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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Public Comments Submitted Online for the March 11, 2022 City Commission MeetingSpecial Commission Report - March 11, 2022 Special Commission Meeting Public Comment - March 11, 2022 March 11, 2022 3:12 PM MST Public Comment motero@miamigov.com First Last Nam Nam e e Stre et Addr ess 3508 Edu Garc Hibis ardo is cus St Iren War e ner John Age nda Public Comment Item 1. Disc ussi on — Redi strict ing 2 Grov e 1. Isle Disc Dr ussi 805 on — Mia Redi mi strict FL ing 3314 4 3980 Sny Hard der ie Ave ABSOLUTELY UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD COCONUT GROVE BE REDISTRICTED AND MUCH LESS BE REDISTRICTED TO AN EXTENT WHERE JOE CORRUPT CAROLLO CONVENINTELY SLIPS HIS REAL HOME IN THE DISTRICT SO AS TO NOT LOSE IT IN HIS LAWSUIT WITH BALL AND CHAIN. We want only 1 commissioner for the entire community. If this re -districting proposal passes I will personally undertake a campaign to make sure CaroLto gets voted out of office next election cycle he runs in. KEEP YOUR MONEY GRUBBING CORRUPT FINGERS OUT OF COCONUT GROVE Do not destroy the grove. We are one neighborhood and splitting this area up for political reasons is subversive and destroys the one remaining area in Miami that represents a broad spectrum of Miami I am a native miamian and have lived in this area for a good part of my adult life. Don't destroy this District for purely political power First: The Miami-21 code emphasizes the importance of neighborhoods in the development of Miami, but the consultant was told to give preserving neighborhoods the very least weight in making redistricting decisions: "2.1.2 Intent The Miami 21 Code is intended to advance the interests of both conservation and development.... a. The conservation goals include: 1. Preserving Neighborhoods, Historical Resources and the natural environment." Thus the foremost Goal of the Miami 21 code was directed by the commission to be given the very least weight in making decisions about redistricting. The Friday, March 2nd community meeting for district 2 revealed key information for the first time. According to consultant Miguel DeGrandy Some previously split neighborhoods could be reunified by any of several alternative plans. Two alternative 1. plans presented at that meeting met the legal criteria of reducing the population variance below 10% white Disc resulting in fewer neighborhoods being divided. Currently about ten Miami neighborhoods have been split ussi by previous districting exercises. The proposal under consideration by the commission would add Coconut on — Grove to that List, splitting the oldest Miami neighborhood dating from 1873, between three different Redi districts. 96 Grove residents testified against the proposal, declaring that aLL Miami neighborhoods strict deserved coherent representation. Suggestions that the commissioners pause to examine better ing alternatives were explicitly rejected in favor of getting it done fast. Miami -Dade Supervisor of Elections Christine White was cited as saying there was no 'hard and fast' requirement to redistrict quickly; waiting 'would be welt worth it'. Particularly if it enabled getting it right. Second: Redistricting is necessitated by the population growth of the city; Population has increased by 28.8% since 2000 and yet the consultant was told not to increase the number of districts. There have been five districts since at Least 1990. Having ever increasing numbers of constituents means Miami charter 'Citizens BiLt of Rights' (A) This government has been created to protect the governed, not the governing The shortcomings of the process seem to us grievous errors of the commission; which we would Like them to reconsider. We implore them to get it done right even if it cannot be done fast. 11597 Submittal -Public Comments Submitted Online for the March 11, 2022 City Commission Meeting First Last Nam Nam e e Stre et Addr ess 2994 Ruth Stre et Rhia Purd Mia n y mi FLori da 3313 3 Age nda Public Comment Item 1. Disc ussi on — Redi strict ing Greetings. We who live in the Grove, those who established themselves in the Grove due to the uniqueness of the community appear to be in a constant battle to preserve the identity of the neighborhood we live in, raise children in, pay taxes in, and own property in. It is appalling to see the decorum in which some of the elected officials not only conduct themselves but use our neighborhood to meet the needs of the greedy developers and investors that serve only to make money at our expense and at the expense of our unique biome. We matter and see through the transparency of the re -districting