May 28, 2025 Presentations and Awards Meeting

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PLEASE STAND BY.

WE ARE GOING ON AIR IN 5 4 3 2 MAY 28TH

[CALL TO ORDER]

WELCOME TO THE MAY 28TH AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS CEREMONY.

I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER FOR A MINUTE TO OUR CITY CLERK TO READ ANY PERTINENT INFORMATION.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

DURING THIS HYBRID PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS COMMISSION MEETING, THE CITY COMMISSION IS PRESENT IN THE COMMISSION CHAMBER AT MIAMI BEACH CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE.

THIRD FLOOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE MEETING, EITHER VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON.

THOSE WHO WISH TO ATTEND IN PERSON CAN DO SO BY APPEARING AT THE COMMISSION CHAMBER TO ATTEND.

VIRTUALLY THE PUBLIC MAY JOIN THE MEETING BY USING THE ZOOM APPLICATION ON THIS, ON THEIR SMART DEVICE, OR BY VISITING ZOOM US.

OR THEY CAN CALL IN BY PHONE AT (305) 224-1968 OR TOLLFREE 8 8 8 4 7 5 4 4 9 9.

THE WEBINAR ID IS 8 1 3 9 2 8 5 7 6 71 POUND.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

GREAT.

IF I CAN ASK THE MEMBERS OF THE CIVILIAN VOLUNTEER PATROL TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

EVERYBODY STAND UP.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

I PLACED ALL AGAINST FLAG THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STAND ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN THE VISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUST FOR ALL.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU.

THANK, AND THAT'S A GOOD SEGUE AS WE JUST COMPLETED MEMORIAL DAY AND HONORED OUR FALLEN HEROES.

BUT, UH, ALSO WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR ENTIRE CITY.

FIRST OF ALL, OUR RESIDENTS WHO MAKE OUR CITY THE INCREDIBLE CITY THAT IT IS, BUT OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, THIS COMMISSION WHO'S REALLY TAKEN PROACTIVE MEASURES IN ADDRESSING SOME OF THE ISSUES WE HAD SEEN IN MEMORIAL DAY, WHICH, UH, FORTUNATELY HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN QUIET AND VIBRANT, BUT ALSO SAFE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND SPRING BREAK.

THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, UH, I THINK WE DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED.

AND I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES RECEIVED A LOT OF THANK YOUS AND TEXT MESSAGES, UH, TO US, TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR CITY FOR NOT ONLY KEEPING US SAFE, BUT KEEPING IT, KEEPING IT REALLY BUSY.

WE WERE A BUSY CITY, UH, CLEAN.

WE KEPT IT, UH, REALLY WAS A SUCCESS ON EVERY LEVEL.

SO JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THOSE FROM OUR CITY STAFF WHO MADE IT HAPPEN.

WE'RE GONNA JUMP AROUND A LITTLE BIT, SO YOU MAY BE SURPRISED WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN IT'S CALLED, BUT THANK YOU.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE, UH, A NICE FILLED AUDITORIUM AND, AND IT'S, AND IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE WHO MAKE, UH, AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CITY IN SO MANY WAYS.

WE'RE

[PA 6 PROCLAMATION PRESENTED TO ALICIA CASANOVA OF THE MIDBEACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.]

PA SIX IS PROCLAMATION.

ELISA CASANOVA, MID BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, SO I'M SO EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, UM, TO SOMEBODY WHO, EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IS A SUPERSTAR, BUT THIS LADY IS REALLY EXTRA AND I'M SO EXCITED.

SO LET ME READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER.

ALICIA, A CASANOVA, A PROUD RESIDENT OF MIAMI BEACH, HAS DEMONSTRATED AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, COMMUNITY SERVICE, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT HER ENTIRE LIFE.

MS. CASANOVA GREW UP IN MIAMI BEACH, ATTENDING ST.

PATRICK SCHOOL AND GRADUATING FROM MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH.

AND AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 19 MADE THE LIFE-CHANGING DECISION TO DEDICATE HER LIFE TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN THROUGH EDUCATION.

