony here, as a serious
man and a respectful man in the community. This is my testimony. For five years, I've worked
in the City of Miami and (INAUDIBLE) I got a Diploma for controlling and helping to control a
lot of the drug activities, as other have stated here, that we have in our area. I expect you all
Commissioners to serve (INAUDIBLE), but we need your help. When this City was bankrupt, I
came here to help. Now, I want you all to help and help the Commission and Angel Gonzalez by
not accepting Camillus House in the area of Allapattah. Thank you very much.
Chairman Teele: Ramon, thank you for being here. Yeah, I was afraid you were going to say
the woman -- I was afraid you were going to say the woman's my wife. He's always -- he's
always smiling at my wife.
Victor Vizcaya: Good afternoon, Commissioners. I'm not going to go one by one, because I
don't think it's necessary. Everybody knows who you are. I'm here on behalf of the
businessmen of Allapattah. A lot of people may think that this problem with Camillus House is
not going to affect --
Unidentified speaker: State your name and address.
Mr. Vizcaya: My name and address -- I'm sorry -- is Victor Vizcaya. I own several businesses
along 361h Street corridor. One of them is All Florida Insurance, All Florida Wireless, James or
(INAUDIBLE) Insurance. This problem that we have been fighting for a long time, especially --
and nobody had even mentioned the great police work that the Commander Ramon Fernandez,
the Commander of Allapattah, has done. We have cleaned up Allapattah very, very to a -- I
could put it to a place that we -- of course, it would never be Disney World, but, you know, we'll
get there one day. But what I mean is bringing Camillus House -- and a lot of people say they
don't have anything against Camillus House. I think we do. I think we do, in the sense that
where it is, it's not affecting us. But when it comes to affect us, yes, it will become a problem. I
can guarantee you, 100% of the business people that are -- that I've talked to before I came here
today are against moving this place so close to the Allapattah area. We have worked together
with the police, especially myself, Albina Sumner, who couldn't be here today because he had to
attend a funeral. I think everything that we have done for all these years, you know -- and I
really want to emphasize, again, the labor of Commander Fernandez, you know, to clean up this
house -- to clean up the area, I'm sorry. Let's not throw it all away. You know, it has been very
hard to have it clean. You know, we have to get out of our businesses before 5:30, sometimes
before six, because everybody was afraid to get mugged, you know And the only thing that this
is going to bring is the same problem or even worse. Thank you. That's all I have to say.
Board Member Regalado: Thank you, sir. Go ahead, sir.
Mr. Valdez: (Comments in Spanish) My name is (INAUDIBLE) Valdez. I'm representing a
company, (INAUDIBLE) Travel. Jose Alvarez is not here. He's in New York. But he told me
to be here and represent him.
19 June 24, 2002
Note for the Record: The following comments were translated by Ms. Ondina Suarez.
Mr. Valdez: Representing a community of about 5,000 Dominicans in Allapattah. But
(INAUDIBLE) an honor to be here (INAUDIBLE). I used to work for a company
(INAUDIBLE) three and a half years ago. A gentleman said to me (INAUDIBLE) the
community, needs you in Allapattah. (INAUDIBLE) have to go into a community because if we
forget what our origins are, we'll never really have a real (INAUDIBLE). I believe what the
gentleman said and (INAUDIBLE). I started working with Camillus House (INAUDIBLE).
The people in Broward, I think, are in fear of going to Allapattah, but I believe in that gentleman
and wonder if helping (INAUDIBLE) doing the same thing. There's also the construction going
on (INAUDIBLE) park of Duarte. (INAUDIBLE) they come from all areas to Miami and
including West Palm Beach (INAUDIBLE). I have nothing against the church. I am a man of
the church. I believe in the church, and God knows what (INAUDIBLE) my people. But what
we do want is not that you give us the fish, but, that you show us how to fish. (INAUDIBLE)
not bring more poverty to Allapattah. (INAUDIBLE) to help the school --
Ms. Suarez: I'm sorry. I did not get the name of the park.
Mr. Valdez: (INAUDIBLE) Park. (INAUDIBLE) Middle School.
