Board of County Commissioners

please invest $20 million for fiscal year 2026 and 2027. Thank you. >> good evening. >> good evening. I am here to represent a trailer park. My address is 8050 northwest. Miami ct. My address is 8050 northwest. Miami ct. Zip code 33150. With our representative from district 2. We have attended two budget hearings but we have not received an answer yet. The county knows we are here but our family remain at risk for displacement. >> we will not be calling out names. Please, thank you so much. >> we would like to have a meeting with some representatives. And the residents. We would also like to know if regulatory economic resources department and housing and community development department could name people who are responsible and present a clear plan to prevent displacement. We are not asking more for silence, we are asking for a specific date. And we would like an answer on our behalf. Thank you. >> thank you so much. As a matter fact someone is here and it will meet you in the back. To address that concern and I do believe others you made request to meet with. Staff will be in the back waiting for you. Thank you so much. Daniel, andy, sophia, maria, daniela, andrew, daniel, isabel, rachel, taylor, please come to the podium. >> good evening. >> good evening how are you? >> I'm doing great thank you so much. My name is andy allen. I am the state director for best study. > hold on andy, we have to make sure everybody is giving you their full attention. >> I love that. I will wait. >> thank you. Let's go. >> okay. Best buddies is located at 100 se. 2nd st. In miami. Best buddies is a 501(C)(3) Nonprofit that provides friendship, leadership development, and supported employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and develop mental abilities. Through our partnership with miami-dade county, we serve more than 2000 county residents annually. Our cbo funding helps individuals with disabilities develop the social skills and workplace skills they need to obtain employment, be palm more independent and participate actively in their communities. We are grateful that cbo funding remains in the proposed budget and we respectfully ask the board of county commissioners to preserve this critical funding. I am joined by daniel of best buddies participant who will share what the program means to him. >> thank you so much. Daniel? >> greetings. My name is daniel and I live at 10951 greetings. My name is daniel and I live at 10951 84th st. Greetings. My name is daniel and I live at 1095 184th st. In miami, fl. I was diagnosed with autism when I was three years old. Growing up I found it difficult to make friends and I was -- [Indiscernible]. i believe that would never live independently or achieve my dreams. My friends used to tell me, don't say you can't do something just because you have autism. I search for answers until I found best buddies. Best buddies change my life forever. Through best buddies I have been able to build lots of friendship, work travel and advocate for inclusion for others as an ambassador I am proud of the community thanks to best buddies. I am asking you to retain the same level of funding for community-based organizations. Organizations like best buddies can continue to help people like me thrive. Thank you. >> thank you. So awesome. Yes, ma'am. >> my name is sophia. My address is 3235 southwest. 59th avenue, miami, fl 33155. I live in district 6. I am here to speak about funding septic to sewer conversions. My neighborhood shall be park is only one that was receiving funding this year. I urge you to increase funding for these conversions. We still have about 120,000 septic systems in the county. Many of them are vulnerable or touching ground water, yards flushing back into people's homes and biscayne bay. The county promised in the 1970s to phase out septic tanks. So please fulfill this promise. I'm also here to talk to you about urging you to allocate $20 million for the management restoration, acquisition, and maintenance of land. You mention parks as a priority this year so please uphold that for ill. Thank you. >> thank you. >> good afternoon my name is maria. My address is 1095 raven avenue as they reside in district 6. I'm here today as a citizen to talk about the program. This program protect treat canopies, wildlife. This program protect all of our well-being since they protect sensitive lands that absorb floodwater. Scientists have warned us that money -- miami -- [Indiscernible]. It will cost us over $5 billion to come by flooding and long-term resiliency. In light of this we cannot mismanage lands that absorb this flooding. The continued investment in this program now is a concrete step the commissioners can take to protect us. While I am only mentioning flooding because over time the everglades, reefs and biscayne bay has benefits to the population. Contributing to the well billion -- being in many ways. >> thank you so much. >> district 5. As community liaison as transit alliance miami I along with my colleagues and volunteers spent AUGUST talking with 5:00 A.M. Bus riders. I invite you to join one of these rides to really understand just how packed these buses are while the rest of the county sleeps. It would be a tremendous and disrespectful disservice to cut early morning bus service. Riders are shocked and have no idea how they are supposed to get to work otherwise. Some reactions adventure with me since the county is taking a my way to work that is 1 and a half b two hours of wages each way. I don't feel safe walking in the dark for 30 minutes. The county functions on the surface of the 6868 workers. We owe them our respect, we owe them dignified and dependable transportation. Therefore, I urge you to restore the to restore the $12.4 million funding needed for early morning bus service. Thank you. >> thank you so much. >> hello my name is -- 22. -- [Indiscernible]. Being from south florida mean the outdoors is a part of who you are. It is the reason people move here and reason those of us born here stay. But the natural spaces we love are not protect themselves. That is what the environment silly endangered land program is for. The lands absorb floodwater, they give space for wildlife to thrive. These lands are essential for miami-dade to thrive. If we do not leave room for our original lands to thrive how can we expect the environment around us to keep working for us? We are between two national parks. We have biscayne bay and the everglades. You cannot cut this program by the 54%. And expect our great spaces to survive. I'm asking you to fund the $20 million for the fiscal year 2026 b 2027. Protect the places that make us who we are. Thank you. >> thank you. >> good evening. I reside at 50 district 6. Between 5:56 am is for miami working people. The early shifts and nursing jobs, construction, school and daily life. Cutting them hurts riders and makes it harder to live and work in miami. Transit line spoke to hundreds of riders on these early morning buses and I don't know what I am going to do if this passes. I'm no other option. I spoke to an exhausted woman on her way home from her overnight shift at burger king. You should've seen her face when she heard this news at 5:30 A.M.. This is our only way home from work and she had to make ends meet. What does the county expect workers to do? Pay for an expensive rideshare to work every day to mac be in the dark on unprotected rows? Please restore the $12.4 million to keep early morning service running. If you don't use the service your neighbor does. Thank you. >> thank you. >> hi commissioners matta mayor, CHAIRMAN, good evening. Thank you so much for having me here. My address is 2867 southwest. 