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Home My WebLink AboutCC 1980-05-21 Press Conference0 CITY OF MIAMI • `\`111`II Ali III _,.. • _s COMMISSION MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON May 21, 1980 (PRESS TONFERENCE) ' PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK CITY HALL FOR MIEDIATE RELEASE STATEMENT BY THE HONORABLE MAURICE A. FERRE, MAYOR OF MIMI - MAY 20, 1980 The young Blacks in our community, especially those under 30 years of age, have lost confidence in their government. I am proposing today to the President, the Governor, and our South Florida Congressional Delegation, that in addition to the Federal Grand Jury review of the McDuffie case additional steps be taken to restore the confidence of our Black community in its government at all levels: 1) That the President, without delay, create a special task force in Miami to relieve the economic pressure points which were as much to blame in causing this crisis as the Mcpuffie fiasco. 2) That this task force be composed of representatives of all Federal agencies with current appropriations to meet these critical problems. 3) That this task force be similar in concept to the Federal Emergency Task Force (MA) with a single leader with authority to direct necessary actions by the participating Federal agencies. 4) That this task force include representatives with decision -making authority of the following agencies: the Department of Labor CETA, the Small Business Adminis- tration, the Department of Agriculture, Conununity Action, HUD, Veterans Administration and representatives of the ;Miami business community. 5) Acting together, these group, must provide immediate jobs for young Blacks within their current budgets. The Department of Labor can give this priority from its Summer Jobs Program, for instance. _ �................,✓-. ...,.«.•...... ..rus�wa►W..'w..ti.sa.r.�v a.•.+" ar�s....a:w.ra+.u►'+..s.r /"IN `I 6) CETA must divert part of its funds toward the same end with salaried vocational jobs provided for this 15-30 year old group of Blacks who now see no hope for their future. 7) That the portion of the Food Stamp program be brought under this task force catalytic umbrella so that the Black corrnnunity is assured that it is not being discriminated against under the current operation of the Food Stamp program. 8) That the Governor ask the Small Business Administration in Washington that the Black community be declared a national disaster area so that businesses destroyed in this crisis will be immediately eligible for long term, low interest loans to rebuild their businesses. 9) That the leaders of the Dade County business community show their concern in helping in this crisis by making jobs available to young Blacks under apprentice- ship programs or other programs and that the Federal government find ways to provide subsidies, if necessary, to augment this program. 10) Most importantl},, that this task force be directed by a Black person --a person in whom the young Black community as well as the Elite community will have confidence. I shall make further suggestions for additions to this task force shortly. It is apparent to me that unless such drastic action is taken by the govern- ment, there will be no long r.uige solution to this crisis. I realize that the President is concerned about balancing the budget this year, but we must also face the fact that we must balance our own responsibilities to the people we serve. r� 3 The frustrations and explosions we are experiencing affect all of our citizens, Black and White. Whites live in terror today because we have not shouldered the responsibility we owe to the Black community. It is time for us to recognize that the young Black community wants to hear from young Black leaders and that these new young Black leaders will emerge from the tragedy we have experienced and are experiencing. The experience of their elders does not affect their problems, according to the Blacks in the 15-30 year age group. I believe that individual, fragmented action by Federal agencies will continue to be bogged doioi in bureaucracy. The heads of these agencies need to heer from a single voice in authority and respond immediately as a group to a program which can only be developed by the Federal agencies acting in concert as is being done :�iu0/11P STATE TtiFASURFR INSUPANCE COMMI5,510NrU FIRE MAWMAL 1611, ir.Nr�inir�r �rvirrn�s�ir�irc� STATE OF FLORIDA DIVISION OF INSURANCE RATING INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN 80-210 May 21, 1980 TO: ALL COMPANIES WRITING PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE FROM: BILL GUNTER, INSURANCE COMMISSIONER AND TREASURER SUBJECT: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS - MIAMI The civil disorder in Miami has caused massive property damage and destruction. The situation compels the prompt attention and preparedness of the insurance industry in the adjustment and settlement of insured property losses. I have instituted emergency Iicensinq procedures to assure the availability of sufficient adjusters. Wle are, at the same time, reminding the public that no person is authorized to act as, or hold himself out to be an insurance adjuster, or other- wise handle claims unless such person is licensed by this Department. It is necessary Lherefore that your people have proper identification of their authority to act on behalf of the insurance company. Your cooperation in this effort is necessary for two primary purposes. First, to bring the appropriate insurance recovery to the victims and secondly, to prevent the proliferation of illegal activities in this form of persons who WOW ld seek Lo profit by offerinri phony "insuratce" assistance or by t.akinq money for repalrs that are not III dde. OUI" experlencu with other s 1 Luatlons involving such massive destruction (hurric(-nes) indicates that attempts at such illegal activities are inevitable. We have establ ished all emergency claims ,r:,;ist,lnce office at 6501 NW 36Lh StreeL, Room 410, Lelephone: 325-3460. Insurance DepartmenL personnel will be available to put consumers in touch with claims adjusters and intervene in any disputes between an insurance company and a policyholder. BG:Pnh Printed on 100% Recycled Paper FOR I11MLDIATE RELEASE 21 May 1980 STATE TREASURER - irISURANCE COMMISSIONER CONTACT Bureau of Consumer Research and Education, LL-25, The Capitol Tallahassee, Florida 32301 904/488-6025 INSURANCE DEPARTMENT OPENS EMERGENCY CLAIMS ASSISTANCE OFFICE MIAMI -- Florida Insurance Commissioner -Fire Marshal Bill Gunter today opened an emergency claims assistance office in Miami to help victims whose homes or businesses were destroyed or damaged as a result of the civil disorder .' At a meeting with Miami Mayor Maurice A. Ferre, Gunter announced the following steps: * The establishment of an emergency claims assistance office at 6501 NW 36th Street, Room 410, telephone: 325-3460. Insurance Department personnel will be available to put consumers in touch with claims adjusters and intervene in any disputes between an insurance company and a policyholder. * The issuance of temporary emergency licensing of out -of -city or out-of-state adjusters to help process the large number of claims expected to be filed. * A meeting Thursday morning in the Mayor's Office with representatives of the state's largest commercial insurance companies. The feasibility of mobile claims units, methods to expedite consun;er claims and determining the number of emergency adjusters needed to meet the situation will be among the items discussed. * A bulletin to all Florida property and casualty companies advising them to insure that their agents carry proper identification. "Our experience with other situations involving massive destruction such as hurricanes indicates that attempts at illegal activities are inevitable," Gunter said. Persons have been known to pose as insurance agents and take deposits for repairs that are never made. * The State Fire Marshal's Office is lending its assistance as requested by city and county fire departments investigating arson. "The civil disorder in Miami has caused massive property damage and destruction estimated at well over $100 million. The situation compels the prompt attention and preparedness of the insurance industry in the adjustment and settlement of insured property losses," Gunter said. "However, I don't want to raise false expectations," Gunter cautioned. "We do not know at this point how great the loss is with respect to uninsured property. But we shall use every resource at our command to assist in the prompt payment for covered losses," Gunter said. _.__._____� --._. _._.-- "Ili%�'�a22�=si:.�Y.r{'A@w•a:,. +. ....w.... - _ _—