Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners - Regular

. >>chair: commissioners, commissioners. We are going to get started here. Those that are here please take your seats. We've got two presentations this morning. Two very meaningful important ones. The first one is recognizing chief jd patterson in his retirement. Where is the chief? Chief . All right, I think this might be like your second retirement, third from the county, second, third. So I'm going to I had in hand this over to the sponsor which is commissioner bermudez. >>commissioner bermudez: I don't read from notes but I'm going to do it today because jd is special. He has spent decades dedicated to miami-dade county, also on his second retirement but jd patterson joined the police department in 1985 serving northside, kendall, miami lakes, doral which I got to know very well and he was appointed director in 2013. In addition to his service to our police department chief patterson served as assistant police chief of the city of miami gardens. And ultimately returned to miami-dade county as chief of corrections after serving in your capacity as interim director of the rehabilitation department. Chief patterson lifelong miami and born in miami hospital, attended miami-dade community college and earned his degree in miami. One of the things that is important is his attendance at the fbi national academy in virginia as an example of his commitment to professional excellence. Throughout his 35 years of expertise he not only brought to law enforcement but also strategic planning and community development and mst important is his unwavering dedication to our community so as he steps into his second retirement or so they say, we never know I'd like to take a moment to reflect on his remarkable career and acknowledge the legacy of public service he will leave behind and on behalf of the residents of miami-dade county I want to express my gratitude for any many years of outstanding service to the people of miami-dade county and for me the last couple of years former CHAIRMAN Gilbert, vice chair of the committee jd was a part of and he was the most responsive prson of all. Anytime we had a question in that committee he was there not just because of his history because he knows where all the bodies are buried but also because of the fact that he is also a team player and so thank you, congratulations jd. >>chair: commissioners stein. >>commissioner steinberg: I just want to say that we wish you the best, we're going to MISS You and you have the best first name which happens to be the same as myself . >>commissioner gilbert: you want to say the first name? I do that to him all the time. I've known jd since before I was actually a commissioner. When I was in miami gardens as mayor I was the person who I think who said I'd love for you to work in miami gardens area I need you to make structural changes to our department in how we police the community, how we provide services so I had the privilege of working with him as a mayor and then as commissioner. He is a consummate public servants. He is selfless , he is humble, he believes in us as a whole and not us singularly. He believes in this community, the greatest in miami-dade county. I would say goodbye to him but I am counting this as his third retirement. He's got a bunch of proclamations but what's most important about him is I know and I said to him over there, he can retire as much as he wants to. He will take a cruise to alaska and all these places, when I call him for the people of miami-dade county he will answer his phone. Thank you for your service jd. >>mayor levine cava: just like commissioner gilbert saw that talent and elevated him to the role in miami gardens, when I came in as mayor in 2020 I looked around to see who could be the leader for me in public safety and I set my sights on jd patterson. He has done such a great honor to us by serving in multiple roles. Chief over many departments because not only of his expertise which is legendary and not only because of his humility and character , but because of his leadership capacity. So this is a man who inspires people. This is a man who knows how to bring calm to troubled waters. This is a man who knows how to reach out across the aisle, across the cities and across the departments and he is humble as you said but also someone who is deeply spiritual as we know and in fact serves as a minister in addition, also as PRESIDENT Of the 5000 role models in many ways he is making his mark but mostly because of the human being that he is and because of the gifts that GOD has endowed in him. So jd, it has been the honor of a lifetime to serve with you. We are so so grateful and it is fitting and proper that you should get probably the third proclamation. Who knows. Who knows, but we know as was said you are there for us, you are there for the community and thank you for inspiring generations of people in our community. >>chair: so then let's just say and I'll let you speak now but that's really the last sentence, be I resolved the mayor daniela levine cava, myself CHAIRMAN Anthony rodriguez and board of county commissioners on behalf of miami-dade county and its residents do hereby proclaim today wednesday, JANUARY 22 as the jd patterson day. Congratulations my friend. >> good morning and thank yu mme. Mayor, good morning MR. Chair, thank you my good friend and my colleague and my sort of like mentor in commissioner gilbert because he came back to the county, that's probably why I came back to the county because I enjoyed working with him and mme. Mayor I thank you for bringing me back but I would like to say I carry a lot of things in my heart. A lot of things that I don't really sort of publicize much but I'm going to share one quote with all of you that I will sticks with you because it's important for life and this quote goes what you do speaks so loud to where I can't hear a word that you say. In other words, I've always looked at what you all have done and do as so important to where it speaks to my heart and speaks to our community. Those are the people I served for 36 years and those are the people I will continue to serve because I think it matters much, not so much just what we say but also what we do so thank you mme. Mayor, on behalf of my family MR. Vice chair, the 3 million residents you talked about that represent miami-dade county I say to all of you thank you for allowing me to srve you and I will continue to serve as long as I have breath. [Applause] >>... >>chair: all right guys. Please take your seats. Please take your seats. That means everybody right here, please take your seats. Those with the cameras as well. Hello, quiet. All right, this next presentation sponsored by commissioner mcghee and of course signed by all the county commission is very special because it's to someone that we work with day in and day out and it is a sympathy resolution presented to our mayor, mayor daniela levine cava for the passing of her mother who passed away in DECEMBER. Lois levine and mayor, I won't take too much time, I'm sure everybody wants to say a few words but I will say throughout all of maybe not that many actually but throughout some of our differences , there is one thing you stay consistent and I've always said since way before my time on the commission and it is your sympathy and your caring and your passion for what you do and for people and your kindness and I know you said