HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Correspondence-Laura BolserMarch 21, 2012
To: City of Miami Commissioners
From: Laura Bolser
404 NE 39th Street
Miami, FI 33137
SUBMITTED INTO THE
PUBLIC RECORD FOR
ITEM„., ON ottta.,,,b2,
Dear City of Miami Commissioners and staff, fellow residents & friends of Magnolia Park,
Regretfully, I am unable to be present for the hearing on March 22, 2012 due to business travel.
Therefore, I respectfully request that this letter be read aloud before the Commission.
I would like to first start out by saying that I am taking the time to write this letter, because it is simply
the RIGHT thing to do. I would also like to be crystal clear that Mr. Bash does NOT represent me, the
Magnolia Park neighborhood, opinions of myself or others in the neighborhood. He SIMPLY represents
his OWN opinions as a SINGLE resident of Magnolia Park. Please disregard ANY emails or verbal
communication that he may offer from me as it is NOT A TRUE OR ACCLIRRATE ACCOUNT OF WHERE I
STAND TODAY OR HAVE STOOD FOR ALMOST ONE YEAR. Please let it also be clear that I reside
DIRECTLY NEXT DOOR to Educating Hands and am therefore impacted the most by this business and its'
students/guests. Please see attached City Map of the location of my home that I lease, and Educating
Hands.
The small issues that I had with Educating Hands were cleared up a year ago and it is only because of the
INSISTANCE of Mr Geoffrey Bash that you ALL stand here today. This is in my opinion, completely
uncalled for, a MANIPULATION OF LOOPHOLES in the City structure that Mr Bash has obsessively
challenged and as a result, is a complete farce and huge waste of taxpayers dollars. To be completely
frank, I am utterly surprised that the pickiness and ridiculous requests and demands by Mr Bash of
Educating Hands even continue to be entertained and heard.
Educating Hands and its' owner Iris Berman have been nothing but wonderful neighbors and are an
asset to our neighborhood. They are respectful to the residents, take pride in their business and their
building in maintaining it, and have complied with the even most ridiculous of requests. If Educating
Hands were not in operation, I would be fearful for my safety as I was before they moved in when there
were drug dealers, prostitutes and homeless congregating in the very dark parking lot now occupied by
them that is directly next to my home. I don't think Mr Bash has ever been affected by that negative
element since he lives much farther down the street. Where my home is situated, there is NO ONE
around me but one neighbor to my east who is hardly ever home. So, when I take my dogs out for the
night, I am essentially alone if it wasn't for Educating Hands. Additionally, given the condition of the
economy, if Educating Hands was not in operation, the chances are VERY GREAT that the building would
sit vacant for a long time. This would be EXTREMELY DETRIMENTAL TO ME AND MY CLOSEST 2
NEIGHBORS IN PARTICULAR. The building directly across from me and all up and down Biscayne Blvd.,
buildings sit vacant attracting a negative element. Since Educating Hands moved in next door to me, the
negative elements have been almost all eleviated.
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Educating Hands provides the neighborhood with a well lit parking lot (that they have even let my
personal guests park in) and even has its' own security guard until 11 pm at night. The students that
attend the School are quality people. By having that good element of activity certainly helps keep away
the bad element at bay. This is very beneficial going in to the later evening hours while they still have
classes going on. I would also like to address the parking situation, please see attached image that I took
looking at my driveway in front of my home on a typical Monday morning before heading to the office
around 9:30 am. You will notice that there is NOT a car in sight. THIS IS PRECISELY HOW ALMOST EVERY
DAY IS. Any images provided by Mr Bash are NOT an accurate account of a typical day. They were merely
rare events that are being inflated and twisted as half truths.
While this may not be relevant to your decision making process, I feel that you all need to be made
aware of some things to better understand the character of Mr Bash. Me and at least 2 other neighbors
have been screamed at, threatened and bullied by Mr Bash for not agreeing or "siding" with him and his
obsession with Educating Hands. I have witnessed him out — at ALL hours of the day and night —taking
photographs of my home, other neighbor's homes and of course Educating Hands. This very strange and
obsessive behavior make me very uncomfortable, even fearful of Mr Bash. So much so, that I have called
the police and was advised to file a restraining order. I should not have to live like this, my other
neighbors should not have to live like this and Educating Hands — an honest, hard working business that
stimulates the economy, provides employment and local stimution should not have to live like this.
Commissioners, I ask that you please see through these ridiculous requests of Mr Bash and grant
Educating Hands their warrant to be fully operational without clauses requested by ONE obsessed
neighbor. They are an asset to the neighborhood, have very little traffic influence in the neighborhood ,
provide much needed light and security to the area, stimulate our local economy and employment, and
are a kind and considerate neighbor to all of us, including Mr Bash.
I thank you for your time and patience in this very long drawn out matter.
Sincerely,
Laura Bolser
Submitted into the public
record in connection with
items PZ.7 on 04-26-12
Priscilla A. Thompson
City Clerk