HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1987-09-24 Minutes'7 ; ?
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CITY OF MIAM1. FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
�O Cesar Odio GATE $eptember 28, 1987 �'LE
City Manager
SUBJECT !Miami Capital/Liberty
,� City Meeting
FRo REFERENCES •
Walter Foeman
Assistant City Clerk ENCLOSURES
Enclosed herein please find a copy of minutes of the meeting held
last Thursday, September 24, 1967 regarding Miami Capital loans
to merchants in Liberty City.
WF:sl
cc: Wally Lee, Executive Assistant
Aurelio Perez-Lugonez, Legislative Administrator
Carlos Smith, Technical Services Administrator
Frank Castaneda, Director, Community Development
I
The following is a transcript of a special meeting requested
by Commissioner Carollo, held in the Miami City Hall Chambers,
September 24, 1987 to discuss Miami Capital Loans for Liberty
City.
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: At 7:00 p.m., after making his statement,
Commissioner Dawkins left the meeting. At 7:05 p.m., after
making her statement, Commissioner Kennedy left the meeting.
Reverend Tom Ferguson: Is Mr. Carollo around?
Mr. Henry Jackson (Off mike): Yes, he'll be here.
Reverend Ferguson: OK, well, we aren't just finished then.
Mr. Jackson (Off mike): Right.
Reverend Ferguson: OK, we're just starting. Sir?
Mr. Reese: There's a lot of people will be here and they're on
their way here. We had scheduled a meeting with the Mayor last -
night and he did not show and we scheduled a special meeting for
today and he still haven't showed.
Mr. Joe Celestin: If we have three Commissioners, can we act?
Commissioner Dawkins (Off mike): What?
Mr. Celestin: If there's three Commissioners in , can we act?
Mr. Dawkins (Off mike): Yes, you can act, but I'm just going to
tell you this, I will be here Monday night with the Mayor.
Mr. Reese: Commissioner Dawkins.
Mr. Dawkins: Yes, sir.
Mr. Celestin: All right, my next question, where would this...
Mrs. Kennedy: The City, I feel, has some very grave concerns.
There are a lot of issues that need to be heard, that need to be
worked on and solutions need to be found. Now, I came just to
tell you that I can't stay tonight because of a previous
commitment, but I understand there's a special session called for
Monday night and I intend to be here. I just wanted to let you
know that I am aware that there are problems and I'm doing
everything in my power that I can to solve them. Good night.
Mr. Reese: Just a second, Commissioner.
Reverend Ferguson: I'm the Reverend Ferguson representing the
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committee. When you were elected, we supported you and we. are
°;
still being supportive of this community . as law abiding%
taxpayers. This emergency meeting was called, Commissioner
Carollo and Commissioner Miller Dawkins were there last evening.
We have asked and we were insulted by Pablo, the director, of
Miami Capital Development continuously lying to the community, to
us. And we only ask to be heard tonight with.compaasion, -with
understanding, and I realize that there's an election going one
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but there's a community out, there that's ready to explode, and
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j we're trying to keep the lid on it. We're only asking what is
due to us since 1980 after the last civil disturbing. And five
or ten minutes, that's all we need for you to hear and we'll kpo:r
h t to do from these That's all Thank you We'll know whist
w a
to do from there.
Mrs. Kennedy: Can I ask you what's the difference boil
tonight's meeting and Monday night's?
Reverend Forduson: socause it's a .lot of 01fforont becau8t 4 ?
hove bests dewing with ibis for threetl�ek►=�► h4Y -sap
dsal �►g with Rigs i Capital Development, the "v b}e�em f
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with falsified statistics. We cried out to the Commissioners, we
asked them to come last night so we are here. And that's all I'm
saying, Commissioner Kennedy.
Mrs. Kennedy: All right, for my part let me just tell you that
this is the first time that I did not attend a meeting that I was
notified. The other meeting that you held, I never heard about
it until I read the morning papers, it's the following day. I
called my office and i said why didn't I know that this was going
on? And they said that they had not received - my office had not
received any notice. This is the only time - another meeting I
have to go to, the D.D.A. downtown at seven o'clock and I just
can't do it. But I will be here on Monday.
Reverend Ferguson: Well, we wanted to be able to hear - let all
the Commissioners know our concerns since the Mayor and Pablo is
the only one have been dealing with. The other Commissioners not
aware of what's going on. It seems there is a lack of
communication, a lack of sincerity and we are here being sincere,
we prayed four days ago, we had a prayer and march. And now we
are here for action)
Mrs. Kennedy: Right, well before we meet on Monday night, I
promise that I will meet with Pablo from Miami Capital and I'll
be well informed and we'll go over everything and hopefully, we
can work something out on Monday night.
Reverend Ferguson: Tell them who you are.
Mr. Vernon Quinn: She know who I am. Would you do us the honor
and have the Miami Capital Pablo and his board here Monday night?
Since we're going to be put off Monday night, now we would like
to have what it takes to get the problem solved or get started to
working on the problem. Would you do that for us please?
Mrs. Kennedy: I'll make sure that one of the representatives is
at this meeting...
Reverend Ferguson: We want the loan committee because parts of
the loan committee are the ones who have received loans and we
want to know why - they are in a position as loan committee
members to receive monies coming to the black community. We want
to know why.
Mrs. Kennedy: The Manager has just advised me that they will be
here tonight.
Reverend Ferguson: They are here?
Mr. Celestin: The loan committee is here.
Mr. Odio: The chairman of the board is here and I'm sure that if
I request them, they will be here Monday night too.
Mr. Juan del Cerro: We have - the policies of Miami Capital
Development, they're not set by Mr. Peres Cisneros, they're not
by the board of directors of Miami Capital and they're executed
by the executive director. I am the chairman of the board,
We've met, we've decided what we're going to"do and 'I believe
I've talked to Mr. Quinn. I"don't believe I know who you are",
sir. I've talked to Mr. Quinn.
Reverend Ferguson:
Well, you'll find out who I am in a few,
minutes!
Mr. del Cerro: Well,
my discussions with Mr. Quinn indicated
that Miami Capital's board was in agreement with almost .
everything he said,
So I don't see why there has to 4*"a"
confrontation here".
There are no Commissioners here ah"d `let '1We _,.
remind"-you9Ae
thing �that' is very, very important. Niami`.
Capital Development
is a private not for profit aotcp9r4tiomthe
hh# i contract with
the City of Miami. The loan# _ that lve maki 'r
.
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are based on guidelines established by this Commission, by EDA,
and by HUD. We've already agreed on the monies to be spent, the
rate of interest to be obtained, the simplified loan approvals,
the 14-day disbursement, the 3-10 year payment, the moratorium on
the payment of principle and interest, and we're willing to
discuss anything you want, but not in a confrontational
situation.