Board Member Regalado: Sir.
Mr. Valdez: To help us --
Board Member Gonzalez: Sir, your time is up.
Mr. Valdez: To help us, not to bring us any further trouble, please. And Commissioner Angel
Gonzalez, Commissioner Willie Gort, (INAUDIBLE), Tomas Regalado, and now, Mr. Winton, I
know you're going to help us. And Mr. Joe Sanchez involved in the 81h Street events, and we
would also like to see him sometime in our events in our area in Allapattah. Thank you.
Board Member Regalado: Go ahead, sir. Go ahead.
Roberto Balsuena (Translated by Ondina Suarez): Good afternoon, Commissioners. Thank you
for giving us the opportunity. My name is Roberto Balsuena. (INAUDIBLE) He's standing
behind me. Seven years now is when I left here from New York to this community. I set myself
up on 36th Northwest 17th, where I (INAUDIBLE) religious items. So many disservices that
were happening in the area of the school. (INAUDIBLE) Hispanics came to this nation to fight
for our well being. I opened up a barbershop two blocks down. When I arrived there, the only
person who had a business there was a agency -- travel agency. That gentleman, because back
then the community was having so many financial problems (INAUDIBLE). I am still there.
I'm a hairdresser. And when I left and set up a business there, there were people saying to me,
not to go there and set up a business, because there was a lot of problems in that area. Today, I
have customers that even come from Orlando and Tallahassee, including people that are coming
from other states. (INAUDIBLE) on 17th Avenue. Thank you. Thank you for all the work that
all the people, members of our community, to clean up our community. I believe it's the right
20 June 24, 2002
thing to do, to request, please, that you Commissioners, that it is not necessary (INAUDIBLE)
that we think with our efforts, that we have managed to (INAUDIBLE). The other project
(INAUDIBLE) before but if you consider the damage that you will be causing us, not only the
old business people that are there (INAUDIBLE), but also a lot of people that are buying houses
in that area. (INAUDIBLE)
Board Member Regalado: Senor, your time is up.
Mr. Balsuena: Thank you, everyone.
Segundo Fallat (Translated by Ondina Suarez): Good afternoon, beloved Commissioners. My
word (INAUDIBLE) and the last one (INAUDIBLE). My address is 3435 Northwest 17th
Avenue. My name is Segundo Fallat. (INAUDIBLE) Puerto Rican community. (INAUDIBLE)
all together. I've been here in for 25 years Allapattah. When I arrived in Allapattah, it was
(INAUDIBLE), because it was really bad. I asked the Commission (INAUDIBLE) and 35th
Street (INAUDIBLE). Thank you. That will be all.
Note for the Record: The majority of the comments of Mr. Segundo Fallat were unintelligible,
due to speaker overlapping with translator.
Board Member Regalado: Mr. Chairman, I think they're done.
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gonzalez, was there anyone that you wanted or anything that
you wanted to add, before we go back to the Camillus House on this?
Board Member Gonzalez: You mean, if there is anybody else that I would like to speak on the --
Chairman Teele: Yes.
Board Member Gonzalez: No.
Board Member Gonzalez: Not at this point. I don't think -- I think everybody that wanted to
speak on the issue has.
Chairman Teele: All right. Did everyone that wanted to speak in opposition get an opportunity
to speak? If not -- if so, then what we'd like to do -- how many people want to speak in support
of -- ? All right. We'll hear from three or four persons that would like -- we'll hear from three
or four persons. Just line up here. And then, Dale, we'll let you close out.
Ms. Suarez: Commissioner Teele, we do have a lady here who wants to speak on behalf -- in the
favor of.
Chairman Teele: Yeah, that's what we're saying. We're going to hear from the people who'd
like to speak in favor of. Just one on either side. Yes, ma'am. Please. Yes, sir.
