Here to serve in troubled times
|
|
Dear Friends of District 8,
In these hard times, it's more important than ever that we celebrate good news and reflect on all we have to be grateful for.
In that spirit, I wanted to share some recent good news I'm feeling thankful for this week!
Victory for voting access: On Tuesday, we scored a major victory for Miami-Dade voters. The Board of County Commissioners unanimously passed my motion to send a vote by mail sign-up form to all households in the county – a big step forward to ensure access to voting in hard times.
Learn more about signing up to vote by mail.
Celebrating nurses during National Nurse Week: We are so grateful to the nurses and healthcare workers putting themselves in harm's way to protect our community. I was proud to sponsor meals for our
incredible frontline healthcare providers at Jackson Health in partnership with
Meals for Heroes, the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, and local restaurants during Nurse Week.
Raising a glass to Drinking Water Week: Reliable and safe drinking water is a cornerstone of public health and healthy communities. Knowing your water is safe is even more essential during this pandemic. This week we
toast all the 2,600 Miami-Dade water professionals who ensure more than 2.3 million customers receive water around the clock each day.
Support for local farmers: It's critical that we do all we can to support our agricultural community during this crisis – while also working to feed families in need. I was proud to bring a resolution
calling for urgent farm aid and applaud community partners like Publix, which purchased more than 1 million pounds of fruits and vegetables and over 100,000 gallons of milk to
support farmers and families.
Take your family to the Zoo from home! Finally, did you know that Zoo Miami is offering educational wildlife videos, lessons and activities online?
Learn more about Zoocademy.
Yours in community,
Daniella
|
|
Telephone Town Hall & Survey Highlights
|
Last week I hosted a telephone town hall to share resources for small business and engage residents in a conversation about how we can
responsibly reopen and recover together. More than
2700 residents joined the call, many of you engaged with questions and comments, and more than 100 participated in our polling questions.
Some highlights from the poll questions:
|
|
We also conducted an online survey about the public health and economic impacts of coronavirus, and over
1500 residents responded:
- 43% of respondents said that a vulnerable health condition is their greatest source of concern in the pandemic; 24% said their biggest concern is financial insecurity; 18% said access to healthcare and 14% said business survival is most important.
- 23% of respondents had applied for unemployment insurance; only 10% of those who applied said they had already received benefits.
|
|
New and Updated COVID-19 Resources
|
UPCOMING FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS
- Feeding South Florida Drive-Through Food Distribution, Saturday, May 9 from 9 - 11 am at Christ Fellowship, 8900 SW 168th St, Palmetto Bay 33157
- South Dade Free Food Distribution, Saturday, May 9 from 10 am - 1 pm at Bethel Church, 14440 Lincoln Boulevard, Miami 33176
- Find upcoming food distributions near you via Farm Share and the Miami-Dade County food assistance page.
RESOURCES FOR NONPROFITS
RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL BUSINESS
- You can apply for unemployment insurance online here. I'm continuing to push for urgently needed repairs to our broken system and for Governor DeSantis to expand unemployment benefits.
- You can pick up and drop off paper unemployment application forms (in English, Spanish and Creole) from 26 libraries countywide. Our libraries are also providing access to SNAP applications, accepting pet food donations to help prevent pet abandonment, and providing walk-up pick-up services for pre-reserved items at all locations.
- Axis South Florida is a one-stop portal to help connect families, individuals and businesses impacted by coronavirus with the resources they need.
- The Beacon Council's Bizhelp.Miami portal helps small business owners understand and access resources available to them under the CARES Act.
|
|
#OurCommunityCares Calendar
|
Our Community Cares – How the 2020 Census will shape our future, TODAY, Friday, May 8 at 4 pm: I'll be joined by Jerry Bell, Assistant Director for Planning, Miami-Dade County RER and Juanita Mainster, SFL Partnership Coordinator for U.S. Census Bureau, to talk about how the census is more critical than ever.
Tune into on Facebook Live
for Our Community Cares, and
follow me on Facebook to get updates about the latest speakers and topics. You can also watch our past conversations on
YouTube.
|
|
Key Information on COVID-19
|
WHAT TO DO IF YOU FEEL SICK
If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, call the local Florida Department of Health at 305-324-2400 or call your medical provider directly. If traveling to a medical office or facility, call ahead.
COVID-19 TESTING
The following testing sites are now available (I'm especially glad that my call to
bring testing to South Dade and West Kendall was successful.
- South Dade Government Center: Testing available to those 18 or older showing symptoms associated with COVID-19; call the County hotline at 305-499-8767 to schedule.
- Miami Dade County Fairgrounds: Testing available to those 18 or older showing symptoms associated with COVID-19; call 305-499-8767.
- Marlins Park: Testing available for those 18 and older showing symptoms. By appointment only; call 305-499-8767.
- Hard Rock Stadium: Testing available for those 65 and older who are symptomatic as well as healthcare workers and first responders. Call 305-499-8767 to schedule.
- Community Health of South Florida: Testing available in two locations for patients who have symptoms and either a recent history of travel to an affected country or contact with someone who has contracted COVID-19.
- Doris Ison Health Center – 10300 SW 216 St. Miami: Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 am to 12 pm.
- Florida City (new location) – 450 W. Davis Parkway, Florida City, FL 33034: Open every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 am to 1 pm.
- Miami Beach (46th & Collins): Testing available to those with symptoms; call 305-735-3909 to schedule an appointment.
- Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah: Testing available to residents 65 and older with symptoms; call 305-268-4319 to schedule.
- Home testing for the homebound: Call 305-499-8767 to make an appointment. (If you live in city of Miami, please call 305-960-5050.)
JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM
Any patient experiencing serious symptoms of COVID-19 can seek emergency treatment at any hospital emergency room, including any Jackson facility. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, visitation is suspended for most patients at most facilities, and Jackson encourages the use of phone calls, electronic messages, and videoconference.
Watch a video from Jackson's leadership.
OTHER RESOURCES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