many times that is something you learned from your mother. So I feel comfortable, confident that she lived a good life and she instilled the right values upon you. So we are blessed to be here with you under unfortunate circumstances but we want to present this sympathy resolution to you on behalf of the passing of your mother so with that I will give it up to the sponsor and commissioner. >>vice chair: good morning everyone. Can I ask each and every one of you to look at your neighbor and tell your neighbor you love him or her this morning? Now, look at your same neighbor and sell the same neighbor that he or she looks really good this morning and it smells really good this morning. Now, the last thing, hold on. The last thing you're going to do is tell that same neighbor that the miami dolphins are going to win the super bowl next year. First of all,... You are the one who told a dolphins player you were a jets fan at the breakfast. We're having a great time. First of all let me say to each and every last one of you thank you for joining us this morning and to MR. CHAIRMAN take you for joining us and to our colleagues take you so much. She said something that resonates today as it resonated last year and the year before that, ross munroe said the greatest strategy in life is not death but a life without purpose. That has been one of the hallmark principles of many of us who understand life in our input and our progressiveness through life and moving issues forward. Today I have an opportunity to bring forth words about a young lady who I had an oportunity to fly up to new york , stand next to the mayor and her family and get quite a bit of understanding of where the mayor came from and how the mayor became who she is as a leader, as a woman, as a community pillar who represents and recognizes those who have been left out of the equation and those who simply want to be inside of the equation. I'm talking about lois MAY jaffin levine. I'm talking aout a powerful person, a poet, a person who persevered throughout so much and through so many obstacles in her life to become the person she was. It wasn't that much time that had passed throughout that memorial that I quickly learned why the mayor is the person she is today. Her mother is a person, was a person and will continuously be a person who had gone through so many obstacles to achieve great heights and in particular her mother went on in her later years t obtain her masters in social work. Her mother became a poet. Her mother became a community leader. But before all that happened her mother traveled to different countries along with her family helping those who were left out of the equation. Particularly the mayor's mother was also part of the federation that looked out for individuals who simply wanted to be part of the american dream and we're talking about the quakers, they're talking about the floridian institute. We're talking about other opportunities the mayor's mother participated in that gave many of us in opportunities to stand here today so today in recognizing the mayor's mother and impact of the energy she brought to this nation we simply want to say thank you mme. Mayor for allowing us to be part of this journey and as I had an opportunity to have, was it brunch with your family? It didn't take me long to realize that you are the real deal. And you are truly your mother's child. I can't say much more because it taps into a part of me that I tend to hold very close because I know how my emotions can sometimes take over. But now I understand why you do what you do. Like, when you show up at the funerals of those of us who are part of this commission and in particular when you showed up to my brother's funeral, my uncles funeral and you call me when a few of my family members passed away. Now I know where it came from. It was in that young lady who traveled the world to save those who have been left out of this equation and give them hope and to let them know their lives do matter also so personally I want to say thank you so much for allowing us to be part of the memorial and ongoing service of your mother. Thank you. >>commissioner higgins: mayor, I think we all know here sometimes we never have the right words to express the comfort we hope to give you in these times. When you reflect on all the wonderful things about your mother but you also are forced to reckon with the fact that she's not physically here to laugh, to give you advice, tell you what not to do, to tell you what to do and share her love drectly and physically with you. You can see as a commission we are standing here united, maybe not with the perfect words but we are sanding here with you in comfort and we will be with you whenever you would lke to share a story of your mother in the months to come as you go through the ups and downs of grief when you lose someone that's made such a difference in your life and quite frankly by creating you made such a difference in our lives so we are very sorry for your loss. >>commissioner gilbert: commissioner, you said this is a sympathy resolution and it is but in our tradition we have homegrown celebrations because of the transformative nature of faith. What I've come to understand is whether it's faith or physics, in faith we live a life like your mother lived. And there is a GOD that is waiting for her. In physics energy isn't created or destroyed, it changes forms area it is always with us. She's always with you. I deal because I deal with it every day. I can't tell you it goes away. Wat I can tell you is at some point you keep praying, you keep believing and the memories of her whispering in your ear and the lessons she taught you become more prevalent than the pain and sorrow. I'll keep you in my prayers, thank you. Bastien: I didn't have a blessing to know your mother but knowing you for the past 40 years, 42 years, seeing you acting on behalf of the citizens of miami-dade county, seeing that your compassion, your resiliency, your courage I know she worked through use of cherish the memories and MAY GOD give you the strength to continue to do what you do for the best of humanity because your mother is an infinite nurturer. MAY she rest in peace and power. >>commissioner bermudez: let me say as my colleagues have said it's very difficult with us for our parents but in time as my colleague said you will remember every day you will remember the good things and as time goes by their many words , not any words we can say that will change your feeling but in time I think you know that you have our support and as the CHAIRMAN Said I didn't get a chance to meet your mother but I know that the empathy you've always shown before I was a county commissioner and you just became a county commissioner and you've shown even when we might have disagreements or empathy, the commitment you had asked to be a reflection on the part of the legacy she has left you. So please know we are here for you and our prayers are for you. >>commissioner cohen higgins: I will say briefly what our vice CHAIRMAN Gave you the directive to look towards our neighbor and say I love you, I said it's because I need it, not because our vice CHAIRMAN Indicated we needed to do so and I say that because I know we're bringing a sympathy resolution on behalf of the board and we talk about ups and downs whether it's marriage or a funeral or a death or a birth of a new child, we come together as one commission and rallied together