21 June 24, 2002
Penny Fulton: Hi. My name is Penny Fulton. I reside at 400 Northwest 3rd Court, Apartment
104. And I must say, I'm a resident of Camillus House, Somerville residence. And I am a
recovering addict, and I am very grateful to say I am a recovering addict, and I'm very grateful to
say I am a resident of Camillus House Somerville Program. I was sitting over here. I listened to
the whole thing. It's very touching, you know. It's sad, because it's a lot of homeless people,
such like myself. Once upon a time, I was homeless. But somebody had to give me a chance. I
have three kids. When my daughter got ready to go to college, my daughter didn't even have a
permanent address to put on her student aid form. But, today, I must say, we do have a
residence, and I call my home at Somerville, my palace. I'm very grateful. I came from a long
way, you know. And it's just the opportunity just to empower people. People, we're only asking
for a fair chance. Once the doors is open, it's many, many great opportunities for us, you know.
And I have an opportunity today to work with homeless people. And I work at the Miami
Rescue Mission. But the only thing -- the big concern is providing shelter, giving people an
opportunity. All addicts is not bad. I don't understand where these people get all of these --
Chairman Teele: Make your comments to the Chair. Don't provoke the --
Ms. Fulton: -- all of these issues from, because drug addicts, true enough, they have a hard way
to go, but, believe me, once they get a fair chance and get a chance to motivate themselves, and
the people like Camillus House to give them a fair chance, they will be productive members of
their society, like myself. I am a productive member of society, and I'm very grateful for
Camillus House and Somerville Residence. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Thank you very much. Yes, sir.
William Touchstone: My name is William Touchstone. I resided at 726 Northeast 1st Avenue,
the Camillus House, where it sits right now. And, now, just six short months ago, I was that
derelict that was -- that you talked about. I was that crack addict that you talk about. I was that
homeless person on the street that you talk about. But just short six months ago, the God of my
understanding, he started a good work. And the God that I believe in, the way I believe, when he
starts a good work, he will see it until completion. And 40 years ago, God started a good work,
and that good work was the Camillus House. And the Camillus House is a good work. And, my
Father, he's going to see that work done until its completion. So, I have to step out of the way
and let my Father do His work. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Thank you very much, sir. All right. Yes, sir.
Roderick Carter: My name Roderick Carter. I live at 726 Northeast 1" Avenue. And I live at
Camillus House, too. You know, four months ago, Camillus House turned my life around. You
know, I lived on the street, you know, and a lot of people live on the street. But one thing I know
that, Camillus House is a loving place. You know, everybody out here in this crowd could come
to Camillus House and get some kind of helping hand. Camillus House bathe the homeless, we
feed the homeless, we clothe the homeless. We do everything for the homeless, you know. This
is what Camillus House is doing. You know, they're not downgrading the community. They're
lifting the community up. You know -- I think -- I heard someone over there say that Camillus
22 June 24, 2002
House would be put in Overtown, and that's a plus, you know, because Overtown needs to grow,
and I know, with the Camillus House, it will grow. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: All right. Are there any other persons that would like to say something
different? If not, Dale, we're going to ask -- is there anyone else? If not, Dale, we're going to
hear from you, and then we're going to -- we'll hear from you, and Mr. Kislak. And then we're
going to close the public hearing.
Mr. Simpson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First, I would like to say that I have the utmost respect
for the community, what they've worked for, what they've accomplished with their work, and
we don't have any desire to threaten that, in any way. Our aim is to add to the community.
There is a slide up here, which you can see. The only additional numbers I want to point out to
you is that when facilities have been added in the City of Miami and in Miami -Dade County,
homeless population has gone down. We get good results with what we do. I also want to bring
us back to where this conversation started, last winter, when there was a meeting of the CRA,
and I was asked what we can do. And what we can do, as a community, is have the political
will, in this very difficult issue for the entire community, to make progress, and it's hard. People
that get involved with addiction, initially, are very resistant, and have a hard time accepting help.
And a lot of times, when you're facing a difficult issue in a community, like adding a facility,
expanding a facility, it seems like it's not the right thing to do, but this is the right thing to do.
We will make Miami a better place to live for everybody. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Thank you very much. Mr. Kislak.