THROUGH THE YEARS OF DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE, ALICIA FOUNDED HER OWN PRESCHOOL AND DRIVEN BY HER PASSION FOR LEARNING, SUCCESSFULLY EXPANDED HER SCHOOL TO INCLUDE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMS ACROSS TWO CAMPUSES, WHILE ALSO SERVING IN NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS DEVOTED TO IMPROVING PRIVATE EDUCATION ACROSS FLORIDA.

ALICIA SERVES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF BOTH THE GREEN DIAMOND CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION AND BLUE GREEN DIAMOND MASTER ASSOCIATION, SERVING WITH DISTINCTION AS PRESIDENT OF BOTH BOARDS TODAY, ALWAYS REPRESENTING THE BEST INTERESTS OF HER FELLOW RESIDENTS.

ALICIA HAS DEEPENED HER COMMITMENT TO CIVIC LIFE BY HELPING TO FORM THE MID BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, ALLIANCE, LATER INCORPORATED AS A MID BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, MBNA, WHERE SHE CONTINUES TO WORK TIRELESSLY WITH CITY OFFICIALS TO ADDRESS KEY ISSUES AFFECTING THE MID BEACH COMMUNITY AND TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY

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THROUGHOUT HER YEARS OF LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE, ALICIA CASANOVA HAS LED WITH HONESTY, ETHICS, AND INTEGRITY, CONSISTENTLY STRIVING TO ELEVATE EDUCATION, EMPOWER RESIDENTS, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE BEAUTY, VITALITY, AND PROGRESS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, WHICH SHE HAS LOVINGLY CALLED HOME.

SINCE ARRIVING FROM CUBA AS A YOUNG CHILD, ALICIA CONTINUES TO BE AN INSPIRATION TO MANY, NOT ONLY AS A RESPECTED COMMUNITY LEADER AND ADVOCATE, BUT ALSO AS A DEVOTED PARTNER, MOTHER OF THREE ADULT CHILDREN AND PROUD GRANDMOTHER TO FOUR BELOVED GRANDCHILDREN.

NOW, THEREFORE, DO WE AS MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, HEAR BY PROCLAIM MAY 28TH, 2025, AS ALICIA A CASANOVA DAY IN THE CITY OF .

WANNA SPEAK? ALICIA, DID YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE TAKING A PICTURE? I HAVE NOTHING PLANNED, BUT I LOVE THIS CITY AND I'M HONORED TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO MAKE IT BETTER AND BETTER EVERY DAY.

I LOVE CHILDREN AND THAT'S WHY I WORK WITH CHILDREN MY WHOLE LIFE.

UM, TODAY WE HAVE OUR MBNA BOARD MEMBERS HERE WITH US AND, AND OUR MANAGERS FROM THE BLUE AND GREEN DIAMOND THAT I'VE BEEN PRESIDENT OF FOR 25 YEARS, .

UM, AND SO IT, IT'S REALLY AN HONOR.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ FOR NOMINATING ME AND, AND ALL, UH, THIS COMMISSION IS, IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST OF ALL THE YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED.

THEY LISTEN, THEY'RE PATIENT.

THEY, THEY DEAL WITH EVERYTHING IN, IN A WAY THAT IS, UM, UNHEARD OF.

UM, WE HAVE, WE ARE VERY, VERY LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH A WONDERFUL COMMISSION AND MAYOR AND, UH, STAFF THAT REALLY LISTEN AND, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF, OF THAT.

UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU FOR THE, IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

AND, AND THIS IS REALLY AN HONOR AND I AM VERY, VERY HAPPY, UH, THANK YOU TO, TO MY HUSBAND WHO IS VERY PATIENT AND PUTS UP WITH WITH ALL THE HOURS OF WORK THAT I DEDICATE AND, AND, UH, AND OF COURSE, UM, MY TEAM HERE WHO IS SO SPECIAL.

THANK YOU ALL.

YOU NEED EVERYBODY UP HERE REAL QUICK, REAL QUICK.

I'LL TAKE ONE RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT HERE.

1, 2, 3.

WHAT DO YOU WANT? OKAY.