38th avenue, miami, fl 33134. My name is b I.[Indiscernible]. I think you are probably here on what I am going to talk about. I have a confession to make. I grew up here in miami. While I was there, I hated miami. I can wait to leave. And when I left , I realized that this place my hometown is the only place where you can go kayaking and mangroves, you can go on a swamp walk, and you can see dozens of wild flowers blooming in a pine rock all in one day. If you haven't done that, I'll invite you to come out with me. I will to take you out to do any of those things. Miami nature is what made me come back and why I'm here. What this is about is the environment silly endangered lands program. I'm asking you to please fund the program at $20 million. It is what allows the program to london -- run. Do all of the incredible services. Thank you. >> thank you so much. We almost made it. I saw it and it was coming. >> good evening commissioners my name is amanda. I'm the director of zero waste cultural change at the oceans. I reside at 11319 southwest. 248 terrace in district 8. Briefly ocean works to build the cultural and infrastructural capacity for transition from a linear to circular economy so that all can have access to clean water and healthy environments. We are asking you to fully fund the zero waste master plan in year 2026 b 2027 budget. We leave -- lead more than 150 members who have helped shape this plan. Initiatives that are aligned in the plans are with the miami-dade community wants and we are eager for implementation to begin. I'm joined by my colleague isabella who will tell you why the plan is so awesome. >> resident -- [Indiscernible]. Funding the master plan and create healthier communities for all. There were zero waste master plan will be more efficiently conserve natural resources lower greenhouse gas emission, reduce waste by attacking waste at its source. Fully implementing the plan allow us to increase the rate from its current 36% b 77%. This will reduce 1.7 million metric tons of co2 equivalent. Funding the zero waste master plan is integral to ensuring a more resilient and sustainable future for miami-dade county and our communities. Thank you. >> good evening MR. Vice CHAIRMAN, MR. CHAIRMAN, county commissioners and of course matta mayor. My name is -- [Indiscernible]. My address is 5530 sunset DR., miami 33133. Like many of the others that are here today, I am here to talk about the land. I am here to emphasize a letter that was sent to all of you on behalf of several organizations from across our community urging the funding of $20 million to the environment silly endangered lands program. We recognize that this is a difficult budget cycle. But eo is more conservation. As many of the post before he has said, it is natural infrastructure. These lands reduce flooding in extreme heat, protect drinking water, preserve biodiversity and strengthen climate resilience. These benefits are exactly why the ill program was approved by miami-dade county voters in the 1990 referendum. The people want to protect the most environmentally sensitive lands for present and future generation. I urge you to honor that commitment and increase funding for ill. Delaying these acquisitions and management will only make them more expensive and increase risk of losing these lands forever. Thank you for your time. >> thank you so much. >> good afternoon. I come from miami workers center. My address is lotus house. 217 northwest. 15th 217 northwest. 15th st., miami, fl 33136. My -- I'm a mother fighting for her son but a voice to be listened to. I am a single mother and my son shares this world with me. I am living at the lotus house. But today fear is reaching us again. We need to find more empathy for people with autism disorder. For someone in the autistic spectrum, the world is already very hard. Being unable to navigate the situation that most people don't have to navigate. Building a routine safe space and being able to have emotional development for me and my son. Having lost our home it is meant for us to break the stability and health. >> thank you so much. I appreciate it. Kathy, sharon frazier, paul, monica, patrice, please come forward to the podium. Thank you. >> good evening matta mayor and commissioners my name is marianna. 11 3180 core weight 33145. I am here tonight to ask you to rapidly fund the environment silly endangered lands program. With the full 20 million, he needs to properly upgrade. Endangered lands are not just pretty, they -- [Indiscernible]. The budget has dropped dramatically over the years. Land costs keep climbing. It is considering waiving the 10 million legal minimum fee that the management trust requires according to the code. There is currently 34,000 acres in the acquisition base. We defund this program every year we lose land forever an important ecosystem services. I respectfully ask you to fund ill at $20 million. Thank you. >> thank you so much. >> good afternoon my name is geraldine and 4298 geraldine and 4298 southwest ter. Geraldine and 4298 southwest ter., miami in district 6. I am here today to speak against the early bus and late -- I'm sorry. Last year I joined the transit alliance 24 hour transit marathon across the county. At 4:30 A.M. As we are standing in homestead one of the bus stops most of the people at that stop were from jackson, u health and other hospitals in miami. I was surprised to see that. And it also meant that those badges were deeply familiar to me because in 2017, I spent almost a month in icu at the trauma center cared by those very same essential workers. I saw them arriving at 6:00 am shift and leaving at 11:00 pm shift taking care of me day after day. These workers are there for us when we are most vulnerable. In many rely on these early and long distance buses. Please restore the $12.4 million that keep early-morning buses running. These routes are lifelines for the people who keep miami-dade running. >> thank you so much. >> -- [Indiscernible]. The taxpayer causing us $1.2 million every day. Florida tax was.1 $0.2 million. We spent $5 million a year for mental health on 22nd which would cost the taxpayers 115. We spent and we just proved $21 million for performing arts center in miami gardens. That should have kept the workers on the job when you come to our community talking about laying off. You gave yourself a raise three years ago without the voters. You are changing the name -- [Indiscernible]. We never voted on this. The $21 million can be helping employees that you're trying to put out. You all are taking money. I have your package. >> thank you so much. >> good evening. Monica, the ceo of greater miami 43 forgery flag that that turn into. -- [Indiscernible]. With eviction diversion funding we have conducted dozens of outreach events across all 13 districts and provided legal assistance to more than 3000 households in the county. Not only providing greater stability to these families but in many cases saving critical county resources that would have otherwise been utilized in addressing the potential homelessness. We respectfully ask for your continued support and urge you to vote in favor of the proposed level funding for the program. Thank you. >> thank you. Go ahead, thank you. >> good afternoon. >> good evening, how are you? >> good evening vice chair, commissioners and mayor. I live at 6560 northwest. 