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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1997-11-14 MinutesTYi C` O� O.,FL m A M'I com missIO MINUTES OF METING HELDON -" PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK CITY HALL WALTER FOEMAN CITY CLERK INDEX MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING November 14, 1997 ITEM SUBJECT LEGISLATION PAGE NO. NO. 1. (A) ACCEPT CITY CLERK'S FINDINGS OF R 97-785 1-4 RESULTS OF CITY NONPARTISAN PRIMARY R 97-786 ELECTION -- HELD NOVEMBER 4, 1997 -- 11/14/97 FOR DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS 1 (GORT) / 3 (HERNANDEZ) / 5 (TEELE) AND EXECUTIVE MAYOR. (B) ACCEPT DADE COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD'S CERTIFICATION AND DECLARATION OF RESULTS OF CITY GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION (RUNOFF) - HELD NOVEMBER 13, 1997 - FOR EXECUTIVE MAYOR. 2. THE CITY COMMISSION COMMENDS DISCUSSION 4-5 COMMISSIONER THELMA GIBSON FOR HER 11/14/97 SERVICE TO THE MIAMI COMMUNITY. 3. THE OATH OF OFFICE IS ADMINISTERED TO DISCUSSION 6-8 WIFREDO GORT, COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 11/14/97 1, FOLLOWED BY ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY COMMISSIONER GORT. 4. THE OATH OF OFFICE IS ADMINISTERED TO DISCUSSION 8-10 HUMBERTO HERNANDEZ, COMMISSIONER, 11/14/97 DISTRICT 3, FOLLOWED BY ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ. 5. THE OATH OF OFFICE IS ADMINISTERED TO DISCUSSION 11-14 ARTHUR TEELE, COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 11/14/97 5, FOLLOWED BY ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY COMMISSIONER TEELE. 6. THE OATH OF OFFICE IS ADMINISTERED TO DISCUSSION 15-23 XAVIER L. SUAREZ, EXECUTIVE MAYOR, 11/14/97 FOLLOWED BY ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY MAYOR SUAREZ. MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA On the 14th day of November, 1997, the City Commission of Miami, Florida, met at its regular meeting place in the City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida in regular session. The meeting was called to order at 11:11 a.m. by Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado with the following members of the Commission found to be present: ALSO PRESENT: ABSENT: Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Wifredo Gort Commissioner Thelma V. A. Gibson Edward Marquez, City Manager A. Quinn Jones, III, City Attorney Walter J. Foeman, City Clerk Maria J. Argudin, Assistant City Clerk Mayor Joe Carollo An invocation was delivered by Commissioner Gibson, who then led those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. (A) ACCEPT CITY CLERK'S FINDINGS OF RESULTS OF CITY NONPARTISAN PRIMARY ELECTION -- HELD NOVEMBER 4, 1997 -- FOR DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS 1 (GORT) / 3 (HERNANDEZ) / 5 (TEELE) AND EXECUTIVE MAYOR. (B) ACCEPT DADE COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD'S CERTIFICATION AND DECLARATION OF RESULTS OF CITY GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION (RUNOFF) - HELD NOVEMBER 13, 1997 - FOR EXECUTIVE MAYOR. Commissioner Plummer: Do we have to open the meeting with the canvas? "Oye," Tomas, we've got to open the meeting with the canvas. Each one of us pick a precinct to check the numbers. Each one of us... Vice Mayor Regalado: This Commission will come to order. Would you stand for the invocation. "Por favor, de pie para la oracion." November 14, 1997 A. Quinn Jones, II1, Esq. (City Attorney): No. Walter is the canvassing board. All you're doing is accepting the results. Commissioner Plummer: Oh, OK. Commissioner Plummer: He says... Thelma, he says it's just to accept the results. Vice Mayor Regalado: I... Thelma, would you do it, please. Commissioners, Thelma Gibson with the invocation. Commissioner Gibson: Let me say good morning to all of you, and as we invoke God's blessing upon this gathering, let us ask that God will continue to save this City, and he will see that all of us are united, that we'll come together as one great big City. Now that Miami... Dade County has been named Miami -Dade, it's going to be very important that people realize that the City of Miami is still its own entity. And all we have to do is work together to save the City of Miami. Let us ask God for these blessings. Heavenly Father, we come this morning asking your blessings upon all of us as we're gathered here to bless the Mayor of our City, and the Commissioners, and those who are about to be sworn in as new Commissioners for the City. Help us all to be able to work together as one City and one community. Lord, it is your doing that we are here this morning, that we were able to wake up this morning, that we are able to come together as we are. And we ask that you will bless us all as we go about your work. Bless those sitting Commissioners, and as I go out, I go out leaving everything that I have to this City. These and all other blessings we ask in your name. Amen. Vice Mayor Regalado: Mr. City Clerk, do you have anything to report? Walter Foeman (City Clerk): Yes, Vice Mayor. I need to have the. Commission take a motion on the declaration of results and my certificate from... Commissioner Plummer: So move. Vice Mayor Regalado: There is a motion by Commissioner Plummer. Commissioner Gibson: Second. Vice Mayor Regalado: Second by Commissioner Gibson. All in favor, signify by saying "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Vice Mayor Regalado: The results have been approved. 2 November 14, 1997 The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 97-785 A RESOLUTION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), OFFICIALLY ACCEPTING THE ATTACHED CITY CLERK'S CERTIFICATION AND DECLARATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI NONPARTISAN PRIMARY ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 4, 1997, FOR THE ELECTION OF MAYOR AN THREE COMMISSIONERS (DISTRICTS 1, 3 AND 5). (Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.) Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gibson, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Wifredo Gort Commissioner Thelma V. A. Gibson Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado NAYS: None. ABSENT: Mayor Joe Carollo Mr. Foeman: Secondly, Vice Mayor, I need the Commission to take a roll call on the runoff election, certifying... the certification of Dade County's... well, which is now Miami -Dade County's Canvassing Board results from last night's runoff. Commissioner Plummer: What about them? I don't trust them. I move. Commissioner Gibson: I second. Vice Mayor Regalado: There is a motion by Commissioner Plummer, seconded by Commissioner Gibson. Mr. City Clerk? 3 November 14, 1997 The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 97-786 A RESOLUTION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), OFFICIALLY ACCEPTING THE ATTACHED DADE COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD'S CERTIFICATION AND DECLARATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 13, 1997, FOR THE ELECTION OF MAYOR. (Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.) Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gibson, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Wifredo Gort Commissioner Thelma V. A. Gibson Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado NAYS: None. ABSENT: Mayor Joe Carollo ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. THE CITY COMMISSION COMMENDS COMMISSIONER THELMA GIBSON FOR HER SERVICE TO THE MIAMI COMMUNITY. -------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7----------------------------- Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Vice Mayor, are all three... I know there's one other candidate here. Is Mr. Hernandez here? Vice Mayor Regalado: I am told that he is. Commissioner Plummer: "Tiempo latino." Vice Mayor Regalado: So we... If he's not here, we're going to wait a few moments to have all three members of the Commission at the ceremony. Commissioner Plummer: Maybe he's not interested. Commissioner Gort: I doubt it. Vice Mayor Regalado: He is. Commissioner Plummer: If I could take this opportunity... Mr. Vice Mayor? Vice Mayor Regalado: Sure. Commissioner Plummer: I would like to, on behalf of not only, I'm sure... Very seldomly do I ever speak for this Commission, but I'm going to speak today for this Commission and the 4 November 14, 1997 people of this City, to say a very thanks to a lady who came forth when she was desperately needed, who put her shoulder to the wheel, had no axes to grind, no hidden agendas, has always had the love of this City and bringing it to a united City. And I want to say with you, and with all of these people, a very special thanks to Thelma Gibson. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Plummer: Thelma, I can't tell if you're blushing or not. Vice Mayor Regalado: Mr. City Clerk, we are waiting for the Commissioners Elect. We have Commissioner Elect Willy Gort. We need Commissioner Elect Art Teele, Commissioner Elect Humberto Hernandez. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Plummer: Due to the lack of interest, today has been cancelled. Commissioner Gort: So what's happening? Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Vice Mayor, I think it would be appropriate to make a very brief announcement. Vice Mayor Regalado: Go ahead, Commissioner. Commissioner Plummer: The schedule that we have... been set forth that we are scheduled to swear in the three Commissioners at eleven, "mas o menos," and the "alcalde" at twelve -thirty. So when the first phase is finished, I think they want to clear out City Hall for a very brief period of time to allow the Mayor's family to come in, first and foremost, and then they will let anyone else of the public back in. Vice Mayor Regalado: Absolutely. Commissioner Plummer: But once we finish the eleven o'clock, it will be an "amen," and back at twelve -thirty for the swearing in of the "alcalde." Vice Mayor Regalado: We are waiting for the Commissioners Elect, and I think that we're going to take "cinco minutos." Commissioner Plummer: "Tiempo latino." Vice Mayor Regalado: "Tiempo cubano." Commissioner Plummer: Tomas, why don't we say eleven -thirty? Vice Mayor Regalado: Yeah. We'll be back at eleven -thirty with the swearing in of the three new Commissioners of the City of Miami. THEREUPON THE CITY COMMISSION WENT INTO RECESS AT 11:18 A.M. AND RECONVENED AT 11:27 A.M., WITH ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION, EXCEPTING MAYOR CAROLLO, FOUND TO BE PRESENT. 5 November 14, 1997 a C7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. THE OATH OF OFFICE IS ADMINISTERED TO WIFREDO GORT, COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 1, FOLLOWED BY ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY COMMISSIONER GORT. Vice Mayor Regalado: We are... The swearing in ceremonies will be individual Commissioners. It will be done by alphabetical order. "La ceremonia de juramentacion sera en orden alfabetico. Los Comisionados Electos han pedido que se haga esta ceremonia de forma individual, de manera de que... el City Clerk va a comenzar este procedimiento con el Comisionado Electo Willy Gort." We are going to start with Commissioner Elect Willy Gort. (APPLAUSE) Vice Mayor Regalado: I'm sorry, Judge. Judge, just one second. Judge, one second. We need to have the press... We need to have the press here. We need to have facilities for the press here. Commissioner Gort: The mike is not on. Commissioner Plummer: Do it on a mike. Judge Manuel Rodriguez: Place your left hand on the Bible and raise your right hand. Repeat after me. "I..." state your name. Commissioner Gort: I, Willy Gort... Judge Rodriguez: "...do solemnly swear..." Commissioner Gort: ... do solemnly swear... Judge Rodriguez: "... that I will support, protect and defend..." Commissioner Gort: ... that I will support, protect and defend... Judge Rodriguez: "... the Constitution..." Commissioner Gort: ... the Constitution... Judge Rodriguez: "... and laws of the United States of America..." Commissioner Gort: ... and laws of the United States of America... Judge Rodriguez: "and of the State of Florida..." Commissioner Gort: ... and of the State of Florida. Judge Rodriguez: "... and the Charter of the City of Miami..." Commissioner Gort: ... and the Charter of the City of Miami... Judge Rodriguez: "... in all respects, faithfully discharge..." 6 November 14, 1997 i • Commissioner Gort: ... in all respects, faithfully discharge... Judge Rodriguez: "... the duties of Commissioner..." Commissioner Gort: ... the duties of Commissioner... Judge Rodriguez: "... of the City of Miami..." Commissioner Gort: ... of the City of Miami... Judge Rodriguez: "... Dade County, Florida..." Commissioner Gort: ... Dade County, Florida._. Judge Rodriguez: "... on which I am now about to enter..." Commissioner Gort: ... which I am about now to enter... Judge Rodriguez: "... so help me God." Commissioner Gort: ... so help me God. Judge Rodriguez: Congratulations. (APPLAUSE) Unidentified Speaker: "No puedo..." Unidentified Speaker: "Arriba," Willy. Commissioner Gort: I'm only going to take a minute. It's an emotional day for me. I wish my mom was here. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Gort: All I can say is that I want to thank all of you, and all of those of you that helped in this campaign. I'm not going to go into names, because there's too many people that got involved in the campaign, but most of all, my family, my wife, my daughters, my sister and my father. They were with me, and my mom was with me always, also. So I want to thank all of you. And I think now that the politics is over, the elections are over, we've got to get together now and do the goals that we set out to do, make this City what it's destined to be, one of the greatest cities in the world, over the next five years. And that is thanks to all of you. Thanks for getting the job done. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Gort: Now I'm going to say a few words in Spanish. "Pense que iba ser mas facil la segunda vez, pero como pueden ustedes ver, no to ha sido. Ha sido un dia muy emotivo pars mi. Sobre todo, quise que mi mama hoy estuviera aqui. Ella esta espiritualmente. Pero quiero dar las gracias a todos ustedes que trabajaron en la campana, todos ustedes que colaboraron, y son muchos. Por eso, no nombro nombres especificos. Pero mas que nada, yo creo que tenemos que olvidarnos ahora, que ya las elecciones ya pasaron, tenemos que unir las fuerzas y hacer to que esta ciudad esta destinada a ser." 7 November 14, 1997 • 0 (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Gort: "Esta ciudad esta destinada a ser una de las ciudades mas importantes del mundo en los proximos cinco anos. Y esto va a ser posible por el esfuerzo humano que tenemos aqui. Una vez mas, mil gracias a todos ustedes, a todos los que me apoyaron, que Dios los bendiga. Muchas gracias." 