to show support so the sympathy resolution is not just words on paper, it's not just an expression of sympathy, it is us wrapping our arms around you to tell you we love you and we are here for you as you push through this time. I know you lost your dad in the recent past as well so there's got to be a gaping hole in your heart and the 12 of us, the 13 of us are your to do everything we can to fill that hole. We love you, GOD bless you and your family and our deepest condolences. >>chair: mayor, is it okay if we ask you to say a few words? >>mayor levine cava: never in my wildest imagination did I imagine we would be here together in front of the community and with this body remembering my mother. I just want to say it is an extraordinary honor that you give me and your words of comfort are really taken to my heart. And to our vice CHAIRMAN Showed up unannounced in new york , I have no words. And it really meant so much to me and to my family and friends and community that you were there already with a pre-proclamation so we have another here, thank you but just really, to echo jd patterson it's your acts that are so strong sometimes that we don't hear the words. And it certainly tat's how my mother was pretty good with words. She did write some incredible poetry including about her own death which she obviously anticipated, she was almost 90 when when she passed and she (Life overcoming obstacles but let a fulfilling joyful life and purpose lead and she died peacefully in her sleep, totally unexpected in good health so who knows? So she had a good death and one that we can all hope for. That said, it is her deeds and her work as has been said. I remember so many things but truthfully what I said is its nature and nurture. Cheapest own me with both so I'm just incredibly blessed to have had such a wonderful mother and I will also say this. My whole life has been animated to make sure that every child had the blessings I had. That I knew that I'll ask for nothing and especially I lacked no love. And every child deserves that, no less. That has in fact animated my entire life's work and life and still does. Thank you so much for this great honor and these blessings. Amen . >>chair: thank you mayor and thank you for those kind words and rather than reading the actual resolution sympathy document the vice chair is going to read a couple of lines from what was said at the service . >> thank you MR. CHAIRMAN and chloe and coral sung this song but I'm not going to to sing it because I am not oliver gilbert and I don't have that voice. But I'll speak it into existence here and it's called the water is wide. The water is white, I cannot cross it. Neither have I wings to fly. Give me a boat I can carry and both shall row. My love and die. A ship there and she seals the sea. She is loaded deep as deep can be but not so deep as the love I am , I know not if I sink or swim. Those words were sung by the mayor's brother and niece at the home billing celebration for her mother. Thank you MR. CHAIRMAN . >>chair: b resolved I have CHAIRMAN Of miami-dade county and vice chair mcghee as well as all the county commissioners do hereby express up on the passing of lois MAY jaffin levine are most heartfelt sympathy and condolences to your family. >>... >>chair: clerk, please call the roll. >>clerk: good morning to all. >>commissioner bastien: here . >>commissioner bermudez: here . >>commissioner cabrera: here . >>senator garcia: here . >>commissioner gilbert: here . >>commissioner hardemon: here . >>commissioner higgins: here . >>commissioner regalado: here . >>commissioner steinberg: here . >>vice chair: here . >>clerk: 10 members present, we have a quorum. >>commissioner higgins: did you get me? Thank you . >>chair: stand for the prayer led by michelle lord at the invocation of oliver gilbert and the pledge to follow by commissioner cohen higgins. >> thank you for this opportunity, if you would all please bow your heads for a word of prayer. We come before you with hearts full of gratitude reverence and sovereignty for your guidance within our city and community, region and our nation. We thank you as we lift up the board of county commissioners hear of miami-dade county including our mayor daniela levine cava who continues to grieve her loss yet stands valiantly as a leader. To our CHAIRMAN, vice mayor and all our commissioners father we thank you their dedication leadership and willingness to serve during these times of political change and even uncertainty and strong. We acknowledge governing is no easy task and it requires alignment, unity and wisdom even amidst different opinions that we thank you lord that you continue to help our leaders to discern, to encourage one another, to instill justice potential and motivation that they want with equity and equality with well-being, that they think of tese residents within our community lord we uphold, we extend our gratitude for those that serve and work with them tirelessly behind the scenes helping to improve, to implement policies, to uphold vision, to drive for this community, GOD we thank you or granting strength and encouragement as they carry out their responsibilities. Amidst all these uncertainties we trust in your power to bring clarity and to bring peace. Help us and our leaders to work together in harmony respecting one another's perspectives while pursuing the common goal and the common good. Your divine wisdom and alignment within our hearts gives us peace and assurance and father we thank you for progressiveness and prosperity for all. It is in your son's name that we pray and we say amen. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under GOD indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >>chair: good morning. Mdm. Attorney, can we move into reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard? Yes the one reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard is now open. When I call your name stay in the item you're speaking on, name and address and you will have two minutes to. I have quite a few speakers signed up so I will make the announcement very loud and clear that you are to speak on the item that you signed up to speak for. You are to speak on the item that you signed up to speak for. If you are speaking on other items you will be cut off. Your microphone will be cut off if you begin to speak on items outside of what you signed up to speak for. We have sharon frazier, kenneth brown please line u. Sharon frazier, kenneth brown, tatyana silva, lizette rodriguez, [Reading names] And you are actually, the amount of people signed up you will have one minute to speak . >>speaker: you are doing all of it on us? You are doing and oliver on us? >>chair: I am doing anthony rodriguez on us. You can start. >>speaker: thank you and happy new year to everyone. My heart goes out to you, last year this time I lost my mom too. I was going to say this, just commissioner please support the cbo is doing work in your community. Address. >>speaker: sharon frazier stevens, thank you miami florida. Thank you for putting the money where it belongs. While you guys were out on your sabbatical I got several calls about helping women with children in cause. First I want to say this quick to the mayor, to one who bears the sweetest name who adds luster to the same, who shares my joys, cheers when I'm sad, the greatest friend I ever had, long life to her for there is no other that can take the place of my dearest