12th avenue miami, fl 33150. In the complex of liberty square housing. As you guys can see I'm still in a wheelchair and I am in a walker because I fell in the complex. Number two, I am going to make it quick because I told the CHAIRMAN That I would be less than a minute. Mme. Mayor, please we need a roundtable. Commissioner, please tell the people stop intimidating me. Retaliation is happening at liberty square against me because I am the crime watch person. I need to talk to rosie. I need the roundtable mayor. Commissioner Mcgee told him with representative lopez and all the ones that sit. He said do not retaliate against your constituents. That is why you cannot get any volunteers. Because they target us commissioners. >> thank you and let's refrain from naming the commissioners at this time. >> matta mayor, I'm going to address two things. Can we get some want to speak to MRS. Frazier? And secondly if we have a cell phone go off my only request is the cbo's are in need of extra funding and we will pass around a hat that you can make a donation if you hear your cell phone go off. If you can do a huge favor for the next three seconds look at your phone to make sure it is on silent. >> there is at least $12.4 missing from this budget. We need to keep 47 early bus routes running. This budget currently leaves behind almost 7000 daily riders who need the 6:00 am bus. They need it and the writers like MISS Rosa who ride the 37, seven and 103. have no alternative it is to get cuts. And would have to take a $25 over daily. Both her and her daughter rely on the tree to get to work and to get to school. This is not the full stack. This is their livelihood and we need them to get to work. Because not there miami runs on the work. These cuts mean that we will have delayed construction sites no housekeeping hotels and get into their shifts late. Is this the miami-dade that we are striving for? Stop the cuts. >> thank you kathy. >> it is an honor and privilege to come before the board. I come with no malice towards anyone. There is something going on -- >> did you give me your address? >> 2100 northwest. 192nd? >> 2100 northwest. 192nd ter. Last year I came here with my boots on. This year I am here with my heart. >> did you give your name also? >> it is hebrew. I am here because of a nonprofit and the people I met today. I'm fascinated with the use but I am fascinated with what GOD told me to do. It is the museum and the afro american negro, collard or whatever you want to call us. It was 500 years of slavery and I'm here to save my parents was a slave. >> is nexus to the budget? I appreciate you. >> $31,000 grant that I want you all to address. I died this year. I went into a coma. >> thank you. >> can I speak on behalf of my other half? >> that would kick off a wave of follow-up to do the same thing. Thank you so much. I appreciate you. >> I do not want to go. >> here's an update. Everything appeared and we do normally something we are seeing from you. The response is whatever you give us we give you back. The only thing we are asking for this particular moment is that each and every last one of you respect each other. Because what ends up happening is the longer you take at the podium, you're basically forcing someone else to wait behind you. That forces them to have to rearrange their calendar schedule to pick up their kids, go to work or do something that are very important to the quality of life. Someone asked that you respect one another by simply number understanding when you are -- going over your time, you are holding someone else up of things that they need to be doing. Thank you so much. >> good evening I will be as quick as possible. I am from 240 e. I am from 240 e. 1st avenue highly of florida. I'm here representing community coalition nonprofit organization. We support the elderly population. On behalf of of the organization I would like to sincerely thank you for your continued support of community-based organizations an important work that we do every day. We are especially grateful for you mme. Mayor for your commitment to including ceos in this budget. By providing these services at the community level, we save taxpayers money and making a meaningful difference in the lives of the people we serve. . We are proud to be a part of the collaborative working alongside our other community organizations to strengthen and service and maximize our impacts. I want to thank you for believing in our communities, listening to her needs and recognizing that investing in cbo's as an investment in a stronger and healthier miami-dade county. We appreciate your partnership and continued support. Thank you. >> thank you so much. >> good evening my name is beatrice. I am the director of advocacy of pro bono legal services located at 2400 s. Dixie hwy. On behalf of our team, thank you for your support in this year's budget including funding to the cbo grant program and support of our landlord-tenant eviction program. Our legal services b s transforms lives. It reaches survivors of human tracking -- trafficking, children in foster care, tenants facing eviction and more. With the growing team of more than 40 employees including more than 20 attorneys on staff, we provide free legal representation to more than 5000 clients every year. Thank you for standing with us in protecting children and families in miami-dade county. >> thank you. >> good afternoon. My name is paul. I represent the family with less charisma than the three young ladies use our earlier. Our address is 84 street. 39 we are -- [Indiscernible]. Families come to us with multiple challenges as one. Housing, food, employment, transportation and other basic needs. The case manager help consultative system and connect them to the right resources. Some time with family need is not another program someone who will sit with them and understand their situation. Can investment and case management allows organizations provide critical one-on-one support. We ask you to recognize case management as an essential part of miami-dade county safety net and continue funding services that help families move from b testability. These are crucial resources. We dedicate the last 10 seconds to the memory who fought for empowerment and opening entered. Would you like to have the podium at this time, sir? >> good evening sir. >> good evening. CHAIRMAN, commissioners, thank you so much. It is an honor to be here again in the budget process. As you know, we are really already sent our budget to the dor and it was approved. Wttw.Com/comments this year- >> hold on one 2nd, please. >> it wasn't me! [Laughter] >> I know it wasn't you go ahead. >> the budget for the coming year was approved by the dor. We had a great meeting with the mayor, several weeks ago. with our budget. And, we reduced it from the original proposal of $4 million. So, we are a part of the whole reduction issue. In our county. So, I thank you so much. And, have a great, great meeting. Thank you. >> thank you so much. I do so para, veronica brown, angelina evans, rachel s aloneness, ebony felton, semi and wade, pasta.Cn, stephanie gomez, sarah marino, breanna joseph, katrina cvila, sharon springer, please approach the podium, the well. Thank you. >> hay. Who wants to go first? >> good evening