4. THE OATH OF OFFICE IS ADMINISTERED TO HUMBERTO HERNANDEZ, COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 3, FOLLOWED BY ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ. Vice Mayor Regalado: We are going now to proceed with the ceremony for Commissioner Humberto Hernandez. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Hernandez: Can I get Reverend Dunn for my invocation? Vice Mayor Regalado: Sure. Go ahead. (APPLAUSE) Reverend Dunn: I'm going to ask that we all join hands, symbolic of us working together, black, white and Hispanic and Haitians as one. (APPLAUSE) Reverend Dunn: Everyone, reach out and join someone's hand. Father, we are grateful today for this glorious occasion, democracy, in the United States of America, in the City of Miami, and the State of Florida, the County of Dade. We thank you for the victory of Commissioner Hernandez. We pray that you bless him, guide him, comfort him, direct him and protect him. Bless his family. We thank you for all of the Commissioners and the new Mayor who was elected by the people. We thank you. Thy will be done. We ask these and many other blessings in Thy Son's name, we pray. Amen. (APPLAUSE) Judge Leon Firtel: With that having been said, it's my pleasure to administer the oath to Commissioner Humberto Hernandez. "I..." state your name. Commissioner Hernandez: I, Humberto Hernandez... Judge Firtel: "... do solemnly swear that I will support..." Commissioner Hernandez: ... do solemnly swear that I will support... Judge Firtel: "... protect and defend..." Commissioner Hernandez: ... protect and defend... 8 November 14, 1997 Judge Firtel: "... the Constitution..." Commissioner Hernandez: ... the Constitution... Judge Firtel: "... and the laws of the United States of America..." Commissioner Hernandez: ... and the laws of the United States of America... Judge Firtel: "... and the State of Florida..." Commissioner Hernandez: ... and the State of Florida... Judge Firtel: "... and the Charter of the City of Miami..." Commissioner Hernandez: ... and the Charter of the City of Miami... Judge Firtel: "... in all respects, faithfully discharge..." Commissioner Hernandez: ... in all respects, faithfully discharge... Judge Firtel: "... the duties of Commissioner of the City of Miami, Dade County, Florida..." Commissioner Hernandez: ... the duties of Commissioner of the City of Miami, Dade County, Florida... Judge Firtel: "... on which I am now about to enter, so help me God." Commissioner Hernandez: ... on which I am now about to enter, so help me God. Judge Firtel: Congratulations. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Hernandez: "Muy Buenos digs. Muy Buenos digs a todos, y muchas gracias por estar aqui una vez mas conmigo y mi familia. Le tengo que dar las gracias primero a Dios, y despues al pueblo de Miami que decidio la semana pasada defenderme a mi, defender a esta ciudad como se merece. Ustedes me han conocido a mi. En los ultimos nueve meses, han podido conocer a mi familia, al servicio que le traigo a la ciudad de Miami. En el dia de hoy, estoy tan contento de estar aqui reunido con todos ustedes, con mi familia, con el pueblo de la ciudad de Miami, que to voy a defender mas que nunca, como siempre to hice." (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Hernandez: "Todo to que siempre hle querido hacer aqui en la ciudad de Miami es servir a este pueblo. Yo naci aqui, es mi... una gran ciudad. Es la ciudad que yo adoro, la ciudad donde yo vivo, en que mis ninas viven y mi familia. Y los voy una vez mas a representar por cuatro anos mas. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Hernandez: Empesamos el lunes, este lunes ya a trabajar y comenzar el progreso de esta gran ciudad. Los proximos cuatro anos van hacer brillantes para esta ciudad. Yo los quiero mucho a todos ustedes que estan aqui, que estuvieron aqui la semana pasada. Que dios los bendiga a todos, y to mejor viene ahora. 9 November 14, 1997 0 (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Hernandez: Good morning, everyone. It's a great day for me in the City of Miami. I really... I'm really speechless. I've been on an emotional roller coaster for the last three months of my life. It's been extremely hard for my family and me. But it was a joy for me to see how the people went out, the people of Miami, to defend me, to defend the City of Miami, the City that has a bright future, a City that is unified today and will be unified forever on. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Hernandez: I can't let the day go by without thanking a lot of people that were behind me, that decided to stick by me during the good times and the bad times. There are so many of you that are here today. First and foremost, I'd like to thank the Governor of the State of Florida for being a great Governor, for deciding to give me another chance. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Hernandez: Several families that stuck by my side, friends, political friends, the Diaz de la Portilla family that stuck by me day and night, Alex, Miguel and Ranier; Miguel father and mother Fabiola, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. My family is there, hand in hand for whatever you need. You are my friends, my true friends. The La Casa family which stood next to me day and night, and of course, my old friend and ally, Maurice Ferre. Thank you, Maurice, for coming here today. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Hernandez: To my intimate family, what can I say? - my mother, my wife, who walked endlessly, probably walked more, door to door, than I did this year. Her shoes can prove it. And my great friend, Marta Flores who... what can I say? (APPLAUSE) Unidentified Speaker: "La Marta de Miami." Commissioner Hernandez: Finally, if I had to do it all over again, three years ago, I started walking door to door, and there's one person that stood by my side day and night, went with me day and night, making sure that I walked door to door, door to door. If there's one person that can make a winner out of someone, it's my Uncle John Lasseville. I dedicate the victory to him. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Hernandez: My doors are open. I'd like to thank Commissioner Thelma Gibson for doing the job that she did. And I look forward to working with her and every other Commissioner on this board for the next four years. Thank you very much. I love you. (APPLAUSE) 10 November 14, 1997 0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. THE OATH OF OFFICE IS ADMINISTERED TO ARTHUR TEELE, COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 5, FOLLOWED BY ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY COMMISSIONER TEELE. Vice Mayor Regalado: The Oath of Commissioner will now be administered to Arthur Teele. (APPLAUSE) Reverend Dunn: I have been asked again to invoke God's presence upon this newly elected Commissioner, and I will ask that you... that we would repeat what we did symbolically... but more than symbolically. I am hoping that after the celebration is over that we will continue to work together as one. Let's join hands, please, as we bow our heads in prayer. Dear Father, we are grateful once again for the privilege to allow your democracy to take place in this country, one of the greatest, if not the greatest country in the entire world. We thank you for allowing one of the most gifted public servants on the face of this earth to be elected by the people and for the people._ We thank you, Lard, that against all odds, justice prevailed, and righteousness rolled down like mighty waters. We thank you, Oh, God, for his family, his wife, for those who have stood by his side and worked with him throughout the years. But most of all, we thank you for him, for his willingness to serve and to surrender himself as a public servant. We pray also that you would bless him, protect him, his family, lead, guide, comfort and strengthen and keep him that he might be the best Commissioner that he possibly could be. We ask these and many other blessings in your Son's name. We pray, and we thank you for the victory. In His name we pray. Amen. