From the Miami Beach Police Department -- Sent to us by Capt. Mark Causey and Lt. Wayne Jones

A Modern Day South Beach Christmas Story

From: Muley, Mike
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2011 00:08
To: Jones, Wayne
Subject: 626 Euclid Av # 1

Lt. Jones,


I wanted to update you on 626 Euclid Av. # 1. I responded to this location last week reference a verbal domestic disturbance. At this location were two children a girl age 5 (Shirley) and a boy age 13 (Calvin). Inside the small studio apt. was a small Christmas tree with no gifts two beds and not much else. The apartment was clean however you could see the family was struggling to make ends meet. I struck up a conversation with Calvin the 13 year old. He stated they were having a hard time with money and he felt bad for his little sister because he did not think there were going to be any gifts from Santa for her. He was concerned because he would not be able to explain to her why Santa did not come to the house. This really weighed heavy on me and I felt I needed to do something. On Christmas Day I went to the house after roll call and took the family Christmas dinner, I got the children’s sizes and asked them what they wanted for Christmas. My family and I went to the store and bought clothes and toys for the kids. In addition I requested the help of my neighbors who donated items as well. I returned on today’s date after roll call with Officer Saygeh and made the delivery. The family was overwhelmed to say the least. What a great feeling to be able to help a family who really needed it and represent our police department at the same time. I wanted to thank you for your support in allowing me to take the time to help these kids and the family. I will continue to check in on the family until they get back on their feet. I guess everything happens for a reason and being back on patrol as an officer has given me the opportunity to help this family out.


Thanks for all your support and encouragement,
Officer Mike Muley

Washington Avenue Improvement Activities initiated by MDPL and Community Partners

SoBe Residents/Merchants,


We are currently working with the Washington Avenue Neighborhood Association, Miami Design Preservation League and other Miami Beach internal Departments to produce and present for approval a new revitalized look for Washington Avenue.

Currently we are considering having students from the Florida International University School of Architecture and faculty take part in a contest for them to individually come up with designs and innovative concepts for Washington Avenue. All proposals must maintain the “historic district” theme.
Lighting, store front appearance, awnings, signage and street medians will all be taken into consideration.

From the Police perspective, the bus benches and bus shelters are our greatest challenge. They attract vagrants who sit on these benches for extended periods of time. Las Vegas has removed bus benches from the strip and have replaced them will leaning posts. Any comments or suggestions on this idea and or issue?
Please forward any other suggestions related to this project for discussion.

Thank you,  Mark Causey, Captain, HONOR GUARD UNIT, Patrol Division/Third Platoon, MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT

All – I think our meeting can be very timely in developing ‘discussion’ concepts that could stimulate well focused public input and comments at the workshop. Or at minimum, we should be able to develop a menu of issues that should be considered at the workshop. Kevin – Have you been charged with organizing the workshop?

William H. Cary, Assistant Director, PLANNING DEPARTMENT




Kevin,

I am working with Rachael Zuckerman of the Washington Avenue Merchants Association and MBPD Captain Mark Causey to develop a plan for revitalizing and re branding Washington Avenue. We are in the very early stages of mapping out this project and would like advice and assistance. Our idea is to market "the Avenue" as a historic shopping district and we want to make sure any plan is in keeping with the historic nature of the buildings. Also we are considering sponsoring a design competition and need to create competition guidelines.

It was recommended to me that you be invited to take part in this meeting as well since the concerns of Washington Avenue involve economic development issues. Please see the invitation below from William Cary for January 25th at 2pm. I hope you can attend.

Happy Holidays,  Judith Hogan Frankel, Programs and Outreach Coordinator, Miami Design Preservation League

Flamingo Neighborhood Adopts -- No Casino Florida Ordinance

FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

NO CASINOS FLORIDA RESOLUTION

WHEREAS the Florida Legislature is currently considering various measures that would provide for the substantial expansion of gambling, and

WHEREAS the legislation being considered would allow for casino operations that rival in size and scope the gambling operations that exist in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, and

WHEREAS notwithstanding the assurances of gambling promoters, historically, large scale casino operations cannibalize non-gambling businesses causing, for instance, the shuttering of forty percent of all restaurants and one-third of all retail businesses in Atlantic City, and

WHEREAS our community will have to bear the severe and painful economic and social costs that always accompany expansive gambling, including the misery of individuals and families touched by problem gambling as they are at higher risk of divorce, bankruptcy, child abuse, domestic violence, crime, and suicide, and

WHEREAS expanded gambling will assuredly bring corruption of the governmental process as immensely wealthy gambling companies from all over the world seek to receive benefits from the local and state governments that regulate their existence and profits, and

WHEREAS full scale casino and gambling expansions will became commonplace throughout our community and our state, if the gambling interests are allowed to obtain major casino expansion, and

WHEREAS inward facing mega-developments will privatize public streets, destroy the pedestrian experience of our downtown, exacerbate traffic and denigrate the quality of life in our community, and

WHEREAS the false promises of increased revenue and jobs, like the broken promises that accompanied the lottery and other gambling expansions, are intended to convince Floridians to make a fools gamble with their future.

BE IT RESOLVED that the FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION through this Resolution urges the Florida Legislature to reject any and all expansions of gambling, including legislation to legalize so-called “destination casinos” in Florida.


Adopted by unanimous vote on December 5, 2011

Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association, Dec 12, 2011 -- Meeting Notes

FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

Monday, December 5, 2011, beginning @ 5:30 - 6:00 pm
Meeting Notes

The following matter was referred to Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association by the MBCDC Community Development Corporation for action.

