Residents,
 
I have been closely monitoring public health emergency of COVID-19 and its effects on our residents, workers, and vulnerable populations. For the safety of residents and staff, I have closed all three District 5 office locations (Coral Way, Miami Beach, and Government Center), and we will not be receiving visitors until further notice. Due to the office closures, we will not be accepting Mom & Pop applications in person this week as scheduled.
 
District 5 staff is working remotely to continue to serve the needs of residents and the district; their contact information is available here . Previously scheduled and future meetings will be held remotely via conference call or zoom, as appropriate. 

I remain in daily communication with the County administration and municipal governments to ensure the safety of our residents, as well as to identify and find solutions to assist low-wage workers and small businesses during this economic crisis. My staff also remains in communication with senior centers, neighborhood associations, and community organizations to address any concerns.

At this time, safety is a priority. I encourage you to limit your social interactions and stay home if possible. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, please call your medical provider or the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) at 305-324-2400. You can also visit the FDOH toolkit.
Government Information & Resources
Declarations of emergency have been issued at the federal, state, and local government levels, and directives from the World Health Organization (WHO) , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , and the Florida Department of Health are being monitored and implemented.

For your safety and that of your neighbors, it’s crucial that you follow the directives from local government (links below).
 



 
Moratoriums on Evictions & Utilities 
  • Evictions: the Miami-Dade Police Department has suspended all eviction activities until further notice. This applies to residential and commercial property countywide.

  • Water & Sewer Utility: Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) and City of Miami Beach customers are protected from late fee charges and disconnection of water service. This will be in effect until further notice.

March 17 Election Day
As scheduled, elections will continue tomorrow, March 17 per the State of Florida Division of Elections. Polling locations that typically occur in senior living facilities have been relocated. This includes eight polling locations in Miami-Dade County.  See the full list of relocated polling places here.

Hand sanitizer will be provided to voters upon check-in at all polling places. Additionally, there are bathrooms with access to soap and water at all precincts. All Election Day polling locations will have disposable gloves, disinfectant spray and wipes for staff.
Helping Our Seniors
Senior centers are currently closed and contingency plans have been implemented for feeding and providing for additional needs. Information in Spanish has been prepared and will be provided to senior centers in District 5. We will continue to provide updates in Engligh and Spanish during this crisis.

The #SeniorCheckIn campaign has been launched on District 5 social media channels to encourage residents to reach out to the older adults they know over the phone or through FaceTime. Whether you chat while having your morning coffee or call to discuss a television show or movie you both enjoy, please continue engaging with one another during this time. As programming and visitation hours are suspended, every interaction with our older adults will go a long way.
Protecting Our Workers
Low-wage workers across industries have had hours cut or even lost their jobs. Last week, I visited Miami International Airport (MIA) to check in on the employees and store owners to understand the impact of the dramatic decline in air travel.

Today I visited with hotel workers in Miami Beach to understand their needs as operations change dramatically. I will continue working with the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association as well as the unions that represent hotel and airport workers to get updates and discuss ways we can provide assistance to our low-wage workers and concessionaires.

While this week's Board of County Commissioners meeting has been cancelled, I continue to work directly with the County Mayor and County Attorney's Office to identify what can be done to provide aide and assistance to employees and businesses during a state of emergency.
Local Businesses
  • Mom and Pop Small Business Grant Program: For your safety, we will not be accepting Mom & Pop applications in person at District 5 offices this week. An updated timeline will be posted on our website and social media pages when available. Contact Rachel Cohen at Rachel.Cohen@miamidade.gov if you have additional questions.

  • Evictions: Businesses are protected from evictions during the state of emergency. If the landlord of your commercial property is threatening with an eviction, please contact the Miami-Dade Police Department at 305-4-POLICE for assistance.

  • Business Damage Survey: If your small business has been affected by COVID-19,the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is asking you to complete the Business Damage Survey in order to evaluate impacts on the local economy so relief programs can be implemented. Find more information on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans at SBA.gov/Disaster.

  • Greener Coral Way: This voluntary program was recently launched to recognize local businesses that are going plastic and Styrofoam free. During this trying times, please support our local restaurants by either purchasing a gift card or ordering takeout or delivery. The following Greener Coral Way businesses are available for take out and/or delivery. You can also support businesses in the City of Miami Beach’s #PlasticFreeMB program.




The District 5 Office
All District 5 offices are closed and my staff is working remotely. We will be responsive through phone and email, and meetings will be held on Zoom or on our conference line. Should you need any assistance from our office during this time, please contact us at  305-375-5924  or  District5@miamidade.gov . 
 
In addition, all District 5 events and senior programming have been postponed until further notice.
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