mother. GOD bless you and GOD give you peace and strength. >>speaker: happy holidays to everyone in a respectful place. The word is that speaking on the area that they're trying to do which is located at the mac, the commissioner said they were bringing housing and better jobs to the community. >>chair: name and address please . >>speaker: kenneth brown. Kenneth brown, one 2300 nw. 17th avenue but they had started the clock again. Okay, said they were going to bring jobs, those things have not manifested themselves. The commission the only thing brought to our community was disruption, destruction and displays and headaches of the people that live in that area. Those people have long lived their lives in the community and now this community this county now has been uprooted by a group of people that have no meaning . >>chair: this is not the item, where are you going with this because this is not 1119, you signed up to speak on 11 819 . >>speaker: two items. >>chair: on one item, you signed up to speak on one item, you are not speaking about the item. >>speaker: but I signed up for two . >>chair: you signed up for one, 11 819, either way you're not speaking on any item. Go ahead . >>speaker: the item which was 11a19 that it was brought down as an order and I am really for that item. That particular item, I wnt to say I am with it and thank you so much. >>speaker: [Speaking spanish] >>translator: miami international airport and item of hope for south florida is facing an infrastructure crisis due to the negligence of its leadership. >>speaker: [Speaking spanish] >>translator: a building essential for operations suffers from deterioration including updated electrical systems that are over 50 years old. >>speaker: [Speaking spanish] >>translator: non-operational generators come from this equipment . >>speaker: [Speaking spanish] >>translator: this neglect endangers millions of passengers and endangers costs . >>chair: you sign up as the on an airport item? >> the responsibility falls on ralph and his team. >>translator: who oversees the airport project on the county commission. >>speaker: [Speaking spanish] >>chair: thank you . >>speaker: is two minutes. >>chair: I don't think you needed to translate that part. Go ahead, name and address for the record, you have one minute. >>speaker: I live at 475 I live at 475 harbor DR., key biscayne. Good morning mme. Mayor daniela levine cava, vice chair mcghee and residents of miami-dade county. My name is tatyana silva and I represent the baking counsel or to express our support for project hometown. That is item 3 b2. Project hometown will have a tremendous impact. It is a national headquarters consolidation with $450 million in capital investment that will be employed into building up new offices. This will result in the creation of 525 jobs in miami-dade county. The project will also be retaining 1100 existing jobs. The average salary will be $135,000. In addition to the net incremental tax revenue for miami-dade county both $9.8 billion the project will inject $70.8 million in annual wages into the economy and create 2172 indirect jobs. This will be an impactful project and I appreciate the leadership of our mayor, sponsorship of commissioner cabrera and the leadership of this community . >> point of order first, what rule is in place that the number of citizens who show up to speak determines 2023. >>chair: is at the chair's discretion. >>speaker: you have shown your face and I am dismayed, first of all MR. Mohammed, I am 383 on discretionary funds. I am truly saddened you only want to hear a minute of my time given what I have come to speak on to that you put all these children and all these other people who come here under duress and I think that is a crime. So what I would do with my one minute that I have is the dress someone who's not here in reference to the use of discretionary funds and what I mean by that is if we're going to make a decision on discretionary funds we need to start looking at the least, the lost and the left out. Our foster care population and a reference to gun violence. It's quite a shame you all were sent information from this brother that's been to the white house five times because of his expertise, three testimonies before congressional hearing and I am sitting on 12 commissioner kionne hardemon in reference to leroy jones. >>chair: do not address commissioners. >>speaker: it's a point of order and it is my time and shame on all of you. >>chair: thank you so much. Sergeants,... Go-ahead search. >>speaker: good morning. You MAY wonder if healing generational trauma... >>chair: name and address. >>speaker: 321 thomas blvd., hollywood, fl. You MAY wonder if healing generational trauma saves lives or if resources could be used elsewhere. Healing the route canges everything. I understand those concerns because it is valid. Trauma is invaluable but its impact is not. It fuels mental health crisis is that devastate communities. Addressing these issues on the surface will break the cycle, healing the root will. When we help individuals release the inherited pain and collect with their families we create a ripple effect of change. Families begin to heal and communities begin to grow together. Through our work with the circle of brotherhood we've seen transformation, men and women who carry the weight of unresolved trauma are the leaders of resilience fostering connection rather than disconnection. This isn't about compassion, it's about saving lives. Trauma is the silent driver of the issues we spent billions fighting each year. Investing in healing is the root or it is not only a smarter use of resources but a way to create lasting change. The circle of brotherhood has proven this leadership as possible and it sparks all across our community. >>chair: thank you MR. Acosta and you might be recognized but just a point to make, if commissioners are called out my name and threats are made you will be escorted out of this chamber ir sergeant at arms and threats on this chamber are taken very seriously. Your name and address mail. >>speaker: my name is marika tompkins, 5120 north 24th avenue here for item 3a3 and circle of brotherhood has reached out to every city of miami county, miami gardens and south dade commissioner and mayor. Commissioners and mayors. And in the event of that we received one reply and that was an idividual in opa locka to discuss the us surgeon general declaration of gun violence as a health epidemic. And circle of brotherhood as we come here today I would like to inform everyone our executive director is doing everything in his power to make sure our under deserved youth, foster youth have enough funding where we are under resourced. Everything that brother lal has done visiting the white house on his expertise of gun violence, gun violence prevention and crime prevention has gone unrecognized and we are requesting more funding from the provisional funds, thank you . >>chair: thank you, sir. >>speaker: mark fulton, 95 north e. 71st st. And I am a peacemaker with the circle of brotherhood and after the death of my nephew trey von martin I became an advocate for gun violence. In that time I came in contact with the circle of brotherhood in these high-risk areas. They gave us an opportunity to help mentor young youth but our programs are underfunded. We we do our workshops, we do it by training of basketball camps which are all underfunded. I am asking the board if it's possible