HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-22-0051City of Miami
Resolution R-22-0051
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 11378 Final Action Date: 2/10/2022
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION CO -DESIGNATING
NORTHWEST 19TH STREET FROM NORTHWEST 3RD AVENUE TO
NORTHWEST 5TH AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA AS "BISHOP JACOB COHEN
STREET" PURSUANT TO SECTION 54-137 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK
TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE HEREIN
DESIGNATED OFFICIALS.
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Christine King
WHEREAS, A.M. Cohen Temple Church of God in Christ was established in 1918 as the
Miami Temple by Elder Amaziah Melvin Cohen, who was one of the 162 African American men
who signed the Charter of the City of Miami, Florida; and
WHEREAS, upon his death in 1959, his son, Elder Jacob Cohen ("Bishop Cohen"),
became the Pastor; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Cohen was born on January 4, 1932 in Miami, Florida to Bishop
Amaziah and Josie Cohen; and
WHEREAS, born and raised in the City of Miami ("City"), Bishop Cohen graduated from
Booker T. Washington High School; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Cohen served in the United States Army for three (3) years as a
Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division; and
WHEREaAS, Bishop Cohen continued his education at the Florida Agriculture &
Mechanical University and completed his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Fayetteville State
University, graduating in 1958; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Cohen returned to the City to assist his father in the ministry and
also became a teacher at Frederick Douglass Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, in the 1960s, Bishop Cohen renovated and renamed the church to honor his
father; and
WHEREAS, under Bishop Cohen's leadership, the church experienced exponential
growth; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Cohen served as Superintendent of the South Miami District and
Secretary to the Presiding Bishop F. D. Johnson who preceded him as the Jurisdictional Bishop
of Eastern Florida; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 3 File ID: 11378 (Revision:) Printed On: 6/9/2025
File ID: 11378 Enactment Number: R-22-0051
WHEREAS, after eleven (11) years of outstanding service to his congregation, Bishop
Cohen was elevated and consecrated to the distinguished office of Jurisdictional Bishop of the
Eastern Florida Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction at the age of 39; and
WHEREAS, in 1972, Bishop Cohen retired from the school system and devoted himself
to fulfilling God's purpose for his life; and
WHEREAS, in November 1972, Bishop Cohen ran a successful campaign, winning a
seat on the twelve (12) member General Board comprised of Jurisdictional Bishops, including
the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, who are elected by certified delegates of
the general church every four (4) years; and
WHEREAS, in 1996, Bishop Cohen celebrated his 25th year of service as Jurisdictional
Prelate of the Eastern Florida Jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, in April 2009, the church celebrated fifty (50) years of Bishop Cohen
pastoring the A. M. Cohen Temple Church of God in Christ; and
WHEREAS, under Bishop Cohen's leadership, the Eastern Florida Jurisdiction grew to
fifteen (15) Districts and over one hundred thirteen (113) churches from St. Augustine to Key
West; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Cohen also served in the historic Overtown Community, including
being involved with the Boy Scouts of America, Overtown Development, Faith in the City,
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and Southern Christian
Leadership Conference; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Cohen passed away on February 6, 2020 after serving 61 years as
Pastor of A.M. Cohen Temple; and
WHEREAS, the City would like to honor Bishop Cohen by co -designating Northwest
19th Street from Northwest 3rd Avenue to Northwest 5th Avenue, Miami, Florida as "Bishop
Jacob Cohen Street";
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Commission co -designates that portion within the City's limits of
Northwest 19th Street from Northwest 3rd Avenue to Northwest 5th Avenue, Miami, Florida as
"Bishop Jacob Cohen Street".
Section 3. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to the
Departments of Police, Fire -Rescue, and Solid Waste; the Miami -Dade County Department of
Transportation and Public Works; the Miami -Dade County Commissioner of District 3; the
United States Postal Service; and, if a State of Florida road, to the Florida Department of
Transportation, District Six, for sign installation within the newly designated roadway.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
City of Miami Page 2 of 3 File ID: 11378 (Revision:) Printed on: 6/9/2025
File ID: 11378 Enactment Number: R-22-0051
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
City of Miami Page 3 of 3 File ID: 11378 (Revision:) Printed on: 6/9/2025