Mr. Vernon Quinn: OK, my name is Quinn. Vernon Quinn.
Mr. del Cerro: Nice to meet you, sir.
Mr. Quinn: OK, we have communicated over the phone.
Mr. del Cerro: Yes, sir, we have.
Mr. Quinn: You agreed with everything except A and E.
Mr. del Cerro: What's A and E?
Mr. Quinn: That's the amount of the loan of $250,000. You don't
want to increase the amount of two hundred and fifty thousand and
you want to keep the maintain of $20,000 cap. And we disagreed
with that the first time - we had turned that down the first time
the Mayor had offered that to us and we turn it down today.
Mr. Celestin: Well, there's a key question. If the City of
Miami has nothing to do with...
Reverend Ferguson: One moment...
Mr. Celestin: ... the money is from the City of Miami.
Reverend Ferguson: That statement you made, sir, as far as funds
that was geared for the black community since 1980, set up with
the cooperation of the City of Miami, we don't have anyone in
Miami Capital Development who are sensitive enough to the needs
of black folks. Who are down there to really represent and"who
appoint these individuals to look over the welfare of the black
community.
Mr. del Cerro: Once again, I must remind you, Mr. Ferguson, that
Miami Capital Development is a private corporation. Miami
Capital Development is not under any circumstance...
Mr. Celestin: Is it funded by who?
Mr. del Cerro: Miami Capital Development has a contract with the
City of Miami and has had a contract since, I believe, 1979 to
service...
Reverend Ferguson: We'll wait because I don't - that's federal
funds coming down...
Mr. del Cerro: Absolutely.
Reverend Ferguson: OK, but say that, please.
Mr. del Cerro: Well, you and I agree on every - I agree with
everything you say. I further agree that there isn't enough
money.
Mr. Henry Jackson: Can we wait about ten minutes?
Mr.
del Cerro:
Sure. But
I'm
bore to answer any questions you
may
have as president of
Miami
Capital
and I have most of my
board here. So,
I'm ready
when
you are.
Mr.
Quinn: You
can answer
the
questions
when we got t'h9so . that'
are'supposed'to
be there .seated,
OK?
sc::
Mr.
del Cerro:
It's their
money.
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Mr. Jackson: About ten minutes, ten minutes.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKERS: It's our money.
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Commissioner Carollo entered the meeting at
7:19 p.m. at which time he was the only Commissioner present.
Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner Plummer should be here in
about two or three minutes. As you all requested last evening,
since there was a meeting that was called last night that the
representatives from Miami Capital did not attend, it was
requested that the people of this community, the people that live
In Miami wanted to come before the City Commissioners and express
their feelings and to ask the Commission to help with the
emergency situation that exists in Liberty City. What this
Commissioner did was what was requested of me by the people of
this community, the people that I represent. I am here tonight
for that reason, Commissioner Plummer is on his way. I
understand that Commissioner Kennedy could not be here for more
than fifteen minutes. She had stated that to us previously and
we asked her to stay as long as she possibly could. My
understanding is that Mayor Suarez stated that he wanted the
meeting held on Monday evening which I will also be here Monday
evening. That would be no problem, however, if a quorum of the
Commission would be here today, the Commission can taken action
tonight. As I stated, there is one other member of the
Commission that will be coming bringing to two the quorum that
will be here. I cannot speak for anyone else. They might have
very legitimate reasons why they cannot be here tonight.
Basically, what I would like to do is just wait two more minutes
and the Commissioner should be here just then, and then ask the
people from Miami Capital that are present here to - here's
Commissioner Plummer.
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Commissioner Plummer entered the meeting at
7:22 p.m. At this time, two Commissioners are present.
Applause.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Carollo, for the record, if I may. I
understand and I am told that there was a memo read by
Commissioner Dawkins and I would ask that that memo be read again
for my benefit, please. Does anybody have a copy of it?
Reverend Ferguson: Yes.
Mr. Plusuaer: May I see it or... I don't apologize for being
late, we had a commitment, a City commitment at seven o'clock;
this was on very short notice that this morning I received a
phone call from the City Manager informing him - informing me
that he would ask us to be here this evening at the request of
Co"Issioner Carollo at seven o'clock for the potential calling
of a special Commission sleeting. Trying to read without glasses
doesn't work too well. Sorry for being old, that I apologize
for.
Mr. Carollo: That's what happens for being sixteen years on the
Commission.
Mr. Plummer: Seventeen. Also, your memory goes, Joe.
Mr. Carollo: A little bit. Not too bad, to be one year off.
Mr. Plususer: All right, Commissioner Carollo, if I can...
Or. Carollo: Certainly.
Mr. Plummer: ,...-to establish the record, I would Ilk* to du
sash.. !iy 17 year history of the biaai City Co-j elan# � ha�r� r�
always and will cont:imnt tp +always respond to, say. ot, , . �� < .
Colleagues who teal the urgency and the need . pit a. ,p'x►
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1 wiry-k,��:•
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• problem to be presented to this Commission. That's what we're
elected for, that's why I'm here now and I always will be and
always have been. I am nobody's Commissioner. Carollo is my
friend and others on this Commission I also consider friends.
But nobody on this City Commission own me. The only people own
me are my two daughters. And that's the way it's going to be.
Applause.
Mr. Plummer: And beyond that expense, I can't afford any more.
Ladies and gentlemen, there are rules and regulations and
procedures which this Commission has always abided by. We are a
country of laws. The charter is very explicit. Only the Mayor
has the right to call a special Commission meeting of this
Commission and if he does not see the need, three members of this
Commission have that right to call a special Commission meeting.
If that is to be done, the charter, and you correct me if I'm
wrong, the charter states that the scope of that call shall be
registered prior to the meeting and the emergency must be
declared as to why this meeting is an emergency and cannot take
the regular course of action as done in normal, everyday
procedure before this Commission. It is my understanding that,
that cannot be possible this evening, so there will be no need
for a scope to be developed. There cannot be a quorum because it
is my understanding that the Mayor will not be present.