to have peace makers at every community here in miami-dade from county line road to exit 1. Thank you. >>chair: thank you. Good morning chair, if I MAY request an additional minute. >>chair: unfortunately I cannot do that. >>speaker: speaking on 3a6, 3a7 and 3a8. I stand away from my teaching assignment. >>chair: your address. >>speaker: 142nd pl., miami, fl. Away from my usual assignment not for pay but because tis matter is urgent and he goes to my heart you are minority youth are in grave danger beyond the ongoing housing issues that persist they are in desperate need of restoration. They need love, our families are yearning for restoration. To be seen and to be heard and to feel supported . I come to you today to call each of you to partner with the circle of brotherhood and citrus family network and supporting initiatives aimed at uplifting families and our community. I stand before you as a product of love and support him being a homeless orphan in miami gardens to becoming a child and well-being advocate. I know what firsthand what loving committee can community can do and I request each of you engage with me outside of this so that we can come up with other solutions to deal with some of the problems that persist among our youth in foster care. >>chair: thank you for respectfully asking. >>speaker: my name is shanika pierce, 5120 nw. 24th avenue here today to speak on discretionary funding item number 250030. I am here today as a representative for the circle of brotherhood. I have a dual position as a peacemaker and coordinator for the wellness circle and then the award recipient for the health foundation of south florida inspiring women of health and peace and I am here to be a voice for our foster care kids who we provide a safe place to have experienced tax trafficking, sexual abuse, physical assault and many other traumas our youth is experiencing on an everyday basis. The circle of brotherhood has provided so many resources to our foster care youth that support them during the time they need it the most and I am here today to test more foster care youth across south miami to miami gardens need these services during the most critical times of their lives so we can use this funding to under resourced programs like the circle of brotherhood for the girls, thank you. >>chair: thank you so much. We have from this first batch ... [Reading names] Not here? All right, the next batch if you could be ready when your name is called, ernest hardy, lamar Mcnair, olivia easton, terrence williams,... [Reading names] >>speaker: good morning, lamar Mcnair, 5120 nw. 24th st. >>speaker: good morning, lamar Mcnair, 5120 nw. 24th st. I am a member of the circle of brotherhood, I am also a peacemaker. Today I come with item 3a3, discretionary funds and I am here to bring in reference we are public safety workers. We are outreach street workers and we are here for the community. We are pillars for the community. We are here to stop gun violence and try to stop kids from getting in trouble and going to jail and stuff like that but we are bringing peace to the community and hlping these kids see futures that they didn't have before and we are under funds but what we need to do for our community, is to change the community and change our self. We are products of the good people we need to be and we need people like us in our neighborhood, the peacemakers. >>chair: can I have your name and address one time. >>speaker: lamar Mcnair, 24th st. >>speaker: ernest hardy, 5120 nw. 24th avenue speaking on 2530 discretionary funds. First first off I'd like to say I grew up with four brothers and all five of us have been shot, three of us have been in prison. I have two brothers that's been dead, I've been paralyzed for 16 years and I want to say through the circle of brotherhood I am able to go inside the jail, I wake up in the courthouse or in the community for my family and my community so I want to say we need more funding so we can have more brothers like myself and my family members to come out and produce and protect all that we're trying to do. We need help with our child services. We cannot do more. It's going to be caos without more funding. We need more help and what I want you to know is these, please elevate us and help us continue to fight and continue to keep our boots on the ground. They fired shots just to have me come back and do this. >>speaker: good day everyone, olivia easton, address is 2480 nw. 48th st., speaking on item 2500 b 30. Maker and adult facilitator with the wellness circle at the circle of brotherhood. JULY 9 and 11-year-old was accidentally shot by her nine-year-old brother in overtown and in that moment all I could offer was my prayers, condolences and a gun lock. This tragedy made me wonder what if I had the resources to provide our children with safe positive activities especially during the summer. Our recreational parks are overcrowded and spots are limited and too often our children are left with nothing to do. On that day a mother lost her child and watched as her son in his citizens became part of a heartbreaking accident. We are constantly struggling to provide and provide resources for these families. The least and the left out. Please fund this organization. Fund this work so we can have more peacemakers in our community. >>vice chair: I appreciate you, next. >>speaker: I don't have a name, I have an appellation, anthony williams baker. I don't have an address, also domiciled 2110, also domiciled 2110 nw. 44th st. >>vice chair: thank you . >>speaker: I am here for item 3a3, allocation of funds and I have a qestion to the panel . >>vice chair: that there will not be answers but this is an opportunity for you to put your issues on the record. >>speaker: my question is related to the reason I'm here which is gun violence intervention and I wanted to ask do you have a gun violence professional or interventionist on his panel? I just wanted to highlight that as a peacemaker under the circle of brotherhood my executive director brother mohammed is in fact a gun violence professional and has accolades to prove thus. Therefore I humbly request that you guys really give some consideration to the community woes . >>vice chair: thank you sir, thank you so much. Let me say this quickly because it appears there are quite a few people to speak in reference to appropriations read the item you are coming up here on is not I direct attack on any of the commissioners. Basically you are here using this item in order for you to have an opportunity to speak at the podium so what you are doing is you are attaching your grievances or your concerns to an item that was sponsored by a particular commissioner. What you are doing is not per se bad mouthing or calling out a particular commissioner, it's just that you are using this item to get your words and your views and your concerns onto the record. I respect that but what I'm not going to respect or tolerate is for anyone to use this opportunity to diminish the reputation credibility of any one of my colleagues for purposes of bringing forth your piece on this record so let's move forward, what is your name? >> albert campbell, 5120, 5120 nw. 24th avenue I have been tasked with saving our babies. I mean, young boys. Boys and I look at them in the back of my mind I've got a loop of those young brothers who fell through the cracks that are now young maggots for the graveyard. So we are here to appropriate funds