OKAY.

THAT'S GOOD.

SHE CALLS ME.

LISTEN, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DO.

ABSOLUTELY.

SHE CALLS AND WE LISTEN.

ALDO.

HI, DOG.

GO AHEAD.

OKAY, LET'S LOOK AT THIS ONE FIRST.

1, 2, 3.

ONE MORE HERE.

1, 2, 3.

THANK YOU ALL.

DO YOU NEED A CONFERENCE ROOM FOR AN MB AND A, UH, BOARD MEETING? YOU GOT THE WHOLE BOARD.

HERE WE ARE.

IT'S ACTUALLY, IT'S ACTUALLY VERY MEANINGFUL WHEN YOU SEE A BOARD AND THEY COME TOGETHER FOR, TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, A RECIPIENT.

IT, IT SHOWS YOU, UH, THE TOGETHERNESS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M GONNA CALL

[PA 1 PROCLAMATION PRESENTED TO 103-YEAR-OLD HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR LUCY LOWELL.]

SO, UM, THIS IS ACTUALLY, UH, VERY MEANINGFUL TO ME AND, AND OUR CITY TODAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE LUCY LOWELL, WHO IS SITTING HERE TODAY WITH US.

UM, THIS RECENTLY GOT SOME ATTENTION.

UM, LUCY, IF YOU DON'T MIND ME CALLING YOU LUCY, AS 103 YEARS YOUNG.

WOW.

AND I, AND I ASKED YOU BEFORE, AND IF I HAVE PERMISSION TO TELL YOUR STORY A LITTLE BIT, UM, SURVIVING THE HOLOCAUST IS A STORY IN ITSELF, BUT WHAT

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AND THEY WERE THE FORTUNATE ONES TO SURVIVE.

BUT LUCY MADE THE DECISION, WHICH IS COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT AND NOT TO SHARE THOSE PAINFUL EXPERIENCES.

BUT THEN FOUR MONTHS AGO, FOUR MONTHS AGO, AT 103 YEARS OLD, AN ORGANIZATION, JEWISH GEN THAT MAKES AN EFFORT TO TRY TO FIND ARTIFACTS, BOOKS FROM THE HOLOCAUST, WAS ABLE TO FIND A RELIGIOUS AWARD THAT LUCY HAD RECEIVED IN HER CHILDHOOD, HAD FOUND HER LATE BROTHER'S BAR MITZVAH GIFT, AND WAS RETURNED TO HER.

AND LUCY MADE THE DECISION FOR THE FIRST TIME TO OPEN UP AND TALK ABOUT HER EXPERIENCES IN THE HOLOCAUST.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY TO HONOR LUCY.

NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE SPEAKING UP, BECAUSE YOU ARE A LIVING TESTAMENT OF TO WHAT EVIL CAN DO, AND YOU INSPIRE US BY CARRYING ON AND SHOWING THE NEXT GENERATION ABOUT HOW WE CAN BE SUPPORTIVE OF ALL PEOPLE.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, I'M GONNA FOCUS NOW ON THE RESURGENCE OF ANTISEMITISM THAT HAS REALLY ENGULFED THE WORLD, OUR COUNTRY.

AND AGAIN, YOU'RE JUST A LIVING TESTAMENT OF HOW WE NEED TO BE SO CAREFUL BECAUSE THE RHETORIC IS DANGEROUS.

WE SAW A SHOOTING IN WASHINGTON DC JUST A WEEK AND A HALF AGO BECAUSE OF RHETORIC OF WHERE IT CAN LEAD TO AND HOW DANGEROUS IT IS.

SO WE'RE HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

I SEE YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY A FAMILY MEMBER, YOUR FRIENDS, PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN WITH YOU FOR YEARS AND HELPING YOU.

UM, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO, TO YOU, LUCY, OR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SAY, SAY A FEW WORDS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. MAYOR AND ALL YOU GREAT COMMISSIONERS FOR THE GREAT HONOR IN TELLING MY STORY.

I THOUGHT IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT BEFORE WITH REACHING 103.

I THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR.

