HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-03-0779Rincon, Jessica
Subject: FW: Commission Meeting
-----Original Message ----
From: McGibbon, Karen
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 5:06 PM
To: Alonso, Elvi G.; Rincon, Jessica
Cc: Ortiz -Petit, Ignacio; 'Penelas@aol.com'; 'keithivory116@hotmail.com'; Lee, Brenda
Subject: Commission Meeting Request
Importance: High
3
Please see the following request for one (1 ) PERSONAL APPEARANCE , for
Commission Meeting, July 17, 2003
("REGULAR AGENDA NOT BLUE PAGES)
1) MR. KEITH IVORY, RESIDENTS IN ACTION FOR SAFETY do HEALTH
(R.A.S.H.)
212 NE 24TH STREET, MIAMI, FL 33137
EMAIL: daynia@_bellsouth.net OR keithivory1160-hotmail.com
PHONE# 305-576-7449
RE: RODENT INFESTATION CONTROL ABATEMENT & ABANDONED
BUILDINGS WI1+gN THE CITY OF MIAMI
Karen McGibbon -Lucas
Office of Commissioner Teele
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
Telephone (305)250-5390
Fax (305)250-5399
www.ci.miami.f I.us/teele
Zave a positive aZ productive day!
03- 779
7/8/2003
RASH
Residents in Action for Safety and Health
NEWS FLASH
212 N.E. 24h Street
Miami, FL 33137
Phone: (305) 576-7449 Fax: (305) 576-7392
Who are we?
RASH (Residents in Action for Safety and Health) is a community organization fighting for environmental justice in our neglected inner-
city Miami neighborhoods. We believe that a safe and clean environment is the fundamental right of all people and that people of
color and low-income residents are put more at risk from exposure to unhealthy and potentially toxic conditions.
RASH members identify environmental concerns that pose health and safety problems in their areas and work together to get those
problems addressed by the appropriate actors. As it is no longer possible to ignore the problem of rats in our communities and
throughout the city of Miami, our priority campaign is to free our neighborhoods from rodent infestation by demanding that Miami
implement a citywide, environmentally sound and ongoing rodent control program. This program will not only benefit the residents of
the city, but also facilitate the city's growth and development.
The scope of the rat problem in Miami
As the individual testimonies and anecdotes demonstrate, the rat problem exists in Miami and it is not confined
to a single district. It is originates from the local businesses, owners of abandoned properties and absentee
landlords responsible for the waste, debris and practices that encourage rat infestation. Only the government
has the resources, power and responsibility to eradicate the origins of the rat infestation. The problem is
citywide and must be addressed by a comprehensive, citywide rat abatement program.
Why solve this problem?
The rat problem in Miami affects the health of residents and children as rats and contact with rat droppings
may cause diseases and increases in respiratory diseases.
It is unjust that people who are not the cause of the problem are the people who are suffering the burdens
and consequences of living with rats.
The rat problem itself along with its causes (overgrown lots, garbage strewn around the city, business code
violations) is creating a negative image for Miami.
Solutions
Rats know no city commission district boundaries. Solutions must be consistently implemented throughout the city. Arthur Teele has
agreed to support a rat abatement program in his district, but the rat problem is not limited to District 5 alone. Solutions must be
citywide and must involve the coordination of many different city and county departments: NET, Solid Waste, Dept of Planning &
Zoning, Residents, DERM, Dept of Health and others. Many other urban areas have implemented rat abatement programs: District of
Columbia, Chicago, Seattle, Columbia, South Carolina and more. We can learn from their programs and fit them and our own solutions
to the unique problems and geography of Miami.
We cannot eradicate this problem on our own. We urge you to join your fellow Commissioners by signing the
RASH demands and finding a way to bring a long overdue rat abatement p aara he Cit of Miami which
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will create a healthy, safe and lust environment for the residents of Miamt. THE
PUBLIC RECORD FOR
03- 779 ITEM ON
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To: Miami City Commissioners
tar oli fto d Ham
From : Residents in Action for Safety and Health (RASH) Organizing Committee
Date: July 17, 2003
305-576-7449
Because of the increasingly hazardous conditions in Miami's neglected inner city
neighborhoods, we are asking for a signed commitment of support from you in the
implementation of a rodent control program for the City that should include the following:
1. An environmentally sound, long term and fully funded rodent abatement program
2. The continuation of bulk trash collection in the City of Miami
3. The enforcement of city codes directed at local businesses, owners of
abandoned properties, and absentee landlords responsible for waste, debris and
practice's that encourage rat infestation
4. Providing assistance, rather than penalties, to the elderly and infirm with
compliance
5. Providing our community with enforcement reports including inspections and
citations
6. A meeting with County and City departments with residents to plan a coordinated
program to include environmental departments, solid waste, code enforcement,
health departments and any other related city or county personnel
7. To increase job opportunities for our community through this or other programs
We are asking for your commitment to call for the adoption of a Resolution to proceed
with the design, funding, and implementation of these rodent control measures.
Signed:
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Joe M. Sanchez
Witnessed by:
Commissioner Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Tomas P. Regalado
Mayor Manny Diaz
Submitted Into the public
record in c;onnectio "'ith
item 3 or; �7-os
ris illy .TIS n pson
City Clerk
3-
779