Mr. Kislak: Mr. Chairman and members of the Board, I thank you for your time today, and
thank you for your consideration. I think it's clear that there's disagreement. There's even
disagreement inside the Kislak family about where Camillus should locate. But I think it's clear
that there isn't anybody today who said that Camillus is not necessary to this community. There
isn't anybody today who said, "Leave the homeless on the street." The question we have to talk
about is, where is our community best served. I would suggest that, with a facility that is big
enough to receive the homeless that are in Allapattah now, and bring them down to the
Overtown/Allapattah area; with a facility that is modern, instead of 40 years old, has the
capability to serve the needs that are faced today, instead of the needs that are served 40 years
that we have the -- 40 years ago -- that we have the opportunity today to take a step forward, and,
with this new facility, to end chronic homelessness in Dade County, and we look forward to the
opportunity to work with the City of Miami in trying to accomplish that. Thank you for your
time.
Chairman Teele: All right. The public hearing is closed. Gentlemen, the matter before us today
is to accept or reject the site that is being proffered by the Camillus House. Sir.
Mr. Vizcaya. I'm sorry to interrupt you, Commissioner Teele. Albena Sumner just came in and
she's requesting two minutes of your time to express a point. She couldn't make it. She just
came in.
Chairman Teele: Where is Ms. Sumner?
23 June 24, 2002
Mr. Vizcaya: She's coming up right now. But I'm requesting two minutes for her to speak,
please.
Board Member Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman, I would, respectfully, request that you allow Ms.
Sumner to address us, because she is an important Afro-American leader in my community, who
represents most of the Afro-Americans in the Allapattah area and in District 1. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Without objection, we'll hear from Ms. Sumner.
Mr. Vizcaya: Thank you, Mr. Teele. I'll get her. Give me two seconds, please. Thank you for
your time.
Chairman Teele: Albena, come right on, ma'am. Ms. Sumner, thank you. We're reopening the
public hearing to allow you to speak for two minutes.
Albena Sumner: Thank you. I'm sorry. My mother-in-law passed. I had a funeral to go to. I
grew up in Overtown, and I've been a resident of Allapattah for 40 years.
Chairman Teele: Ms. Sumner, just state your name for the record.
Ms. Sumner: My name is Albena Sumner. I live at 1360 Northwest 37th Street since 1962. And
I'm here today because the alternatives -- this alternative site for Camillus House -- I mean, we
all realize that Camillus House people do a great job with -- and there are a lot of lives here that
they've saved, and nobody wants these facilities put in their neighborhoods, and Allapattah is no
different. And we're here because -- and I'm sure there have been numerous people here before
me, but you all know that we have the jails, we have the hospitals, we have the detox center, we
have A Better Way. Everything is dumped in Allapattah. I know that you all saw the meeting
on TV, or were here at the meeting, when they wanted to put this facility, if I'm not mistaken, in
Overtown. And my Commissioner, Angel Gonzalez, was the only Commissioner to vote against
that, because he said that he was not going to vote for something that was going -- that he didn't
want in his district, he wouldn't vote to put it in somebody else's district. And it's always never
in my backyard, but Allapattah is the dumping ground and has become the dumping ground for
everything and everybody. It's not that we are being prejudicial or anything, because we have A
Better Way. You know, the County has a detox center in the City of Miami. And because this
location is on Northwest 7th Avenue, between 20th and 17th Streets, and it's an area -- and I'm
familiar with the area. And because it is an area that the FEC (Florida East Coast) or the
railroads are giving to the City, for free to put Camillus House -- does that beep mean that my
time is up? Is that -- well, I'm here, also, as the president of the Allapattah Homeowner's
Association, to represent that we do not want this in our district. Thank you.
Ms. Urra: Mr. Chairman?
Chairman Teele: All right. Ms. Urra.
24 June 24, 2002
Ms. Urra: May I request, please, to have the rest of the meeting translated to Spanish, so that all
these residents from our area understand what you're doing and what's going on?
Chairman Teele: Without objection, Ms. Urra. Yes, ma'am. All right. The public hearing is
closed. The matter before us is to accept the alternative site or to reject the alternative site. Is
there discussion from the Commission -- from the Board members?
Board Member Regalado: Mr. Chairman?
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Regalado. Commissioner Gonzalez.