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE.

AND I THANK ALL OF YOU VERY MUCH.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT I CANNOT TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT, THAT I CANNOT STAND TOO LONG, .

SO THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH FOR THANK LOU LUCY.

YOU KEEP THANKING US, BUT REALLY WE'RE HERE TO THANK YOU.

YOU'RE TESTAMENT THAT IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO SPEAK UP, AND IT'S NEVER TOO LATE FOR THE WORLD TO LISTEN TO YOUR POWERFUL WORDS.

WE WANNA GET A PICTURE OF COURSE, OF ALL OF YES,

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OKAY, LET'S LOOK RIGHT HERE.

1, 2, 3, TAKE ANOTHER 1, 1, 2, 3.

YOU NOMINATED, BY THE WAY, LUCY.

WE GOT SO CAUGHT UP IN THE EMOTIONS OF THE A MOMENT THAT I NEVER ANNOUNCED THAT TODAY, THAT TODAY, NOVE MAY 28TH, 2025 IS OFFICIALLY LUCY LOWELL DAY IN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.

LET'S CALL

[PA 9 CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION TO THE MIAMI BEACH PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS.]

PA NINE IS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION, MIAMI BEACH, PTA PRESIDENTS.

I HAVE SEVERAL OF THE PTA PRESIDENTS IN THE ROOM IF YOU ALL WANTED TO COME FORWARD.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE JACQUELINE POWERS FROM LEHRMAN.

WE HAVE MARY KENNITH FROM FEINBERG FISHER.

I SEE JULIE BASNER FROM MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH.

WOO.

JULIE.

SO BOB, JULIE, PARDON? AND IT'S THE INNOVATIVE SCHOOL TEMPLE.

OH, OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

OH, IT'S THE INNOVATIVE SCHOOL AT TEMPLE.

BE SHALOM.

I'M, I APOLOGIZE.

THE THREE WOMEN THAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU AND VARIOUS OTHER PTA PRESIDENTS AROUND MIAMI BEACH ARE REALLY WHAT MAKE OUR SCHOOLS DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER, FROM ANY OTHER SCHOOLS.

IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY.

SCHOOLS HAVE PRINCIPLES AND WE HAVE WONDERFUL FAMILIES AND STUDENTS, BUT IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE PTA PRESIDENTS THAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU THAT ARE ADVOCATING AT THE COMMISSION, ORGANIZING FA COUNTLESS FUNDRAISERS, UM, ORGANIZING PTA MEETINGS, THE PRESSURE OF FUNDRAISING, EVERY SINGLE THING THAT YOU DO HAS REALLY BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE FOR THE SCHOOLS.

LOOKING AT THE THREE OF YOU RIGHT HERE, I, LAST YEAR, I, JACQUELINE POWERS WAS IN FRONT OF US AND WE GOT A, A COMPLETE CAPITAL FUNDING FOR THE TECH PROGRAM AND STEM AT YOUR SCHOOL.

AND I CAN'T EVEN SAY THAT.

MARY KENNETH, UM, YOU'RE NOT EVEN A, YOU'RE NOT EVEN A PARENT AT FEINBERG FISHER.

YOU ARE NOW A PARENT.

A PARENT, OKAY.

WHEN SHE BEGAN ADVOCATING FOR FEINBERG FISHER, WHICH IS A SCHOOL, THE ONLY TITLE ONE SCHOOL IN MIAMI BEACH, WHICH MEANS IT IS A SCHOOL WITH A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT ARE CHALLENGED.

MARY KENNETH HAS BEEN A VOICE FOR SO MANY THAT DO NOT HAVE A VOICE.

AND FINALLY, JULIE BASNER, I SEE YOU ALL THE TIME HERE IN THE COMMISSION CHAMBERS, NOT ONLY DID WERE YOU PIVOTAL IN PUSHING THROUGH THE SCOREBOARD, BUT MORE RECENTLY YOU'RE GETTING AN ENTIRE SHADE STRUCTURE FOR THE FOOTBALL FIELD AT BEACH HIGH.