Commissioner Dawkins has left the chambers and as I drove in,
Commissioner Kennedy was leaving the grounds. I would hope that
whatever the problem and - I'm very much aware of what the
problem is, that we could take the norm and so this Commission
could be informed. The norm is that the City Manager is asked to
look into matters to investigate, to report back to this
Commission his findings, together with his recommendations and
then this Commission can intelligently, through good
deliberation, come to some conclusion which we feel is for the
benefit of all the people we serve. I would hope tonight that,
that would be the conclusion. We do have obligations this
evening which was called on very short notice. That obligation
starts in four minutes. It is not a political party, it is a
City function sponsored by this City for which each and I, and
I'm sure Commissioner Carollo, have an obligation to represent
this City at a function which we are sponsoring. I came here
fully prepared to forego that if an emergency was declared and if
such, I would still stay here all night as I have done with many
of you in this room. But I don't think that that's going to come
about this evening. So Commissioner Carollo, I would say to you
and to the people here gathered, there is the need, there has
been the need and I would hope that we could act like reasonable,
Intelligent people to do as we have in the normal procedure that
is perceived.. To ask the City Manager to look into this matter
for us, to investigate, to come back with his findings and his
recommendations where we will have, at least, a minimum of five
days is the charter to read over, to digest, to ask questions -and
then come to this table for a logical and good conclusion.- From
that point, I have nothing more to say.
Reverend Ferguson: Commissioner Plummer.
Mr. Carollos Mr. Ferguson, if I may for a minute, sir.
Reverend Ferguson: Quite so.
Mr. Carollo: I appreciate very much the Commissioner.beiog-able
to come here tonight. At the same time, as I was sayings;. before
Commissioner Plummer came La, this meeting, Commissioner, -wa-$.
called by. the people of . Liberty City. What I did by Informing
#ad asking the rest of- the Commission to be present here gop,igb;
was being the ,messenger of the people that I represent'#_ =that ws
all represent in the City of- NIOMIi- -particularly the .:psople_,';that
are► in this aee4, the a�erchsnts . of Liberty-. Ci,tt:,.:- •�rhe,.
Commissioner .is :sight . tbat_ we -have commitmsuts tomiglit 'at, =$IQQ _.
P.M. at a City �� sponsored function, nowover_,- sad �;wo...
j.
precious commitment that we both bad 4A at : F7404ry�,s}�_
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• earlier this evening. That's why we were fifteen minutes late.
However, we also have a commitment, a major commitment to the
merchants and people of Liberty City, and this is why I will be
willing to stay here tonight and listen for as long as I need to
stay. We cannot take any actions with a quorum of two here
tonight as Commissioner Plummer stated. In order to call a
special Commission meeting, if the Mayor does not call it, you
need a quorum of three. Some of the other members of the
Commission had to leave, could not stay. What I think that needs
to be done, howevbr, before we could meet again and have a
quorum, and since we're going to have this time in between
obviously, is that we need to make sure that we are informed. 1,
for one, have not received any information from Miami Capital as
to any kind of loan programs they were coming up with. I had to
read about it in the paper and people calling me about supposedly
$250,000 that were being put into a pilot program. Now, what I
have done in the meantime is inquire since last night when we met
and this morning, I've inquired of the legal department to
research at the guidelines that Miami Capital has to follow from
the City Commission from the City of Miami, and while we cannot
demand right now of Miami Capital to do certain things, Miami
Capital has to come to this Commission on a yearly basis, and
they have to come back to this Commission in January of 1988, and
if Miami Capital does not see fit to do, which I hope is not the
case, whatever the wishes of the people of Liberty City, is and
the wishes of the majority of the members of the Miami City
Commission, then this Commission has the right when Miami Capital
comes back in January, to place additional guidelines of how they
want Miami Capital to run and what restrictions or non
restrictions they want to be placed on the loans to be given out.
Now, I am willing to...
Mr. Plummer: Joe, let me, if I may for the record.
Mr. Carollo: Yes.
Mr. Plummer: I have reread the memo of the Mayor. I am willing
to meet Monday night, Mr. City Manager. My schedule is clear.
When I was called this afternoon and asked if my schedule was
clear, I indicated that it was and I would keep it clear. I want
that in the full knowledge that I'm only available Monday night
if you have had the time to investigate, come forth with your
findings and recommendations to this Commission in adequate time
that I, as an intelligent individual, can sit down, whatever I am
limited by my intelligence, and digest that which is the problem.
I, like Commissioner Carollo, was unaware of what transpired
except for a courtesy call, and I read about it in the paper
afterwards. I think people need to know one thing and I'll
conclude. Miami Capital is a semi -autonomous board away from the
Miami City Commission. We do control their budget and we do
control certain things. We do not - we do not control their loan
policies, their amount of capital or their ways of collection.
That is empowered by other authority. Now, Commissioner Carollo,
I don't know which way you want to proceed. I would hope that
the City - Mr. City Manager...
Mr. Odio (Off mike): One second please, I need to look at
something... I'll give you an answer if I can or not.
Mr. Carollo: Well, while the City !tanager In looking iato:_that,
let me just take another minute to to over .briefly some. of .the
areas that I again asked the City legal department to .rssearah.
"City of.Miami Commission has the right to do the followings •tits
the right to ratify the board of directors of Miami Capital., To
approve-. theis budget on a yearly basis.. To ratity..•loao
guidelines on a yearly basis is a judicial audit. The .preseRt
loan guid.elizes are, it's 50 percent fiaanciag, collateral,,
f i4aacial statsmente, personal guaraptees," As I u44oret:a:nd,,At,;
the proposed: -psis! project for the $250,000 that Mae
for . the M04e1 Cities +rap 190 percent f ipsaoing, twenty,- .00.
GOP on:, . e,acb . lo.+aa, limited collateral, credit Chou oa3y;
mandatory one year is business and 3 percent loan for three
ton years and a sic month grace period.
ON 6
dttssb?eta. ll:. h��d.u:
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Reverend Ferguson: Joe Commissioner.
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me, Mr. City Manager, I would ask of you,
sir, if it is possible that this evening, as I depart and I'm
going to depart to live up to my obligation and commitment to a
City sponsored event, is it possible that you and staff could
stay here for an hour or two to hopefully take advantage of these
people that are here this evening. Advantage in the right way.
And hear their complaints to get you that far ahead of the game
so possibly we could meet again on Monday and you could come
forth with it over the weekend to us as far as what has
transpired and what you recommend. Is that possible?
Mr. Odio: Yes, air.
Mr. Plummer: OK, thank you.
Mr. Carollo: I think that, well, a quorum is not here, a lot of
constructive things can still come from this get together that
you've all requested whereas you have the City Attorney, the City
Manager and the executive director from Miami Capital here. So
I'm willing to stay additional time and try to coordinate some of
the needs that are here tonight and Commissioner, since you're
going to arrive to our other engagement that we have commitments
for, if you could tell them that...
Mr. Plummer: I will so inform them.
Mr. Carollo: ... I will be there sometime tonight.
Reverend Ferguson: We would like to thank Commissioner Plummer.
Mr. Plummer: Dr. Ferguson, we haven't seen you here in a long
time.
Reverend Ferguson: That's right, and I have a reason for not
being here.
Mr. Plummer: All right, sir.