Note for the Record: The following comments by Board Member Regalado were
simultaneously translated into Spanish by Board Member Regalado.
Board Member Regalado: I think that this is very healthy, that we have so many people here. I
think it's very healthy that we have this today. I think it's important, the large number of people
that are here. This is what drives government. I think that we're here to make decisions, but
before we make decisions, we need to hear from the people affected. I remember that we had,
several months ago, a very healthy debate about an issue that was affecting the district that I
represent. So, I think that your presence here has been noted. What I think is important -- and
that's what I do for a living -- is information. Because a lot of misinformation has been given.
As a matter of fact, it's about me. So, I just wanted to say, Mr. Chairman and members of the
Board, that sometimes we make decisions. Sometimes we make decisions, and we change our
minds, but it is important that people do not manipulate, especially the residents, with
misinformation about the feelings or the ideas of a member of the City government. Because we
do have, also, the ability to go out in the media and state our case, but we have not done that, in
this case. Mr. Chairman, with that, I'm ready to proceed.
Chairman Teele: Thank you very much. Commissioner Gonzalez.
Board Member Gonzalez: Yes, Mr. Chairman. It's unfortunate to hear the comments just made
by Commissioner Regalado, where he inform us -- and it really got me concerned when he said
that some colleagues of him have been providing the wrong information to the community, and
I'm glad to hear that he's referring to members of the press. To be honest with you, it doesn't
surprise me, because during my campaign, I was a victim of some press that really said a million
things about me and my life that were not true. So, that doesn't surprise me. In fact --
Chairman Teele: Angel, are you going to translate?
Board Member Gonzalez: Yes.
Note for the Record: The following comments by Board Member Gonzalez were
simultaneously translated into Spanish by Board Member Gonzalez.
Board Member Gonzalez: OK. I have to admit that I believe it was my responsibility to be out
on the media, to go to every radio program that was open to me and to even some TV programs
25 June 24, 2002
that were open to me, to inform my community of what was going on, what was the intended
purposes of this site, and what was going to be discussed in this CRA meeting today. Most of
my constituents don't read the English papers. And the Hispanic radio -- until I went out and
address this matter, the Hispanic media was not saying anything about it, either because they
didn't know about it or because they didn't get any information about what was going on or what
was going to be proposed here today, and what was going to be discussed. So, it was my duty
and my obligation, to my constituents, to go out there and, in their language, native language, tell
them exactly what was going to be done here today. I never said that the Commissioners that
were going to vote in favor or against it, because I don't know what they are going to do. It's up
to each one of them to decide what they are going to do. But, in fact, one of the main media
sources of this City, in an editorial this morning, mentioned the Commissioners that were going
to approve this matter. So, it wasn't a matter of me saying it or anybody else saying it. It was
the media. With that, Commissioner Teele, I conclude: I believe that the rest of the Commission
knows my position, in regards to this movement. I understand and I know that the homeless
situation is a serious problem. It's a problem that has to be addressed, but it has to be addressed
at a County level. I believe we have 32 municipalities in the County. Why are we the, the City
of Miami, the only people responsible for observing and taking care of the homeless situation for
the entire United States? I don't think it's fair to us. I don't think what they're doing to us, not
to me, to all of us, to the five Commissioners sitting here, is unjust. It's not fair, OK, because the
homeless situation is not a situation or a problem of the City of Miami. It's a problem of the
entire United States. We have poor homeless coming down here from different states, and from
all over the County. Why should we, the City of Miami, be the only ones responsible to solve
this problem? I don't think it's fair, I don't think it's just, and I'm in opposition of it. I know we
have to find a solution, but we should give us, ourselves, more time to work out solutions, to
maybe create a committee to find a solution, but I don't think the solution is -- because let me tell
you, the way this has been handled has been very, very, very bad. When you tell a community
that we're going to do -- we're going to put a center or we're going to do a project on their
neighborhood, because this project is an eyesore or is bad for this other community, what you're
creating is a division, what you're creating is resentment, what you're creating is a lot of
problems, OK. It's like, I don't want this in my house, but I have the right to put it in your
backyard, and you have to absorb it, because I don't want it. That sends all kinds of different
messages. I can tell you that every radio program that I went to, when the lines were -- when the
telephone lines were open, everybody was disgusted, the way this has been handled. And they
say that it's not fair what is being trying to be done here, that more time should be allowed in
order to have more consultation. Maybe look at other different sites. Maybe look at other
options. I mean, Camillus House has been there what, 40 years, I heard, or 20 years or
whatever? Six more months isn't going to kill downtown. You know, we are all in favor of
revitalizing downtown. I believe in the conserve of downtown. When I first came from Cuba,
40 years ago, I used to go to downtown, and I enjoyed going to do shopping in downtown, and to
walk in downtown. And it hasn't been the Allapattah people fault that downtown went down the
tubes. I mean, it was some other people responsible for that. So, saying that, you know, I think
what we need to do is, if it's in order, just to, you know, take votes and see how this comes out.