SO THESE WOMEN WORK SO TIRELESSLY FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS HERE IN MIAMI BEACH, AND THEY REALLY DO DESERVE TO BE CELEBRATED.

AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE

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SO, CONGRATULATIONS.

AND IF, IF EACH ONE OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM GUYS, , I FEEL LIKE I TALK A LOT UP HERE, BUT I JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU BECAUSE, UM, AS COMMISSIONER, UH, ROSEN GONZALEZ SAID, WE WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER ON SO MANY THINGS, AND WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE THE LUCKY ONES TO HAVE THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH IN OUR CORNER ALWAYS.

SO, THANK YOU.

UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UH, FOR FEINBERG FISHER IN PARTICULAR, UH, IT'S A VERY SPECIAL SCHOOL.

IT'S VERY, IT'S OUR OLDEST SCHOOL.

UM, I'VE, I GRADUATE MY SON THIS YEAR AND WE JUST FINISHED HAVING THE END OF YEAR PARTY.

AND THEY RECOGNIZE ME AS I'M STEPPING DOWN AS PRESIDENT, BUT STILL BEING INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOL, IN THE SCHOOL, LIKE I SAID, TO, UM, TO THEM THERE, THE KIND OF FAMILY DOESN'T LEAVE A SCHOOL.

UM, MY HUSBAND STILL VOLUNTEERS IN NAUTILUS, AND WE EVEN HAVE, WE HAVEN'T HAD A KID THERE FOR SEVEN YEARS, .

SO, UM, THEY'LL STILL HAVE ME AROUND.

UM, SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE DO AS A FAMILY.

UM, AND WE KIND OF LEAVE A LITTLE MARK.

LIKE I TELL THE PRINCIPALS, WE WANNA BRING THE SMILE TO THE TEACHERS AND THE STUDENTS' FACES, AND WE DO THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU GUYS HELP.

THANK YOU.

UM, JUST AS SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD KNOWLEDGE, MY CHILDREN WHO ARE HERE, UH, AT PRIVATE SCHOOL, UM, ON MIAMI BEACH, I JUST THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT, UM, THE COMMISSION IS SO SUPPORTIVE OF EVERYTHING THAT THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS DO AND HOW, UM, AS BEING WORKING WITH MARY THE LAST COUPLE YEARS ON THE QAC, THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE REALLY LIKE COMING TOGETHER.

AND A LOT OF IT IS THE, THE BRIDGE IS THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, AND, UM, I'M HONORED TO BE WITH THIS RECOGNITION.

THANK YOU.

WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU.

I'VE GOT YOUR CERTIFICATE.

AND MR. MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO SAY IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO SEE THE WORK THAT THESE LADIES DO EVERY SINGLE MONTH IN THE SITTING NEXT TO THEM IN THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

, I REALLY, MY HAT'S OFF TO, TO YOU BECAUSE YOU PUT SO MUCH LOVE, SO MUCH DEDICATION INTO SELFLESSLY ADVOCATING FOR EDUCATION.

AND JULIE, YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN EDUCATION IN SO MANY OTHER ASPECTS OF OUR CITY, UH, WHETHER IT'S ORGANIZING MITZVAH DAYS THAT I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF PARTICIPATING IN WITH YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN, OR SERVING IN OUR CITY'S CHARTER REVIEW TASK FORCE.

IT, IT REALLY IS INSPIRING TO, TO, TO SEE THE LEVEL OF WORK AND CONTRIBUTION YOU GIVE BACK TO OUR CITY.

AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS, ESPECIALLY NOT HAVING A KID MYSELF, THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE TO US TO BE BETTER COMMISSIONERS, IT REALLY DOES HELP US, UH, BE, BE, AND LEAVE LEAD A BETTER MIAMI BEACH.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.

OKAY.

LOOK RIGHT HERE.

1, 2, 3.

YEAH, GUYS, PLEASE.

OKAY.

PERFECT SMILE.

AWESOME.

THANK YOU.

ARE WE EVEN OKAY, GUYS SAYING Q SO MUCH RIGHT HERE.

1 1, 2.