Reverend Ferguson: But I would like to thank you...
Mr. Plummer: Wait a minute, excuse me, I'm going to take a
personal privilege.
Reverend Ferguson: OK.
Mr. Plummer: And I want to establish a record. Dr. Ferguson,
are you the same Tom Ferguson that is the campaign treasurer for
one of my opponents?
Reverend Ferguson: Yes, I'm the campaign - yes, yes, sir.
Mr. Plummer; Thank you, sir. Are you also the same Tom Ferguson
who has called meetings in the past two weeks on hours, not days,
notice knowing fully well that these Commissioners had
obligations that we could not make and yet turned around to the
press and said, look, they don't give a damn, they're not here.
Who handed me a paper in the northeast when we were at' i very
Important meeting called duly and timed, and gave me a piece of
paper expecting me to show up the next evening, and gave me a
phone number that didn't answer when I tried the `courtesy of's
call to return. I want to tell you, Dr. Ferguson, this smacks of
politics! ' And I want to tell you, we baventt seen you around
here for a long time. It is amazing, and I guess, coincidental
that suddenly' when you become a treasurer for one of my
opponents, you suddenly emerge on the scene and become A'.
champion: l,et me tell you one of my atbes opponents I have to
_
sdnire. At least he had to come here and to make an appearance
and to make a request.
Cox aoFis- i,% � a
Reverend Ferguson: I think that's the kind of attack that this
Commission...
Mr. Plummer% No, air, it's not an attack. Have I said anything
that...
Reverend Ferguson: wait a minute! Let me say something! I
think this is the kind of attack that you Commissioners, for the
last three or four years, everytime someone come in to make a
presentation, that's why you haven't seen me, because this has
been a farcel Yes, I am the chairman of Mendoza's campaign which
has nothing to do with this. This community asked me to
represent them herel
Mr. Plummer: Dr. Ferguson, have I said anything, sir, that...
anything...
Reverend Ferguson: Yes, you have said, out of contentsl This is
a free country and you're taking a slap at the people out here
who are requesting funds: You're taking a - and I can stand
that - I can stand that!
Mr. Plummer% Have I said anything, Dr....
Reverend Ferguson: Yes, you have said something) And you're
wrong! You're wrong, Commissioner Plummerl
Mr. Plummer: Have I said anything, sir, that is incorrect?
Reverend Ferguson: And thank you for being here and I think we
don't want you to miss your engagement, but I'll tell you one
thing, come out there looking for votes!
Mr. Carollo: Well, if I'm...
Mr. Plummer: Have I said - wait a minute, excuse me, I'd like to
give him the opportunity to correct any statement that I have
made.
Reverend Ferguson: Yes, I'm trying to correct it.
Mr. Plummer: I will wait, sir.
Reverend Ferguson: I am trying... I gave you the same kind of
information...
Mr. Celestin: Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me - hold it, Tom,
Tom...
Reverend Ferguson: I gave the same information to Commissioner
Carollo, I gave the same information -to !Mayor Suarez. If. you
i- could not make it, fine. But I'm saying this, if youcannot
represent all of the community, don't come out looking for votes
k and I'll say that to everybody.
Mr. Carollo: Well, OK, Commissioner... -
Mr. Plummer: I'll stand.
I
Reverend Ferguson: And I'm the one that stopped the rioting when
t Novell -Johnson was killedl I funeralized,himl-
Mr.
Carollo%
Wait, wait, wait. Wait, wait, gentlemen, if i may.
�T
Mr.
Celestin:
Commissioner...
Mr.:Carollo:
Humber, omo, for...
yk
Mr.
Celestin:
Commissioner Plummer.
Mr.
Carollo%
Crontlemon,
Mr. Celestin: I think this .is quite personal. We're not here to
discuss the matter about who is the gentleman campaigning for,
who he represents. The matter is here to discuss that we have to
do with the business - black business people in Liberty City. I
did not see the need to mention what you've mentioned, to bring
all that up. It was not important, that was not important.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Can you say anything good about him?
Mr. Plummer: Yes, sir. Yes, sir, he was a very fine City
employee and I respect him for his inability...
Mr. Celestin: Well, let's get down to what we're here for.
Mr. Plummer: Yes, oh no, no, no. I've known Tom Ferguson for a
long time.
Mr. Celatin: OK.
Mr. Plummer: OK? And he was a fine City employee. He was a
fine policeman. But I just have to wonder...
Mr. Celestin: Commissioner Plummer, I'd like to speak with the
manager of the Miami Capital for a moment.
Mr. Plummer: All right, sir.
Mr. Carollo: OK, can - before we start, number one, let me say
this, I have the utmost respect for my colleague, Commissioner
_Plummer. I think he's one of the straightest and most sincere
elected officials that I've seen in this county. At the same
time, I think, Dr. Ferguson is a very sincere man. What I think
that we need to do here is completely forget about some of the
other things and concentrate on some of the individual business
owners that are here. The people that are affected, the people
that requested this hearing tonight. Whatever questions are
asked from people of the City Administration, from people of
Miami Capital, ask whatever you may want to ask, but let's do it
with dignity, decorum, and let's do it in a way that's not
insulting. And to the Administration, the people of Miami
Capital, I say likewise. We could handle this in a professional
manner without going to extremes of either type here. I know
that the people here have great frustration, frustrations because
they've seen that years pass and promises that were made to them
haven't been kept. But on the other hand they see that
supposedly monies that were put aside for the people, the
merchants in Liberty City, instead many times have gone, as they
explained to me yesterday, to others that don't live in Liberty
City that are not Black. And these monies were earmarked for
that, and I think they have some areas that will be presented
tonight to the people of Miami Capital that should be looked
upon, so, if we may, let's proceed about this in an orderly
fashion.
Mr. Plummer: Joe, let me only ask one question, and I will
respect your right, of course. Don't you feel that it would-be
better that the entire Commission hear the pleas of the
community? Now, I'm just saying that to you.
Mr. Celestin; That would be the right way to do business.
Mr. Plummer: I agree with that, sir.
Mr. Celestin: What we basically want, 'the reasOn,'thtat` we re
staying here now to speak with the Commission, we just, want
everyone 'to know what this is all about, what' w¢ w*'Y`i"
01000sIng on Honda «
y..
Mr. Plummer: Tes, sir, that's fine.
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Mr. Celestin: So everyone Mould know what we will be here for on
Monday.
Mr. Plummer: That'll be fine. That's great. That's the way it
should be, sir.
Mr. Carollo: You see, J.L., this is why I wanted the people from
the City Administration here, the people from Miami Capital.
Mr. Plummer: Fine.
