Miami – While the Marlin’s franchise and County administrators await Judge Jeri Beth Cohen’s decision regarding the future of the proposed baseball stadium, members of the Little Havana community wonder why no one seems to care what they want from the project. A recent survey of over 450 households exposes an alarming lack of effort by public administrators—or self proclaimed advocate Norman Braman–to engage the very community the project is intended to help.
With the Orange Bowl Stadium demolished and a Marlins facility in question, a coalition of residents, small and minority contractors and labor unions pin their last hopes on the court system, specifically that Judge Cohen will ensure that any court approved settlement require negotiations with the community.
For nearly two years, Little Havana residents have been demanding that the City of Miami honor its promise to negotiate a legally binding agreement, known as a community benefit agreement, on any future stadium renovations. Despite a public commitment from Mayor Diaz’s office and a series of negotiations with the project management team, community members repeatedly faced government inaction when attempting to hold City capital improvements staff accountable. County administrators have been equally efficient in touting community uplift from the project without setting standards that will ensure such public benefits. Fred Frost, president of the South Florida AFL-CIO, has gotten frustrated as time marches on: “I’ve heard a lot of talk about community benefits and public good, but nothing is in writing. After awhile, talk is cheap, but the cost of living continues to go up.”
In the two cost benefit reports that Jobs with Justice commissioned with Florida International University, researchers found that fair employment, local hiring, job training for residents and participation of small and minority contractors offer a dollar for dollar value for Miami in comparison to the stadium plans currently in formation.
“We have City and County development processes which disregard the community. We have one wealthy business owner who can single-handedly stop the whole plan. And then we have the majority of Miami–the residents and workers and businesses–who want to ensure that public good comes from public money. Judge Cohen is our last hope,” remarked Herminia Nasser, a resident leader of Vecinos Unidos, the community group which administered the survey.
WHAT: Neighborhood residents and businesses call on Judge Cohen to require negotiations with the community
WHEN: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 3:00 pm
WHERE: Miami-Dade County Courthouse, 73 West Flagler Street, Miami