WELL,

[PA 10 CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE MIAMI BEACH YOUTH COMMISSION.]

IT'S VERY INTERESTING.

WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE POPE OF SCHOOLS REPRESENTED ON OUR MIAMI BEACH YOUTH

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PENELOPE FROM THE SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED STUDIES DOWNTOWN.

WOO ALEXANDER FROM MASS ACADEMY.

FIONA FROM MIAMI COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL.

RAISE YOUR HAND.

AUBREY FROM MIAMI BEACH, UH, SENIOR HIGH AND ABBY FROM FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL AND EMMY FROM MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF THESE SCHOOLS, APART FROM THE FACT THAT MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH IS AN A SCHOOL AND REALLY ONE OF THE BEST PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN MIAMI DAD COUNTY, LOOK AT THE OTHER SCHOOLS THAT THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN IN OUR FEEDER PATTERN ENTER INTO MASS ACADEMY.

THAT IS NOT EASY TO GET INTO, UH, MASS ACADEMY, THE SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED STUDIES.

WHERE IS PENELOPE WHO JUST, UH, GOT ACCEPTED TO CORNELL, UH, UNIVERSITY.

SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF PENELOPE.

AND THE REASON I'M HERE TO RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF OUR YOUTH COMMISSION TODAY IS TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY STARTING AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.

I THINK IF MORE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED FROM A YOUNG AGE, WE WOULD HAVE MORE PEOPLE WHO GO OUT AND VOTE AND CARE.

AND SO I STARTED THIS YOUTH COMMISSION, I THINK IN 2018, AND, UM, AND MY CHILDREN ALSO SERVED AS MEMBERS OF THE YOUTH YOUTH COMMISSION.

AND I KNOW THAT IT REALLY DOES, UH, CHANGE LIVES.

AND IT'S SO PIVOTAL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SAY OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, WE SAY ONE NATION, INDIVISIBLE.

AND I THINK THAT WE'RE ANYTHING BUT RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SO DIVIDED.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I'M HONORING OUR YOUTH COMMISSION TODAY IS THAT THEY CAME UP WITH A WONDERFUL WAY TO BRING PEACE, LOVE, AND UNITY TO MIAMI BEACH.

AND THAT WAS THEIR IDEA, TO HAVE POSITIVE AFFIRMATION SIGNS IN OUR PUBLIC PARKS.

AND, UH, WE ARE ABOUT TO PASS THIS LEGISLATIVELY.

AND COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ HAS BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY ON THIS TOO.

IT PASSED ALREADY DID IT.

IT'LL BE IN THE BAYSHORE PARK AND, UH, DAVID GOMEZ IN PUBLIC WORKS HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT.

SO YOU GUYS HAVE ACTUALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE.

AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE YOUTH COMMISSION IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO OUR STUDENTS CAN GET INVOLVED, THEIR FAMILIES CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS HERE AT THE MIAMI BEACH COMMISSION.

AND ALL I WOULD SAY TO YOU IS DON'T STOP GETTING INVOLVED BECAUSE YOU CAN COME IN, SPEAK UP, CHANGE LAWS, LOOK AT YOUR PARENTS, SASHA, THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN EVERY ELECTION THAT I CAN POSSIBLY REMEMBER .

SO I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, CONGRATULATE ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR YOUTH COMMISSION AND, UH, COME UP HERE AND RECEIVE YOUR CERTIFICATES.

DO ANY, ARE ANY OF YOU GRADUATING APART FROM PENELOPE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY INTO THE MICROPHONE, UH, WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SCHOOL NEXT YEAR? SURE THING.

SO I'M GOING TO UC, BERKELEY GO BEARS.

AH, CONGRATULATIONS.

ANY OTHER GRADUATES? YEAH, I'LL BE GOING TO STERN COLLEGE.

WOW.

WHERE'S STERN COLLEGE? MANHATTAN.

OH, WONDERFUL.

CONGRAT, OH, THE STERN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT NYU, NO STRONG COLLEGE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

GO UP THERE AND SAY THAT'S, THEN YOU GET SOME READY OVER HERE.

