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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW CRA 2019-10-28 MinutesCity of Miami 819NW2ndAve 3rd Floor Miami, FL 33136 http://miamicra.com Meeting Minutes Monday, October 28, 2019 5:00 PM Camillus House 1603 N.W. 7th Ave., Bldg. B Miami, FL 33136 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Keon Hardemon, Chair Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Vice Chair Ken Russell, Board Member, District Two Joe Carollo, Board Member, District Three Manolo Reyes, Board Member, District Four SEOPW CRA OFFICE ADDRESS: 819 NW 2ND AVE, 3' FLOOR MIAMI FL 33136 Phone: (305) 679-6800, Fax (305) 679-6835 www.miamicra.com Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 CALL TO ORDER Present: Chair Hardemon, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Russell Absent: Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Reyes On the 28th day of October 2019, the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami met in regular session at Camillus House, 1603 Northwest 7th Avenue, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called to order by Chair Hardemon at 5:03 p.m., and was adjourned at 6: 50 p.m. Note, for the Record: Commissioner Russell entered the meeting at 5:17 p.m. ALSO PRESENT: Cornelius Shiver, Executive Director, CRA Chanel Jefferson, Staff Counsel, CRA William Bloom, Special Counsel, CTA Xavier Alban, Assistant City Attorney Todd B. Hannon, Clerk of the Board CRA PUBLIC COMMENTS Chair Hardemon: Good evening. Welcome to the October 28, 2019 meeting of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency. We are going to -- until we have a quorum here, we're going to open up our floor for public comment on today's agenda items, and then we're going to also move into some presentations that need to be made; for instance, Resolution Number 3, which is the -- a resolution supporting the development of Modern Museum Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora. But before we get to that presentation, what we'll do is we'll open up the public comment for today's agenda. For public comment you will have two minutes to address this body. Please state your first name, your last name, what item it is that you're here to support, and you may state your address. So once again, well open the floor for public comment for today's agenda. State your first name, your last name, what item you're here to support, and you may state your address. Renita Holmes: Madam Holmes, Executive Director of Wave of Women; and also, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Our Homes Opportunity for United Restoration. I want to indicate a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) exemption because of my victim/witness status of my exact address, but I will provide it directly to the Clerk. I'm here in support of Transition. I'm also the Steering Committee member for Dignity Florida, which is -- now the full United States has adopted the issues of incarcerated women and girls. This is the largest of populations that concerns women that look like you and I, particularly mothers in Overtown. I'm disappointed that we must suffer as a result of some other internal issues, but we know that these are the facts. It's truly more to change the quality of life for those, and we provide a second chance, and we want to do it with dignity. We have women that are released right in our immediate area. 111 Building is now a place where you find three things: Single women, women veterans, and formerly incarcerated women with disabilities, who have the ability to work, as well as be self- employed. And so, this is a combination response and request that we bring about a SEOPW CRA Page 1 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 place to go; we bring about adequate resources for the hottest and most disparate place in this City, in this County, and in this community of Overtown. 1 would find it robbery, and 1 find it a simple issue of disrespect, discouraging, despair, and abandonment when we don't find those known programs that -- where strategies and best practices and that have worked. We find other places here where we have Transition monies given for a circle of men, 2 million here, 2 million there; nothing for us (UNINTELLIGIBLE). But the disparity is apparent. My question is, why not put money, into Transitions? And as a matter of fact, I need a transition of women to go with the dignity and the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) program that we -- our State legislation, representative, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) have been putting together. It's time to put the stepping pieces in front. Thank you, Transitions, for all the work that you do. It's proven input, and I'm hoping to see more folks talk about the realness. Let's people transition upwards and not recidivism backwards. Thank you. Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Lowell Cranford: Good evening. My name is Lowell Crawford. I'm here to speak on Item Number 9, which is the request for additional, funding for a project on 3rd Avenue and 17th Street; 1767 Northwest Apartment Complex. I am very much concerned. First of all, I want to commend the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) and the Commission on the job that you all are doing in the community. But I think there may be some oversight here with respect to this particular item, because we are essentially giving additional monies to a property with property owners who are actually in a foreclosure process. I think it's important that that be noted, because I understand that residents are going to be placed in this -- from Overtown in this building, and I think it would be horrible if indeed, these residents are placed in a building that is, indeed, due to be foreclosed on, which is very imminent, either in the latter part of this year or the first part of next year. That brings on a lot of liquidated damages for the CRA, who will have invested $435, 000 again in a foreclosed property. No other resident in Dade County would be able to solicit monies for such a def -- endeavor -- If they were in foreclosure. In addition to that, I have another concern that may have been overlooked. This particular property has delinquent taxes, unpaid as of 2018 in the amount of $15,000, and some additional change that is -- also been issued a tax certificate. This, indeed, represents a conflict of interest for the City of Miami, the CRA, to -- for the most part, And a group of owners that have essentially decided not to pay the exact pot that is depended upon to And such grants in the future. So I think these matters need to be taken seriously, and it needs to be looked at, and this item should be tabled until this mortgage foreclosure is resolved, as well as the delinquent taxes are taken care of. Chair Hardemon: You're recognised, sir. David Tucker: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is David Tucker. I am President of the Board of Transition, Inc. Would everyone here on behalf of Transition please stand up? I want to thank the CRA. I want to thank the Commissioners for the $75, 000 grant. It is greatly appreciated; it is greatly needed. Six months ago, because of something that happened with our Executive Director, we didn't think we would be here, but we are back because of community leaders and people like you. However, today I have an invitation for the Commission, and the invitation is to increase our amount back to $350,000. Transition, Inc. has been around for 50 -- almost 50 years. We are the only exclusively offender program in Miami -Dade County. While we had a kick -up, we adjusted. We have a new Executive Director, and a firm compliance plan. However, it didn't affect the need of the community, because we still have people pouring into our doors. We're still on course to service a thousand people seeking jobs, and we give services to thousands more. The numbers are staggering. We cannot do it with what we have. As of February 15, 2019, our budget was $1.3 million. It is now a small fraction of that. But the need has not decreased. The neighborhood continues to pour in and seek our services. We have never turned anybody away. We're grateful that SEOPW CRA Page 2 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 we also have a grant from the County for $75,000, but that grant is limited to our services to the boot campers. I want to thank you for your consideration, for your help, and again invite you to assist us in assisting so many people in Overtown with criminal records. Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. Sara Herald: Afternoon, Commissioners. Sara Herald, 1450 Brickell Avenue, Miami, Florida 33131. I'm here on behalf of Transition, Inc. I'm here -- I got involved with this organization specifically at the request of the Federal Bench in Miami, because of the fact that they are the only service provider that is exclusively working on job placement and job training for former offenders. You may not be aware that Florida is one of only eight states in the United States which continues to allow employers to ask about the criminal record of applicants; because of that, people who have paid their dues to society, have served their time, re-enter this community with very little chance of getting a job. It's a huge concern for those of us on -- in the Bar and those members of the Bench, because those individuals will rescind again if they really can't meet their basic needs for housing and food, and they can't do that without a job. This agency was defended because of the criminal -- the alleged criminal act of their former Executive Director. The only people being penalized by this defending are the people in your districts that need jobs and job trainings, and they are suffering as a result of the act of one individual. So I would encourage you to not only grant the 75,000, but seriously reconsider increasing that funding. Thank you for your time. Chair Hardemon: Thank you. (Applause) Chair Hardemon: We don't allow any outburst of noise in these meetings, so no clapping. If you want to show support for someone, you can raise your hands and wiggle your fingers, but please, no outburst of any is allowed during our meetings. Mae Christian: Good evening. My name is Dr. Mae Christian. As 1 sit in this room, 1 remember Camillus House before Transition transitioned under different -- various programs under Human Resources for Miami -Dade County, which house the Model City/Central City Methadone Clinic, which was designed for the Guiltier Center that Transition is now housing. I want to say to you, with the closing of all of these public housing, privatizing, people are going to be homeless and jobless. Yes, we have the rich man sitting at their table. I looked at California yesterday. People are escaping from a fire. You never know when poverty can hit you. Transition is the responsibility of a program to help individuals, whether they're offenders, whether they're from the military. We have a lot of veterans. People are going to be homeless. $75, 000 is not going to get it, in preparations. I rode the other night through Overtown; the Overtown that I knew, that I was born in. There was no activities, no jobs. You know, you all -- all of us should be ashamed of our self and our community. You have to help these people transition. Some of us wear our suits and our ties all day long. Well, you have to provide education, opportunities, go in those jails, help these people get out, and stop all of the shooting. So I'm saying to you to support Transition, because we're going to have more people homeless than what you think when y'all continue to privatize. There's nothing that I'm proud of Overtown. It's like a dead, dead cemetery, and you all -- we all should be ashamed that we allowed our African American community to be torn up and taken from us the way it is. Thank you. Chair Hardemon: Is there anyone else that wants --? Yeah. Hello. Lola Capers: Hello, Chair. Good afternoon. My name is Lola Capers. My address is 13920 Northwest 14th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33167. I'm here today asking the CRA SEOPW CRA Page 3 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 Board to change the budget. Transition needs -- 1 would like for you all to support Transition for the next four years; reason being, we have convicted felons, re-entry from the military, as well as from Dade County Correctional Institution. These young men and young ladies, when they come out -- anyone wants a new start. Anyone wants to change their lives. But if they keep knocking on the employers' doors that keep saying, "No, because of your record," then they go back to old people, places, and things; that's why it becomes a revolving door. At Transition, Transition contacts the employer. The employer knows that the individual has made a mistake somewhere in their lives, and they're willing to give them a second chance. A million dollars over four years is not enough money for our community. Yes, I'm very grateful for the 75, but 75,000 will not keep Transition doors open. Not only do we have that at Transition; we have FIU (Florida International University) that has a skill program that's held at Transition five days a week, and it's electrical. So that means when they leave Transition, they have a skill, not only in electrical; in