Motivated by You. Delivering for You. Committed to You.
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Dear Friends of District 8,
April is Earth Month! It’s that perfect time of year to
enjoy the great outdoors and to help conserve nature. There are many opportunities to volunteer locally. I hope you will join me at
Baynanza, the annual Biscayne Bay cleanup day on April 21, and at
National Rebuilding Day on April 28, when we will work to improve homes and neighborhoods in Leisure City. See details and be sure to
pre-register to volunteer.
A wonderful way to support Mother Earth is by taking care of our precious parks.
I am incredibly fortunate to represent a district that encompasses so many beautiful parks as they are vital to a healthy and vibrant community.
Please read below to
learn about our recent park improvements and more amenities coming soon. Also, in April you may
vote for your favorite local park to receive $20,000 in national grant funding.
It’s imperative that we all do our part to protect our planet: our ground, our air, and perhaps above all in tropical Miami-Dade, our water. Learn more in this newsletter edition about my efforts to
continue to serve as your Water Warrior.
Yours for an vibrant District 8,
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Water is a precious resource and even our wastewater has critical purpose. On April 10 the Board of County Commissioners voted to move forward with a plan to share with FP&L the costs of a new wastewater treatment facility and to use the County’s treated wastewater to freshen FP&L’s troubled nuclear cooling canals. While this partnership could be a tremendous opportunity, the devil is in the details. I voted against the current plan because it lacks the necessary pollution standards to protect Biscayne Bay and the aquifer.
Cleaning more water to a higher standard is the answer
and is required since the FP&L canals interact with our groundwater and the Bay. Doing anything less puts our environment, health and safety at risk. I will continue putting the public’s needs first and pressing for a win-win for our taxpayers and our environment.
Watch the meeting.
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Promoting Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety
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In an effort to raise awareness about cycling safety and to
help reduce the number of cycling and pedestrian accidents
, on April 8 I joined other cycling advocates to dedicate a Ghost Bike in memory of cyclist Bharath Reddy Narahari.
Read more.
During the event, I announced the
formation of a local bicycle and pedestrian safety committee
. The “dead serious” safety initiative will bridge the gaps between motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and law enforcement. Stakeholders will soon meet to create an action plan and measure success over the year.
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Updating Our Sexual Harassment Policy
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The Board of County Commissioners on April 10 passed my resolution requiring the Mayor to conduct a comprehensive review and update of the County’s sexual harassment policy with the intent of integrating new best practices to
ensure a safe, healthy, inclusive workplace for all
.
Read more.
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On April 2, I held a meeting regarding the
civil courthouse rebuilding project
with County staff and consultants on public private partnerships. My position is that any P3 contract must protect the taxpayers' investment in this project.
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Team 8 continues working closely with
Miami-Dade Parks staff to provide upgrades to many of our local parks. Recent groundbreaking celebrations took place at Palmland, Princetonian, Debbie Curtin and Devon Aire parks. We are getting
new playgrounds, benches, water fountains and more to keep our parks safe and enjoyable. It’s another example of how we continue working to identify the needs of our neighborhoods and how we are delivering South Dade its fair share.
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Celebrating at Deering Seafood Festival
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We had a wonderful time celebrating our unique heritage, cultural diversity, native habitats and delicious Florida seafood! The 14
th
Annual Deering Seafood Festival on March 25 embraced
a record-breaking crowd
of more than 9,000 people. We recycled 1,845 oyster shells to be used in sea restoration projects to create new oyster reefs.
Read more.
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We had a great time at
Books & Books gathering on April 14 with children and parents, including UM professor Ali Habashi and his daughter. I had the opportunity to read with young children to
explain the importance of caring for our environment. The children’s wisdom offers great hope for our future.
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I was delighted to take part in the
Miami International Airport Military Hospitality Lounge fundraiser on April12. My colleagues and I are always looking for ways to
support our brave service men and women, and this was one small way to give back. South Dade is home to many military families and veterans, and they are playing a vital role in our community.
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Meeting with Homeowners & Neighbors
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Thank you to the many residents who came out to the
Kendall Federation of Homeowners Association meeting on April 9 and to our “
Table Talk” in Princeton on March 22. These were wonderful opportunities to present why it’s great to live in District 8 and to meet, and answer questions from, such engaged constituents from our South Dade communities.
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We had a great time supporting the students, faculty and Principal Aragon at the
Arvida Middle School Viking Fest on April 14. So much artistic talent was displayed in the music, dancing, cheering and more. Go Vikings!
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Great in 8 Profile: Ashley Gonzalez
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Congratulations to the talented Ashley Gonzalez, District 8
first-place winner of the Neat Streets Miami “Clean Up and Green Up” poster contest
. Ashley is a junior at the Somerset Academy Silver Palms Senior High School. Her powerful and creative artwork, submitted by her teacher Victoria Martino, advocates for a clean Earth.
Read more
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This is Panda (A1937470). He is a 2 year old neutered male American Bulldog and can you guess why his name is Panda? He's definitely as
gentle and playful
as one and he's looking for the perfect cuddle buddy. Treats are a definite plus!
Save the Dates:
May 19,
Spay & Neuter for Dogs
event, Robbie's Feed & Supply Store
June 23,
Dogs of Summer
, District 8 Pet Adoption and Training Expo
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April 28, Leisure City
April 20, Seminole Theatre, Homestead
April 21, Multiple Locations
April 21, Cutler Bay
April 21, YMCAs
April 27, South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center
April 27, Bill Sadowski Park
April 29, Deering Estate
May 12, Losner Park, Homestead
May 12, Zoo Miami
May 18-20, Fruit& Spice Park
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Recycling Tip of the Month
#DitchThePlastic
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Extra Extra!
Saving Abused Horses
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