Lines to make sure that protectors of our neighborhood be silenced as weft as, the redistribution benefits to 2 of the commissioners here today. We implore that the re -district map be done in a manner that allows for equal representation despite economic status or Location and that the decision not serve to meet the special interests of 2 of the commissioners today. District 2 stands in high opposition to the proposed re- district Lines that serve to silence the opposition to inappropriate growth/violations in building codes/removal of our trees/ killing of our peacocks/silencing black voters and the abuse of power by 2 commissioners to meet their own individual needs and political agendas. My personal thanks to Commissioner Russeft for being our voice and fighting the fight. Their are other re -district options ! There is a opportunity to say No to allowing the obvious corrupt ideology to allow for the current plan to meet the needs of silencing District 2 while meeting the needs of 2 obvious commissioners. Commissioner Carofto you are corrupt, a bully, and a disgrace. We find your decorum appalling and we see through the new re- district Lines intention to serve you personalty, as weft as to silence current District 2 constituents who see you utilize your power to serve the needs of not those who Live here, but yourself and those who wilt make a profit destroying our neighborhood. Thank you for your time. 3757 CAR 1. LAG RAN MEN Disc CLA COU ussi I SUPPORT KEEPING THE GROVE TOGETHER. I OPPOSE REDISTRICTING THE GROVE. I WAS AT THE GE UDI KAU RT, on — HEARING THIS MORNING, AND UNFORTUNATELY I HAD TO LEAVE, BUT I NEED THE BOARD TO A MIA Redi KNOW MY POSITION AS A RESIDENT AND PROPERTY OWNER IN COCONUT GROVE FMA N MI strict 3313 ing 3 2843 S Bays hore 1. Disc Dr I am vioLenHy opposed to the District 2 redistricting Plan. Coconut Grove has a unique ambiance and ussi Fred Tege Apt on cohesiveness that would be badly damaged or destroyed by splitting it into several other districts. One of r 6C the reasons that I moved into the Grove is it's unique presence. Please, please, do not destroy the unity of Redi Mia the Grove. mi, strict FL ing 3313 3 2425 SW 1. 27 Disc Miria Card Ave. ussi I disagree with splitting Coconut Grove into separate districts. Keep the Grove exactly how it is, all in m et Mia on district 2. Thank you mi Redi FLa strict 3314 ing 5 First Last Nam Nam e e McG Mari uire- na McC abe Ruth Nick FeLip e Stre et Addr ess Age nda Public Comment Item 1847 Crys 1. tal Disc Terra ussi ce on — Coc Redi onut strict Grov ing e 3620 Ewin Perci g vaL Ave Gitm ore Eche verri a Pete Wag oner 1344 SW 17th TER Mia mi, FL 3314 5 2645 sw 17 ave Mia miff 3313 3 1. Disc ussi on — Redi strict ing I have lived in Coconut Grove since April 1989 when we purchased our home in North Coconut Grove. I'm a member of the Church of St Hugh and my daughter attended Coconut Grove Elementary and Carrollton. I am a strong supporter of remaining One Grove. We have concerns such as the tree canopy, construction, traffic gridlock among others that require one commissioner and not dealing with 3 separate commissioners to hear our concerns. Today's open meeting component clearly indicates how the current commissioners are interested in hearing our concerns since a few have chosen to Leave. I hope this Latest map wilt be adopted. The version presented 2 weeks ago placed my home in an odd extension of District 3 that crosses US1. In that proposal 2 blocks south of my house is District 2, 3 blocks west, District 2, 2 blocks North a hard stop of US1 and about 5 blocks East is District 2. The only connection to the Larger district 3 is 17th Avenue. I think the only 2 blocks of 17th Avenue that is NOT zoned commercial. Please vote for the map that keeps us all in one district. We are the Village of Coconut Grove. Our voices should be heard as one and not 3 factions. I would Like for the members of the commission to take this redistricting requirement as a time to consider, according to the census related demographic information, district borders as a way to re -unify historic neighborhoods white maintaining other historic neighborhoods specifically Coconut Grove and communities within District 5. SP - I would Like to voice my opposition to the proposed redistricting. It appears to be more of a move to SPE personalty benefit member(s) of our Local government than a Legitimate cause. This can be surmised CIAL simply by Looking at the proposed district boundary. Please consider the greater good of the community MEE over the disguised benefit of the few. Our government's role is to serve the overall community, and frankly TIN this proposed districting stinks. As the old saying goes: if it stinks, it's probably rotten. Thank you for the G opportunity to be heard. 