carpentry, too. So we need your help today. Thank you. John Toombs: Good evening -- afternoon. My name John Toombs. I'm with Transition, Inc. I'm a client. And I'm listening, and I just know $75,000 isn't anything. I'm a disabled veteran, and I'm also an ex -offender. And the recidivism of being an ex - offender is not -- easy to fall back into. I came to Transition. They gave me a skill, they giving me a job, and they getting me back on my feet. Suffering from PTSD (post - traumatic stress disorder) and having these emotional things going on -- I see people out on the street. I don't think $75,000 is anything. That's enough to pay for one person to go to prison for one year. And seeing it like that, I guess we're going to all be in prison for the rest of our lives just off the $75,000. The redeveloping of the City of Miami in Overtown where I grew up at, it's like, where are we supposed to go or what are we supposed to do? We're -- we need help to join the forces of rebuilding, redeveloping, recreating, and a new living, for us. If we come here asking, for money, I see no reason why it couldn't be done if the record shows that we're making progress. Transition, Inc. is making progress with helping people come up off the street, come up out of their dead zone, and to live in the -- as we say, "Build new reproductive citizens out in the world to help revitalize our community." So I'm just asking y'all to reconsider y'all thought of just $75,000 for a year. Ms. Lola asked for a million, and she said four - - a million dollars over four years is convenient, hut we have more people coming out of jail, off the street, out of the military, who needs help. And I look at myself like this: If I've served this country for 10 and a half years, and come home and can't receive the help that I need, what good is being -- protecting this country if this country ain't going to protect us when we come home? My name John Toombs. Thank you. Trevor Darling: Good evening. My name is Trevor. I'm here on behalf of Transition, the whole Transition program. 1'd like to say that, you know, 1 am a ex -offender; two- time ex -offender. When I got out -- before I got out, they said, "You know, have a plan." I had a plan, but I wasn't prepared for going to 17 job interviews, and they just, you know, knocking me down, door after door, door after door. I almost gave up. I could have gave up and went back to whatever I was doing in the streets that caused me to go to prison, but I didn't. I found Transition. I found this lady here. I'm like, you know, I've been working for over a year, solid; don't miss no days. I could take care of my family. I'm proud. And you know, it's kind of sad. I could say, you know, right now that I had to get a job to live my best life. And, you know, I'm living my best life right now thanks to Ms. Capers, thanks to Transition, thanks to FIU, Mr. JW -- I don't even see him, but thanks for him coming to FIU -- from FIU to Transition, because I'm right now taking electrician class, but I been on -- hands-on electrician so far. And, you know, I been doing good, and I think Transition is a good -- I just think that not too many people know about Transition. I think if more ex -offenders are given a chance, they'll do the right thing. All we need is a chance. And I'm a ex -- like I said, I'm a ex -offender. Okay, thanks to Ms. Capers, you know, I'm -- right now, I'm making 43.19 a hour. Chair Hardemon: Dang. SEOPW CRA Page 4 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 Mr. Darling: 43.19 a hour. God is good. And 1 say, you know, help. That's all we need, is help. Chair Hardemon: Now you know how many dates you're about to get today now, now that you put that out there? Mr. Darling: Hey, Ijust thank you. And, you know, I appreciate, you know, having time y'all having time for me and everything. And I just hope y'all have a blessed evening. Chair Hardemon: Thank you, brother. Mr. Darling: Thank you. Melissa Ross: Good evening, everybody. My name is Melissa Ross. 1 live at Lotus House, 217 Northwest 15th Street, Miami, Florida 33136. I would have never expected that I would have lived in a shelter with my son. We were evicted, and we're not going to get into that, because that's not what we're here about. But after being evicted, I was very disgruntled and very brokenhearted by the fact that when I came home with my 16- year-old son at the time, we saw all of our property outside the house, with the neighbors stealing our stuff. So basically, what happened is that the Transition team don't only help ex -offenders. They also help people like me. So while at Lotus House, there was a career fair, and the State Attorney's Office fell in love with me. I was having a difficult time to secure an interview, because, you know, it's the State Attorney's Office. So I went to Transition, which is across the street from Lotus House, and I asked them, "Could you please help me to get the interview set up?" I was very depressed and very discouraged. So I went and I asked Mr. Gilmore, which -- I'mgoing to call his name, because he helped me in a great way -- and the entire Transition team assisted me. He gave me a -- the day I had the interview, she said, "Come, Ms. Ross. Come in my office," and he gave me a mock interview right there. He said, "You landed that job, Ms. Ross." My spirit -- I started to walk taller. My back was -- you know, I got taller than my son. And I was like, "Wait a minute. I can do this." I went to the State Attorney's Office on January 7, 2019, and 15n still there, gainfully employed. My son and I have been going through the process at Lotus. And I'm going to stop at that, and my son has something to say. Chair Hardemon: The mike. Clifton Ross: Oh. Can y'all hear me? Ms. Ross: Yeah. Mr. Ross: The Transition program helped me out a lot, like with my mom getting a job. At first, when -- like when I got evicted and everything with my mom, it kind of hurt me, but like now, at the end of the day, like I thought about it, like it makes me go more harder in school; like it makes me go harder in school, like with sports and everything like that. And to close everything out, I'm going to have a quote to say that I made from our -- like I made. It says, "One day, the people that didn't believe in you will everyone how they met you." That's all. Chair Hardemon: Tell us your name. Mr. Ross: Clifton Ross. Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. Mr. Ross: Thank you. SEOPW CRA Page 5 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 Charlie Wilson: Hello. How is everybody? My name is Charlie Wilson, and Transition has been the background of my stability, because when 1 left prison, 1 went there. 1 found a job. They got me a job. They are great peoples [sic]. Their concern is to find ine a job, and they always tell you not to give up while you're searching for a job. So when they sent me out on the (UNINTELLIGIBLE), I go out on the (UNINTELLIGIBLE). I get the job. Sometimes it may take -- what? -- about five or six or seven times before I get a job, but I get it, because I'm persistent. So Ms. Lola, I thank her, because she tells me, she said, "Don't give up, keep going." So she's been there. And Ms. Victoria from FIU, they're great peoples [sic], because they came in, gave us classes for FIU, and I'm one of the students, so I'm learning the electrician and carpenter. So when I finish that, I can go find me a better job, and make better pay, and live better. But before that, the things I used to do is like rob, steal, and all that. But they changed my whole world around. So thank you for listening. Chair Hardemon: Thank you, brother. Willie Phillips: Good afternoon. My, name is Willie Philips. I live at 3602 Northwest 194th Terrace in Miami Gardens. My thing is Transitions hcis helped me a lot. I have gone through a lot of troublesome times in my life. It also has helped my brother and my nephew, because they was convicted felons. Now my brother is a bus driver. My nephew, he has worked on construction for the last five years through Transitions. They have helped them, because I took them to Transitions. I knew of them. Without the funding, Transitions is nowhere. We need more fiinding to help Transitions along. I am going through electrical course with FIU. I have gone through demolition, rehab, all the construction. I know how to read a blueprint. And look at me. I've changed my brother and my nephew life to let them know that there's a better way than keep going through that revolving door of crime. So without Transitions, where would they be? Still doing the same thing on the street. So I took them to Transitions, and Transitions helped them get a better life. Thank you. Lester Cooper: Hello. Good evening. My name is Lester Cooper, and I'm going to speak on behalf of Transition. The Transition program, it really help you -- it's helped me get a career and not a job; you know, something that you could be proud of doing. You know, when the FIU program -- and that's a program you'll be proud of being -- I'm proud of taking the electrical program at FIU, a decent program; just not taking any accredited program. The programs for the jobs they give you is accredited. And, you know, you need a career, not just a job, because, you know, a job just don't cut it with paying the bills and taking care of your family. You want something you can do for -- until you can retire, something you can retire to. And the program actually help you even prepare for a job. A lot of convicted felons don't even know how to go to a job or even sign a application properly, even how to talk to people properly to get a job. So the Transition program, I ask that you please just keep it in the community to just help everybody, not just convicted felons; people that need help getting jobs. Thank you. Marquis' Moore: Hello. My name is Marquis Moore. I'm here on behalf of Transition. I'm kind of new to the program, but for the time period that I have been there, I've seen a lot of -- how can you say? -- love to help those out there that don't get the help that they need to proceed. So, you know, it gives them. -- these students a opportunity to grow, to find a new skill set, to better their life, to give them a opportunity, let -- to help them to feel like they are part of their society again. So, you know, I'm real thankful for what I'm learning in the program through FIU. I'm real thankful for Ms. Lola here, and for the time period from what I've grown to learn through the program. Thank you. Mike Prophute: Good afternoon. My name Mike Prophute. I'm here on the behalf of the Transition. I stay on 701 Northwest 210th Street, Miami Gardens. The reason why I really came today, because I'm a ex -offender. I've been out of prison a whole year. And SEOPW CRA Page 6 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 by me being out of prison, 1 learned -- my probation -- actually, my probation officer sent me to Transition, and 1 thank God she did that, because by me going to Transition, it gave me the tools to make a resume, the proper dress to go on a job interview. And thanks to Ms. Lola, by me going to Transition, today 1 actually went on a job interview. I actually put in 50 applications, never got a call. Everything, they said, "Background check." Yeah, I did some -- yeah, I did a mistake in my past. That's my past. I don't want that to stop me from achieving my goals in life; that's why I'm here; that's why I went to Transition. I want a career, not only -- I want a career just to help my loved ones. I have two kids on the way, and by me having a minimum wage job, that can't take care of my bills. That can't take care of my family. That's going -- lead me going back to my old faulty thinking. By me being here, I want the board, the CRA to help us fund the program; that way, we can come out and achieve our goals, because a lot of people that's in Federal prison, when they come home, they don't have nothing to go home to. Transition help us get back to society and become somebody; that's why I'm here. Thank you. Sonia Lester: Good evening. My, name is Sonia Lester. I am a resident of the Overtown community. I'm born and raised in Overtown, in Town Park Village. We need this funding not only for ex -offenders; for the people of our community, okay? You have the new generation that's coming up that's also going to need assistance coming out of school and needing these skills; not just for the elders or, you know, ex -offenders. I mean, this is the only program that we have in our community. Everything else is being redeveloped. But without this, how do we get assistance? Everybody is not connected through -- you know, have website connection, computer access. This is the only thing we have. You know what I mean? Far as Dress for Success -- you know, a number of things. You name it. It's only two minutes. I can't run it down in two minutes. But, you know, it's ridiculous. I mean, we need this funding, okay? We all know this. Everyone in this room knows that we need this funding for our community. We can't go to this community, that community, and -- we can, but -- come on. Why take this out of our community? You know what I mean? I mean, this is upsetting, because I've been helped over the years, and many of people over the years. I'm getting help now once again. I've received a new job this week by being in the FLU program through Transition. This program helps