Editorial

City of Miami Commissioners Want billboards on Bayfront Park, Maurice Ferré Park and Virginia Key.

Editorial by Rev. Pedro Martinez.

Billboards in Bayfront Park and Maurice Ferré Park. 10 Story High & 40 Feet X 40 Feet (1800 Sq Ft).

Commissioners state that their goal is to collect funding in order to “improve and maintain” the parks. I disagree. It’s my opinion that undermining the quality of public parks is irrational. It is like wanting to repair a house by first destroying its foundation. The foundation of these parks is the beauty of nature.

Undermining the quality of public parks is irrational.

Elected officials should seek to protect green spaces but it seems that green dollars are the priority here. Not a single City of Miami Commissioner lives in downtown Miami and billboards will not affect them. Downtown residents will be seriously affected, studies reveal that property value decrease with billboards and the quality of life will descend to hades.

Why?

The real estate boom has increased property value and given the City of Miami a wealth of finances: it has added $88 million to the general fund.

It is true that Bayfront and Maurice Ferré parks need maintenance that goes beyond mowing the lawn.

• Our Parks are full of people that are homeless by choice.
• Oxidized benches (that are not defensive benches) that facilitate the ability for homeless to make benches their bed.
• The fountain of Bayfront has been broken for ten years. A pump is used on a weekly basis to drain the water from the fountain onto the lawn.
• Five eyesore solar panels erected in an inappropriate location.
• The oriental pond is more like a green gelatin pond — it is full of algae
• The entrance looks like a jigsaw puzzle full of cracks.
• Events close Bayfront Park to residents and tourists, and with each event the parks deteriorate.

Not Helping Parks

It is evident that the current funding plans are not making these parks better. The Commissioners and the Bayfront Management Trust should seek alternate funding. For example, request funding from the City of Miami (as all other parks receive funding) or place a referendum on the ballot to receive City and County funding and let the people of Miami decide, and/or seek private and federal funds.

Downtown residents already deal with intense traffic, annoyingly loud noises, and now Commissioners want to add light pollution. Commissioner Vote NO and stop prostituting our parks!

What Can Residents Do?

You have a chance to express your opinion tonight, Wednesday, October 19th at 6:30 PM. City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, FL 33133.

If you can’t make it, please email your City Commissioners. Not doing anything is, in fact, accepting this attack on our parks, our green spaces, on our visual access to beautiful Biscayne Bay.

If you stay silent, they will pass this proposal!

Commissioner Ken Russell: krussell@miamigov.com Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla: adelaportilla@miamigov.com Commissioner Joe Carollo: jcarollo@miamigov.com Commissioner Manolo Reyes: mreyes@miamigov.com Commissioner Christine King: cking@miamigov.com Mayor Francis Suarez: fsuarez@miamigov.com

One More thing

Your property value may decrease greatly.

Reverend Pedro Martínez is a concerned Downtown resident.

To receive my articles and Downtown News, follow this page, and subscribe to Downtown News. One more thing, if you liked what you read, please share it with your friends.