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Commissioner
Bruno A. Barreiro
Bruno@miamidade.gov
Loreta M. Sanchez
Chief of Staff
Loms@miamidade.gov
Marlene Avalo-Gonzalez
Legislative Aide
Avalo@miamidade.gov
Lourdes N. Cortes
Scheduling Secretary
Lour@miamidade.gov
Elizabeth Tejera
Constituent Services Aide
Ext@miamidade.gov
Amarylys Diaz
Constituent Services Aide
Amdiaz@miamidade.gov
Christie Toledo-Fernandez
Aide to Commissioner
Toledo@miamidade.gov
Maurice R. Hernandez
Communications Aide
MRH@miamidade.gov
Alice Gonzalez
Constituent Outreach Aide
Aliceg@miamidade.gov
Maria Elena Sanchez
Receptionist
Mes2@miamidade.gov
Manolo Fernandez-Cano
Commission Aide
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Dear Neighbor,
As September rolls around, we are reminded of the destructive effects of our environment as we faced the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey which hit Texas and Louisiana two weeks ago, leaving 43 dead, thousands injured, and countless homeless. Now we must brace ourselves for Hurricane Irma, a powerful Category 5 storm that is currently threatening the Caribbean islands and
possibly
hit South Florida as early as this weekend.
As a result, Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a State of Emergency for all of Florida's 67 counties late Monday evening, allowing for federal, state and local governments ample time to begin to prepare for any eventuality. The sheer size of this powerful storm will have an impact on South Florida, regardless of its trajectory. This is why if you do not yet have a Hurricane plan in place, the time to properly prepare for this storm
IS NOW
.
September is also the time of the year when the County Commission deliberates and adopts the annual budget for the coming fiscal year which begins on October 1st. I welcome
all comments and suggestions you may have regarding the proposed budget, and look forward to a lively budget process.
In the column to your left, you will find my contact information, as well as that of my Commission staff. Should you have an issue with the County, please do not hesitate to contact me, as well as the members of my staff who will be delighted to assist you with your concerns. For your convenience, you can also scroll down to the end of this newsletter to find the locations of my
Main Office
and my
Miami Beach District Office
.
I invite you to share this newsletter with your family, coworkers and friends to keep them abreast of what's happening in their community. And, please allow me to remind you that should you have any comments, ideas, or concerns, do not hesitate to contact me.
I am at your service!
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On behalf of myself, my family and my Commission staff, it is my hope that all our dedicated residents who toil the earth, work our factories, patrol our streets, heal us when we are sick, man our shops and take the necessary risks to make our nation and our world a much better place, spent a peaceful and joyful
Labor Day Weekend
in the company of close friends and family.
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Our nation was changed forever on that fateful day in September 16 years ago, but in its aftermath it reminded us that
"the price of Freedom is eternal vigilance."
This
Patriot's Day
, it is my hope that we reflect on the meaning of this day and vow never to forget and honor the loved and the lost.
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Mayor's Proposed Budget for FY 2017-2018
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Due to Hurricane preparations, the 1st of 2 public Commission hearings on the Mayor's proposed Budget for
FY 2017-2018
scheduled for
September 7th at 5:00 pm
has been
postponed
until further notice. Please stay tuned to our social media outlets for updates as circumstances warrant.
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The time to Prepare for Hurricane Irma is NOW
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Hurricane Irma is a most powerful Category 5 storm with sustained winds of over 180 MPH. It is presently barreling through the Caribbean islands and is expected to have a significant effect on all of South Florida as early as this weekend.
