HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter - Downtown Miami Partnership, IncDowntown Miami Partnership, Inc.
25 S.E. Second Ave., #240
Miami, FL 33131
305-379-7070 - T
305-379-7222 - F
PARTNERSHIP, INC.
February 10, 2011
Nzeribe Ihekwaba
City of Miami
Dept. of Public Works
• Via Email *
REF: Miami Arena and Biscayne Boulevard special vending districts
Dear Mr. Ihekwaba:
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our organization Downtown Miami Partnership (DMP). DMP is a
non-profit community based organization representing Downtown property owners, professionals, retailers,
restaurateurs, and residents who are seriously concerned with improving the quality of life and business climate in the
Central Business District, Southeast Overtown Park West and Omni Sub -Districts of Downtown Miami. Our main goal
is to create in Downtown Miami an environment that is clean, safe and people friendly and to improve the business
climate and overall quality of life in the heart of Downtown through our residents, businesses, property owners and
alliances with other groups and entities.
It recently came to our attention at our Quality of Life meeting that Public Works had advertised the issuing of 5 street
vendor permits for the AA Arena district in Downtown Miami. Subsequent to this meeting I was informed that this had
been done erroneously and that the City -Public Works would in fact not be issuing these vending permits.
As representatives for many stakeholders both businesses and residents we would like to make sure that this new
information is correct, and that these vending permits are not issued at all. We would also like to request that the
existing "Miami Arena and Biscayne Boulevard special vending districts" be abolished completely. We have
worked with the Miami Police Dept and the Miami DDA over the last few years to try and improve this area in regards
to cleanliness and overall appearance. The vendors generate a huge amount of garbage and debris and there are not
sufficient receptacles in this area to collect this garbage. Since this vending district is primarily used in the evenings
and on weekends there is also limited code enforcement and thus the vendors do as they please. Since Code
Enforcement is not around to enforce, the police receive complaints and end up doing the enforcement. With the
limited resources of the Police Dept., and the many other issues Police need to address, we feel that using them for
enforcement of vendors is not the best use of our resources at this time.
We look forward to working together towards the betterment of Downtown Miami.
Sincerely,
Josie E. Correa, Executive Director