my name is ida with cap upon a legal services at 2400 s. Dixie florida miami florida. I am here today regarding your investment in cbo's. More than half million children call our community home. Applying cc estimate that one in 6 children have a developmental disability and that means nearly 100,000 children in our county with a developmental disability. Tiffany is one of them. As she approached adulthood, her family feared for her future. Through legal support made possible by your investment, tiffany found her voice and her family found the legal protection to honor it. Her mother told us simply, we really appreciate you being involved. On behalf of kappa pro bono legal services, I am here today to thank you for your consideration and the sears county budget. Because of your investment we are providing free legal assistance to children and family is in need. Thank you for making meaningful difference in the lives of the children and families that we serve. >> think you so much. >> good evening CHAIRMAN, vice-CHAIRMAN, commissioners, MADAM Mayor my name is angelina evans 1300 sw. 120th st. District 7. I am here on behalf of ywca south florida which has served miami-dade county for over 107 years. E think the mayor for proposing a budget that maintains funding for community-based organizations including ywca south florida's economic prosperity work. Every day we and our fellow studios work alongside mandated residents who are working, raising families and striving for financial stability and to thrive here in our beautiful community but we don't do it alone and we can't. S the strength of the entire network of ceos in partnership with your offices which supports residents and families with services like financial coaching, education and youth services, entrepreneurship, health, transportation and other resources. Investment in cbo isn't just supporting individuals, it strengthens families, neighborhoods and our local economy. we recognize the difficult choices involved in balancing this year's budget and my ask is that you preserve the proposed full investment in cbo so organizations like all of ours can continue delivering results for your miami-dade residence. >> thank you so much. >> good evening mayor in distinguished members of the county commission my name is rachel representing family action network movement on 184th street. Fund is a larger part of community based organization serving miami-dade residence everyday. Our message today is simple. Please continue investing in the community organizations that residence trust and depend on. Whether a family needs food, childcare, transportation, housing assistance, case management, work or support or help navigating a difficult system community organizations are often the first door they knock on. Ee the challenges our residents face but we also see the resilience. Ith the right resource and support families can overcome barriers and build stronger futures. County funding allows us to meet people where they are and provide services before a crisis becomes an emergency. Thank you mayor and commissioners for your leadership and for recognizing that supporting community organizations is an investment in strength, stability and future of miami-dade county. Thank you. >> thank you. >> hello, my name is ebony felton my address is 7432 northwest 3rd court miami florida. I reside in district 2 and my commissioner being marlene bessie yan and I am representing hd miami. I am here today to express my concerns about the eviction diversion program and the potential 50% cut that is outlined in the proposed budget. I see the struggles of trying to ensure you have a roof to sleep under every single month every and with assistance, if it is inadequate it does not offer relief as people are making sacrifices to make ends meet. This is important to me because I believe that housing is a right that everyone should have access to. Our-should have a place to rest and to see their kids and grandkids. Children should had not -- have to see them fight for basic roofs over their head. Even shelters and advocacy program shelters are full and have weightless and because of the increase of homelessness it continues to rise in miami. Sorry. >> don't be. Thank you so much. Great job. >> good evening MR. Chair, vice chair, commissioners and MADAM Mayor, my name is veronica brown I am the coo and interim coo of ywca south florida located at 351 nw. 5th st. Strict 3. For 107 years ywca has served miami-dade county families through programs like or care. Court care is a unique program our community safety net. For more than 25 years, ywca and the county have partnered to provide free, safe, trauma informed childcare inside our county courthouse is so children don't have to sit in court or be exposed to traumatic proceedings while there parents access to justice. Over the past year we've seen a 25% increase in the families we have served to that combination of child protection, family support and access to justice sets miami-dade county court care program apart. We think the mayor for maintaining this funding in the proposed budget and respectfully urge the board to protect this critical investment as you adopt the county budget. Thank you for your partnership. >> thank you. >> hi. So maia wade 1-800, 10800 biscayne blvd., district 3 keon hardeman and I am a member of engage miami. I am here to speak on our environmental resiliency programs. We faced 2 choices today and how we invest in our communities. O or do not. I stand here is a fifth generation floridian in solidarity with all that have called our stay home today and here thereafter. Every department in our county is worthy of adequate funding but unfortunately we have neglected the land that we stand on. Our region is in the worst drought we have seen in decades. This AUGUST we saw the hottest day recorded in miami since 1942. This year the counties decrease 54% of the programs funding compared to last fiscal year is it really unfortunate and we are just asking for 20 million in this year's proposed budget and the final budget which should be allocated to managing, restoring and the acquisition of land in our county. There's no guarantee that we can so into our everglades everything she has provided to us but a just effort can be made. They'll program deserves funding. Thank you so much. >> Chair: thank you and you do know that your commissioner is super happy for you now he is looking over there smiling at you. [Chuckle] We are ready. >> hello my name is sarah marino and my address is 1271 ne. 159th st. North miami beach, fl 33162. I reside in district 2 and my commissioner is marlene bastian. I represent engage miami. I am here today to express my concern about the potential percent cut to the eviction diversion program. I recently experienced a difficult and stressful since the situation where my landlord projected to provide safe and sanitary living conditions despite regulations. Fortunately I was able to relocate within 2 weeks. However we know not everyone is as lucky in such situations are far too common. As a matter of fact we found 50% of miami is our renters. Miami-dade needs adequately funded and fully staffed housing programs to ensure residence against secure housing. I respect we urge you to vote against cuts to the program. Your decision will make a real difference to the people in miami-dade. The key for your time and decision. >> thank you. >> hi my name is stephanie