Mr. Carollo: We, the members of this Commission, have become the
scapegoats in this, and the people in the middle. The ones that
have to deal with this and that have not been dealing with this
have been the people from Miami Capital and the people from our
Administration, but, foremost, the people from Miami Capital that
are here tonight.
Mr. Plummer: Joe, I'm not ready to make allegations. I, like
yourself, have not been that well informed as to what did
transpire. We read about it afterwards. But I would hope that
this evening, before any of you leave, that all of you will take
the opportunity to present the facts that you want to the City
Manager and his staff, so that when we do come back on Monday
night we will be able to sit down and reasonably talk out these
areas; we will, hopefully, come to some conclusions that are good
for the community, and that we, the Commission, can do what is
right. And I want you to know that, sir. You have my
commitment.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: OK. Mr. City Manager, are you listening
to me? The gentleman from Miami Capital.
Mr. Carollo: Thank you for coming tonight, Commissioner.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: The key question to this, the reason that
all of us are here, is to make sure that in the past we have been
bluffed by so many times the so-called, they have...
Mr. Plummer: (OFF MICROPHONE) I'm sorry for interrupting, but
I've asked for a memo, in the morning, of what transpired.
Mr. Carollo: Excuse me. Anybody that is truly a businessman in
Liberty City, that are the people that requested this meeting
tonight, the people that are affected, those that want to address
legitimate questions to the people from Miami Capital that are
here, the directors from Miami Capital, can you please come up to
the City Clerk, give your names, and then you will be called one
at a time. And if you could please try to keep your statements
or your questions to approximately five minutes at most, please.
Yes, I will be staying, yes, sir.
Mr. Vernon Quinn: Mr. Carollo, Mr. Plummer... You will still be
here Monday night, right?
Mr. Plummer: (OFF MICROPHONE) Sir, I will be here, as I
Indicated before, as soon as the City Manager can come back with
his findings, his recommendations, and we can sit down and
intelligently discuss this issue. I've already_ blocked out my
calendar. There is a meeting called, and I will be here, wheth'at
or not we have the findings, whether or not we have all the
things that are necessary. I've asked for a memo of the
i findings...
Mr. Carollo: J.L., tell them I'll be there sometime tonight.
Mr. Plummer:
minutes, and
MICROPHONE)
7:301
I've been asked to stay for an additional fifteen
I'll be bappy to do so. (INAUDIBLE COMMENTS OFF.
...it is Latin and I know it won't start exactly at
Mr. Carollo: J.L., it started at eight.
so
Mr. Plummer: Oh, OK, they I've got even more breather.
Mr. Quinn: First of all, we want to address...
Mr. Carollo: Would you identify yourselves, your address and
what business you represent in Liberty City.
Mr. Quinn: My name is Vernon Quinn. My business name is Seven
Star Fashions, 6220 N.W. 6th Avenue. I'd like to thank you, Mr.
Plummer and Carollo, for taking the time to come out. But first
I want to let the City know that this community is very, very,
very mad because the Mayor did, for the second time, disrespect
our community. And we're very, very concerned about how he
disrespects our community.
Mr. Plummer: You understand that we, the other Commissioners,
were unaware.
Mr. Quinn: Definitely.
Mr. Carollo: Not only that, but, if I may say this, please.
We're not here tonight to talk about any member of the
Commission, particularly when those members of the Commission
that you're talking about are not here. What I'd like, if we
could do now...
Mr. Quinn: But he was informed seven days ago... and he was
informed to be here.
Mr. Carollo: What I'd like for you to do is, Monday night, when
the mayor's here, then you can ask him those questions, if you
like. But, in the meantime tonight, please limit your questions
or your statements to the Administration of Miami Capital, to the
Administration of the City of Miami, to the legitimate questions
that you have and the funding that you need there, please.
Mr. Plummer: I think that's what we really need to do. We need
to establish the record here this evening of what are the areas
of concern.
Mr. Quinn: Number one area of concern is the criteria of the
loan. Miami Capital have the criteria so stiff that no Black
businesses qualify for the loan. The only way you qualify, you
have to be... You see that mostly everybody qualifies beside the
Blacks, and you've got to put everything up, and any business
that's trying to go into business, they cannot qualify. The
amount of time it takes to get the loan, the timetable, most of
the time would have been in crisis. The !Miami Capital is set up
for disadvantaged businesses who are in a high risk area.- Now,
If you're going to put a high risk loan up, how in the world that
a business, like these business here, would be able to qualify
for a loan when the criteria is so high?
Mr. Plummer: And you have presented your counterproposal for
consideration, is that correct?
Mr. Celestin: Now, the key thing is that in order to get a loan
from Miami Capital, you have to have collateral. They do not
give money without- collateral. Their request, what you must'have
to qualify for the loan is completely impossible - not impossible
for the outside world, but we're dealing with the '.Black
community. It's impossible for us... 'If we had three bundred-or
$4000000 worth of collateral to put up to get $i50,000..0
Mr. Plummer: You wouldn't need the lean.
Mr. Celestin: Ve wouldn't need it.
Mr, Plummer: Exactly.
v
1 0 0
• Mr. Celestin: So that's the way the basic works. The money is
available, but we cannot touch it, so what good is it for us when
we have to put up so touch to get it. And what we want, since we
know that the City of Miami does not make rules for Miami
Capital, but since Miami Capital is funded and controlled to a
certain extent by the City, we want the City to look into the
Miami Capital's rules and regulations of getting a loan and
making it possible - not impossible - for us. When our people go
to a loan place, to a bank, the questions that they ask you, you
just walk out because it's impossible. They want to know from
your grandmother to whatever you own that you don't have, and we
don't have anything.
Mr. Plummer: All right, sir, well I think we're all aware of
what you're saying, and you feel that the rules set forth are too
-� stringent for your community, and we all know that the original
inception of Miami Capital was for minority enterprise. That's
what it was for.
Mr. Celestin: So the money's been sitting there since 1980. Why
none of us get involved with it? Because we're disqualified.
It's an instant turndown. You walk in. The guy walks you out of
there.
Mr. Odio: For the record, since 1981...
Mr. Celestin: Eighty-one, yes.
Mr. Odio: ...Miami Capital - there have been 144 loans with a
total of $10,385,489...
Mr. Plummer: But the obvious question is how many of those were
made on 7th Avenue and 62nd Street.
Dr. Ferguson: Thank you very much, sir! Thank you very much,
that's what we are saying.
Mr. Plummer: I would hope that we're not going to get into a
question and answer period.
Mr. Juan del Cerro: With all due respect...
Mr. Plummer: I would hope that you would state the facts, OK?
Excuse me, Joe, I'm sorry. Just state the facts - let's get them
on the record. Let's let the Administration work on them.