LINE TWO.

OKAY.

UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION ONE THING, IF THAT IS ALL RIGHT, ABOUT THE MOTION THAT THE YOUTH COMMISSIONER OR THE YOUTH COMMISSION BOARD MADE FOR THE POSITIVE AFFIRMATION SIGNAGE IN BAYSHORE PARK.

SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO SAY THAT THAT GIG GET

[00:30:01]

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THIS COMMISSION BOARD FOR ALLOWING THAT TO GET THROUGH.

BUT WE DID RECENTLY JUST MAKE ANOTHER MOTION REGARDING, UM, THE POSITIVE AFFIRMATION, WHICH GOT PLACED ONTO THE JUNE AGENDA FOR THE COMMISSION MEETING, I BELIEVE, WHICH GOES OVER THE SPECIFICS OF THE DESIGN THAT WE WORKED WITH CIP TO PICK OUT, AS WELL AS THE SPECIFICS OF THE LANGUAGE FOR THE POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS, WHICH IS BEING SOURCED BY A ORGANIZATION THAT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE STATE RECOMMENDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.

SO IF WE COULD PLEASE HAVE YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT, JUST SO FOR THE FINAL PUSH OF THIS, UM, PROJECT, THAT'D BE ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US FOR THE RECOGNITION TODAY OF YOUR PARENTS.

YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

MOM AND DAD, PARENTS.

THANK YOU.

EVERYONE BE RIGHT HERE.

LOOK AT ME.

ALL RIGHT HERE.

YES.

NO, WE ALL DO IT FROM UP HERE.

LET'S GO.

LET'S DO IT.

LET'S DO IT.

GO THE NEXT ONE.

FAMILY COURT.

TWO, THREE.

IT, IT'S THE BASNER DAY IN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.

RIGHT? READY? 1, 2, 3.

THERE WE GO.

AND I JUST WANT, OUR COMMUNITY WOULD BE VERY PROUD TO HAVE SEEN, TO, TO HAVE SEEN PENELOPE AND TO HAVE SEEN MAGLIO IN TALLAHASSEE ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY IN THE FLORIDA SENATE.

MEETING WITH LEGISLATORS AND EXPRESSING THEIR OWN CONCERNS WAS ON PRACTICE.

IT WAS NOT PRACTICE, IT WAS NOT COACHED.

THEY EXPRESSED THEIR OWN CONCERNS ABOUT THE LIVE LOCAL ACT IN TALLAHASSEE MEETING WITH, WITH LEGISLATORS.

AND IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE, WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH TO SAY THAT I WAS JUST IMPRESSED AND IN AWE, UH, THE GREAT ARGUMENTS AND THE WELL ARTICULATED PASSIONATE ARGUMENTS, UH, THAT THESE TWO YOUNG LEADERS, UH, GAVE IN TALLAHASSEE ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO NOT ONLY ARE THEY GOOD MEMBERS OF THE YOUTH COMMISSION, BUT THEY REALLY PUT IT TO TOO HARD AS REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO PROUD TO, TO BE THERE.

YOU REALLY SHINED REPRESENTING OUR C COMMUNITY.

I'M SO GRATEFUL AND SO PROUD OF THE TWO OF YOU AND ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU.

UH, PA KEEPING ON THE THEME OF STUDENTS, LET'S DO PA THREE,

[PA 3 PROCLAMATION FOR MACEO HALL.]

WHERE IS EO? THERE HE IS.

SO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE, UM, SPEAKING OF AMAZING STUDENTS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GRADUATES WILL HEAR, WHETHER IT'S FROM HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE, BUT IS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF SOAR HIGH, THE SKY'S THE LIMIT, GO FORWARD, ONWARD AND UPWARD.

BUT IN MAE'S CASE, IT'S LITERALLY YOUR FUTURE,

[00:35:01]

SO FOR EVERYBODY WHO IS, UM, ABOUT TO GRADUATE, THAT ALSO APPLIES TO YOU, BUT, UM, NOT LITERALLY LIKE IT DOES TO MASEO.