and it works. So, you know, people, let's wake up. Fund them, please. Darryll Capers: How y'all doing? My name is Darryll Capers. I'm a former incarcerated. I'm here on behalf of Transition. I'd like to say that Transition is a program that we need, because Transition help me when I got out. It helped me to get a job, and 1 been working for two years now. And since then, I have a permanent job. 1 learned how to wire cameras, do data. You know what I'm saying? Access points, run the gates when you go in the gates, 1 know how to do all that. And now I'm in a program, FIU, learning to be a electrician. You know what I'm saying? And I know it's a couple of guys that's always been incarcerated. Everybody -- through this program, we been able to get a job. Without this program, we don't have nothing; nothing else to help us. Thank you. Anthony Woodside: Good evening, good evening, good evening. How y'all doing? My name is Anthony Woodside; address is 4011 Northwest 23rd Avenue, Brown Sub. I'm kind of baffled, because I was talking to Ms. Capers, and I was -- you know, it just kind of throwed [sic] me, because I can't understand. If this the only program in Dade County for ex -offenders, and y'all don't want to fund it, I can't understand it, because for the -- since the last five years, me being un -- presently incarcerated, Transition done help me out a lot, because it's been plenty of times where I don't -- have a mind to do something else, and I was catching the bus, and I may come through Overtown, and I see Transition, and I say, "Well, I'll go there in the morning," instead of me doing something wrong. And you got ex -offenders who coming out, they going to need this program. This the only program in Dade County, so I can't understand why y'all won't SEOPW CRA Page 7 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 fund it or whatever to do what it can do to help us, because this program help. If it wasn't for this program, I'll probably be back in prison right now. And so, we need this here funding, for real, man. No matter what y'all do or whatever; we need this here funding for Transition. That's all l got to say. Thank you. Victoria Tomas: Good evening. Thank you for having us. My name is Victoria Tomas, and this is John Weaver. We are both with Florida International University. We are running the program out of Transition in construction trades; a program that has proven to be extremely successful in helping the underserved part of our communities. We currently have, as you have seen pass through the podium, 22 students in class, and we have a waiting list, according to Ms. Lola, for our next cohort, which starts in January. This program gives our students OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)-30; it gives them construction trade skills, hands-on; it gives them a job fair, and all run out of the Transition facility. We bring the class to the community. Understanding that our students, corning from here, going west of the County, it will take them almost two hours to reach the university, we have come into the community to teach the class. It's not new. We've taught here at Camillus, but we enjoy the relationship with Transition, because it has a very hands-on. Ms. Lola is always there. JW, as he's very well known to his students, is very dedicated. And I think that it would be in the best interest of this community to support the efforts of Transition to stay, and for us to continue to work with them for many cohorts to come. Thank you. John Weaver: Thank you. Eric Smith: My name Eric Smith. I'm here, part of the Transition, Inc. I'm asking that we do, you know, receive the proper funds, man, because we need the hands-on training, you know, for the shops and everything. You know, I've been, you know -- how you say? re -incarcerated. I've been there. You know, I'm a ex -offender, two-time loser. But since I came here, you know, I got my CDLs (Commercial Driver's License) through these people, you know, through the Transition. And now, I'm getting hands-on experience, you know, far as carpentry and, you know, other things; a electrician, you know; things of that sort. You know, but briefly, you know, 1 support, you know, the funding, that we need more funding, you know, so we can enhance our self and better ourselves. Thank you. Latasha Davis: Hi. Good evening, everyone. My name is Latasha Davis. I'm a resident of Overtown. My address is 1128 Northwest 7th Avenue. I walk through this area every day. I'm here to support Transitions. I5n a resident of Overtown, plus I'm a staff member at Transition. 1 want to give you just a little bit of my story. I stayed in this area, I looked for resources, and the only resource I found was Transition. I get a little emotional, so I'ni sorry. When 1 went to Transition, I had no job. Me and my kids were just getting out of a shelter, and this was the neighborhood that most of the shelters were in. This was my neighborhood now. So with this being my neighborhood and me looking for resources for my children, myself, even to get back on my feet, the only place I was welcomed to without an appointment, without any stress or hassle was Transition. Transitions does offer computer services, so at the end of the day, when I had to go in and look for work, I could sit there all day and search for jobs through Transitions. As a staff member now of Transition, one thing I can say is when participants come into Transition, they're looking for help, they're looking for hope, they're looking for their next step, they're looking for that transition. With them looking for that transition, as a staff member, I say, "Come on in"; not just me. The other staff from Transition say, "Come on in"; not for only returning citizens/ex-offenders; that's for everyone. So I feel like if Transition is not appropriately funded for the next few years, then what would our community have; especially, like the young lady said, people who are growing up in the community who needs the skills, who needs the trades? And I do understand the redevelopment and I do understand everything that's going on within Overtown is nice. I love it, because I want my children to experience different SEOPW CRA Page 8 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 things, as well. But then, when it comes to resources for parents and adults that our children look up to, who have no skills, Transitions give them that skill. So now, with our children looking up to these middle -age adults, say, "What is middle -age adults are doing?" They have no skill. They have no trades. So now Transition offers this program that gives electric; electrician, carpentry -- Chair Hardemon: Gentlemen in the back, we can't hear the young lady speak. Ms. Davis: I'm sorry. I think my time is up. Chair Hardemon: No. You could finish your statement. Ms. Davis: Okay. They give electrical, masonry, plumbing and carpentry finishing. When I see those participants come into our office, they're excited, because they feel like they're given a second chance without being pushed away. When I say, "We do mock interviews," we do, do mock interviews. A lot of participants walk into Transition without even knowing how to go to a interview. And some of us don't even know what a resume is; I didn't. I had to get skilled and taught. Now I could teach the next participant. "Hey, this is your resume. This is who you are. This is how you sell you." But the fact that we could actually -- If you don't teach the community, how will they know? So the fact that Transition comes to teach the community and show them what they need, and don't just set them off to be lost -- we actually go step by step with the participant, so they -- that's wraparound services; that's case management. We don't give up on our community. So all I want you to do is not give up on our community, and not give up on Transitions, and hopefully And us for the next, few years. Chair Hardemon: Thank you so much. Ms. Davis: Thank you. (Applause) Alan Rauzin: Good afternoon. My name is Alan Rauzin. I'm a native of Miami, and grew up here. I want to share a little story with you about Transition. About 50 years ago, there was a businessman here, my late father, who read about the waste that we get, that we see from the waste of lives and to taxpayers from the stigma of -- that attaches to people getting out ofjail, to ex -offenders. And he read about a program in Washington State that was successfully helping people make that transition back and find jobs, and thought to himself "Why can't we do that here?" So he mentioned that to a few -- so he spoke about that to a couple of civic groups. There were others who volunteered. And a group of them began going to the jail regularly, meeting with inmates who were about to be released, talking to them about what they could expect, about strategies that they might use; and if they could, offering them assistance in -- with some of the difficulties that they anticipated. As you know, employers are not very - - are reluctant to hire ex -offenders. So they went the extra step and started approaching employers and asking them to give a chance to these ex -offenders if they were qualified for the job, they had paid their debt to society, and they needed a second chance to rebuild their lives. And you know what? Employers responded, and they're still responding. Transition now has decades of experience in making this happen successfully. Don't let that go down the drain, please. Transition is very grateful for the grant that you've given us in the past, for the 75,000 that's on today's agenda. But as I'm sure you understand, we need -- we're recovering. We need a lot more than that. And we hope you will consider the 350 that was on the agenda twice before. Help us save millions of dollars, of taxpayer dollars, and help these ex -offenders create upward spirals in their lives and benefit their lives, their families, their children for generations to come. SEOPW CRA Page 9 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. Mr. Rauzin: Thank you very much. Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Trina Kancey: Good evening. Chair Hardemon: Good evening. Ms. Kancey: My name is Trina Kancey. My address is 1900 Northwest 1st Place. In 1998, I was facing a lot of time in prison, and someone introduced me to Transition. Matter of fact, I was court -ordered to go to Transition to find employment, and I walked through those doors. Transition not only assisted me with finding employment; they gave me hope, because I was lost, 1 was young, I was reckless. They provided me with self-worth, something I didn't have. And with becoming gainfully employed, it taught me how to pay bills, because I didn't know how to pay bills, even though I had kids. My mother died when I was young, so I didn't know how to pay bills. And they taught me that with -- because they had orientation for a week. So not only did they teach me how to dress for employment, for a job interview; they taught me how to interview, period. They showed me how to create a resume. In 2015, I found myself in need of services again, and I walked through Transition's doors, and they welcomed me with open arms. Not only did I come in as a client; I volunteered at Transition one month, and within one month, they offered me full-time employment. So I went from a client to volunteer to gainfully employed with Transition after three and a half years. I'm no longer with them -- with Transition right now, but I love Transition. Transition taught me hope. It gave me hope. It gave me a self -- a sense of self-worth. It showed inc that I can do this. And the only thing an employer can say to me is, "no," and then I could take that with a smile. So I'm here in support of Transition. Thank you. Chair Hardemon: Thank you. (Applause) Chair Hardemon: Please, no clapping. Cedric Austin: How you doing? My name is Cedric Austin. I'm here on behalf of Transition. I'm also a returning citizen. I'm also a member and assistant organizer for FRRC (Florida Rights Restoration Coalition), the organization that helped put Amendment 4 through for Florida, so people with felonies can have a second chance to vote, restoring rights. So that's what I'm basically about, and that's basically what Transition's about. When I was incarcerated in the year 2017, in July, it was a Transition member by the name of (UNINTELLIGIBLE); came to the institution and worked with me on my short-term goals, on my long-term goals. He gave me a card and told me when I get out to reach out to him. He came to see me while I was incarcerated for my last six months, transitioning into society. So a lot of organizations help you perform, but Transition help you transform and to be the man that you want to be. So now I'm a community advocate. I'm a advocate for re-entry residents. I'm also a case manager for Miami -Dade AV, Anti -Violence Initiative. So don't think just because somebody has a blemish on their record, they can't make a change. And I'm not a resident in Overtown again, but Overtown is my community, and I often go to Overtown and provide mentorship for the young brothers, so they won't have to have a record and go through Transition, so these young brothers can stay focused on the track. So it's bigger than me. My name is Cedric Austin, and I believe this is bigger than Transition. This is about Overtown; not only Overtown, but the residents of