That's what we pay them high salaries for. And come back...
1
Mr. del Cerro: With all due respect to you, Mr. Plummer.
Mr. Carollo: Will the gentleman who was speaking before identify
himself, please and your address. Your name for the record,
please. Your name.
Mr. Celestin: My name is Joe Celestin. I'm the president of
Joe's Furniture and _________ Garment in Liberty City.
Mr. Plummer: Right across from where my dad was in the banking
business.
Mr. del Cerro: Mr. Carollo, out of respect to Mr. Plummer and
yourself, we want to thank you for taking the time to most here
with us. Yor the record. I think it's time that we bring things
up that have to be brought up. T have Miami Capital's board
bore. The meetings that Mr. Plummer referred to, we were at so**
of those meetings, and we met with these gentlemen, sad weyaRrob
on about 90 percent of what they say, but, for the record ,.:T
think it's only fair to Miami Capital and to those members of Bey :z
board, my employees, and my members of the hoan Committee, and to
the City of Miami that a list of those bnsiasO6,04-An 'the gisok
community that Miami Capital halt the money' to. be =wad info the
record by someone-here..Q
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. Mr. Plummer: And it will be.
Mr. del Cerro: ...because I don't want the impression given,
once again, to the people of Miami that Miami Capital has only
made loans, and we come here almost every year with the same
complaints.
Mr. Plummer: That's to do Monday night.
Mr. del Cerro: Last year, the complaints were that we were too
lenient in our lending policies. Tonight, the complaints are
that we're too strict in our lending policies. Once again, we
agree... I'm the chairman of the board of Miami Capital. My
executive director has met with these good people and we agree on
almost everything they may, but I don't want to leave here
tonight, or have anyone else leave here tonight, with the
impression that Miami Capital has not met its commitment to this
community, and to every other community, and to this City.
Mr. Celestin: You haven't.
Mr. del Cerro: That's false.
Dr. Ferguson: Let me deal with it. One moment...' Commissioner
Plummer... You've had your chance.
Mr. del Cerro: I'd be willing to read all of the laws we've made
right here.
Dr. Ferguson: Commissioner Plummer...
Mr. Carollo: Dr. Ferguson. Let's go about this in an orderly
way. These are the people from Miami Capital. Let's hear from
them, what they have to say.
_ Dr. Ferguson: All right.
Mr. Carollo: Then let's hear from the merchants here. Nov,
Juan, can you read into the record the loans that have been made,
or, if you like, give the total figure of all the monies that
have been given during the last five years, year by year, if you
have that there, and, out of that, how many of those loans have
gone to Black merchants in Liberty City.
Mr. del Cerro: We'd be willing to do that. I'm going to read
the names of the loans. I'm going to read them slowly and I'm
going to give the amounts. However, I cannot... The list was
! prepared... This is part of ghat the City of Miami gets on a
periodic basis. This isn't new to anybody. This is public
t
record, the loans we've made.
Mr. Quinn: !lake it public record.
Mr. del Cerro: All right, the first loan we made... -
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me. Mr. del Cerro, I'm going to take a
f point of privilege. I agreed to stay until eight o'clock - to hear
the facts put on top of the table. You'll have your chance,
hopefully, Monday night. I'll be here Monday night.
Dr. Ferguson: Right, right.
Mr. Plummer: And you can make any rebuttal that you want to
stake. I'd like to get the facts. Let's put them on top of the
table. Let's do w proper look-see Into the thing and cost :bnc� =;y
on Monday and let's, hopefully, we can come about' -a reasonabl
solution..
Mr.- del Carrot l understand that, my -door #y bndr' 'but- -Xiang "
Capitol, -1 guarantee
p you, Is not ~golagto be putr,'oa'tria1'- llp�s
again, because- :the accusations those wan afs *skilq 4r, r '�
absolutely false. That's it.
rr..'
41
Mr. Plummer: Juan, you have a very good way of defending
yourself.
Mr. Quinn: ...Come on, speak up, man, and stop filibustering.
Mr. Plummer: You've got an additional five minutes.
Dr. Ferguson: Commissioner Plummer, Commissioner Carollo...
Mr. del Cerro: I believe, Mr. Ferguson...
Dr. Ferguson: ...we will wait until Monday. With all due
respect to both of you taking the time out to be here.
j Mr. Plummer: Thank you.
Dr. Ferguson: We would like to thank the City Manager and his
staff, the City Attorney and all of those who came out tonight to
hear our concern. We want to take our time Monday with
statistics, with the facts. We don't want figures, and run over
in f ive minutes, and have us run out here and try to digest it.
But I tell you one thing, we will be ready to back up any
statistics, any falsified statistics, that you might bring to
this board. We'll be ready to back it up. We're asking - and
it's an insult to the Black community, for over 80 vendors, for
you to come out with $250,000 when I can prove that you've given
board members on that board approximately $300,000 loans. And
this is what we're talking about!
Mr. Celestin: The key thing - we also want Black business loans.
-----____-- in all.
(INAUDIBLE COMMENTS OFF MICROPHONE NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC
RECORD.)
Mr. del Cerro: I'd be more than willing to read the list as
long, as we're here.
Mr. Plummer: Can I ask a question?
Dr. Ferguson: Thank you very much, sir. Thank you for your
support. We're leaving now.
Mr. Plummer: I see Mr. Rasheed standing there. Or anyone else.
Is there anyone else who has any other areas of concern that you
feel that need to be looked into by the. Administration before the
meeting on Monday night? If you've got an area of concern'
-
please voice it.
Y
Mr. Carollo: The Commissioner is making a very solid point.
What I would advise the merchants that are here tonight to do isIF
;P
that if some of the articular points that
p p you talked _-about.- last
night, that you, would present them to the Administration that's
here - the City of Miami's, the Manager,,the legal, staff that -me
'
have here - and Miami Capital's. So 'that, hopefully, we
s
try to reach a consensus when we most. Monday., night and not , have
to go through a period of having an additional aieeti'ng to`"try to
decipher some of the information that will be given Mo"ndayi'Aigtit.
I think the bottom line - what we need to, do is to find' a
solution and find just,what.the,facts are,'whatever they ati�y"bey-
but lat's have the facts_ up
.front.
Mr.. Plummer: $xcuse me. Mr. Manager,, ,since the last audit
done of Miami_Capital by"a world renowned
Lybrand., 'be
-
I Mould ask that they prlt teat _,�leQ,' op tionday eq :, 1p 04
to back up the vesac ty of ariy' ptotemilgts that Mef e . m ete g w!4
t . Q�' think a'Ayb"osl,y, "would .point :e f ingest acausat,ioA ndnf t.