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Arthur Teele: Could we get at least one or two leaders of the Haitian community to come up, please? It's time that our Haitian brothers and sisters... Please, Jacques, Michelle... (APPLAUSE) The Honorable Dennis Moss (Commissioner, Board of Miami -Dade County Commission): While we are waiting, let me just say it is, indeed, an honor for me to be here today during this very, very exciting occasion. I want to congratulate the newly elected Mayor and City Commissioners, and I'd just like to say, as one of the County Commissioners from the new Miami -Dade County that you can count on me to support the City. I think the City is one of the greatest cities anywhere in the world, and we will be there to help make this community the kind of community that we all look forward to. At this time, it is my honor to swear in my friend, this community's friend, someone who I've had an opportunity to work with over the last several years, who is a dedicated, dedicated public servant, and is about the community's business. Having said that, Commissioner, would you repeat after me. "I..." state your name. Mr. Teele: I, Arthur Teele... Commissioner Moss: "... do solemnly swear..." Mr. Teele: ... do solemnly swear... Commissioner Moss: "... that I will support..." 11 November 14, 1997 0 Mr. Teele: ... that I will support... Commissioner Moss: "... protect, and defend..." Mr. Teele: ... protect and defend... Commissioner Moss: "...the Constitution..." Mr. Teele: ... the Constitution... Commissioner Moss: "... and laws of the United States of America..." Mr. Teele: ... and laws of the United States of America... Commissioner Moss: "... and of the State of Florida..." Mr. Teele: ... and of the State of Florida... Commissioner Moss: "... and the Charter of the City of Miami..." Mr. Teele: ... and the Charter of the City of Miami... Commissioner Moss: "... in all respects..." Mr. Teele: in all respects... Commissioner Moss: "... faithfully discharge the duties of Commissioner..." Mr. Teele: ... faithfully discharge the duties of Commissioner... Commissioner Moss: "... of the City of Miami..." Mr. Teele: ... of the City of Miami... Commissioner Moss: "... Dade County, Florida..." Mr. Teele: ... Dade County, Florida... Commissioner Moss: "... on which I am now about to enter..." Mr. Teele: ... on which I am now about to enter... Commissioner Moss: "...so help me God." Mr. Teele: ... so help me God. Commissioner Moss: Congratulations. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Teele: Let me first take this opportunity to say to Vice Mayor Regalado; Commissioner extraordinaire, J.L. Plummer... 12 November 14, 1997 • rI (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Teele: ... to my long time friend who has supported me in so many elections, Commissioner Willy Gort and his wife... (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Teele: ... and to what clearly you have shown and Miami has... and the world must take note of one of the rising emerging stars in law and government, the new Commissioner Humberto Hernandez. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Teele: Let me say that I know my role as a rookie, and I am pledging here publicly to work positively and cooperatively with my five colleagues as we develop a City Commission that will be second to none. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Teele: I join with my colleagues in commending Mayor Suarez on his tremendous victory. And I say to everyone that is here, Miami has the opportunity to be a great, great City. It's up to us as citizens of this community to pull this community together, and to work together for a great City, which I pledge to be a part of. But to the members and to my colleagues from District 5 that are here, I particularly take note of the fact that Liberty City and Allapattah have too long not had the resources that they must have. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Teele: I further take note of the fact that we pause for a moment to allow two fine people to enter on this stage that heretofore have not been fully represented, and I pledge publicly to represent the citizens of Little Haiti with all of the vigor that I can. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Teele: And to all of the citizens of Miami, I ask you to pause for just one moment, and take note that just over 100 years ago, when this City was being formed by Mr. Flagler, 30 men came out of the ghetto and stood out of the railroad village. Those 30 men were important, because it took 100 men to sign for a City. Those 30 men are responsible in many ways with the other 70 for there being a City of Miami. And those 30 men came from a little known part of Miami that has been raped, that has been abused, that has been taken advantage of by everybody who's got a resolution, an ordinance, or a contract, or a goal. That area is Overtown. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Teele: And so I cop a plea, I beg right now, publicly, my four colleagues, to join with me, not as a Commissioner from a district, but for a Commissioner who wants to do right by a City, and let us work to restore Overtown to its greatness. Let us work to restore Overtown to it vitality, because Overtown is no longer Overtown. It is, indeed, our town, and it is downtown. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Teele: I know that much has been said, and I have to agree with everything that Bert Hernandez has said in thanking so many of the people. Most of the people that supported 13 November 14, 1997 Bert supported me. And I won't go through the long list of the fire fighters and the AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) and the police, and all of the workers and the citizens that really care about this City, but I will say this: Maurice Ferre is one great person, and he has stood... (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Teele: And I'm very proud to have Maurice as my friend. Thelma Gibson can never be thanked enough, and J.L. Plummer has certainly done an adequate job, but won't you join me also in giving Thelma another salute. She's done a great job. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Teele: And to my colleague who ran a great race, Pierre Rutledge... (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Teele: I pledge to work positively and cooperatively with Pierre. He's a bright young man with a bright future, and he will have a door... and Pierre Rutledge will have an open door in my office any time he wants it. Ladies and gentlemen, there is so much to say and so much to do. But I want to close by asking you to join me in a moment of silent prayer for a great Miamian, a person who really put Miami on the map, a woman who did so much with so much dignity, and a woman who really never shared her pain. Can we pause for a moment of silent prayer in honor of the late and great Ann Bishop? Amen. Merci beaucoup, muchas gracias, thank you very much. (APPLAUSE) Vice Mayor Regalado: We will be back. We will be back at twelve -thirty. We will be back at twelve -thirty for the Mayor's swearing in. "A las duce y media para la ceremonia del alcalde electo, Xavier Suarez." (APPLAUSE) THEREUPON THE CITY COMMISSION WENT INTO RECESS AT 11:54 A.M. AND RECONVENED AT 12:30 P.M., WITH ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION, EXCEPTING MAYOR CAROLLO, FOUND TO BE PRESENT. 14 November 14, 1997 • ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. THE OATH OF OFFICE IS ADMINISTERED TO XAVIER L. SUAREZ, EXECUTIVE MAYOR, FOLLOWED BY ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY MAYOR SUAREZ. Mr. Xavier L. Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Vice Mayor. Thank you. "Muchas gracias, senor vice alcalde." I'd almost forgotten this. OK. Everybody likes my son. The first order of business, I believe... "porque se me ha olvidado todo esto." The first order of business, I believe, is for... Mr. Vice Mayor, I believe, is for Judge Green to swear me in. Ladies and gentlemen, I want you to know... Oh, the invocation is first. OK. Where is Reverend Phillips? Father Menendez, would you come up, please, and Reverend Phillips. Oh, yes, Colonel Montes, yes. Ladies and gentlemen, my wife just reminded me - wouldn't you know it? - first, the pledge of allegiance. Colonel Armando Montes to do the pledge of allegiance. Col. Armando Montes: Repeat after me. NOTE FOR THE RECORD: At this point, Colonel Armando Montes led those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag. Colonel Montes: "Viva Xavier." (APPLAUSE) Mr. Suarez: J.L., you've been around so long... you've been around so long, you should be helping me a little bit. Please, please, "por favor, si no, to ponemos a hablar o voy a perder la poca voz que me queda." I think... I think the benedictions go first - right? - the invocations, we put out first. And I don't see Reverend Phillips anywhere. There he is. Father Jose Luis Menendez, followed by... Oh, all right. We'll take Reverend Phillips. Ladies and gentleman, this reverend... (APPLAUSE) Mr. Suarez: Reverend Phillips is the president of PULSE (People United to Lead the Struggle for Equality). As you know, PULSE carried out a struggle to have singe member districts, maybe not as many as Manolo would like, and some of us, but certainly five districts in our City that assure that the neighborhoods are well represented, and, not coincidentally, that we have fair representation for all ethnic groups. So Reverend Phillips, we are pleased and proud to have you. Would you lead us in a prayer. Reverend James L. Phillips: Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. I'm going to ask that all of us bow our heads. Our Father and our God, we thank you today for the privilege of coming into your presence on this historic and solemn occasion. We thank you for your gracious hand which has preserved us as a nation. We praise you for the peaceful continuity of government that this City represents. We recall that the Bible says, "Except the Lord build a house, thou labor in vain that built it." You also said that to whom much has been given, much shall be required. We look gratefully to the past, and thank you that from the very foundations of America, you granted our forefathers courage and wisdom as they trusted in you. So we ask today that you would 15 November 14, 1997 inspire us by their example. Where there has been failure, forgive us. Where there has been progress, confirm. Where there has been success, give us humility. And teach us to follow your instructions more closely as we enter the next century. Give to all those to whom you have entrusted leadership today a desire to seek your will and to do it. So today, we ask your blessing on Mayor Suarez and his family, and upon the Commissioners and their families. Give to all our leaders the vision of what you desire Miami to become, and the wisdom to accomplish it, and the strength to cross the bridges into the 21st century. We have not solved all social problems of our time, such as drugs and racism. Technology and social engineering have not solved the basic problem of human greed, pride, intolerance and selfishness. We need your insight. We need your compassion. We need your strength. Remind us today that you have shown us what is good, and what you require of us, to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. We ask that as a people, we may humble ourselves before you, and seek your will for our lives and for this great City. Help us in our City to work as never before to strengthen our families and to give our children hope and a moral foundation for the future, so may our desire be to serve you, and in doing so, serve one another. We pray in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Suarez: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, we worshipped this morning in Wynwood with Father Jose Luis Menendez. Some people think he's the spiritual leader of the Cuban exile community and we are proud to have Father Jose Luis Menendez here for an invocation. (APPLAUSE) Father Jose Luis Menendez: "La mia va hacer en espanol. Y vamos a hacerlo tambien no en nombre de los 56. Vamos hacerlo en nombre de los 100, de toda la ciudad de Miami. Y vamos a pedirle al Senor para que este dia, nos de a todos unidad. Para que no halla vencedores y vencidos. Para que todos seamos uno, porque somos Miami. Para que una a los blancos y a los negros, a los haitianos y a los hispanos, y nos una a todos en una misma lucha. Y para que esa luz venga sobre todos los comisionados y sobre su familiares. Padre celestial, hoy to queremos pedir por todos nosotros. Somos tus hijos, nos conoces mejor que nosotros mismos. Hoy has querido poner a to hijo, Xavier, aqui, junto a los demas comisionados para regir los destinos de nuestra ciudad. Hoy to queremos pedir que mandes sobre el to espiritu de cordura, de inteligencia, to espiritu de santidad, to espiritu de fe y de ver clara las cocas y de encontrar caminos en medio del mar. Te queremos pedir hoy que mandes to espiritu sobre el y sobre todos estos para que podamos encontrar los caminos que Miami necesita. Haznos a todos magnanimos. Haznos a todos grande de corazon. Has que olvidemos las ofensas. Has que crescamos en amor, los unos con los otros. A fin, de que Miami entre en este 21 siglos de era cristiana, este 21 nuevo siglos que tenemos en nuestra historia con una nueva cara, con un nuevo espiritu, con una misma capacidad de amor y de servicio. Te pedimos esto todo, Padre, por JesuCristo, nuestro Senor. Amen. Pero yo quisiera llamar a una mujer muy especial: Virgen de la Caridad, ruega por nosotros." (APPLAUSE) Mr. Suarez: "Gracias, gracias, Padre Jose Luis Menendez, el Reverendo Anorga y otros ministros que estan aqui, nos ofrecen su oraciones tambien y agradecemos enormemente al Padre Macho, al Padra Jack de San Francis Xavier que estuvo con nosotros hoy por la manana. Quiero que sepan que a peticion de varios y porque es simbolico para nosotros, antes de hacer nada, hoy por la manana pasamos precisamente por la Ermita de la Caridad, y estuvimos alli unos momenticos de agradecimiente y oracion." Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, I would like to introduce to you a person that I have asked to swear me in. I was watching, by the way, the other ceremonies, and I see so many things that bring us together. I was so pleased to see 16 November 14, 1997 Reverend Dunn give the invocation for Commissioner Teele. We're obviously all on the same team. And now, I am pleased to ask a person who is gentle of voice, intelligent beyond most great jurists in this community and anywhere in the United States, the highest ranking African - American woman Judge in the history of the State of Florida, and my good friend, Judge Melvia Green. Judge Melvia Green: The Bible? Mr. Suarez: Once again,the Bible problem. We'll do a symbolic Bible. Unidentified Speaker: Wait. They got it coming here. Unidentified Speaker: Well, yours is coming. Mr. Suarez: OK. Unidentified Speaker: There you go. Judge Melvia Green: OK. Mr. Mayor, would you raise your right hand and repeat after me. "I..." state your name. Mr. Suarez: I, Xavier L. Suarez... Judge Green: "... do solemnly swear..." Mr. Suarez: ... do solemnly swear... Judge Green: "... that I will support..." Mr. Suarez: ... that I will support... Judge Green: "... protect and defend..." Mr. Suarez: ... protect and defend... Judge Green: "... the Constitution and laws..." Mr. Suarez: ... the Constitution and laws... Judge Green: "... of the United States of America..." Mr. Suarez: ... of the United States of America... Judge Green: "... and of the State of Florida..." Mr. Suarez: ... and of the State of Florida... Judge Green: "... and the Charter of the City of Miami..." Mr. Suarez: ... and the Charter of the City of Miami... Judge Green: "... and in all respects..." Mr. Suarez: ... and in all respects... 17 November 14, 1997 11 0 Judge Green: "... faithfully discharge the duties of Mayor..." Mr. Suarez: ... faithfully discharge the duties of Mayor... Judge Green: "... of the City of Miami..." Mr. Suarez: ... of the City of Miami... Judge Green: "... Dade County, Florida." Mr. Suarez: ... Dade County, Florida." Judge Green: Congratulations. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: Ladies and gentlemen, one interesting thing. I wanted everybody to know that yesterday was a very special day for Judge Green, and also a very special day for the wife of Commissioner Hernandez. If I'm not mistaken, I think they both have the same birthday. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: Una coincidencia muy Linda es que la juez, Melvia Green y la esposa de Comisionado Hernandez ayer celebraban sus cumpleanos. Y yo se que en el caso de la juez, estaba trabajando. Y yo se que Esther, tambien estaba trabajando, y estaba enferma de contra. Asi que a las dos le celebramos el cumpleanos de ayer. No empiecen a cantar, por favor." I have a short speech. Fellow Commissioners, Mr. Vice Mayor, State Representatives Bruno Barreiro, Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat, Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Judge Green, former Commissioners Armando La Casa, Thelma Gibson, and any others that I might have forgotten... Victor de Yurre, Representative Carlos La Casa, and all other elected officials and former elected officials who are here and whom I may have forgotten. Ladies and gentlemen, I am tempted to begin this inaugural address by saying something to the doubters, the naysayers, the profits of doom, who almost made us lose hope, not only in this election, but in the viability of our City. To them, I would say what the great poet Maya Angelou said, "I am going somewhere so far, so beyond you, you're not even in it." "En espanol... tengo que traducir eso. Mi esposa to leyo en un libro sobre Maya Angelou, la gran poetisa norteamericana, Africana-Americana, que la habian traido a ver a su hijo que estaba paralizado despues de un accidente de automovil. El medico le dijo, 'senora, preparese, porque nunca va a poder caminar.' Ella le dijo, 'no me hable usted, senor doctor. Yo voy a un lugar tan lejos tan fuera del alcance suyo que usted ni to entiende.' Asi que los que dudaron de nuestra ciudad, de su habilidad economica, de que si estaba en bancarrota, de que si el movimiento de Xavier Suarez tambien estaba en bancarrota, para ellos les digo, 'vamos a it a un lugar tan lejos y voy a anadir en espanol, tan rapido, que ustedes se van a soprender, y no van a poder llegar a ese lugar porque la imaginacion que ustedes tienen no los deja.' No conocen valores espirituales, no conocen la unidad de este pueblo que nos lleva mas alla de to que parece ser la capacidad humana." There were times when I felt the weight of the doubt, the skepticism levelled at me, like a storm of spears, by experts and media who would not take the time to debate me or engage me in a thorough, unyielding, uncompromising search for the truth. The truth is and has been that Miami has the resources, the people and the God-given gifts to survive even 14 months of negativism and hopelessness. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: In fact, it was 12 years ago that Miami faced its biggest real financial crisis. Commissioner Plummer remembers it, because he's been around here forever. It was a crisis of 18 November 14, 1997 confidence, a crisis of divided ethnic groups, and a real deficit estimated by a Federal court at two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) missing from the City's pension funds. In eight short years, we joined ranks with the private sector and changed Miami from "Paradise Lost" to T.D. Aldman's "City of the Future." We did it with no State help, and only the most begrudging support from the media. Only the national media, an occasional bold reporter like Michael Putney, or Bernadette Pardo, or Tony Brown, Andres Vargas Gomez, writing in "El Nuevo Herald" would take time to dig deep into the body politic and report on the heart and mind of our movement, of the ideas that ultimately empowered us to building every major public work of the last 25 years in those eight years. In the first eight months of my mayoralty in 1985, it seemed not only for a while there... Reverend White, I see you with the hat. Only Morley Safer noticed that Miami was colorful and vibrant, and that Miami's leader was doing a pretty good job of steering us towards the 21st century. Thank God for Morley Safer, because the local media didn't seem to take notice. Today, we are once again shackled by despair, devisiveness and a media which delights in pointing out our flaws. They claim that we are an impoverished City, a badly run City, a City on the edge. To them, I say, yes, we are, indeed, a City on the edge... on the edge of greatness, with a downtown like no other, sitting next to a bay which is increasingly clean and clear, with neighborhoods full of young families constantly improving their homes, hoping that the City will not increase taxes or reduce services. In the inner City, older folks reside in homes and senior centers and pray for police presence, cleaner streets, and better access to medical care. It is toughest on them. For many who are homeowners, have paid off their mortgages, and yet, find themselves unable to pay two and three hundred dollars ($300) a month just for taxes and insurance, what they used to pay for mortgages, and they can't afford it. So what do we expect them to do? Move out? No. We're going to reduce their taxes so they can stay in the City. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: "No puedo ni exagerar, ni enfatizar sobre manera el numero de residencies que visite, de caritas pequenas que estan pagando dos mil dolares, y mil quinientos, y mil setecientos dolares al ano en impuestos. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: Cuando les anades el seguro que va con esos avaluos, tienen que pagar dos y trescientos dolares al mes mas de to que antes pagaban por la hipoteca que ya han pagado y que pensaban que podian seguir viviendo con seiecientos, y quinientos, y cuatrocientos dolares al ano de seguro social, y eso ezcasamente les dura dos meses de hipoteca. A ellos les vamos a decir, 'no tienen que mudarse de Miami. Le vamos a reducir los impuestos para que pueden quedarse en Miami." (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: They live in Flagami, in the northeast, Little Havana and Liberty City, Allapattah, Coral Way, and parts of the Grove. They deserve a serious tax abatement promised to them by so many politicians, but fulfilled by none. They are the backbone of Miami, the people without whom our City would cease to exist. I have been elected once again to represent those people, the hard working folks who live in our neighborhoods. Because I also believe in the concept of the body politic, I will struggle also in a special way to help the neediest areas. By every demographic and socioeconomic index, Overtown and Wynwood are the poorest. I will look to Commissioner Teele for guidance and energy in turning those areas around. In brief conversations I have had with him since his election, he has already shown more creativity than I witnessed during eight years from well paid planners whose idea of inner city development was brick pavers along the river, Calle Ocho and Biscayne Boulevard. 19 November 14, 1997 • E (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: If any planner comes up with the idea of more brick pavers for millions of dollars, they better go to some other Mayor and some other Commissioner, I hope. "Mencionaba que el Comisionado Teel, en conversaciones que hemos sostenido bien breves, ya ha expresado mas creatividad y mas conocimiento del proceso de urbanizar y desarrollar el Centro de la Ciudad en las areas pobres, que todos los planeadores y todos to planificadores de Miami en los ocho anos que yo fui el alcalde, que se dedicaban a decir que con ladrillitos nuevos en la Calle Ocho, en el rio de Miami, en Biscayne Boulevard, ibamos a resolver ese problema de las areas pobres de Miami que necesitaban desarrollo. a ellos les digo, les digo, hay dos cosas que necesitamos para desarrollo, y Teele to conoce, y Regalado to conoce, and Gort to conoce, y Humberto Hernandez to conoce, y Plummer to conoce. Que son viviendas costeables y prestamos." Affordable housing and loans to small businesses are the keys to urban renewal. Commissioner Teele knows and professes that. Commissioner Hernandez, like myself, has been inside the homes of our Hispanic inner City. God, I visited 5,000 homes. I had the hardest time getting the media to understand the impact of that, of seeing all these people, face to face, listening to their problems, and, of course, giving them the best that I could offer, my promises for government. Mr. Commissioner Hernandez knows their fears and their aspirations. He shares the frustration of an abandoned Latin Quarter, whose architectural norms are more a hindrance than a help. He is keenly aware that the NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team) centers, envisioned as models of service, have become the bill collectors and code enforcers of a City whose leaders proclaim they're bankrupt, and then nearly made that proclamation a self- fulfilling prophesy. "Los centrrs de NET se han convertido en agencia de coleccion de cuentas de la Ciudad, y en agencias de enforzar los codigos y volver locos a los vecinos. No se suponian que fueran para eso. Se suponian que fueran para proteger." (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: The motto that's going to hang over every single NET center and mini -station is going to say "PB&E," protect, build, employ. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: I look to Commissioner Hernandez to be the Commission's mouthpiece, to rally our people in support of serious streamlining, aggressive readjustment of our relationship with the County. And I'm thinking, Commissioners, of all that money that goes to .the Beacon Council from our occupational licenses in the City of Miami, and all that money that goes to the Convention and Visitors Bureau from hotels in the City of Miami. That's what I'm thinking about. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: "El cuareinta y siete porciento de todos los ingresos del Buro de Turismo, que ni siquiera tienen un slogan que valga la pena: Salen y surgen de hoteles dentro de la Ciudad de Miami. Y yo quiero ese dinero para los ciudadanos de Miami." (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: Gracias que tenemos a los... representantes esta- tales que nos van a ayudar or ue ha que hacer un e uenito cambio en la ley." It might surprise man to find that I have, p q Y q p q Y• g p Y over the years, supported Commissioner Plummer, Commissioner Gort, and Commissioner Regalado. I know how J.L. has worried about the levels of service in our Public Safety Departments. I know Gort's genuine struggle to resolve a financial crisis which experts found almost intractable. I sensed Regalado's anguish - and I mentioned that last night in an 20 November 14, 1997 interview - Commissioner Regalado's anguish over a Fire Rescue tee that is regressive and burdensome. "La prensa no noto que durante los ands yo he apoyado a los cinco comisionados que hoy en dia estan aqui con nosotros. Y yo sabia de to preocupado que estaba el Comisionado Plummer y to discuti con el de los servicios de nuestros departamentos de bombero y de policia. Sabia to preocupado que estaba el Comisionado Gort con la situacion economica de la ciudad, y sabia que el queria, como todos nosotros, buscar una solucion rapida de esos problemas, y justa; y escuche al Comisionado Regalado decir to injusto que era el nuevo impuesto de bomberos y rescate. Yo voy a trabajar con ellos, en ningun sentido contra ellos. Al reves, ellos son los Comisionados que representan a la ciudad. Tengo que escucharlos." (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: "Y una cosa que ahora es mas facil, porque ahora la ley me permite hablar con ellos. Acuerdense que... " Unidentified Speaker: "Alcalde fuerte." (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: The beauty of our new form of government is that each Commissioner represents a unique district. Thanks to Reverend Phillips and PULSE, the transformation was completed a few months ago... in a few months. And along with it came an executive Mayor. "Gracias por esa parte Reverend Phillips y PULSE, porque nos dieron un alcalde ejecutivo en el proceso de distritos." I am going to end with a quote from Jose Marti which expresses so well what we're trying to do here. "Es una cita de Jose Marti que despues yo traduje al ingles, con un poquito de ayuda de Rita, por supuesto." We will make this new system work, as Jose Marti described it. He said, "La ciudad es comunidad de intereses, unidad de tradiciones, unidad de fines, fusion dulcisima y consoladora de amores y esperanzas. Nada mas que Jose Marti podia escribir de esa manera." (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: "Our City is built on a community of interests, a unity of purpose, the most sweet and consoling fusion of our loves and our hopes." Interesting word, "fusion." It happens to be the name of the political party which defined the great Mayor of New York, Fiorello La Guardia, who, to me, ranks with the great Puerto Rican Mayor of San Juan, Felisa Rincon de Gautier, as the two greatest in U.S. history. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: We will fuse together the precious metals of this cosmopolitan mecca we call Miami. We will fight equally for Haitians and Nicaraguans, immigration laws, native born, white, and African -Americans, Colombians, Dominicans, and our Puerto Rican brothers. And we will use our influence and prestige to advocate a free Cuba, not as a badge of political courage... (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: ... not as a badge of political courage, but as the inelectable obligation of every person of goodwill and every patriot. In the end, Miami will take its rightful place among the world's great cities. A City of harmony, and cleanliness, and progress, and, yes, a City under God. "Una ciudad bajo de Dios. Muchas gracias, que Dios los bendiga. Dice Marta Flores que... parece que nos quitaron el aire condicionado, como la semana pasada, nos quitaron el microfono. Senoras y senores, hemos... Si, hay un aire nuevo que se respira. Hemos luchado... 21 November 14, 1997 que el nuevo Comisionado esta vestido mejor que el alcalde. Hemos luchado contra viento y marea, pero una Cosa que dijo Father Jack hoy por la manana, muy linda. E1 dijo que somos... No. Los que sacan... los corredores. Harvestors es to que somos. No somos brokers. No somos corredores, cosechadores. No somos brokers de boletas ausentes. Somos cosechadores..." Unidentified Speaker: "Cosecheros, cosecheros." Mayor Suarez: El Doctor Dominguez y Martinez Echenique se equivocan y ahora dice Marta Flores que es 'cosecheros.' Vamos a hacer la cosecha, vamos a simplificarlos, de votos y el entusiasmo de nuestra ciudad. Quiero decir varias cocas tambien que se me han ocurrido." I want to thank the City Manager, Ed Marquez. Mr. Marquez... (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: Sir, I know I have been a little rough in my criticism of the way that you were hired and of the contract, et cetera. But, sir, I believe from everything I've heard, from people who worked here, upstairs, that what you have managed to bear during the last 14 months is something that only a class gentleman could bear, and do it with the dignity that you have done it. You have served our City well in a very difficult moment. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: "Los cuentos que me han hecho de to que este pobre senor ha tenido que soportar en estos catorce meses, retlejan que ha mantenido la dignidad de un sirviente publico, que aunque no estamos de acuerdo en mucho de los plantamientos to ha hecho con dignidad y con decoro. Y por eso, le damos las gracias." (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: The Police Chief... I thank you for being here, Chief. I thank you for solving most of our logistical problems last night and today... The other department heads who are here... the unions. Ladies and gentlemen, we bear no ill will towards police and fire. Let me tell you, I have no doubt, absolutely no doubt that the Police and Fire Departments, in great majority, supported me, and particularly the ones who live in the City of Miami. "No tengo ninguna duda y les respeto a ellos su decision de apoyar a mi contrario, un poco equivocada la decision de... Y voy a trabajar con esos dos sindicatos, sobre todo, con los miembros de esos sindicatos, que yo se que en su corazon me apoyaban, porque se les veia en las caras de la ciudad, diferente partes de la ciudad. Y tambien, quiero reconocer a los otros dos sindicatos importantes de empleados generales, que silentemente por medio de la asociacion de ellos, a nivel del Condado, me ayudaron en mi ultima reeleccion. Y, la segunda vuelta, quiero decir... a la segunda vuelta, y al presidente de la union, al sindicato de empleados que recogen la basura en esta ciudad." (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: I want to thank in a special way... is he around here? Have you seen him, Commissioner Gort, anywhere, or... J.L., Norman Charles? Commissioner Plummer: He's in my office. Mayor Suarez: OK. He's hanging around J.L.'s office. He knows where the power is around here... or lunch. I want to thank Norman Charles, the head of the Solid Waste Union in the City. We are going to give you the ability to clean this City, make it the cleanest City in the United States. 22 November 14, 1997 0 • (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: And you know, ladies and gentlemen, in that connection, I am going to initate, with the cooperation and support of the Commission, every kind of volunteer program to beautify and clean our City. "Cuando venga alguien botando un papelito, un cigarro, por favor, recojanlo. Digale, mire, se le callo. Y la segunda vez que se le taiga, le va a costar quinientos dolares de multa. Esta debe ser la ciudad mas limpia del mundo. Debe serlo, y to vamos a hater con la ayuda de todos los ciudadanos, y con un departamento de recogida de la basura reinvigorado. Le doy las gracias al presidente de ese sindicato, que repartieron por todo Miami. Y que hicieron posible el exito del dia de ayer. No se si se han dado cuenta las cifras, porque siempre estan excluyendo las boletas ausentes, comp si no contaran. Como si no contaran. Si incluyen las boletas de ausentes en el conteo total, hemos ganado en el dia de ayer el 60 porciento del voto hispano." (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: "No voy hablar nada de nada negativo. Le voy a dar la gracias a Dios. Le voy a dar la gracias a mi familia, y mi familia incluye todos y cada uno de los que veo aqui, porque todos ustedes han sido como hermanos, y padres, y primos para mi, y padrinos." Ladies and gentlemen, I just want to end by saying that I want to thank God, first of all. As I said last night, in case you didn't hear it, there has never been a human enterprise that I've been familiar with... and ladies and gentlemen, I've read a lot. There has never been a political effort that I have heard or witnessed or participated in, other than the liberation of an entire nation, like Cuba, or Haiti, or South Africa, or Nicaragua, for which... or the Soviet Union. Thank you, Francis. The Soviet Union. That has engaged more prayers than this mayoral election. "Les aseguro que no ha habido ninguna empresa humana, politica, con la exception del esfuerzo de liberar a Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudafrica, la Union Sovietica, que haya involucrado mas oraciones por mas personas, que esta campana electoral." (APPLAUSE) Mayor Suarez: Asi que a Dios primeramente, y despues a mi familia que esta congregada aqui. Son bastantes primos que tengo. Que Dios los bendiga a todos. Gracias." THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION, THE SPECIAL MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 1:14 P.M. ATTEST: Walter Foeman CITY CLERK Maria J. Argudin ASSISTANT CITY CLERK XAVIER L. SUAREZ MAYOR 23 November 14, 1997