Thank you.
Note for the Record: The following comments by Board Member Sanchez were translated into
Spanish by Board Member Sanchez.
26 June 24, 2002
411
Board Member Sanchez: Well, you know, it's a very sensitive issue, and, of course, it's an issue
that's not in my backyard. We have had healthy debates over it, back and forth. I think
democracy has worked in its best form. And we have had people's input and we have had
several meetings, both on the CRA level and the City's level, to come to a conclusion. I would
follow it with Spanish, but let me just finish in English, and then I'll say it in Spanish. I do
remember that Commissioner Johnny Winton suggested that Camillus House prepare a plan to
inform the local residents and merchants what programs would be established there. I mean, job
training, drug treatment, information about construction. It was basically to provide information
assurance, a good neighbor policy. Because, you know, this is an issue that you can't cram it
down people's throat. And we all realize that no site is going to be a perfect site for it. Camillus
House, I think, failed in doing that. I think that they didn't go out to the community, and they
didn't quite sell their concept. It's got nothing to do with Camillus House. They're a great
institution. I support them. I would be up here to support them on raising money to do whatever
we could, to make sure that you continue to provide a great service to the homeless issue that we
need and we have in our community. It has a negative impact in downtown today, and no matter
where you take it or put it, it's going to have a negative impact. It has nothing to do, once again,
with Camillus House. I want to make that perfectly clear. However, when I stated that Camillus
House failed to address certain issues, you're talking about 600 homeless individuals that are
going to be put in a new facility, if we vote on it today. One of the things that I felt that we
needed to get the message across was that, to assure that the clients would be required to
participate in the facility. Not only would they come in and be fed, or be provided a service, and
then be put back out on the street -- that was one issue that I had a problem with. The other
second issue was that they would only be housed in the facility for a maximum of 90 days. Then
what? I mean, you have some people that are going to overcome their problems, and they're
going to move on, but some others that are going to need additional help. So, we wanted to
know what would happen after those 90 days? The third issue is that -- I have not gotten the
assurance -- that this new facility will not create an ongoing existing problem of overspill of
homeless onto the streets, as we see today, when we drive through downtown. I want to just
elaborate that I think that there's one thing that we all agree on, is that we want to make sure that
downtown becomes a vital downtown, with living facilities, and it becomes a great downtown.
But we have to be very sensitive in the process, not to take an issue that is controversial on one
site and put it in another area that's going to continue to be a problem. Now, I'm going to say a
few things in Spanish for the people that are here today.
[APPLAUSE]
Chairman Teele: All right. Is there a need for further discussion? Is there a motion?
Note for the Record: The following comments by Board Member Regalado were
simultaneously translated into Spanish by Board Member Regalado.
Board Member Regalado: Mr. Chairman, Commissioner Gonzalez mentioned that the media
said the names of three Commissioners, and included my name. And I think that what they
meant is that I was in charge of trying to raise funds for Camillus House; that, in behalf of the
administration, I accepted, as City Commissioner, the piece of property in Northwest 7th Avenue.
27 June 24, 2002
But I don't think that they know or nobody knows the way I was going to vote. So, I just want to
make that clear, Angel, for you. Because it seems that you believe that everything was a done
deal and I think -- and this is why I said that this is so healthy. But I did say that I really think
that we should always request from the media and our leaders good information. Having said
that, Mr. Chairman, I'm done.