to help us raise our babies. And also we have implemented the safe passage program. Safe passage so our children can get from the transportation to the school and from the school back to their transportation. There are some of our brothers that they have to walk to get to school and it seems like a landmine. When they get to school they can't deactivate themselves because there is a war zone and you wonder why children think they are dead. >>vice chair: thank you so much. Next please. >>speaker: peace and blessings everyone, my name is david rober, one of the cofounders of an organization all the greenhaven project and I work with save the kids from incarceration and I on a peacemaker with the circle of brotherhood. My address is 5120 nw. 24th ave., miami, fl and I am here to seak on the item 2500-30. I am asking as a fellow member of this community, a fellow member of this organization that we all unite and work together for the common good of all of our communities because in miami-dade unfortunately there is a lot happening within our neighborhoods and we are being completely neglected. I see it every day in the neighborhoods that we occupy and that we patrol along with metro dade police. And it's not okay. There's a lot happening. Once again we are being completely neglected and I ask that this committee do right by the community, thank you. >>vice chair: thank you so much . >>speaker: desiree robinson and my address is 5120 nw. 24th avenue miami, fl 33142. And I am a success coach at the circle of brotherhood where I get to serve the least, the lost and the left behind in the foster care system. I get to experience some of the most brilliant students. They have so much things to offer. However they are looked at as sometimes I've had one of them tell me she feels like a property. Of the state. And not as a human being. And we really really need the sources to help these students and children thrive and not live in survival mode. >>chair: thank you so much. >>speaker: kimberly mohammed, I am also a youth success coach with the circle of brotherhood, my address is 5120 northwest coach with the circle of brotherhood, my address is 5120 nw. 4th avenue area I'm here to speak on the discretionary funds as well. I work with our youth in high schools from miami gardens all the way down to florida city. The children in foster care. The children that are you know, our children that are really the least recognized in foster care and underserved. Those children aging out of foster care to be able to povide them with more resources, more opportunities, just letting them know somebody cares about them, but they are loved, that they are considered as a valuable part of our community and not just being shuffled around and housed. So many times they have somewhere, unfortunately some don't have somewhere to stay but those that are housed it's like okay, at least they are housed but there's so much more than is needed then that so we ask that these discretionary funds be given through the circle of brotherhood so we can provide those needed services. >>chair: thank you so much, sir . >>speaker: wherever you are in my name is josc nw. 24th avenue and I too am here to speak on the topic of discretionary funds. I serve as a wellness coach for the circle of brotherhood and the reason why that's important is because last year we had our first health and wealth summercamp. We had hundreds of applications that came in for our summer camp. However because of being under resourced as in the work we do we were only able to take our first 11. Even though thank you commissioner mcghee for declaring the purpose of how we are using this opportunity to voice our need in our community because the surgeon general has declared gun violence and epidemic and a public health crisis in the united states of america and there's no one that has the track record, that has examples like the circle of brotherhood in that work and we are asking you to please to consider in your discretionary funding around dade county to help us do more with what we have. >>vice chair: thank you so much. >>speaker: good morning mme. Mayor, my condolences to you and your family. My name is darrell thomas, coley health and wellness coordinator of the circle of brotherhood. I've been in the health and fitness industry for over 25 years between 3a3 3a7 concerning the discretionary funds. In our black and brown communities now we have the highest rate of acute and chronic diseases also mental health diseases. We need more resourcing. We are underfunded right now, underfunded and undermanned. We have to deal with this crisis. It does take a village to raise our children but it also takes a village to keep us together. Not in some municipalities, and all our municipalities. I am right now mentoring a young man many of you all know that is a victim of violence. Senior, he did a lot in his community. Right now his son is dealing with his passing and I am mentoring that young man right now so we need more funding and resourcing for the circle of brotherhood to continue to do our work, thank you. >>vice chair: thank you. >>speaker: we all agree for you, my name is daniel, 5120 nw. 24th avenue >>speaker: we all agree for you, my name is daniel, 5120 nw. 24th avenue I am a member and employee of the circle of brotherhood, I serve as job developer working with the business community to get our returning citizens access to employment. We all have to realize that folks who have been incarcerated are coming back to serve and live in our communities. We need as much resources as we can to make sure that people are not going back into the system. We currently go into areas from florida city all the way to pokey visiting institutions. Showing people that there's hope for when they come home. In addition working with the business community to get them to uderstand it is in their best benefit to employee people who are coming home and getting a second chance though we are asking with your discretionary funds that you consider the circle of brotherhood and its mission. Thank you so much. >> thank you for your testimony, state your name and address. >>speaker: 50120 northwest >>speaker: 50120 nw. 24th avenue my name is maura jones and I'm here as a ninth grader here in miami dade here as a proud member of the circle of brotherhood, an organization that plays a vital role in our community are you like me to read the circle of brotherhood is dedicated to uplifting young people and empowering them to become leaders through mentorship and support. We want to break down barriers and create opportunities for personal and educational growth. We engage in workshops that encourage life skills, leadership development and community service helping us to navigate challenges better. Resilience. >>commissioner cohen higgins: thank you MISS Jones, you did a wonderful job. I will call a few additional names, line up at the podium. [Reading names] Please line up at the podium in that order. Name and address in one minute. >>speaker: . >>speaker: I want to start by saying thank you for giving us the opportunity to continue to listen to the cries of the community. I want to ask one question, what does it mean for miami to be the most innovative city holistically? I've had the opportunity to work in the public health research space as well as the block chain governmental consulting space area and I am passionate about health and ai innovation and had the privilege