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Coopers 6 Lyba*snd.?hey're' sty iuditor$# so I guos's l got to
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gust thl�! nee. of the bid eiRbt.
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Mr. Carollo: Otis...
Mr. Plummer: I once again ask, is there anyone who wants to put
something on the table tonight, that you want looked into, so
that we can have the answers on Monday night? Mr. Rasheed.
Mr. Prentice Rasheed: J.L.
Mr. Odio: We'll notify them tomorrow morning, and they will be
here with all the backup data that they gathered.
Mr. Plummer: We recognize Mr. Rasheed.
Mr. Carollo: Excuse me, Commissioner, I know you're the senior
member of the Commission and therefore you will run the gathering
tonight - as the Vice Mayor you certainly will - but if I may,
before we hear from Mr. Rasheed, Mr. Otis Pitts was here before
hand, if we could hear from Mr. Pitts before.
Mr. Plummer: Sure. Mr. Pitts, Mr. Rasheed and then Mr.
Washington.
Mr. Otis Pitts: Thank you vary much.
Mr. Plummers Hopefully, by then, we can get it all on the
record.
Mr. Tom Washington: With the exception of one, J.L.
Mr. Plummer: One more.
Mr. Washington: That's right.
Mr. Plummer: Fine.
Mr. Pitts: There are several concerns we have about the funds
which Miami Capital has. One, of course, is the HOD money which
was made available to Miami Capital which can be loaned out from
zero to any percentage that you want. We don't know how much of
that money remains, but it does not have to be at five percent,
as was suggested by you, so we don't know if that money still
r
remains. Beyond that, also, at one point last year you were
making about $60,000 or so a month on payment of loans you had
-_
outstanding and the interest that you were earning. And that
4.
money, of course, is available for you to use, both the principal
for additional loans, but also the other money that is not, the
interest that you received can also be made available for loans.
This goes directly to the question about"$250,000 which is really
a pittance in terms of trying to address the problems that are
out there. Beyond that, one of the major problems these?
merchants have in this area, of course, is the lines of credit.
rl`
It's possible you look at some creative ways of maybe creating a
line of credit guarantee pool which you could place with a local
bank in the Black community. It could be Peoples. It could -be
Capital -Bank, Capital• Bank, which these men could go. You can get your banks
participate. I recall at one
to p , point, Commissioner Dawkins
_;-
raised an issue about the banks which the City of Miami currently
has its monies in. They could possibly participate is some of
these programs. The want direct. access as well. .Tf
P g Y your would
-
open those avenues up, this small amount of money which you
totally have in the pot wouldn't have to be the only source from
which you were trying to get funds. But I think we need-,Lo� look
at creative ways for addressing these problems because it As no.*..,
solely your concern to look at there's a limited way you can use
{
four or five million dollars, but also look at other creat$V$.
ways which wi l l take this 'pressure off . of `Nlami Capital. 'Tbelae
M"
men are not going to go away. They're not out be;e askiia
Y:rt
somebody to help them steal. I mesa, thane are not dope des '1ess_.:
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Tbey4rs=legitimets people running businesses,
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Mr. Tlummer s And want to stay that way.
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Mr. Pitts: ... with legitimate concerns, and want to do
business. They're not asking you to give the money away, but
don't send in great statistics to people who are upset and
concerned.
Mr. Plummer: Otis, let's don't editorialize.
Mr. Pitts: OK.
Mr. Plummer: Let's just put the facts on top of the table.
Mr. Pitts: OK.
Mr. Plummer: Again, Mr. Rasheed, do you have any other things
you want to put on the table?
Mr. Pitts: Just one last thing, Commissioner.
Mr. Plummer: Sure.
Mr. Pitts: Of course, the sixty thousand or so dollars - I'd
like to know how much money is now being realized on a monthly
basis in both interest and principal payment that's coming back
In which could be made available, number one. The HUD dollars
and the revolving loan fund. The HUD money: how much of that
money is currently available of your overall funds that could be
loaned out from zero to any other percent interest? That money
does not have to be loaned out at five percent.
Mr. Plummer: That's why I asked the auditors to be here. Now,
Mr. Rasheed, you're next. We'd ask you please put your facts...
Mr. Prentice Rasheed: Prentice Rasheed. I own a business here
In Miami Ameop Station and Trading Post. Gentlemen of the
Commission, City of Miami, we have here as a fact, the GAO report
that vas published, put out by State Senator William Lehman, Mr.
Claud Pepper and one other - Fascell. This report clearly states
the facts of the misfunding, and the mismanagement, and the
misappropriation of $71,000,000 that came into Miami because of
the riot in 1980.
Mr. Plummer: Will you make a copy of that available to the
Manager before you leave this evening?
Mr. Odiot I want to ask a question, please. Are we talking
about Miami Capital, or what are you talking about?
Mr. Rasheed: Well, Miami Capital's in here. And it also...
Mr. Plummer: If he'll make you a copy,- Mr. Manager, that's all
you need.
3
Mr. Odio: But if you read that report, it was favorable to Miami
Capital. If you're going to sake strtements of fact, make them
all complete.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Manager...
Mr. Rasheed: It's a fact. This book can be purchased, canibe
picked up...
Mr. Odio: I know. I have it. The book says, as a matter ol.
fact, that Miami Capital was not rated unfavorably. 'It Mans
favorable. Just read the whole book. ".
FYti
Mr. Plummer: All right, Mr. Rasheod, I ask, es a'favors' Movid a
you leave a copy for the Manager this evoniiig?
Rasheed: I'll leave bin m7 P'co
. 'sure`.
copy. - i'I1 ' leave bin'this copy.
Mr. Plummer: Thank you. I appreciate that.
-i
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Mr. Rasheed: So there won't be any problem there. Our problem,
I heard it stated earlier, I've been to Miami Capital over the
last three or four years at least three times for a loan. I have
not been able to get a loan from this particular lending
institution. I have talked to two or three accountants...
Mr. Odiot Mr. Rasheed, may I answer your question?
Mr. Rasheed: These people cannot...
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Manager. Excuse me.
Dr. Ferguson: Is he defending Miami Capital?
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me, but there is not going to be the
defending of anybody, or I'm going to walk out the door. We
agreed that we were going to lay the facts on the table and we'll
discuss it, we'll debate it, we'll argue it, we'll beat it up,
and we'll do it on Monday night.
Mr. Odic: In order for me...
Mr. Plummer: He'll have that chance on Monday night.
Mr. Odic: In order for me to be able to come up with a report by
Monday night...
Mr. Plummer: Yes, sir.
Mr. Odic: ...I am asking Mr. Rasheed to please tell me what do
you want me to look into...
Mr. Plummer: He's going to give you a copy of it, sir. He's
stated that.