and my address is 10800 biscayne blvd., miami, fl I reside in district 3 and my commissioner is keon hardeman and I represent engage miami. >> your last name? >> stephanie gomez. >> thank you. >> have a dear friend who was previously incarcerated. He is a hard worker a believer in democracy yet these spaces misrepresent him by only seeing him as a mistake he made a long long time ago. Reentry programs grant people like my friend a new beginning. This issue is important to me and my community because humans are deserving of 2nd chances. This impacts not only him but also his family and those who will soon reenter our society. Exploitation fractures the strength of our workforce. a dedicated effort must be made so we break the cycle of reincarnations. County investment and this can lead to family sustaining careers for formally incarcerated residents. I respectfully urge you to vote in favor of the reentry programs that will lead to economic stability. Hank you. >> Chair: thank you. >> good evening my name is rihanna joseph and my address is 1450 nw. 73rd st., miami, fl 33147 district 3. [Chuckle] When I was 8 years old my mom was working 2 jobs to make ends meet. I guess this one time the ants the ends just didn't eat. No, unfortunately as hard as she was trying she fell short in our family ended up having to live out of a motel for 2 months. Remember being nervous and scared. And the room being dim, damp and moist. Most of all I was ashamed. Emotions an 8-year-old should never have to feel. Please do not cut the eviction diversion program. A program like that could have helped keep us in our apartment until my mom could get back up to her feet and help somebody families across our county. Around that same time and age I was learning about how different friends got to school. I was dropped off, someone took the school bus others took the county bus with the proposed transit cut students and the workforce that powers our county will suffer. Please do not cut or reduce the routes. Thank you. >> Chair: thank you so much. >> good evening commissioners name is katrina kabila I reside at 330 catalonia avenue 33134 in district 7. I am a member of engage miami. There's a bus route three minutes to my front door route 32. I really read it because I've never been able to count on it. This budgets answer isn't to fix that, it is to illuminate the route along with 11 others while draining from the transportation infrastructure improvement district the reserve fund meant to build the future transit corridors. My best friend lives in liberty city now seeing her use a card or rideshare I can imagine what it would look like if we actually build up our corridors the way we say were going to. Where is that happening when this budget is cutting what we already have before our final vote, protect the reserve and fix these routes instead of cutting them. Thank you. >> thank you. >> good evening everyone my name is. [Name] I reside in 529 sw. 10th st., miami, fl district 3. I am here today to speak about the proposed funding cuts to the miami-dade public library system and I understand the county is facing a significant budget cut and difficult decisions do have to be made but I grew up in a family with 6 siblings under one income. So obviously couldn't afford internet access or computers and I relied on public libraries which I imagine many of us did when we were younger. The libraries that we count on not only was it free but a safe space for children. Was able to focus on education, do my homework and finish projects. When I hear about potentially cutting funding for our libraries I can't help but think about families who are in the same position I was in when I was younger. Ith the cost of living especially with the economy we are in now I respect we urge you to reject any rejections to miami-dade public library operating hours, staffing ordinance and to protect the funding needed to keep the services available to our residents. Thank you so much for your time. >> thank you so much. Vivian pacheco, sheila womble, alexa cuvc jules schwartz, miriam singer, doctor helen chassis, amanda altman, is this natalie girl, tara kit, olga tomasello. You can get me at the podium for butchering your name. Gladys, margaret ledford, please come to the podium. Not everybody at once, walked down. Come on, we've got it, almost there. Thank you. >> hi, good evening my name is sheila womble my address is 1635 sw. 18th ave., miami, fl, 33145. I am the executive director of arts miami where every day we build brilliance by turning our neighborhood to creative studios for our children and youth. We serve more than 5000 children youth and hire more than 70 professional teaching artist to make sure those children have a chance to create. In addition where the county's leading partner for the all kids included program and also a proud founding member of access miami and incredible collaboration among arts education organizations dedicated to ensuring all of mandy's children have access to the power of learning in the arts. I know all of you have supported the arts in the past. I has to date you please consider making sure the arts remain intact for this budget year and I think the mayor for putting that forth in the proposed budget. Thank you. >> thank you. >> alexa cuba coral way cables 33134. MADAM Mayor's, commissioners imagine cassandra the greek prophetess imagined her at the father of fiction here strongly to tell her tragedy in a foreign language imagine carlos cuba's national award winner reading us the story of a woman in a square waiting for the husband who commanded her to become a famous writer. Imagine death of a salesman in spanish directed by mila lutes pulitzer prize winner sharing one stage all of this and much more has happened right here in miami at the cultural arts center and thanks to the department of cultural affairs in miami at they come to you commissioners and to you MADAM Mayor. This was only part of the season. Hank you and please allow us to continue bringing first-class theater to our city and protect our venues. Hank you. >> Chair: thank you. >> good evening I am george schultz miami beach 33140. Good evening MADAM Mayor and members of the board. I am a volunteer board director at jewish community services of south florida. Thank you MADAM Mayor for recommending full funding for miami-dade county's community based organizations, cvo's. 107 years jcs has been a trusted partner helping older adults age safely and independently through nutritious meals case management and critical support services. Today, these services are more important than ever as seniors on a fixed income face growing food insecurity and isolation. As a proud member of the advocacy collective, we ask that you continue investing in cvo's. Ollectively our organizations leverage money. The average more than one but 15.2 million in additional funding from federal, state and private organizations. Thank you. >> thank you so much. Thank you. >> good evening MADAM Mayor, commissioners and everyone present my name is natalia earl with urban partnerships at 1800 sw. 1st ave., miami 33139 where community health nonprofit. I serve as a program manager for the miami-dade county initiative and we thank you for supporting including funding in the budget for this collaborative effort to create committees where older adults can remain active, engaged and age with dignity. Nearly one in 4 miami-dade residents is age 60 and