West Avenue Bridge.  This matter was referred to Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association for action:

-- a strong endorsement of biking needs for Flamingo residents, including most importantly the use of a "sharerow" for bikes turning onto the Venetian (the primary bike path to Miami). This feature was shown as an option in the Powerpoint but is not included in the actual drawings.

-- a strong reminder that the study must take account of the possible future use of streetcars, including providing sufficient turning radius for streetcars (i.e., preserving the option of shared streetcar/car lanes going over the West Avenue bridge as per the recommended route for BayLink, which may be years away but was approved by the city and is still in the MPO's unfunded long-term plan).

At FPNA meeting immediately following, the Association adopted a position advocating the proposed position, described above.

Regular Agenda


1. Consideration of Florida No Casinos Resolution Jeff Donnelly / Adam Shedroff.  After considerable discussing, it was M/S to adopt the proposed Florida No Casinos Resolution which was adopted by unanimous vote.


2. Beach Nourishment Initiative Jeff Donnelly.  It was M/S and adopted by unanimous vote to advocate on behalf of no sand removal from the Lummus Park South Beach beach!


3. Property Development: Self Storage Facility, 633 Alton Road David Saxe.  The project was presented, discussed and no action was taken. The group expressed appreciation for the effort of the owner / developer in sharing the project with FPNA.


4. Short Term Rental Mickey Marrero / Michael Larkin.  Attorneys for one of the properties affected by the Ordinance presented an argument to modify the ordinance. No action was taken. The prevailing view was unsympathetic to any such modification.


5. Flamingo Park – Football Field Upgrade Wando Mouzon.  Wanda presented the plans for Football Field upgrade and associated projects. The group favored the inclusion of an identification / entry feature in the Park wide Project to be implemented as a later stage. Discussion was introduced on the material being used for the track and a question emerged regarding the limitations or wider use of the tract. It was agreed to request a future presentation by Matti Reyes and further consideration by the group.


6. Property Management issues and concerns Rachelle Adams.  Rachelle raised the issue of the conduct of Property Management Agents and condition of properties. There was general discussion. No action taken.


7. Sixteenth Street Planning Workshop Matt Lambert / Karja Hansen.  Discussion regarding proposed Workshop. The consensus was to go forward with such a planning charrette reaching out to wide resident / stakeholder group.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
 
 
 

Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association adopts NO CASINOS FLORIDA RESOLUTION !

Dear Mayor Bower and Commissioners:

The Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association at its meeting on December 5, 2011 by unanimous vote adopted the following / attached No Casinos Florida Resolution.

NO CASINOS FLORIDA RESOLUTION

WHEREAS the Florida Legislature is currently considering various measures that would provide for the substantial expansion of gambling, and

WHEREAS the legislation being considered would allow for casino operations that rival in size and scope the gambling operations that exist in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, and

WHEREAS notwithstanding the assurances of gambling promoters, historically, large scale casino operations cannibalize non-gambling businesses causing, for instance, the shuttering of forty percent of all restaurants and one-third of all retail businesses in Atlantic City, and

WHEREAS our community will have to bear the severe and painful economic and social costs that always accompany expansive gambling, including the misery of individuals and families touched by problem gambling as they are at higher risk of divorce, bankruptcy, child abuse, domestic violence, crime, and suicide, and

WHEREAS expanded gambling will assuredly bring corruption of the governmental process as immensely wealthy gambling companies from all over the world seek to receive benefits from the local and state governments that regulate their existence and profits, and

WHEREAS full scale casino and gambling expansions will became commonplace throughout our community and our state, if the gambling interests are allowed to obtain major casino expansion, and

WHEREAS inward facing mega-developments will privatize public streets, destroy the pedestrian experience of our downtown, exacerbate traffic and denigrate the quality of life in our community, and

WHEREAS the false promises of increased revenue and jobs, like the broken promises that accompanied the lottery and other gambling expansions, are intended to convince Floridians to make a fools gamble with their future.

BE IT RESOLVED that the FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION through this Resolution urges the Florida Legislature to reject any and all expansions of gambling, including legislation to legalize so-called “destination casinos” in Florida.


Adopted by unanimous vote on December 5, 2011

Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association will meet Monday, December 5, 2011, @ 5:30pm

Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association regularly meets on the first Monday of each month at 5:30 pm.  For our December 5th meeting, members are also invited to attend the MBCDC Community Development Committee meeting at 5:00 pm.  Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association will be convened immediately following the Community Development Committee meeting, likely somewhere between 5:30pm to 6:00pm.  It is possible that both groups will consider adoption of the Florida No Casinos Resolution.

Mon, Dec 5, 2011, 5:00 pm – at The Seymour 945 Pennsylvania Avenue

MBCDC -- Community Development Committee

1. Solar Energy Retrofit in MBCDC Buildings, Status Report Manuel Forero
2. Exploration of Financing Strategies – Mark Needle
3. Other Matters

Allan Hall – Vacant Property for Arts Related Use
Dan Davidson – One News Public Information Initiative
Matt Lambert / Karja Hansen – Neighborhood Planning Initiative
Denis Russ – Elder Aid Job Program, N’hood Regional Partnership,

Consideration of Florida No Casinos Resolution

Mon, Dec 5, 2011, @ 6:00 pm – at The Seymour, 945 Pennsylvania Avenue
Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association

1. Consideration of Florida No Casinos Resolution -- Jeff Donnelly / Adam Shedroff
2. Beach Nourishment Initiative -- Jeff Donnelly
3. Property Development: Self Storage Facility, 633 Alton Road David Saxe
4. Short Term Rental -- Mickey Marrero / Michael Larkin
5. Flamingo Park – Football Field Upgrade -- Wanda Mouzon
6. Property Management issues and concerns -- Rachelle Adams
7. Sixteenth Street Planning Workshop -- Matt Lambert / Karja Hansen
8. Other Matters