1. Disc ussi on — Redi strict ing If Coconut Grove is split into Districts 2, 3, and 4, the various community groups wilt have to interact with three different commissioners to advocate for neighborhood projects. To make matters even more complicated, Florida's Sunshine Law prohibits elected officials from the same body from gathering at the same time outside of scheduled public meetings. That means the three commissioners who oversee Coconut Grove wouLdnt be able to attend a single community meeting together. This is ineffective just to not say idiotic. Commissioners are elected to represent the people not their own interests, I say this because suddenly the not coherent distribution of the Districts proposed Lands Joe Corrello's house on his district, pure personal gain and corruption, by the way putting my house and many others out of district 2 and the grove community we very much Love. There is not a single resident that agrees with this. We are all imploring to keep the Grove together. So please Listen to the people who you are supposed to represent and see how the plan proposed by Commissioner Russel solves the population growth issue white keeping the grove together. 1. 5955 Disc NE ussi Please add at Least two additional districts, one for downtown and one for the upper east side without 6th on — diluting either Little Haiti or the east of Biscayne populace. DO NOT fragment the Grove. Do not Aven Redi gerrymander any district to provide residency where none previously existed. Thank you. ue strict ing Stre First Last et Age Nam Nam Addr nda Public Comment e e Item ess 90 SW 3rd 1. St Disc #220 ussi Please keep ALL Coconut Grove in district 2 only. Dividing the Grove into 3 districts is not conducive to Miria Meri m no 3, on — good government Managenent, and most importantly, your constituents don't want this. Do not divide Mia Redi Coconut Grove. mi,FL strict ing 3313 0 1. 409 Disc Macl VIS ussi Fran nt r CAY on — Please maintain the integrity of the Grove. Don't chop it up to serve the purposes of those who don't live ces e y A Redi there. AVE strict ing 3275 McD - onal SPE Shame on our elected officials for even allowing this to be a possibility! I want to say that I am beyond Ka L d St CIAL disappointed that the representative I voted for would endorse this, and had I known how ineffective and Jill anp Mia MEE spineless he would be in such a vital matter where he could make a difference and represent his mi, TIN constituents! Shame on gerrymandering! Shame on our politicians for entertaining this dreadful FL. G redistributing of a cohesive and diverse community like the grove. 3313 3 SP - 2355 SPE Lind McEL Tequ CIAL say roy esta MEE Lane TIN G Since Coconut Grove was incorporated into the city of Miami in 1925, city officials have done everything in their power to disenfranchise and disempower black residents from Village West. Nearly 100 years later, city commissioners like Joe CaroLto and Manolo Reyes are continuing the legacy of Jim Crow segregation in our "magic city" by attempting to dilute the black vote in West Grove by redistricting the neighborhood into two separate districts. Essentially, these commissioners are cutting the historic community in half and making it more difficult for black residents in Village West to unify against any issue that uniquely affects their community because the small neighborhood wilt have two different representatives. The current redistricting proposal is racist and does not consider the unique historic circumstances of Coconut Grove. ALL of us are begging the commissioners to reconsider the current redistricting proposal, as it is being pushed for the personal political gain for a select few of our commissioners rather than better representation for all of the people. I would also Like to put it on the record that Joe Carollo's expensive Coconut Grove house very conveniently falls within the newly designed boundary for his district. If this measure passes, the city is simply enabling his corruption. First Last Nam Nam e e Cind y Cath y Stre et Addr ess 3980 Sny Hard der ie Ave McEL 2355 roy Tequ IreLa esta nd Lane Age nda Public Comment Item 1. Disc ussi on — Redi strict ing 1. Disc ussi on — Redi strict ing The Friday, March 2nd hearing on Miami's commission district boundaries revealed key information for the first time. Miami's previously split neighborhoods could be reunified by any of several afternative plans, testified mapping consultant Miguel DeGrandy. Miami -Dade Supervisor of Elections Christine White was cited as saying there was no 'hard and fast' requirement to redistrict quickly; waiting 'would be well worth it'. Currently about ten Miami neighborhoods have been split by previous districting exercises. The proposal preliminarily approved by the commission vote would add Coconut Grove to that List and uniquely split that oldest Miami neighborhood dating from 1873, between three different commissioners. 