older and that population will continue to grow and are among our most vulnerable. Since 2012 the initiative has brought local government, community organizations and residents together to make miami-dade more accessible, supportive and livable for people as they age while improving quality of life for residents of all ages. As you finalize the budget, we ask that you continue to maintain the county's investment in this important work. And on behalf of urban health partnerships and our partners we thank you for your continued support. >> thank you. >> helen tassel 21845 e. Country club drive. >> I thought it was doctor? All right. Let's try that again. >> doctor helen chappell. >> there you go that sounds much better. >> good evening MADAM Mayor and members of the board, my name is doctor helen chassis and I am proud to serve on the board of jewish committee south florida. I want to share one client story that shares how county government and county investment and community-based organizations matter. Our client 13-year-old daughter became paraplegic following spinal surgery in 2003. Most recently the family spent 2 weeks at hope's children's hospital while their daughter underwent another surgery to help regain greater independence. During this difficult time jcs helped with their electric bill and provided public cards for groceries. Our client told us this assistance came when her family direly needed the help. It was her breathing room. It lifted a burden and reminded her that someone was there to help. That is what county investment makes possible. These continue fully funding the- >> thanks so much doctor. Thank you. >> good evening MADAM Mayor and commissioners my name is tara load out and I worked at urban health partnership 1800 sw. 1st avenue miami, fl 33139. I serve as a community liaison with the miami-dade county initiative and I'm sorry I am there-I am here tonight to ask for your continued support for the initiative in the year's budget. Miami-dade is home to nearly half familiar adults 65 and older and that number is growing older and face real challenges with things like transportation, social isolation and the rising cost of labor the initiative gives older adults like myself a voice and a decisions that affect our daily lives and helps to make sure communities are connected, accessible and responsive to their needs as they age. We ask that you maintain the current funding amount for the initiative in the budget. We are grateful for the county's continued support of older adults to do this work. Thank you. > thank you. >> good evening. My name is miriam singer and I serve as PRESIDENT Seo jewish community services of south florida. I live in district 6 represented by commissioner natalie and MR. Vice chair and distinguished members who really appreciate your support and championing cvo services in our community. Thank you MADAM Mayor for your leadership for the monthly meetings, for your investment throughout the year in supporting cbo's and addressing our issues. We are hopeful that this commissioner will try to continue to fund community-based organizations. There are 66 safety net service providers that serve frail and vulnerable members of our community. Thank you for engagement and for your leadership. We are the bridge to self-sufficiency and improved quality of life from residents throughout every zip code in every district in our community we are proud to be of service to you. Thank you for your consideration and if there's any opportunity or an increase of 3% we would really appreciate it. Thank you. >> thank you meriam can you place your address on the record, please? >> the address is 12000 biscayne blvd. Miami florida. >> thank you so much. >> good evening MADAM Mayor and commissioners my name is olga tomasello with urban partnerships located at 1800 sw. 1st avenue miami 33139. Support the miami-dade age friendly initiative and I'm here to ask for your continued support of age friendly work in this year's budget. Our growing older adult population is significant. One in 5 live in poverty nearly 100,000 live alone and many live with disabilities that can make it harder to access services and support. Initiative helps address these needs by supporting older adults to age in place, stay connected and remain active in their communities. Through this work miami-dade has become a leader in age friendly efforts in a model within the age from the network. We are gratefully fully grateful for your continued support we ask for funding for this initiative as its current level. Additionally accessible transportation is also in each family priority. We urge you to restore the 12.4 billion for early-morning transit services and protect the routes proposed reduction many residents depend on these routes. Thank you. >> thank you. Hey. >> good evening my name is amanda altman and I'm the ceo of christie house miami florida, 33136. Christie house is a nationally accredited children's advocacy center serving all of miami-dade county. We are a member of the cvo collaborative we are grateful to have been included in the mayor's proposed budget and we ask for the sports continued support. On monday fernando cristiano received a life sentence for heinous crimes he committed against children. Thankfully he will never again have the opportunity to hurt a child in our community. That outcome was achieved because of a coordinated approach by a multi-disciplinary team of agencies led by christie house. Christie house facilitates that coordinated approach bringing together partners every week to ensure children and families get the services and support they need to heal and to pursue justice. So as you work towards adopting a budget that makes public safety the top priority i encourage you to continue funding for cbo's who work hand-in-hand with law enforcement and each other every day. ;-). >> thank you. >> good evening my name is gladys ramirez 3558 magellan circle 33180 district 4. Thank you mayor for keeping arts funding intact and appointing ashley thomas to lead cultural affairs. Last year's arts nonprofit survived cut through a last-minute scramble. This year we are buoyed by the mayor's budget but that is not a plan. Arts nonprofits employ your constituents. They bring arts to public schools in your districts. They fill our county's facilities, generate revenue and create the culture that bring the world here. A plan for sustainability funding for cultural affairs has to come from you. Unfortunately, most of you haven't met with us despite requests from arts organizations in your district. The cultural facilities the county owns are either underfunded or under construction. And not one of you has proposed a permanent dedicated source for arts funding. Work with us on that. Many with the arts sector funds the facilities and spots are a permanent plan for miami cultural affairs. Thank you. >> thank you. >> good evening everyone. i'm name is margaret ledford lee 351 sw. District 5. Thank you MADAM Mayor. Representing a budget that maintains the same level of funding as last year for arts and culture and obviously my request commissioners is for you to also maintain this funding for arts and culture. As you know every dollar you invest in the cultural grants program returns $42-$43 back to the community and economic value to the tune of $2 billion. Think how much more we could do we could return to our community if you invested more. Imagine if you could