If you do not have a Hurricane Plan yet in place, I strongly urge you to download and share
Miami-Dade County's 2017 Hurricane Guide
by clicking on the icon and prepare accordingly before the storm hits. Please remember that emergency services will not be able to help you and your family for at least
3 days
after
a Hurricane hits. So proper preparation is key to assuring you and your family have the essential materials necessary to withstand this and any powerful storm.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in cooperation with the National Weather Service (NWS), are Miami-Dade County's official federal governmental entities tasked with tracking and providing the most accurate, up-to-the-minute updates on Hurricane Irma. Please click on the agency logos so you may track the path of this powerful storm. Additionally, the
Miami-Dade County Office of Emergency Management
is an invaluable resource for keeping you informed on all storm situations as they happen locally. Please refer to these 3 essential sites should the storm hit South Florida.
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Price Gouging is Illegal and will be Enforced
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During times of local and national distress, there are individuals who take advantage of stressful situations in order to make a quick-buck at our fellow-resident's expense. The practice of price gauging has always been illegal, but in times of natural disasters, its more common. The Miami-Dade County Police Department has established a
HOTLINE
for the purposes of reporting price gouging for investigation.
Always be vigilant and please report
any and all irregularities by calling
1-866-966-7226
. For additional information, please click on the Miami-Dade County Police icon for additional information.
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American Red Cross Needs Your Help for Hurricane Victims
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Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas coast as a Category 4 storm late Friday evening, devastating major metropolitan and rural areas of the state. This monster of a storm, so far, has left in its wake 43 confirmed deaths, thousands injured, and countless homeless. And if that weren't enough Harvey returned as a Tropical Storm, striking the state of Louisiana, making it one of the most destructive storms in American history.
Although federal, state and local governments throughout the Union are responding as best they can to the aftermath of this natural disaster, resources are needed to help the most vulnerable and hardest hit.
This is where you come in
. I strongly urge you to click on the
American Red Cross
logo and make the most generous contribution you can afford in order to help this most respected humanitarian organization meet its mission to help those in need during this most desperate time.
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"Miami Streets for People" Makes its Debut!
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The "Miami Streets for People" initiative along SE/SW 1st Street is a 1-year pilot project to repurpose the SE/SW 1st Street corridor between SW 2nd Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard into a multimodal street that provides transit priority and better accommodates all street users, including cyclists and pedestrians, in a safe and comfortable manner. About 5,500 vehicles travel this corridor daily, while 6,500 people are picked-up or dropped off by bus. With your help, we can make streets in Downtown Miami more accessible and safe for every one.
This project has been a collaborative effort between the Miami Downtown Development Authority, Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works, and the City of Miami, with the support of community partners such as the Health Foundation of South Florida, The Miami Foundation, and NEAT Streets Miami. For more information about this important initiative, please click on the informative
graphic below
.
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DBPR to Open Condo Affairs Office in Miami-Dade County
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The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) is scheduled to open the first
Condo Affairs Office
in Miami-Dade County sometime in September. This office was established as a result of passage of comprehensive reform regulations to existing Condominium Association laws.
In March of this year, I sponsored a
Resolution
urging the Florida Legislature to strengthen existing condominium association laws to prevent rampant fraud and malfeasance, as well as adding additional powers to the Department to investigate and enforce violations. Most of the more than 1.5 million condominium units in Florida are located in Miami-Dade, which is also the county in which most condo-related complaints are reported.
Thankfully, the Legislature passed much needed bipartisan reforms during its last session earlier this year which seeks to correct such offenses by adding criminal penalties for certain actions, such as electoral fraud in associations and manipulation of information, among other measures. Once opened to the public, employees of the new
Condo Affairs Office
will deal with complaints from civil condominium associations and refer alleged crimes to the proper authorities for prosecution.
Please stay tuned to my social media updates for additional information on when this new office will open to the general public.
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Due to the uncertain effects of Hurricane Irma,
"Around Town" Section will not be included in this month's edition. Please stay tuned to our Social Media outlets for any updates.
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We Love to Hear from You!
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Main Office
1454 SW 1st Street
Suite 130
Miami, FL 33135
(305) 643-8525
Miami Beach District Office
1700 Convention Center Drive
1st Floor
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 673-7743
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