to work alongside the circle of brotherhood as the co-lead for the wellness department. I have alongside of my team w've been able to bring innovation to the city to give the opportunity for at risk communities to learn about technological innovations , more specifically to our students about ai technology and prompting financial literacy as well as that health , public health , mental health. I just urge you guys to take a deeper look at health and tech conditions. >>commissioner cohen higgins: thank you MISS Carter, MS. Kane. >>speaker: address is 5120 nw. 24th avenue I am the reentry code for circle of brotherhood serving the female incarcerated population. From state prisons to work release having service over 500 women to bring about transformation providing additional funding will allow circle of brotherhood to expand our services for outreach and provide necessary services which are needed for rehabilitation. Women are in need of reentry cultures as myself with lived experience and being under resourced prevents many from three true rehabilitation, recidivism and ongoing services. >>commissioner cohen higgins: thank you MR. Payne, MISS Quintana. >>speaker: nw. 24th ave., miami, fl 33142. I'm speaking on the discretionary fnding and the current housing needs that we service. I'm employed by the circle of brotherhood as the only public housing advocate serving those that need it the most. I have single-handedly serviced over 100 families. Approximately 70% of in case are homeless. They are in need of shelter, in need of hot plates of food, places to shower, mental health, substance abuse services, adult and youth mentorships, along with many other services we have and continue to struggle to be able to provide de to lack of funding. And being under resourced. Our community is facing an unprecedented housing crisis as you know. The down-to-earth gentrification displacements of housing residents and ongoing pandemic has left most of our residents on the brink of homelessness. Families are struggling to keep a roof over their heads. >>commissioner cohen higgins: thank you for your testimony, MISS Folding your recognized. >>speaker: sabrina fulton, nw. 24th avenue circle of brotherhood. I want to say that it's a tragedy that I have experienced, I challenge you all to look deep in your heart in your district to do more for the community. I know you're probably thinking you are doing a lot but there's a lot that's needed so there is a lot that's required will I want to challenge you on that issue. I wear this purple flower in solidarity with other mothers who have lost a child to senseless gun violence and want you to make sure you are using your discretionary funds and think about your kids, think about your family members because it's important. Our children matter and I want to make that point to you all, thank you. >>commissioner cohen higgins: thank you for your testimony. >>speaker: keith biggins, nw. 24th avenue and I'm a member of the circle of brotherhood and also a collaborator employed by our reentry coach and my job is to take care of the youth that go to the farm there. I'm in the jails with them, I met their homes from homestead to broward county and when I go there I received calls from parents, women crying out about their kids that want to lighten the load and take the pressure off. We need resources, we need more or my team. Commissioner gilbert can bear witness for years if I had a problem he told me to go to protocol and give me a meeting to see him to try to better our community. The worst thing I want him GOD for bid is someone on the county, child grandchild niece or nephew need our services and we can provide. All we need is the funds to keep this going. We transform their lives, changing their mind and changing the way they think and I hope and pray you all give us consideration to give us the funding we need to keep this work going. >>commissioner cohen higgins: thank you for your testimony, approached the podium as I call your name in this order. Kaylee kenny, lamont minton. [Speaking names] Good morning, you are recognized . >>speaker: everett perry, address of 5120 nw. 24th avenue circle of brotherhood standing to talk about the great work in the circle of brotherhood is doing in the community, how they help lives of the youth and the family in our community . I'm asking you provided more funding to do the great work they are doing though that more lives are transformed. Thank you. >>commissioner cohen higgins: thank you for your testimony MR. Perry, your recognized . >>speaker: 5120 nw. 24th avenue here to speak on the item of the discretionary funds and I would like to say the work the circle of brotherhood has been putting in for years is no secret and it's not a secret and I'm not talking about a secret to miami, it is not a secret to the world. Under the leadership of brother lao mohammed we have been recognized by the white house on several occasions for the work we are doing in your county. This is going to be a historic story that is going to be cold for generations of the lives being changed through the circle of brotherhood but when that story is told will our county be mentioned in the story for supporting some of the greatest work that has been done with underprivileged youth, the ones that are not able that they say cnnot be reached ? It's good to help the a and b students but what are you doing for those that are dropping out, what are you doing for those that are going to prison and running from bullets every day ? Circle of brotherhood, organizations like ours reach that population if you truly care. Support us, appreciate it. >>commissioner cohen higgins: name and address, you will have one minute. >>speaker: 5140 nw. 24th avenue I'm speaking as a 15-year-old ninth grader who has lost a family member due to gun violence. I've witnessed then change lives. All I ask is you provide them with more funding to continue to make the community great, thank you. >>commissioner cohen higgins: thank you MS. Kelly, great job. >>speaker: good morning all commissioners and leaders, suzanne kennedy, my address is 18755 nw. 62nd st., hialeah, fl. I am the funder of bullets for life and for the last nine years bullets for life has stood on the front lines bringing life to our communities through our workshop. We collected 50,000 bullets, each one I'm sorry that could have caused a tragedy and turn them into a symbol of hope. Our youth take these bullets and repurpose them into jewelry and walk away saying I saved her life. We stand shoulder to shoulder with boots on the ground organizations like the circle of brotherhood, tirelessly working in our underserved communities. Despite the impact we make we remain underfunded. This is more than a movement, it's a mission to save lives and rewrite the narrative for our children area we ask you to partner with us creating a future where our youth to his creativity over violence, hope over despair and delight over loss. Thank you for considering this urgent need to invest in our mission. Together we can save more lives . >>vice chair: thank you so much. >>speaker: thomas james. I live at 5120 I live at 5120 nw. 24th avenue and I'm speaking on the discretionary funding. I served 32 years in prison for a crime I did not commit. In 2022 APRIL 27 to be exact I was exonerated. Since that time I have been with the circle of brotherhood. I am also an employee of the circle of brotherhood, I serve as