[APPLAUSE]
Chairman Teele: All right.
Vice Chairman Winton: Mr. Chairman?
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Winton.
Vice Chairman Winton: I guess I see this a little differently than most everyone else, because --
Chairman Teele: You want to allow for translation, at the request of Ms. --
Ms. Suarez: Commissioner, I was -- no. I was going to ask if he wished for me to --
Chairman Teele: Ms. Urra requested. So, we agreed to.
Ms. Suarez: "Commissioners, I do agree, but I see this is a different light," is that what you said
Vice Chairman Winton: That's what I said.
Note for the Record: The following comments were translated by Ms. Ondina Suarez.
Vice Chairman Winton: And that is that the Camillus House, as we know it today, is a very
significant part of the problem, as it relates to the homeless. And the Camillus House, that we're
going to have tomorrow, is going to be a significant contributor to the solution for homeless,
because they're going to rebuild their facilities in a fashion, whereby the primary focus will be
the treatment of homeless, particularly, the most intractable part of the problem, which is
homeless males. And I'm not going to spend a whole lot of time trying to debate the pros and
cons, because it's a very emotional issue, and I don't care where you're talking about putting it.
And I've had probably in the neighborhood of 100 individual debates or more in the past, I
guess, year and a half, where I've been pushing to try to get Camillus House rebuilt so that they
can really get at the real problem that's affecting all of our neighborhoods, which is
homelessness. This particular location -- we've looked at locations all over this City, and,
frankly, I personally have felt that virtually every location we looked at had very significant
problems associated with it, or them. We, in the City, know -- and I think most of you know --
that the lion share of the homeless persons that come to the City of Miami get here as a result of
another issue that you all have already talked about, which is the Dade County Jail. We -- and I
will agree with Commissioner Regalado -- we are, the City of Miami, is the dumping ground for
homelessness all over this County. Because every single municipality in this County and
28 June 24, 2002
unincorporated Dade, when they arrest a homeless person, they're brought to your neighborhood
already. Every single day of the week they're brought to your neighborhood today. Is that right?
Absolutely not. Is it fair? Absolutely not. Is it rational? Absolutely not. But it is reality. And
it's controlled by the County, not the City. So, as I continued to and have continued to struggle
with this whole issue about location, I'm not looking at it -- I'll back up. As I look at this issue,
I'm looking at it in today's reality, not in some sphere of date that doesn't exist. Today's reality
is, we already get these people. And what Camillus House is going to do is build a facility that is
all about treating the people that the County is dumping in our backyard, so that they can become
like the folks sitting over here, and that is reproductive citizens in our society. This particular
site along I-95 -- and we've probably looked at 100 sites -- is the best site I've ever looked at.
And the reason that it's the best site I've ever looked at -- there are several of them -- and that's
because, when the people get out of the Dade County Jail, that's two blocks away, three blocks
away, they kind of scatter. And instead of scattering them, we have an opportunity to, literally,
attract them and collect them, before they get into the neighborhoods. There is very limited
residential anything in that particular zone. It has probably the lowest residential component of
any of the sites we've looked at within a significant radius. And, as a consequence, I think that
building Camillus House there, instead of what some of my colleagues have said, which is, you
know, we're just going to create a new problem in a new neighborhood, I don't see it that way, at
all. I see -- I'm sorry. I see this as the -- and Commissioner Gonzalez was not particularly happy
with the process. But the debate over Camillus House, and its location, has been going on for --
is it 15 years? The last -- '84? So, 18 years it's been. And we have a real opportunity today to
do something that, I think, is going to cut our homeless numbers dramatic in the City of Miami.