identify a steady, sustainable stream of funding for cultural institutions. I hazard to guess you encounter arts and culture in your daily life, today even. A piece of music, a book a painting on your wall heck, we also partner with the theater where they all stood up on cue. These visionary leaders that cement a sustainable ecosystem for the arts and artists. >> thank you so much. That was a lot of great energy. [Chuckle] Louisiana martinez, jane doe. Yes, jane doe number 61 kelsey dixon, barry bogle, heather jones, rosea hayes, renee smith, stanley young, nicholas osterman, elizabeth estrada, valerie rea doughnut, catherine lebo, deborah webb, please approach the well. >> good evening. MADAM Mayor, CHAIRMAN, commissioners, my name is lisa salazar martin is my address is 1 42nd ter., miami, fl representing young stations tonight. Picture a child walking into a classroom for the first time to learn music. Quiet, uncertain, unsure of he is and what he is good at. Then they receive an instrument and they find the rhythm they are confidence and eventually their voice. That transformation happens every day through young stations unite free music programs serving more than 60,000 children across 106 schools in miami-dade county. But that opportunity doesn't happen without investment. Cvo funding helps organizations like ours bring life-changing programs directly to the children and families who need them the most. We thank you for your leadership in prioritizing and strengthening cvo funds. Thank you. >> Chair: thank you. >> hi. My name is kelsey dixon and I am here on behalf of hope and relief food bank located at 6025 nw. 6th ct., miami, fl 33127. First I want to say thank you, thank you MADAM Mayor and commissioners for your continued support of our senior program. Currently we are a 501(C)(3) Nonprofit based in the heart of liberty city with a very simple mission to feed hungry and 2 ways awareness without judgment. I am here today because our low income seniors are in crisis every day in our program I have seniors on fixed income who are forced to make the impossible choice whether to eat or whether to pay their bills. Find medicine. Groceries. Tonight we are respectfully requesting additional funds to aid and to continue our program. Thank you. >> thank you. >> good evening my name is barry bogle and I represent easter field south florida 1475 northwest 14th avenue miami florida 331 through 5. MR. Vice chair, commissioners, MADAM Mayor, thank you very much for having us here today. I am also part of the advocacy collaborative. Mayor, I would like to thank you for including continued funding for the community-based organizations in the proposed budget. I would encourage all of the members of the commission to continue to support that. Easter seals provides services for people with disabilities for the last 85 years in miami-dade county ranging from 3 months of age all the way to 105. The services that we are able to provide because of the funding we get through these grants allows us to enhance and extend the service day for these clients which allows their caregivers, their loved ones, to continue to work and contribute to the community and live a full and productive life. If there is additional funds available like you have heard from some of our colleagues, we would appreciate an increase as well. Thank you. >> thank you. >> thank you good evening my name is kathy left and I'm here on bigger complex 561 ne. 30 seconds st. District 3 thank you commissioner hardeman. I would like to thank you for supporting the cultural institutions of the past years. And also thank the mayor for continuing to maintain us on the proposed budget this year. I know you all appreciate how must artist and cultural institutions, they create the conditions to make neighborhoods desirable, attract towns, and generate long-term value. Some of the things that are and cultural generally aren't measured by certain kept on impact on jobs, tourism but we failed to measure the ink pack that art and culture has played in the real estate appreciation and tax base that we all enjoy. I want to thank you for reinvesting part of that tax base back into arts and culture so we continue to grow and be productive members of the community. Thank you. >> good afternoon. Good evening. To everybody here. My name is jane doe. My address 2818 nw. 22nd avenue miami, fl 33142. I am with the career of loving you from the heart. I am here on behalf of the homelessness, what's going on, I defend the homelessness. I almost went to jail to defend to homelessness so they won't go to jail because that is something that they want to put 3 days in jail and then look for shelter. With that going on, that is why I'm here to see if we can give some help with the homelessness. It's not the proper way of putting people in jail. So that is my offer. Thank you. >> good evening. While it is getting closer to my bedtime, good evening commissioners, chair, vice chair, commissioners, staff and those who are coming out to the budget hearing. I want to thank you personally my district to who went above and above. The chaplain jail ministry 500 nw. 2nd avenue. >> can we get your name and address, please? >> I want to let you know that freedom ministry is there to help and assist inmates who are coming out of prisons and jails to let them know that there is hope. There is new direction. There are some new things that they can do and produce in our community. We been doing it for 6 years and we love it. I want to support the miami-dade 's epo fund. Let's support it, let's keep it going. Let's develop it. Thank you and GOD bless. >> thank you. >> good evening MS. Ea 1637 south st. Thank you mayor, for proposing a budget that supports arts and culture funding for previous years as to before you all talking about emphasizing the economic impact of the art talking about the $2.1 billion impact of the art here in miami and how every dollar invested bring back $41 invested into the economy. The numbers are important but today I want to talk about what's harder to measure and that is what makes miami miami. Miami doesn't stand out because were the only town with beaches skylines and skyscrapers. Our community above artists and organizations is given miami the language entirely of its own. This is one that the rest of the world recognizes and celebrates. As we continue to grow into a cultural capital we need to continue to grow our arts and culture. This is continuing investment in the very identity and community that has made the world look our way in the first place. Commissioners I urge you please, please commissioners I urge you to approve this budget and ensure the miami we love today will be here tomorrow. Thank you. >> my name is nicholas ahlstrom address is 31 6 north 42nd st. And I reside in commissioner hardeman's district that evening commissioners I am here because I am scared. I am scared that a budget decision made in this room can cost me my job. I take route 32 every morning at 6 A.M. To get to work. It's not a convenience it's my lifeline. If that first bus is cut I have no backup plan. Right share isn't an option I can afford. That money would come straight out of my rent, medication and my groceries. I am already stretched thin. I am one of the 14,000 working residents who will be pushed to the edge by these cuts. People go to work, to doctor appointments, to school every single day because they have to. Because we don't have