justice advocate. I worked with hundreds and hundreds of men and young kids and the boys that need this service. As the justice advocate I don't only advocate for people who have been served or are dealing with an injustice, I also represent the circle of brotherhood and I say to you it will be a travesty and an injustice if we continue to go unfunded . >>vice chair: thank you MR. James. Let me say this quickly. MR. James brought up in fact he was exonerated for a crime he didn't commit and in full fairness and openness met on attorney I was one of the attorneys who helped get MR. James exonerated so I want to put that on the record to make sure there's no conflict but thank you MR. James. >>chair: thank you, you MAY go . >>speaker: brandon jones, address 5120 nw. 24th avenue and before I start I want to give my heartfelt sentiments to our mayor and know that you have our love and support and prayers so I do want to remind everyone funds are like seeds. They can be used to grow something great. If they are planted in good soil. Again, my name is brandon jones and I serve as lead youth successful for the circle of brotherhood and I stand before you to discuss a very matter. I am here to advocate for not only the circle of brotherhood of the youth access coach department which does vital work in the community and in our county we face an undesirable challenge. The youth will require direct care and services for the most often hardest to reach. We focus our efforts on young individuals in foster care, those involved with the department of juvenile justice and students in title I schools and we are asking you help us serve the community by making sure funds that are discretionary can be used for the purpose they are given to continue to serve. >>chair: that is all of the speakers we have signed up. Missed? Go ahead. State your name and address. >>speaker: I don't want know what you don't have my name, I signed up . >>chair: I went through the list, you are not on the list. I will allow you to speak but one, to people. Not everybody, because you're not on the list . >>speaker: MR. Chair, I don't know why I am not on the list. But it's unfair for you to say you are going to let one or two people with me speak to all of us signed up . >>chair: it's my mistake, no one speaks. You're not on the list, I was trying to do the right thing. No good deed goes unpunished. >>speaker: I don't know why I am not on the list but I signed up. Go downstairs . >>chair: agenda coordinators confirm because I have a full list, we've gone through the list. No good deed goes unpunished. What is your name? Maybe you are signed up on public hearing. Not now. Okay, so that comes later . We have a public hearing list? It is coming? >>speaker: MR. Chair if you could indulge me for a minute. The item I was going to speak on my understanding when I went downstairs both of them were pulled. You left me a dilemma, it was a housing issue I was going to speak on the one I'm going to have you sidebar with our coordination team to make sure you've got a piece on the item and you are able to speak in public hearing, can we confirm they are signed up? Okay, so that comes later. You will have an opportunity to speak, it's not that you were skipped, you are in public hearing. It is a different list . >>speaker: let me say this MR. Chair, the items we were signed up to speak on was removed. >>chair: I have no item what you signed up to. >>vice chair: but they will tell you so that way if you have to go you don't have to say and if you want to state and speak you make him understand? >>speaker: MR. Chair indulge me please. >>chair: I'm not indulging I am indulging you but I'm sure this communication is. >>speaker: if I can get my one minute we will be done. That's all. >>chair: the answer is no. I'm telling you I'm giving you the courtesy that we're going to sidebar, allow you to speak when the time comes and you're not wanting to do that. I am confused. >>chair: nine I was saying since I was up here, I signed up, I don't know why they have me to sign up but since I am here I am asking you... >>chair: listen to me a second. They have now confirmed you are signed up to speak. On 5 a. You will be able to speak. You're not being denied the opportunity to speak. You will have the opportunity to speak, not at this time. There is an order of which we take this agenda, it is not at this time. >>speaker: let me be frank with you MR. Chair. Item, I don't know why. It is on the agenda but they said we couldn't speak on it even though it is on the agenda, it was called. >>chair: you are able to speak, I will grant you the opportunity to speak, I give you my word you will have the opportunity to speak. Reasonable opportunity is now officially closed. You're not on the list. You are probably on the secondary list. Guys, can somebody sidebar with them because we need to continue this meeting. Met an attorney can we set the agenda? >>county attorney: yes MR. Chair, we have preliminary matters. Item 2b2, senator garcia is adding this item to the pull list, that is item 2b2. 8m2, commissioner regalado and commissioner cabrera are adding this item to the pull list. 8n4, commissioner regalado adds this item to the pull list. 8o1, commissioner brmudez is adding this item to the pull list. 8o4, commissioner bermudez as the item to the pull list. 8p5, senator garcia at the item to the pull list. 11a7 and 11a7 substitute commissioner garcia adding this item to the pull list. 11a10, commissioner gilbert adds this item to the pull list. 11a11, commissioner regalado and commissioner bermudez add this iem to the pull list. 11a19, commissioner gilbert is adding the item to the pull list. Item 14a3, commissioner gilbert is pulling this item and items 14a5 I added to the pull list and 15b1, commissioner higgins is adding this to the pull list. I have a request for cosponsorship, 4e, commissioner gonzales. 7a commissioner garcia. 8g2, commissioner steinberg and commissioner bastien. 8h1 senator garcia. Commissioner steinberg. 11a2 commissioner gonzales. 11a3 commissioner gonzales and bastien. 11a4 commissioner gonzales and cohen higgins. 11a5 commissioner steinberg. 11a9 commissioner bastien. Senator garcia and cabrera. 11a13 senator garcia and gonzales, commissioner cabrera. 11a17 senator garcia and commissioner gonzales. 11a19 commissioners garcia and cabrera and 14a4 commissioner cabrera. Items will be listed on the final printed agenda with additions deferrals withdrawals and the scriveners errors noted in the memorandum . The commission will approve all the items by a single vote in the agenda except ordinances for first reading, public hearings, ordinances for second freedom, item 8p4 which must be voted on separately and is not on your pull list and the following pull list items. Item 2 b2, 8 and two, 8o1 804 , 11a7, 11a11 11a19, 14a2 is the first reading, 14a3 and 15b1, a motion to set the agenda is in order. >>chair: seconded by the vice chair, any additional items being polled? All in favor signify by saying aye. Show the agenda set. You are recognized. Polled 14a1 and . >>chair: moved by commissioner higgins, seconded by commissioner regalado. Do we need a voice vote or all in favor signify by saying aye. Show those three items past. It was three right? Attorney should we move into first reading items? >>chair: we do have one aviation item which is 8p4. >>commissioner higgins: I will move that one. >>chair: moved by commissione