96 Grove residents testified against the proposal, declaring that all Miami neighborhoods deserved coherent representation. Suggestions that the commissioners pause to examine inclusive alternatives were explicitly rejected and the fastest possible timetable was adopted. Mr. DeGrandy, the consultant, also testified that he had held multiple conversations with each of the commissioners and had received from each commissioner specific guidance when creating the boundaries proposed. Both Commissioner RusseLt and independent citizen groups presented afternative district maps that reunited split neighborhoods and bettered the numeric criteria by which districts are evaluated. The city's approved map presented the most divergent populations of the four afternative maps. "2.1.2 Intent The Miami 21 Code is intented to advance the interests of both conservation and development white responding to the existing conditions of the City, its regional context, and its natural features, infrastructure and Buildings. a. The conservation goals include: 1. Preserving Neighborhoods, I repeat, (preserving neighborhoods), Historical Resources and the natural environment." Remarkably, the very first GoaL of the Miami 21 code was directed by the commission to be given the very LEAST WEIGHT in making decisions about redistricting. 'Citizens BiLt of Rights' (A) This government has been created to protect the governed, not the governing The shortcomings of the process seem to us grievous errors, we would Like the commissioners to reconsider. We implore them to do so. Finally, it seems that Dist.3 Commissioner CaroLto has a personal conflict of interest in this matter and should recuse himself entirely from the issue of redistricting immediately. The comissioner's attempt to break up Coconut Grove does not align with what the people in this community want, it only disenfranchises black voters from West Grove who have already been historically disenfranchised by the City of Miami. Better alternatives have been outlined that do not separate the historic village of Coconut Grove. 2325 Tequ 1. The need to keep Coconut Grove as one district is about recognizing the contiguous nature of the entire esta WaLs Disc community - with a shared belief in the value of its essentially (dare I say uniquely?!) Bohemian nature of Lane he ussi the Grove; and a vision for a cohesive community, centered on our newly revamped downtown. Strength in Clio Cra Coc on — numbers and a unified voice (and wallet!) for our common vision is key. Coconut Grove Arts Festival; onut i i wfor Redi Oktoberfest; symphony in the park... what are these if not community spirit writ Large and in action!!?? To Grov d e FL strict dilute this spirit would have a hugely detrimental effect on the heart of the Grove. Simply put: Coconut 3313 ing Grove is Better Together. 3 2500 Abac 0 1. aven Disc Fran Nor ue, ussi The redistricting proposition approved by Michael De Grundy at previous has been revised without cois woo Coc on — dismantling Coconut Grove and fullfiLLs the requirements for redistricting. Refusing to acknowledge that is e d onut Redi an admission of nefarious intent in the future by the commissioners who refuse to accept it. Grov strict e FL ing 3313 3 Stre First Last et Age Nam Nam Addr nda Public Comment e e Item ess 2475 1. Bays hore Disc ussi Edu Ferr Dr This is a unnecessary change in the charter, only designed to weaken the voices and the will of the ardo az Mia on Coconut Grove residents We are opposed to it Eduardo Ferraz Soraia Valtadares Mariana Bolognani mi Redi FL strict 3313 ing 1 2620 Hilol 1. We, the people living in Coconut Grove, do not want to be divided into 3 districts. The growth that a Disc triggered the redistricting did not come from within the Grove but the high-rise buildings in the northern Stre ussi part of District 2. Our current commissioner never called the people speaking up at the meetings: Brigi Molit et, on — "Activists, Ambulance Chasers or Losers". He actually appreciates the people's input and fights for their tte or Mia mi, Redi rights. We'd like to keep it that way. Having Commissioner Carolto carve out a piece of the Grove just so FL strict that he can include his house in his own district, is exactly the reason why people in the Grove stop 3313 ing believing politicians in Miami. 3 End of Report