At the same time that we're going to work in that regard, the Mayor and I are working with
people from the County, from the State Attorney's Office, from the County's Homeless
Department, to get the system, whereby all the homeless people are brought into the City of
Miami, processed somewhere else. If we can get that accomplished, the combination of having a
Camillus House that works at curing problems, and the County's inability to dump people in our
City, could push homeless numbers to the lowest level we've ever seen in our community. And,
in this debate, there isn't a single neighborhood we could talk to where, regardless of what we
said, those signs would absolutely come up, and I don't blame you for putting the signs up, you
know. That's the system, and the way the system should work. And I understand exactly what
you're saying. But at the end of the day, we still have to make a decision. And so that said, I'm
at least going to move a motion so that we have a vote, and the vote's either going to be yes or
no. I don't know what it's going to be. So, therefore, Mr. Chairman, I would vote on accepting
the Camillus House recommendation of site, which is the site along I-95 and 71h
[APPLAUSE]
Chairman Teele: No, no, no. No, no. Mr. Attorney, did you want to say something?
William R. Bloom (Special Counsel, CRA): I just want to clarify. And I thought the debate was
regarding -- Camillus House has identified that they are not happy with the two sites that the City
-- the CRA proffered --
Chairman Teele: That wasn't the motion.
29 June 24, 2002
Mr. Bloom: -- and was requesting that --
Board Member Regalado: Excuse me. The motion that Vice Chairman Winton requested was
either an up and down vote on the property in Northwest 7th Avenue, Mr. Attorney.
Vice Chairman Winton: That was my motion.
Chairman Teele: All right. The motion is clear. Is there a second?
Unidentified speaker: Because you don't live around here. (INAUDIBLE) What about the
money you put in your pocket? You forgot that children have (INUDIBLE).
Board Member Sanchez: That's --
Vice Chairman Winton: Excuse me. Excuse me.
Board Member Sanchez: Ma'am, that's uncalled for.
Vice Chairman Winton: Absolutely.
Board Member Sanchez (Translated by Ms. Ondina Suarez): Come on. Now, that's -- we're not
going to have that. That's disrespect to a colleague.
Chairman Teele: I second the motion for discussion.
Board Member Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Winton: I don't -- you know, unless there's something else anyone else has to
say, I'd just call the question. We need roll call.
Board Member Sanchez: Roll call.
Mr. Bloom: Was there a second?
Vice Chairman Winton: Yes. Commissioner Teele -- Chairman Teele second it.
Board Member Regalado: Can she explain what the motion is?
Ms. Suarez: Your honor -- I'm sorry. The motion, as it stands is?
Note for the Record: The following comments by Board Member Regalado were translated
into Spanish by Board Member Regalado.
Board Member Regalado: I'll do it.
Chairman Teele: Call the roll, please.
30 June 24, 2002
Ms. Thompson (Translated by Ms. Ondina Suarez): Board Member Gonzalez?
Board Member Gonzalez: No.
Ms. Thompson: Board Member Sanchez?
Board Member Sanchez: No.
Ms. Thompson: Board Member Regalado?
Board Member Regalado: No.
[APPLAUSE]
Ms. Thompson: Board Mem -- continuing with the roll call, please.
[APPLAUSE]
Ms. Thompson: Board Member Winton?
Vice Chairman Winton: Yes.
Ms. Thompson: Then Chairman Teele?
Chairman Teele: I vote "yes."
Ms. Thompson: Thank you.
Chairman Teele: The motion fails by a vote of three to two. Is there further discussion? If not,
the CRA Board meeting -- special board meeting is going to be recessed. And the Chair is going
to yield to the Chairman of the Commission for a special Commission meeting regarding
Raceworks. Thank you all very, very much. Thank you for coming. Thank you very much.
Thank you for coming.
31 June 24, 2002
M
There being no further business to come before the Community Redevelopment Agency for the
Southeast Overtown/Park West and Omni District, the meeting was adjourned at 5:37 p.m.
ATTEST:
PRISCILLA A. THOMPSON
City Clerk
SYLVIA SCHEIDER
Assistant City Clerk
(SEAL)
ARTHUR E. TEELE, JR.
Chairman
32 June 24, 2002
M
RECEIPT
DATE: September 25, 2002
SUBJECT: Minutes for the June 24, 2002 CRA Meeting
MAYOR DIAZ
VICE CHAIRMAN WINTON
COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ
COMMISSIONER SANCHEZ
CHAIRMAN REGALADO
COMMISSIONER TEELE
Received By:
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