a choice. Please, I am asking you as someone whose livelihood is directly on the line. Vote against these bus cuts. Thank you. >> heaven jones 1637 sw. 8th st. 33135. Thank you members of the commission and mayor cava for giving me the opportunity to speak once again on behalf of our olson culture community. The arts in miami-dade are more than cultural institutions. They create jobs and give our communities something to lean on beyond basic needs. These same organizations rely on public funding to provide free and low-cost programs that educate, uplift and engage our diverse communities. I am a product of the arts and culture. A young girl from unincorporated miami-dade who spent summers at the african cultural arts center is now an arts administer, artist and artist featuring. The introduction into arts and culture completely influence my life and that's why I'm here today. Keeping full funding of arts and culture budget is an investment in miami-dade's future and identity. Without we are excluding the very things that make our counties thrive. We are economic drivers and community builders. Thank you mayor cava and the commission. Thank you. >> thank you. >> good evening I'm a member of catalyst miami at 3550 southwest ave., miami. I am here today to express my concern about the proposed cuts to the public library system. As an emergency management practitioner I see libraries as a trusted community resource that supports residents during emergencies. As extreme heat becomes a chronic public health challenge many of our libraries serve as cooling centers providing access to ac for residents seeking relief from dangerous temperatures and for those who might not have adequate cooling a home. For older adults and other vulnerable populations these spaces can help prevent heat related illness. Reducing library hours or services would limit access to a resource that residents increasingly rely on during extreme heat events. I respectfully urge you to prohibit reductions to library hours, staffing and maintenance funding. Thank you for your time and consideration. >> yes? >> hello. Renee pesci smith 1637 sw. 83 3135. I am here is the executive director of arts and business council but today I'm also speaking as a mother supporting the arts. When my daughter was very young her father passed away and theater and dance became her lifeline. Looking for a safe space to belong, mentors who believed in her inner way to express grief when she didn't have the words and yes they helped keep her out of a lot of trouble. As an adult she is building a career in the arts when we talk about the arts and culture grant not just talking about numbers and a budget. We are talking about children, families, jobs and lives changed forever. Somewhere in miami-dade there's another child who needs what the arts gave to my daughter and that child, please give them the same chance my daughter had. Dq mayor for proposing full funding for the arts and culture grants and this budget and we urge all of you commissioners to please vote to fully fund arts and culture grants in the fy 27 budget and please help us work on long term sustainable funding for the arts. Thank you very much. >> good evening numbers of the commission MADAM Mayor my name is gloria and my address is sw. 67th avenue and today I am speaking on behalf of friends of biscayne bay are slickly asked the commission to name 2 successful investments in miami-dade's future. First the proposed 6% increase in rate adjustment we cannot protect biscayne bay without -while underfunding the system that sewage out of the public waterways. For the average customer it is approximately $0.12 per day and the adjustment is necessary for the infrastructure to reduce sewage spills and complete utterly mandated improvements. During this work it will not eliminate the cost but instead reduce the likelihood of system failures and more expensive projects in the future 2nd replaced 20 million for the meal program the proposed budget provides 6.5 million for roughly 3500 acres these are not simply underdeveloped parcels, these are GOD-given natural infrastructure that protects our drinking water supply, and dangerous feces and protects floodwaters. Thank you. >> thank you. Thank you county commissioners and thank you mayor, for all of your support and including critical funding for the cvo for miami-dade. I am deborah webb the ceo of key clubhouse south florida located northside 301 nw. 27th avenue and now in west kendall at 9000 sw. 137th avenue I believe district 2 and district 11 but I do live in aventura the beautiful aventura. We are an international accredited program operating a proven recovery through work model serving adults living with serious persistent mental illness. In the last 2 years between r b2 2 locations we placed 90 people with mental illness back to work and 25 went back to school. Every day I hear families like you must also that are desperate for help for loved ones living with mental illness. Our outcome? 90% report that overall quality of life has improved and they are more positive about the future, not contemplating ending it all. 94% report needing fewer or no hospitalizations. Thank you so much. >> all right will the following residents please come up. I apologize ahead of time if I mispronounce your name. Deborah cox robert ryle natalie herod don, pedro deas, don david harrison, richard lemond and, or rate should money and camille munguia. Yes. Thank you. >> alice malin 6240 sw. 33rd st. Miami, fl 33155. I am the executive director of adults mankind organization and first I would like to thank MADAM Mayor for your support and leadership this year and for working hard to include us in the budget. I hope the rest of the commission will also support these programs because investing in our safety net organization has a significant impact. Not only on the lives of our residents but also on our local economy. we provide workforce development services focusing on work readiness skills and employment assistance. We help residents develop the skills and confidence they need to secure and maintain employment so they become productive members of the workforce. And I know you like data. O let me tell you. This year we served over 329 miami-dade residents from all 13 districts. We placed 125 in subsidized employment and that, if you use a conservative estimate at $14 per hour, $35 per week that is 2.45 that is back in the economy. So much. >> good evening I am fernanda jorgensen I am the director of philanthropy miami biscayne boulevard. First I would like to extend my gratitude to mayor cava and county commissioners for your commitment throughout this past year to work alongside our cpus. Philanthropy miami strongly supports this budget and they continued investment in these organizations. It's a smart investment and now have the data to back it up. Independent study recently conducted by the health council of south florida showed that for every dollar the county invest in cbo's save $10 from expenditures from hired systems of care. See po's are more than just recipients of county funds they are essential infrastructure and community partners and philanthropy miami stands ready to work with our nonprofit partners, our philanthropic community and government to make sure that these investment remain beneficial to our community. Thank you very much. >> thank you. >> good evening MADAM Mayor commissioners debbie cox christie house nw. 12th