Overtown, their family, their generations, and their legacy, which also formed the community of Miami -Dade SEOPW CRA Page 10 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 County. And for the Spanish brothers in here, too, you guys are the new blacks, so guess who's getting incarcerated? Thank you. Unidentified Speaker: Thank you, brother. Ignacio Calderin: Good evening. My name is Ignacio Calderin, and I reside at 921 East Hialeah. I came in 2008. I went to Transition. I was referred there, and they -- the guy who sat in front of me, he didn't even look at me, you know. But then I came to Transition in 2015 to volunteer, and just like Ms. Trina, I volunteered, and I told the Director at the time, Ms. Manning, I said, "I can clean the bathroom or I can help run the operation." A few months later, they allowed me to be part of the team, which I am part of the Transition, but I want to say that we are a new Transition. Our new thing is it's a new day in Transition. And Transition could have been dead already. There was team members working for free. It should have been closed. People don't even know. FIU didn't know when I contacted -- "You're open?" "Yeah. Let's make it happen." So Transition is making things happen behind the scenes where people don't see, because the news don't want to talk about, you know, what's good in -- you know -- going on. They only want to give the negative. But we are the product of Transition, and we work with different agencies. We go into the -- like the brother before, Brother Cedric, we go in and we prepare them. We could only do that if we are alive, you know. Today is a day that we can make a change, all right? We work with Care Court. We go there and speak. Transition is doing a lot of things behind the scenes. And before I end, I just want to leave you with this: It says, "There will come a day when you will think that everything has finished. That will be the beginning." And I pray that's the beginning of Transition today. Leona de Gras Pinto: Good evening. My name is Leona de Gras Pinto, 4250 Salzedo -- thank you -- Street, Coral Gables, Florida. Sony, I'm nervous. We're volunteers at Transition, and our journey to Transition began as volunteers within the detention system where we learned firsthand the struggles, the obstacles that women in particular face in that system. And it was learning about the tremendous fears that face them as they -- Unidentified Speaker: Could you talk into the mike, please? Ms. de Gras Pinto: -- I'm sorry; into the mike. Okay. I'm sorry. Chair Hardemon: Go ahead. Ms. de Gras Pinto: We learned about the fears; especially that the women faced as they had to re-enter society. And we realized that we wanted to do something on the outside and work with that. So we started working with Transition, and we started a closet for women re-entering society. But as we worked and volunteered there, we understood and learned so much more about the vital work that they do there; about what they do for the community: about the dignity, the respect that is restored. But most importantly, when you're transitioning people back into society, you're restoring families, you're rebuilding families. To volunteer at Transition has been the most important work I feel I've ever done, and it's had the most impact. It's been the most humbling thing I've ever done. And if it's had that level of impact on me, and I'm, a simple volunteer, I think that says a lot about the power of positive change that Transition embodies for our community. And it makes you wonder, without Transitions, where's the hope, and where do they go? Thank you. Chair Hardemon: Transitions may have to start a motivational speaking class, because it seems like everybody's a motivational speaker at Transition. Vice Chair Gort: They're doing a good job. SEOPW CRA Page 11 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 Chair Hardemon: Yeah. Ashley Litwin: Hi. My name is Ashley Litwin. I'm the Vice President of the board of Transition. I've been on the board for five years. And everyone today has talked a lot about what Transition does, all the lives that it has changed, the importance that it has in the community, and the lives that, hopefidly, with your help, we can continue to change. But what I wanted to focus on today is the people who work at Transition. I have never seen people work so tirelessly, despite any and all obstacles. On February 15, when we found out that our Executive Director had stolen from us, the board, and specifically our President, David, had to let 14 people go. It was a devastating day for everybody. The next Monday morning at 9 a.m., 13 people showed up, and everybody worked as volunteers. Since that day, there has been a refusal to give up, led by our Executive Director, Stephen Gilmore. He has not let us close those doors, even if we can't pay our light bill, even if we can't pay our rent. There's been so many times we haven't been able to pay the employees, especially not our Executive Director. People have come in, day in, day out, working till midnight to serve our community. When the board of directors tried to close the doors, because we were worried about everything that was happening, and we didn't want to have employees whose bills we couldn't pay, Lola Capers screamed at us and wouldn't let us, and taught us something none of us knew: That Transition is an institution in the Overtown community. It is -- it can't -- its doors cannot be closed, because there's nowhere else that the people can go. These services are needed, and we're the only ones who can provide them at this time. Look at all the people that came here today. I mean, that is a testament to what Transition does and what we need to continue to do. $75,000 is simply not enough for what our organization needs. Transition and the community of Overtown deserve more, and they need more. Please fund Transition. Stephen Gilmore: Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is Stephen Gilmore, and I proudly serve as the Executive Director of Transition, Incorporated. I am honored to have so much support in our community. I always say, "Transition is located in the heart of Overtown, but in so many ways, Transition is the heart of Overtown," because we symbolize the work ethic, the dedication to community and family. And as we open our doors each and every day, we know it's a clarion call to action. We know that the national unemployment rate is 3.6; it's 27 percent for formerly incarcerated individuals. And formerly incarcerated individuals in our community, it has to be upwards of 60 percent, if not higher. Transition's doors cannot open. We are so thankfirl, Commissioners, for the $75,000 that you placed, but we desperately need to have our grant as written funded. We need it. $75 [sic] may keep our doors open for the next six to eight weeks, but we will not be able to open up our doors in the month of January. Staff has given unselfishly of their time. They have donated so much of their time to keep the doors open for our organization. And some staff have not been paid in a good bit. But we know how important this organization is to Overtown. Each -- I'm reminded right now of the movie, "Field of Dreams," starring Kevin Costner, which -- an Iowa farmer. He heard whispering voices, and they simply said, "If you build it, they will come." And at the end of the movie -- I think it was a 1919 or 1909 team came out. Marvin Rauzin, in 1972, heard a whispering voice that simply said, "If you build it; if you build Transition and make opportunities available for formerly incarcerated individuals, they will come," and they come, and they come, and they come. To close Transition means that you're closing the doors of opportunity for every one of those people. I can get another job. I've been approached at least six times for senior management positions, and I tell them, "no." And you know why I say, "no"? Because I am Transition, and Transition's me, and I'm going down with the ship. Chair Hardemon: The ship's not going down. Mr. Gilmore: Thank you. SEOPW CRA Page 12 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 Chair Hardemon: But -- Mr. Gilmore: Well, we need more than $75,000. Chair Hardemon: We're going to talk. We're going to talk more. Mr. Gilmore: Yes, sir. Chair Hardemon: Please. Mr. Gilmore: Thank you. Chair Hardemon: No, no; the next speaker, please. Brian Dennis: Mr. Chair, Reverend Brian Dennis. As y'all seen us (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Stephen Gilmore. As a board member of Transition, we've never asked for funding. But it was something that Ms. Davis said, and the wraparound services that we do. I'm in Transition at least two to three times a week as a hoard member, watching what they do, and I would love for each one of you to come and see what we do -- not staff -- individually, for you to come and see what we do. You've heard the success stories that we have, the electrical class from FIU, the countless numbers of people that come in and out the doors that we've employed. But I want to give you something else. October is Domestic Violence Month. Last Thursday, there was a young lady that came in our office with a Band-Aid over an eye. She was sitting there with a young man that had beat her, forced her to come with him. Myself and -- stand up, Ms. Beverly. Myself and Ms. Beverly wind up talking to this young lady, pulling her away from the guy, sending her on her way to a better path. If the doors of Transition was closed, we couldn't have stopped that. We couldn't have helped her. Commissioner, this is an opportunity, for you to build a legacy like no other, because it's standing at your doorstep. This is an opportunity for greatness, and if you stand in the doorway and the opportunity for greatness is right there on the other side of the threshold, you walk into it, you go into it. These hoard members have given tirelessly, each and every last one of them, and they are right. Had it not been for Mr. Gilmore, had it not been for myself and Ms. Capers, and Mr. Gilmore basically, losing his mind in there -- "No, no, no, we got to keep the doors open," we kept the doors open. We kept Overtown employed. We kept people coming from other areas employed. I'm asking you, Commissioner, to please up what we've asked -- what you're putting on the agenda, and give us the dollars that would better serve the community. Thank you. Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. Is there any other person that wants to speak for public comment? Please, sir, approach. Michael Mighty: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioners, Mr. Nate, everybody. I'm a painter. and I do some work in Overtown South with a company named HHA Contracting Company. But they have a kind of hiring practice that -- you know -- they trying to leave me out of the equation, and I live in Overtown. I'm a resident in Overtown, and I had a son I had to take care in college, and I just need to be working. And, you know, I work, and then they lay, me off and, you know, it's not good for me, because I got to pay the bills and stuff like that, in laymen terms. So please, you need to talk to somebody to get me back, you know, on their painting crew. Chair Hardemon: Do me a favor. I want you to see Nate for me. Okay? That gentleman right there in the black jacket. Mr. Mighty: Okay, sir. SEOPW CRA Page 13 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 Chair Hardemon: Okay. Thank you, sir. Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, the speaker's name? Chair Hardemon: So what's your name again, sir? Mr. Mighty: My name is Michael Mighty. Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Akua Scott: Good evening, Commissioners and all of those who came out to support Transition. My name is Akua Scott. I am at 19.51 Northwest 7th Avenue, on the 6th floor. I'm corning to just let you know that I have referred several residents to Transition. I worked at (UNINTELLIGIBLE) since 2008, and the need is vast fbr not only the services that they provide, but the self-esteem that they give to the residents once they get there. They feel as if they have hope. I've had so many phone calls from not only residents in Overtown, but residents in other areas that I have referred to Transition, and they've never turned anyone away. I have sat there with some of the residents. I've seen them sit with them, teach them how to use the computer, teach them what they need to do in order to make themselves better. But the most important thing that helps to make them better is they give them clean clothes. They give them clean clothes to interview, and that's important, that's key, because what we don't understand is a lot of these people don't have the proper attire to even interview. Please, please fund Transition to the tune of $500, 000. Thank you. Chair Hardemon: Thank you. She knows what to ask. for. Charles Cutler: Charles Cutler, 706 Northwest 12th Avenue, Miami. I'm a long-time resident of Overtown. I'm a property owner here, also, so my money, goes into the CRA coffer. I worked with Transition for a while. As a matter of fact, I worked with Marvin Rauzin, who was the originator of Transition. He was a millionaire from this community, a real estate developer. He ended up going to jail just on a humbug. And when he saw the conditions in jail, when he got out, he started Transition in order to build and have a vehicle in place so that when people get out of jail, they'll have a conduit in place, so they can come and get the services that Transition is providing today. Transition is a good program. I have some history with them, and they're a very good program. And they've been in this community for a long time. And with the community -- the Overtown Community Employment and Training Program, that's also a good program, which is managed by Mr. Emanuel Washington. And what I'm seeing now -- like 1 say, 1 came from employment; that's nay background. So a lot of these people in here that's involved with employment, we've crossed swords, and we worked with each other, and we've been able to build some infrastructure in this community in terms of building something positive so that we'll be assured that people -- that opportunities, that they come in terms of employment and training, that there are creative managers put together with the employer and the community. What I would like to see in this community, I would like to see that spirit pass over to all phases of government, and even with our developers, and people that we do business with in this community, and with the City of Miami. They have the statute where -- that allows the employee -- the employers to accommodate the Commission, and the people in this community, when they come in to get funds to be able to create jobs to do their projects. But what I'm not seeing, I'm not seeing where -- even with the CRA and some of the other organizations, what I'm not seeing, I'm not seeing Overtown residents, actually, because we have a lot of professionals in this community, also. I put my children through college in this community. I raised three children. All three of them have college degrees. So I heard somebody come up here one time and say, "Everybody in Overtown is unemployed, transient, " this and that, this and that. That's not true. I put my children through college, and I have a college degree, also. And I grew up in SEOPW CRA Page 14 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 Overtown. 1 left here to go -- 1 got drafted for the Vietnam War, so I went overseas. When 1 came back, I've been here in Miami ever since. And 1 will continue to serve this community. 1 was even on the Mayor's Crisis Response Team during the 1980 riots, when there wasn't that many police on the force, and they needed some extra soldiers on the ground, and they came to us. And we was able to go out to assist them until we got backup from the National Guard. Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. Mr. Cutler: So in saying that, the only thing I want to see, I want to see it work, but I want to see it work in the spirit that the CRA was really developed, because you got to remember, this thing was developed based on the poverty initiatives that took place back in the '70s, and without that reality existing in this community, there would not be a CRA. Chair Hardemon: That's correct. Mr. Cutler: So when the Tax Increment Fund came through Arthur Teele, Jr., that's actually what gave us the engine that we needed, the economic resources -- Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. Mr. Cutler: -- to And the CRA. Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. Mr. Cutler: So in light of that -- Chair Hardemon: I have to stop you though. Mr. Cutler: Okay, okay. Chair Hardemon: But 1 appreciate you, Mr. Cutler. Mr. Cutler: Okay. Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much for the information. Mr. Cutler: You'll be seeing more of me. 1 ain't going nowhere. Chair Hardemon: Please. Shaneetha Omaka: Good evening. My name is Shaneetha Omaka. I'm with Human Resource of Miami. We're the Blue Shirts. So we clean up Overtown. I have not been raised in Overtown. However, I've been raised in some of 17 cities in Miami. In that, I realize that Overtown became very loving to me. I loved it more than I can even imagine. And it also taught me so much. It taught me that network is the most important thing of how we can all go to the next level. Now me being Blue Shirts, we hire convicted felons. We hire people who are on drugs. We hire those who you say "no" to that we say "yes." Without Transitions, without Suited for Success, without Mr. Washington, we couldn't go far, because we all had to collaborate together; Overtown Resource, if I'm not mistaken, as well. All of us come together as one, and we all make sure that we're helping the community; not ourselves, not our own agenda, but the community, to help the people. I know you know what you're doing, so I would never question that. But I will say this: Think a little hard before you say "no." They have been there. I know what it feels like to be on a ship that's about to sail away, and it's not easy, but you keep going; that's what this community is about, is to keep going. I'm SEOPW CRA Page 15 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 asking that you come and look at them. Don't be closed; let's be open. You guys have a blessed night. Thank you. Chair Hardemon: Thank you so much. Jenifer Acosta: Hi. My name is Jenifer Acosta. I live at 1445 Northwest 1st Court, Miami, Florida 33136. I am a resident of Overtown. I lived at the Lotus House. I am a victim of domestic violence. I started at Transition, like Mr. Ignacio and Trina, volunteering, but not by choice. I was arrested in 2013 as a first-time offender, and that was part of my special conditions, to do community service hours, so I started volunteering, and from there, it changed my whole life. I helped ex -offenders with resumes and computers. These are people who have not seen a computer; some of them 30, 40 years locked up, and never seen a computer, didn't know how to use it, and I was right there, number one, to help them. I got offered a job there, and I saw not only -- they do more than just that. You know, the community can come and use the computers to do job application; not only just ex -offenders, the whole community. They can do their DCF (Department of Children and Families) applications, they can do -- they can fax and make copies that they have to go and pay 10 cents at the library or at Staples. Like, it's so much more than just helping ex -offenders. It's helping the whole community. When I got there in 2016, we had GED (general education development) classes, computer classes; like, so many things going on, and now, it's not there. Transition was that spot for everything. Today I helped a client, and he was talking about that he couldn't go back to school. He had finished in 9th grade. And I was like, "What happened to our GED classes?" We used to offer that. We need so much more funding to give them so much more opportunity, to the community, and the ex -offenders. Thank you. Chair Hardemon: Seeing no other persons here for public comment, I'm going to close the public comment at this time. So what we're going to do is this: We have a presentation that needs to be made, for RE.3, which is a resolution expressing support for the development of the Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora. I'm going to have that presentation; then we'll move through our minutes, approving the minutes. And then we're going to take up the majority of the agenda, but I want to address Items -- well, certainly, RE.5, which is the Transition item, so we'll do that one. I want to kind of bring -- that's -- we'll do that one last, right? And there are a couple of items that we're going to talk about besides that one; certainly', the one that was brought up, RE.9, because we're learning some facts that we didn't know about before. But -- so if everyone's a little patient with me. I enjoy you all being here. Really, from the bottom of my heart, we haven't had a CRA meeting where this many people have come out and showed support Jroan organization in a while; and so, 1 appreciate you all being here. We want to actually have an opportunity to really talk about some of these issues that kind of led to where we are today. Okay? SEOPW CRA Page 16 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 MINUTES APPROVAL 1. SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST CRA - REGULAR - SEP 24, 2018 5:00 PM MOTION TO: Approve RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Board Member, District One SECONDER: Ken Russell, Board Member, District Two AYES: Hardemon, Gort, Russell ABSENT: Carollo, Reyes Chair Hardemon: So what 1'd like to do right now is ask for a motion to approve the meeting minutes from September 24, 2018 and March 7 -- Vice Chair Russell: So move. Vice Chair Gort: Move it. Chair Hardemon: -- 2019. So it's properly moved and seconded to approve the meeting minutes. Any further comment? Hearing none, all who approve, say "aye." The Board (Collectively): Aye. Chair Hardemon: Motion passes. 2. SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST CRA - REGULAR - MAR 7, 2019 5:00 PM MOTION TO: Approve RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Board Member, District One SECONDER: Ken Russell, Board Member, District Two AYES: Hardemon, Gort, Russell ABSENT: Carollo, Reyes Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Minutes Approval Number 2, please see Minutes Approval Number I. SEOPW CRA Page 17 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 CRA RESOLUTION(S) 1. CRA RESOLUTION 6696 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY'S PROPOSED GENERAL OPERATING AND TAX INCREMENT FUND BUDGET, IN THE AMOUNT OF $66,273,241.00, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2019 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 SET FORTH IN EXHIBIT "A"; DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF SAID BUDGET TO THE CITY OF MIAMI AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY; RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING NECESSARY ACTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN ORDER TO UPDATE THE SEOPW CRA FINANCIAL EXPENDITURES, ACCOUNTS CLOSE-OUTS AND OPENINGS, AND ACCOUNTING ENTRIES; PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE RETRO-ACTIVE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS "ANNUAL BUDGET RESOLUTION" AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2019 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2019 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2020. ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-19-0031 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Ken Russell, Board Member, District Two SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Board Member, District Five AYES: Hardemon, Gort, Russell ABSENT: Carollo, Reyes Chair Hardemon: The Chair would like to entertain a motion to approve Items RE.1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11. Just -- Board Member Russell: So move. Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved; seconded by the Chair. So I'll repeat it. Items 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11. Any discussion about that? Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, my apologies. The backup documents for Item RE.8 and REM will be substituted, but does not amend the legislation. Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. The mover and seconder will accept that? Board Member Russell: Yes. Chair Hardemon: All in favor, say "aye." The Board (Collectively): Aye. Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes. SEOPW CRA Page 18 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 2. CRA RESOLUTION 6698 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A GRANT TO FLORIDA FILM HOUSE, LLC, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $32,155.00 TO UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2019 URBAN FILM FESTIVAL/1ST TAKE YOUTH PROGRAM; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000. ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-19-0032 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Ken Russell, Board Member, District Two SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Board Member, District Five AYES: Hardemon, Gort, Russell ABSENT: Carollo, Reyes Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number 2, please see Item Number 1. 3. CRA RESOLUTION 6699 RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MIAMI MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA. ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-19-0033 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Ken Russell, Board Member, District Two SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Board Member, District Five AYES: Hardemon, Gort, Russell ABSENT: Carollo, Reyes Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item Number 3, please see Item Number 1. Chair Hardemon: So at this time, I'm going to call our attention to RE.3 and the presentation that needs to be made for RE.3. SEOPW CRA Page 19 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 Marilyn Holifield: Good evening, Mr. Chairman and members of the board. My name is Marilyn Holifield, and 1 appreciate this opportunity to speak on behalf of the resolution expressing support Jrothe development of the Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora. We are here because we believe that locating this museum in Overtown would pay homage not only to the history of Overtown, but to the promise of its future as a center for entertainment, culture, and recognition of the many great contributions of people of African descent that have been made not only in Miami, but around the world. The mission of Miami MOCAAD (Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora) is to discover, collect, exhibit, and preserve the best of contemporary art of the African diaspora. Let me take one quick moment and remind all that the African diaspora grew out of the forcible removal of Africans from Africa Jroenslavement in Europe, North America, South America, and the Caribbean. The story told by contemporary art of the African diaspora is the rest of the story that you rarely hear or you rarely see in the art history, the art canons; and, yes, in museums. We believe that the Miami MOCAAD Museum will help to answer the underrepresentation of art of the global African diaspora, but not only that. Locating this museum in Overtown will be important to the development of entertainment and culture. It will promote multicultural tourism. It will offer visitors another reason to spend another day, maybe two days in Miami. It will promote job creation and economic development. It will support innovative education that incorporates technology. Its educational programs from the very beginning will blend art and technology to inspire creativity and critical thinking. It will promote the development of tech -savvy students, using art as a vehicle. Overtown's history and the promise of its future make it an ideal place for Miami MOCAAD to have its home in Overtown, and for Overtown to have its home in Miami MOCAAD, the Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, Ms. Holifield. SEOPW CRA Page 20 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 4. CRA RESOLUTION 6700 RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING A GRANT TO SUITED FOR SUCCESS, INC., IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $150,000.00, TO UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH JOB TRAINING AND OTHER EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT SERVICES TO JOB SEEKERS FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000. ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-19-0034 MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s) RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S) MOVER: Ken Russell, Board Member, District Two SECONDER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Board Member, District One AYES: Hardemon, Gort, Russell ABSENT: Carollo, Reyes Chair Hardemon: The -- so let's do this: For Transition -- with the President, right? Board Member Russell: Executive Director. Chair Hardemon: Please -- yeah. Step to the lectern. David Tucker: Good evening. Chair Hardemon: Good evening. What I'd like for you to do is I want you to make it plain for everyone what occurred with the former Executive Director that kind of brings us to where we are today. Mr. Tucker: Sure. Starting in about July of 2018 and going through February 15 of 2019, our Executive Director, I believe, embezzled and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars. It was a very intricate, well thought out plan. I, myself; by trade, am a white-collar criminal defense lawyer. She used clients who were already in the system. She used forms that we use every single day. She used companies that looked familiar. And finally, she just plain out forged my name on numerous checks. She gave herself two different raises without telling the board, and she gave herself a $5,000 bonus in January of 2019. All of this was done secretly. It was done with the assistance of her boyfriend and her family. It was a shock. I can tell you that I've been involved in this organization for five years in various positions, starting out as a volunteer to a board member to Vice President to President. I am responsible for hiring her. I am responsible for what happened. Neither the staff nor the people of Overtown, our clients, are responsible. I clearly missed something. I've been involved in not -for -profits for years, either on the board -- I was with the "Y" and various other not -for -profits. It was shocking. I cannot give you the numbers, because she is presently under Federal investigation. I have intentionally stayed SEOPW CRA Page 21 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 away from it, because I am a witness, and she, in part, confessed to nie. What we have done is we have developed a very detailed and comprehensive plan for compliance to ensure that this never happens again. And one of the ways this happened was that I, myself in approving checks and bills, would look at the document. Well, the document looks good. "Oh, I've seen this name before. This is a normal number for this particular program," whatever the program is, and I would approve it. I still do the same, but I guarantee you, I do it much better now. I go behind the documents. I ask questions about the documents and about the bills. The current -- the compliance plan we have has a number of different parts to it, but probably one of the most important parts is how she was able to do this, because our actual year ends in June. Our audit year ends in June. And we have audits from -- at that time, it was CareerSource and the County, and various other organizations. She started her actual fraud in July of 2018. So we are in the midst, actually, as we speak, of hiring a separate and distinct accountant, CPA (Certified Public Accountant), to go behind the documents periodically; not just once a year for an audit, but periodically, to ensure that everything is okay. I can share with you that I, myself, in the beginning, with my investigator, conducted the investigation, and it was shocking how extensive it was, and it was shocking how well thought out it was. She knew exactly what she was doing. We know it happened, and we now know how to respond to ensure it doesn't happen again. I have seen so many profiles of individuals who commit fraud, who commit embezzlement, who commit money laundering in every different environment you can possibly imagine. If you would have asked me any time prior to February 15 whether someone would steal from a not -for profit, I would tell you that could never happen. It was shocking, absolutely shocking. I'm here to answer any questions that you have. And let me reiterate once again, I hired her. She had been working there fbr four years. I interviewed her. I recommended that she be approved, because she had the experience in the CareerSource contract. She used that experience to enrich herself and her family members. If you have any questions, I am here. Chair Hardemon: Can you tell us a bit about the budget that you have for the entire program? In the agenda, there's -- it reads, "Program budget, " and it lists $350, 000. But I don't think that that is accurate as far as the entirety of the program. Can you better describe what it is that we are actually contributing for? Because -- and I want our staff to understand this. The -- many times, we receive requests for grants, and when we create a budget for it, our budget typically is focused on what exact amount that we're giving. But we need to have an understanding of what our total impact is upon the entire program. And so, I want to know from you all, the funding that we're giving, what part of the puzzle is that in your entirety of your funding for the organization? Mr. Tucker: Yeah. Stephen Gilmore: Thank you, Commissioner. The part we're asking to support is our work readiness program that supports formerly incarcerated citizens, as well as non formerly incarcerated citizens. We're asking for support of our adult programming, which is for both formerly incarcerated citizens and non -offenders, as well; what was included in the packet, and that was submitted in good faith. We just want to show the Commissioners, as well as the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) staff that we are in good compliance with the County. The $78,000 budget, that is specifically for our boot camp program, in which we do work readiness training within the TGK (Turner Guilford Knight) facility for the boot campers. We also provide employment opportunities for them, and we -- job search and job placement for them. In addition, we do 30-, 60-, and 90-day follow up for the boot camp program. For the work we're asking you to support is everything outside of the boot camp program, if you will, and that -- SEOPW CRA Page 22 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 Chair Hardemon: So what's your total -- all of those, 1 figure, a little bit more than a million dollars. That was your total budget in the past. So what's your total budget today? Mr. Gilmore: It was 1.3. The budget today it still remains 1.3. Chair Hardemon: Okay. Mr. Gilmore: It still remains 1.3. The numbers that we provided is significantly reduced to what our formal budget is, simply because we saw as we initially met in May that we were seeking transitional dollars in May. Chair Hardemon: So what other grant amounts do you have from other organizations to help you meet the budget that you have? Mr. Gilmore: Right now we have the OMB (Office of Management and Budget) grant, and we're -- we just recently were awarded another grant for -- a small grant for $20, 000 to assist us. Chair Hardemon: Please, you want to add something? Mr. Tucker: We also have a -- we have -- well, we're always doing grant applications, and we just completed a grant application for the Beacon Council. Was it Beacon Council? Is it not? Mr. Gilmore: No. Mr. Tucker: What was it? Chair Hardemon: So have -- so are we the -- is the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA -- are we the largest grant -giving organization to you? Mr. Gilmore: Yeah. We forgot the Peacock Foundation. Mr. Tucker: The Peacock Foundation. Mr. Gilmore: We've written this year about 12 grants. Chair Hardemon: Okay. Mr. Gilmore: Okay? And of the 12 grants, the Peacock Foundation, in the amount of $50, 000, it looks -- they meet next week -- no; they convene later this week, so that may be funds that we receive. The Moore Foundation, as well as the OMB, which is a County grant. Chair Hardemon: Are those --? Mr. Gilmore: Now, the question you asked me is regarding the CRA. Yes, it would make us -- it's the largest fitnd to -- for the organization. Chair Hardemon: Okay. So what percentage of the grants that you receive do you believe that the CRA gives? Mr. Gilmore: What percentage of the --? Chair Hardemon: Of your entire budget does the CRA give? SEOPW CRA Page 23 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 Mr. Gilmore: We're hoping the CRA -- of the 1.3, give us the 350. Chair Hardemon: So but you -- so outside of the 350, you actually have grants that equal up to the $1 million? Mr. Gilmore: Commissioner, I've written so many grants this year for different amounts of monies, but I can't in all honesty tell you what's going to come through the door for the organization until it comes through the door. Chair Hardemon: Because I'm try -- I'm having a -- what I'm trying to understand, when I look at the budget and it includes salaries, Executive Director, business consultant lease, placement specialist, it's 209,000 in just the salaries budget; another $40,500 in benefits and contributions; and then -- so that's, you know, roughly about $250,000. And then the rest -- Mr. Gilmore: But I also wanted -- want you to know, if you look at the number positions you see there, sir -- Chair Hardemon: Right. of Mr. Gilmore: -- I want you to -- Commissioner, if you could remember, we started off with a staff of 16 to 18 people. Chair Hardemon: Well, that's what I'm trying to understand. Mr. Gilmore: So our goal is to get back to the 16, 18 people. Chair Hardemon: So that's what I'm trying to understand. Mr. Gilmore: But we cannot look at the CRA and ask the CRA to fund that amount, $1.3 million. That would be -- so that's -- to answer your question, Commissioner. Chair Hardemon: Okay. Mr. Gilmore: So asked -- we've come up with a skeleton staff, a skeleton crew, to ask for that funding, and then we'll seek other opportunities so we can build on our staff, because with the population that we serve -- I mean, you're talking in excess of 500 services each month, Commissioner. We need that full staff of 16. Chair Hardemon: In the past when we were giving funds, Mr. Shiver, in the past when we were giving funds -- Cornelius Shiver (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency): Yes. Chair Hardemon: -- were we traditionally funding this staff,' this that's listed here, or were we funding more? Mr. Shiver: The answer is "no, " and let me give some context to it, and I'll be very, very, very brief First and foremost, with the -- with one prior exception, we neither funded nor they never requested money from us. They came to us in an emergency two, three years ago, because they had a cash flow problem. At that time, we gave them $50,000. They came to us in this emergency, because they had lost most, if not all their funding sources for the reasons they've already put on the record. And so, this was an emergency situation. So we don't have a history of funding this organization. But to answer your question directly, what they're really asking this board and this CRA to do is, "Listen, keep our doors open. Fund us pretty much SEOPW CRA Page 24 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 fully with the exception of the County's grant" -- right? -- until --1 guess -- they can get their feet under them. So they're coming in an emergency situation. And we recognize the services they've served to this community, but we have no history of funding them. This is strictly the emergency situation. And this funding that they're requesting, that they're asking for now, is probably 90 -- close to 90 percent of what they need to keep their doors open. Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much for that explanation. So, moreover, your funders that decided not to continue to fund you -- go ahead, please. Mr. Tucker: If I can. The week that this occurred, CareerSource stopped funding us. Our other funders sent us letters suspending us, including the County. So at that point, we had no money, because in addition to stealing, she hadn't paid bills. There was zero in the account. The board was actually giving our volunteers money so they could eat and telling them, "Go get a job," but they volunteered. So we're -- in a very real sense, we're not recreating Transition. We are recreating the funding for Transition in a way that we can continue doing what we have always been doing, which is servicing returning citizens. So we can't ask you to refund the whole thing; I fully understand that. All we're seeking to do is to seek funding to give us a foundation so that we then have security, and can continue going. Chair Hardemon: So I appreciate the request, and I -- you know, the City of Miami specifically -- even on this board -- I sincerely feel like we've been closest to our community than any other governmental entity in the State of Florida. And -- for instance, you know, with your funding being suspended from the -- Miami -Dade County -- clearly -- I mean, this is a problem for you, because it could lead to the closing of your doors, which is ultimately why you're here asking us to help you move through this next step. Typically, if -- for instance, if the Community Redevelopment Agency had an employee that had stolen that type of money, every governmental authority that is above us would have attempted to shut this organization down. Mr. Tucker: Yes. Chair Hardemon: It would have been without sympathy. There would not have been any empathy at all for us. The people in Overtown would have suffered the great loss of not having a Community Redevelopment Agency to invest into this community. They don't give us second chances. There's always an attempt to destroy this organization and organizations like this one. And so, I take very personally, you know, what we do here and how we go about doing it, because I understand the community that we serve and knowing, though, that there are people who are always trying to bring an organization like this to its knees, because they want the funding to go into their coffers. Here, it's very difficult -- and we met and we talked about all this before -- about funding an organization who has found itself in this position, because what assurances do we have that our money is safe? What assurances do we have that we won't be taken from, like the general public and your clients were taken from? But I will tell you that it is moving to see the community come together. These are your clients, and some of them are not. But to say, you know, "We want to help this organization move forward," I really do, I really do wish that the funding sources that you had in the past, you continue to receive, so you can build yourself up. And what I'm going to ask of you is that you allow us as the CRA, with your great reputation that you have as an attorney that you can take responsibility for the things that you have to assist you in trying to vie for that money. The CRA -- and people should understand -- is not an organization that's able to fund organizations who are doing this sort of service for its entirety, because we have a finite lifeline, right? We have a finite lifetime. And so, we're going to do what we can to help, but as you can understand, there's a lot of development that SEOPW CRA Page 25 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 needs to occur within the Overtown area that we need to invest in. There's a lot of people, et cetera; not just people who are coming from the outside in, and people who -- to take the services. But we will say this: Allow us to be your allies in trying to continue to receive funding. And I think if my board members agree with me that it would be appropriate for us to help you in your time of need, as we would expect you to help us in our time of need. I think -- and I'm telling you this because we, as the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, we've earned a great reputation over the past 10 years, if you would say, and there have been efforts to destroy that reputation all the way up into the State of Florida -- right? -- which puts all of us at risk of having funding. And so, every year, we fight to ensure that this organization is going to continue moving forward. And so, what we need, as well, are the same type of allies and to ensure that this organization is able to continue helping people who live in this community. Will you give us that? Mr. Tucker: Absolutely, Commissioner. 1 always believe in a win/win, that we work together, and that's where the power is. But I'd like to have the opportunity to respond to your very appropriate question, which is, "How do we know that this isn't going to happen again? This happened, so maybe the organization should take the fall." That's a legitimate response. But I have evidence. I have substantial evidence of this organization, and that evidence is 48 years of doing the very same thing, day in and day out; tens of thousands of clients who have been trained and employed; hundreds of employees; probably a dozen Executive Directors. So I understand your concern, and I'm here to tell you I will do everything I can to meet that concern. One of the individuals who is not here is Bonnie Phillips -Williams, who's in charge of our compliance plan. Bonnie Phillips -Williams is the Executive Director of the Federal Public Defender's Office for the Southern District of Florida. She runs a 40-million-dollar office. She runs the office. And she's the one that helped us develop this compliance plan, and I wish that she was here. I really didn't think about it. I wish I had thought about it, okay? But that's the evidence; all of this time, and we have one person, one individual who did something in 48 years, and that's the evidence that I have. I have a second piece of evidence, and this is just experience; it's just experience: That this guy here is the real deal. 1 have been to many organizations, and I've been -- 1 can't begin to tell you how many Executive Directors I have met and worked with. Stephen is incredible. He is honest, he is straightforward. There's no movement, whatsoever. I can tell you without hesitation that I recommend Stephen as our Executive Director. This will never happen under his watch, ever; ever. I can't give you all of the experience of the past six months; it would take too much time; all of the conversations we have every single day, all of the emails and the texts of what we should be doing to ensure that we are not -- we're not just doing it, but we're doing it the right way. This is who Stephen Gilmore is. That's evidence. I will do it -- whatever you need, I will do it. Chair Hardemon: We in the CRA are certainly not the -- we're not the solution necessarily to the problem that Transition is having, because, obviously, we can't afford to fund you in that way. We are significantly strained in our resources, because we give a lot of our money back to the City and to the County through sharing agreements, et cetera, that they have invested back into this area. But I think we can make sacrifices enough to help you get where you need to be in the time being, because we want to see you succeed. So I -- the facts that you told in the past about the volunteerism of the employees who were fired, and then came back the next day to -- you know, all those things are very, very, very telling about your organization. And so, I'm sure that the rest of us see that, and know that the funding will go for good reason. I just don't want you to think, though, that that means that this finding's going to be there for the next four, five, six, seven years. Mr. Tucker: If I can share at least what the plan was, you see, the plan was, as of February, we were going to be seeking other funding on the national level. SEOPW CRA Page 26 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 Chair Hardemon: Yes. Mr. Tucker: And on February 15, 1 was going to talk to somebody about that at CareerSource, because he was helping me with it. Chair Hardemon: Yes. Mr. Tucker: And I never got to do that. Chair Hardemon: Never got to do it? Well -- Mr. Tucker: I never got to do it, because I found something out. Chair Hardemon: So what 1'd like to do then, Mr. Executive Director and members of the board, what I'd like to make a request -- I'd like to entertain a motion to fund not just RE.5, but RE.4, to the original request that was made. I believe RE.4 would have been $180,000, and then RE.5 would have been the $350,000. You have a partner in us, and we want the fruit of a good relationship here. Our slogan, what -- we're creating opportunities for community empowerment. We're not the City; we're not the County. We are the Community Redevelopment Agency. And so, what you're doing is investing in our community, and we appreciate that. And because of the work that you've exuded over the time, I think that it's appropriate for us to continue to work with you, hand in hand, to ensure that you continue doing good work. Board Member Russell: Mr. Chairman? Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir. Board Member Russell: A couple questions, please. For RE.4, what was the original amount that was slated for, the request? Mr. Shiver: 190. Chair Hardemon: Was it 190? Board Member Russell: We're at 150 on the agenda, so it's a 40,000 shortfall; is that correct? Mr. Shiver: Exactly. Board Member Russell: And then for RE.5, the budget showing on Page 8 is the 350,000. Is that in addition to the 78,320 that's received from the County, or is that within that spread? Mr. Shiver: No; that's excluded. The County -- Board Member Russell: That's for the boot camp? Mr. Shiver: -- allocation is excluded, because they did not put that scope on this budget. Board Member Russell: Right. Okay. So that's external to the scope of this budget so the 350 -- Mr. Shiver: Correct. SEOPW CRA Page 27 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 Board Member Russell: -- would be -- we'll -- and then my one question: In your investigation of the situation, once you realized what checks had been written, they weren't written to the Executive Director. They were written to a third party with her assistance; is that correct? Mr. Tucker: That is correct. Board Member Russell: And so, are those external clients or whoever received those checks, were they complicit in this exercise? Is -- was this a multi person --? Mr. Tucker: Yes, sir. Board Member Russell: And -- Mr. Tucker: 1t was her family and her boyfriend; on both sides, actually. She created corporations that looked legitimate, and then she created employees that looked legitimate, and was able to bill both sides. Board Member Russell: So you've identified all parties that were complicit with the exercise and --? Mr. Tucker: I have identified all parties that we could. As soon as my investigator and I -- let me rephrase that. As soon as the Federal authorities got involved, we turned over our investigation to them. Chair Hardemon: Mm-hmm. Mr. Tucker: I can share with you that there's numerous other persons who were involved, all family members. There were kickbacks to a non -family member. But from there, I can't tell you who else may have been involved, because we stopped -- Board Member Russell: Got it. Mr. Tucker: -- and let the Feds do it. Board Member Russell: It would my -- be my, recommendation to create a systematic methodology of double-checking, checks and balances, rather than just -- I'll ask a few more questions or I'll look a little harder, but there should be, you know, not on the shoulders of one person, but some double system of checks and balances. But that being said, Mr. Chairman, 1 think it's very fitting that this is an organization about second chances; and so, I'm willing to make the motion to your request. Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. And the Chair seconds. You're recognized, sir. Vice Chair Gort: I will second it for discussion. What's the total that we're committing? Chair Hardemon: The total we're committing is $350,000. Vice Chair Gort: 350, 000. Okay. My understanding, the program is very good. I think it's greatly needed. I think education and training people to have a job is the most important thing we can do, because that -- I use a lot of my funds to do that for education, training. It's very important, and especially after being in jail for so many years, when you come back to real life, it's a different world. They could have all kinds of advice and mentors. They could have mentors that can talk to them and SEOPW CRA Page 28 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 let them know what life is like. But at the same time, 1 think you have to be very, careful. My understanding, you signed the check and another person? Mr. Tucker: I'm sorry? Vice Chair Gort: Two people signed checks? Unidentified Speaker: Yes. Mr. Tucker: Yes. Vice Chair Gort: Okay. Mr. Tucker: See, and I -- Vice Chair Gort: Well, the other question I have is, what is the possibility of getting some of those funds back, like Work Force? Mr. Tucker: Well, I can share with you that she turned over $20, 000, at my request. Subsequent to that -- that was the time when the Feds stepped in. And my experiences over 34 years is that any of her funds and property are going to he forfeited by the government, pursuant to a forfeiture charge, and they're just going to take, in my experience, everything that they have left. I can't give you a specific number, only because we have not done our own forensic audit. I just kept finding more and more. But to answer one of the questions, that $78,000 is solely and exclusively to be used fbr the boot campers, and we don't use it for anything else. Chair Hardemon: The -- I think it was appropriate fbr us to have this conversation right here, and part of the reason that this was on the agenda the way it was, was to invoke this conversation. I don't want anyone to take, for granted what this agency does for this community. And any community -- and any agency -- I'm sorry -- that is receiving funding from donors, government, et cetera, should always take a real hard look at how you get your funding, and what you're doing with your funding. And I just want the community to be clear that this agency, the CRA, is not in the business of wasting its dollars, or of giving it without having any care of concern, for where the money is going. And so, I think this is an appropriate conversation for everyone to know what's going on with Transition, because I'm sure people wonder. And now they know, right? So with all that being considered, all in favor of the motion, say "aye." The Board (Collectively): Aye. Chair Hardemon: All against? Board Member Russell: Aye. Chair Hardemon: Motion passes. The meeting is concluded. Mr. Gilmore: Commissioner, I -- Chair Hardemon: Now you can clap, because the meeting is over. (Applause) Mr. Gilmore: We would be short-changing, Mr. Shiver, Mr. Joseph, and the staff and the way that you have there working. And we want to appreciate our thanks to you. SEOPW CRA Page 29 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 5. Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. CRA RESOLUTION 6702 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, AUTHORIZING A GRANT TO TRANSITION, INC., IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $75,000.00, TO UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING WORKFORCE READINESS TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES TO FORMER INMATES AND OTHERS FACING EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW CRA, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000. ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-19-0035 MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s) RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S) MOVER: Ken Russell, Board Member, District Two SECONDER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Board Member, District One AYES: Hardemon, Gort, Russell ABSENT: Carollo, Reyes Note. for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number 5, please see Item Number 4. SEOPW CRA Page 30 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 6. CRA RESOLUTION 6703 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("SEOPW CRA") AUTHORIZING A GRANT TO THEURBANCOLLECTIVE, INC., IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $230,000.00, TO UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH FUNDING THE 9TH ANNUAL ART AFRICA MIAMI ARTS FAIR & SOUL BASEL IN HISTORIC OVERTOWN AND RELATED ACTIVITIES DURING ART BASEL WEEK; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000. ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-19-0036 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Ken Russell, Board Member, District Two SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Board Member, District Five AYES: Hardemon, Gort, Russell ABSENT: Carollo, Reyes Note. for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number 6, please see Item Number 1. SEOPW CRA Page 31 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 7. CRA RESOLUTION 6704 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING A GRANT TO HOSPITALITY EMPLOYEES ADVANCEMENT AND TRAINING, INC., IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $200,000.00, TO UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH A HOSPITALITY AND CULINARY ARTS TRAINING PROGRAM LOCATED IN THE OVERTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 1074 NW 3RD AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO.10050.920101.883000.0000.00000. ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-19-0037 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Ken Russell, Board Member, District Two SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Board Member, District Five AYES: Hardemon, Gort, Russell ABSENT: Carollo, Reyes Note. for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number 7, please see Item Number 1. SEOPW CRA Page 32 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 8. CRA RESOLUTION 6705 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, AUTHORIZING FUNDING IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $30,000.00 TO UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF TWO ADDITIONAL AIR CONDITIONER UNITS IN THE OVERTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, LOCATED AT 1074 NW 3RD AVENUE MIAMI, FL 33136; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000 ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-19-0038 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Ken Russell, Board Member, District Two SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Board Member, District Five AYES: Hardemon, Gort, Russell ABSENT: Carollo, Reyes Note. for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number 8, please see Item Number 1. SEOPW CRA Page 33 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 9. CRA RESOLUTION 6706 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A GRANT TO 1767 NW 3RD AVE APTS LLC, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $435,000.00, FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPAIR AND REHABILITATION OF 18 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS AT 1767 NW 3RD AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33136; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000. MOTION TO: Withdraw RESULT: WITHDRAWN MOVER: Ken Russell, Board Member, District Two SECONDER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Board Member, District One AYES: Hardemon, Gort, Russell ABSENT: Carollo, Reyes Chair Hardemon: Okay. Is the representative here for RE.9, the 1767 Northwest 3rd Avenue Apartments, LLC (Limited Liability Company)? Can you please approach the lectern? State your name for the record, please. Mark Floman: My name is Mark Floman. Good evening. Chair Hardemon: Good evening. Sir, there was an allegation that was made that the -- that this location was under -- in foreclosure; in the foreclosure process. Is that true? Mr. Floman: Okay. The answer is, there is a lawsuit pending. Vice Chair Gort: You got to speak in the mike. Chair Hardemon: Speak into the microphone, please. Mr. Floman: Okay. I'm sorry. There is a lawsuit pending, okay, but I could assure you, since we funded this building -- we spent numerous amounts of monies -- the company's completely sound. There was never a question. I do not want to speak on the other end of this, but we do have a problem with the person that sold the building to us in certain aspirations. None of it was true. So, therefore, at this point, we do have a problem, with him, but we are financially sound. It will not go into foreclosure. Chair Hardemon: No, no. My question for you, though, is, is this property in the process of foreclosure today? Mr. Floman: Is there a lawsuit pending? Yes. Chair Hardemon: And that is for foreclosure? SEOPW CRA Page 34 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 Mr. Floman: For -- pending, yes. Chair Hardemon: Okay. What I'm going to do then, I'm going to withdraw this item from this agenda today. I think we need to talk more about this item, because, obviously, there is more detail about this that we should be cognizant of before we make a deal. Maybe this changes the nature of the deal; I don't know. But it's something that we should actually sit down and consider. So this is not a termination, but this is -- I'm not going to call it a continuance. I'm going to call it a withdrawal. It's not hard to get it back on the agenda, but we need to make sure that we give this the due diligence that it deserves. Okay? Mr. Floman: That's fine. Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir. So the Chair would like to entertain a motion to withdraw Item RE.9. Board Member Russell: So moved. Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved; seconded by Commissioner Gort. All in favor, say "aye." The Board (Collectively): Aye. Chair Hardemon: Motion passes. 10. CRA RESOLUTION 6707 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, AUTHORIZING A GRANT TO COMMUNITY WORK TRAINING PROGRAM, INC, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $150,000.00, TO UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE OVERTOWN EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE CENTER; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO.10050.920101.883000.0000.00000. ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-19-0039 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Ken Russell, Board Member, District Two SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Board Member, District Five AYES: Hardemon, Gort, Russell ABSENT: Carollo, Reyes Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number 10, please see Item Number 1. SEOPW CRA Page 35 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 11. CRA RESOLUTION 6708 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, AUTHORIZING A GRANT TO GLORIA B. LEWIS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000.00, TO UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE REHABILITATION AND PARKING IMPROVEMENTS AT PEOPLE'S BAR-B-QUE; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000. ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-19-0040 NON -AGENDA ITEM(S) MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Ken Russell, Board Member, District Two SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Board Member, District Five AYES: Hardemon, Gort, Russell ABSENT: Carollo, Reyes Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number 11, please see Item Number 1. 1. CRA DISCUSSION 6773 SPECIAL RECOGNITION BY SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST (SEOPW) CRA BOARD, STAFF AND OVERTOWN RESIDENTS TO BOARD MEMBER WIFREDO "WILLY" GORT FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE DURING HIS TENURE AS A MEMBER AND VICE -CHAIR OF THE SEOPW CRA BOARD. RESULT: PRESENTED Chair Hardemon: Everyone, please give me decorum .for one second. We have a special presentation that I would like our Executive Director of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency to make. Cornelius Shiver (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency): Thank you. Commissioner Gort, more than likely, this will be your last CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting in Overtown; am 1 correct? Vice Chair Gort: You're right. SEOPW CRA Page 36 Printed on 9/16/2022 Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Meeting Minutes October 28, 2019 Mr. Shiver: Right. And as you all know -- and I'm not going to tell you anything you don't know -- Commissioner Gort has been a steadfast supporter of not only the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA, but Overtown -- Chair Hardemon: Yes. Mr. Shiver: -- and the City of Miami as a whole. And so, on behalf of the Overtown residents and my Chairman, Keon Hardemon, we'd like to present to you -- a small token to a big giant, to a friend. (Applause) Mr. Shiver: And it is my honor and my pleasure to read the plaque. And the plaque says, "The residents of Overtown" -- we started with that first, because we know that's where your heart is at -- "and the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA hereby acknowledge and express their appreciation for your leadership, service, and unwavering support during your entire tenure as City of Miami Commissioner." And it has, "Wifredo 'Willy' Gort, City of Miami Commissioner and Vice Chairman of the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA." I want to thank you, my friend. (Applause) Vice Chair Gort: Thank you. Let me give you a little history. I used to come from Overtown back in the '60s, and I'd like to see Overtown going back to the way it used to be in the '60s. It was a place to come, have fun, learn about different culture, and this was the -- this CRA has done a great job and accomplished this. So thank you, Mr. Chairman. You're the best. Chair Hardemon: Thanks. (Applause) Chair Hardemon: That's it; good to go. Mr. Shiver: Thank you, guys. Thank you. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p. m. SEOPW CRA Page 37 Printed on 9/16/2022