Mr. Rasheed: We have the evidence... Dr. Ferguson has a
printout - I don't know where it comes from - but it shows...
Mr. del Cerro: (OFF MICROPHONE) We gave you the copy of that
reportl
Mr. Plummer: Mr. del Cerrol Pleasel
Mr. Rasheed: It shows that 62 loans were made and most of those
loans were made of $50,000 or less whereby, again, the facts were
stated that two and $300,000 loans to people outside the Black
community.' The Black community got small loans. They didn't
get... and the money was designated from the 1980 riot, not for
all these other big organizations that got this money. And the
Black community has still not developed itself yet because that
money is being misused by people that have closed hands, on it.
Now I don't have anything against anyone, but I think that if the
Cuban community or the White community had had an incident of a
riot,. Black people would not be on the total board operating the
dispensing of that money. I think you need to put some Blacks on
that, and that's a factl
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Rasheed, you're editorializing, and you'll have
�sasU vpNvs 6was aUY IMWUUMY uaag&1..
Mr. Rasheed: OK. But anyway, we do have the facts in the. GAO
report. We have it in some other evidence that we have it as
printed up by somebody in the City, and we'll be here to present
!' that evidence asked. Weil show you that there's some.
discrimination' in the way you make loans and we want that, '}
corrected, and we also want this City to change their high .rl'sk
' loan". method to something that $a really high sish.. sAd' ;e<ni
. R±
something; that; you cannot. quality on because the. respoAtsi i:e' e<d r
of getting" a loan is too high. It is not a high r.is,l%.
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Mr. Plummer: OR, thank you, air. Tom Washington, I'm going to
hold you to your request of ten secondsl
Mr. Tom Washington: Thank you, J. L. Some of you might not know
me, but I hope that most of you know me. I've purchased an
occupational license...
Mr. Plummer: No commercials and no editorials)
Mr. Washington: ...from the City of Miami for the last twenty
years and I'm not running for public office, so therefore, J.L.,
don't do me that way.
Mr. Plummer: Yes, sir.
Mr. Washington: Dealing with the facts, looking at the list from
the organization that's representing the City of Miami - Jay's
Drugs, for an example, has received over $215,000. Also on the
list, Creole Fried Chicken, two loans for $305,000, which is no
longer in business. And I will be here Monday night and bring
half of Liberty City with me, if necessary, but I think that
Commissioner Carollo, Commissioner Plummer, I'm very sorry we
don't have a forum here tonight, but we need to get about the
business of business north of Flagler Street to make sure that
all of Miami be the City of - what do we call ourselves?
Mr. Plummer: The Magic City.
Mr. Washington: Right. Let all of us prosper.
Mr. Plummer: Thank you, Tom. You almost held to your promisel
Now, I'm going to ask one final time. If you have something that
you feel needs to be looked into, lay it on the table. If you
don't, I'm going to ask you, please don't editorialize. You'll
-- have that advantage on Monday night. Are there any more areas of
concern that need to be addressed prior to Monday? Yes, sir. If
you have something, without being repetitious.
Mr. Celestin: That's it. We just need the City Manager to bring
on Monday all names and amounts of the loans that Black people
have received in Liberty City.
Mr. Plummer: That's a fair request.
Mr. Celestin: And we also want the amount of loan that was given
in Liberty City to White merchants.
Mr. Plummer: That's a fair request.
Mr. Quinn: Cubans and Haitians.
Mr. Celestin: By all kind of White merchants. That 'a,it.. We
want the loans that was given to all White merchants.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKERS (OFF MICROPHONE) All non -Blacks.
Mr. Celestin: All non -Black merchants, because the money was
specially given because we have businesses who are owned in
Liberty City by White folks. They get help and we don't have it',
so we got to get our goods from them.
Mr. Plummer: You have a fact you want to get it on the table?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: I've got one fact.
Mr. Plummers Teo, air.
Hr. v,sablustons I want to know how Dayside be able to get"
))million dollars worth of grant money that they doA'.t have to.pay
back, be able to gat tome up to $2000000 plus .Muth,; a first,
`
psymeut of two years or more on it, We whet to. know how.abed►, ��ltt,.; ' f n
be able to Net that typo of thuAD. Ii Sayai4e CAD $er �!euore►
Ilk* that• we xaAt welfare in Liberty City, to,9
-A
Mr. Plummer: You'll have an &never to that. You got something
you want to lay on the table? One thing, and you're the last
speaker, I think, the last thing I'm going to ask of each and
everyone here this evening, if you have any documents, any papers
of fact, I ask you please to give them to the City Manager
tonight to make copies before you leave, so that we can have it.
Mr. Manager, I would like, if we can have somewhat of a time to
say the Monday night meeting is called for 7:00, I would assume
you're going to have a report, if you're going to have one ready,
by noon.
Mr. Odio: Yes, sir.
Mr. Plummers All right. I want all the people in the community,
listen to me. I want you to have the same availability of that
report at noon as I have.
Mr. Quinn: Thank you very much, sir.
Mr. Plummer: All right, sir. Any one of you want to come down
to the Manager's office and get a copy of his report and findings
to this Commission, you will receive it the same time I do. Fair
enough? You're the last speaker. Speaker, no - presenter of
facts!
Mr. William Calhoun: I think that Miami Capital have made the
same error that... Willy Calhoun, King The Tailor, Liberty City.
I think Miami Capital have made the same mistake that I found
that made.
Mr. Plummer: What are they? Tell me the facts.
Mr. Calhoun: In identifying problems in a business and not
taking the solution. Sometimes the solutions is not always just
money. It's the problems within the business. It might be
bookkeeping. You identify the problem but you render no
solutions or help implement a solution for it. So I think you
also should take that into consideration.
Mr. Plummer: Thank you, Willy. Commissioner Carollo, if you
wish to continue, I have lived up to my promise of staying. I
hope we've got everything on the table. Mr. Manager, you're now
excused from having a memo to me in the morning of what took
place.
Mr. Odio: Thank you. You're so generous!
Mr. Plummer: Vo've got the anger out on top of the table. Vo've
got the facts out on top of the table. Ladies and gentlemen, I
hope that we can come on Monday night to some very reasonable and
good solutions, that we don't have angry people, that we all go
away with an understanding that we're all going to pull together
for this great City. I thank you.
Mr. Carollo: Ve will see you all Monday night at 7:00 P.M.
4
t:f .
. •. .:' .fir, saga
A THERE $'VIVO NO rUITH$R JUStMESS TO COME WORE THE CITY
COMMISSION, THE MVETIVO WAS ADJOURNED AT $oil P.M -
natty Hirai
CITY CLERK
Walter J. Foeman
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
( S E A L )