SO MASEO HALL, WHO IS STANDING BEFORE US WITH HIS VERY PROUD DAD, GLEN, UM, IS MIAMI BEACH NATIVE, AND HE'S A GRADUATING SENIOR AT MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH.

UM, HE IS CONSTANTLY AND CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED PERSEVERANCE, PASSION, AND AN EXTRAORDINARY COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND TO HIS GOALS.

IT IS, YOU KNOW, SETTING YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE AND, AND GOING AFTER IT.

UM, WHILE THE REST OF US WERE LEARNING ANOTHER LANGUAGE OR HOW TO MAKE SOURDOUGH DURING COV, UM, DURING THE PANDEMIC LOCK, LOCKDOWNS, MACEO DISCOVERED HIS PASSION FOR AVIATION.

UM, THE STAY AT HOME ORDERS ALLOWED YOU TO NOT TAKE UP CROCHETING OR, OR, YOU KNOW, WOODWORKING, UM, BUT ACTUALLY TO DIVE DEEPLY INTO FLIGHT SIMULATION GAMES.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE OF US, UM, WHO DID NOT, UM, LET OUR KIDS, UH, PLAY VIDEO GAMES WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE, PERHAPS WE WOULD'VE HAD TWO MORE PILOTS IN THE SKY WITH YOU.

BUT, UM, BUT WHAT THOSE GAMES DID WAS REALLY IGNITE A PASSION AND A DREAM, WHICH SET YOU ON A PATH THAT YOU ARE, ARE NOW FOLLOWING.

UM, IN THE SUMMER OF 2023, YOU GRADUATED FROM BOTH MIAMI AND FORT LAUDERDALE, CHAPTERS OF THE ORGANIZATION OF BLACK AEROSPACE PROFESSIONALS, UM, THE AEROSPACE CAREER EDUCATION ACADEMY.

YOU ALSO INTERNED WITH RENOWNED AVIATOR BARRINGTON IRVING, THE YOUNGEST PERSON TO FLY SOLO AROUND THE WORLD, GAINING FIRSTHAND EXPOSURE TO AVIATION CAREER PATHS AND MENTORSHIP FROM INDUSTRY LEADERS.

YOUR AVIATION JOURNEY CONTINUED WITH YOUR FIRST DISCOVERY FLIGHT ON APRIL 29TH, JUST TWO SHORT YEARS AGO THROUGH THE YOUNG EAGLES OF AMERICA PROGRAM AT TAMIAMI EXECUTIVE AIRPORT, WHICH, UM, I'M GUESSING THEY DIDN'T DO ENOUGH LOOP TO LOOPS BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY CONFIRMED YOUR DESIRE TO BECOME A COMMERCIAL PILOT.

SINCE THEN, YOU'VE ACCUMULATED ALREADY THREE AND A HALF HOURS OF, UH, LOGGED FLIGHT HOURS.

YOU'VE OBTAINED YOUR FAA FIRST CLASS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE, AND YOU'VE SUCCESSFULLY PASSED THE FAA PRIVATE PILOT KNOWLEDGE EXAM.

SO AS IF THAT WEREN'T ENOUGH, YOU'VE ALSO SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE BLACK STUDENT UNION.

YOU'VE GRADUATED FROM THE MIAMI BEACH FIRE CADET ACADEMY.

I'M SURE IF YOU DON'T WANNA BE A PILOT, UH, CHIEF ABELA WOULD LOVE TO CHAT WITH YOU.

UM, AND YOU'VE MADE HISTORY AS ONLY THE SECOND BLACK YOUTH TO SERVE ON THE MIAMI BEACH YOUTH COMMISSION.

SO A LOT OF, UH, IT'S A LOT OF UNBAKED SOURDOUGH BREAD, , I'M JUST SAYING.

SO TODAY, UM, WE ARE VERY PROUD TO RECOGNIZE YOU, GLEN.

YOU OBVIOUSLY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS , THIS IS ALL YOUR WIFE'S DOING.

UM, BUT CLEARLY MUST SAY THE THE CREDIT REALLY LIES AT YOUR FEET.

IT'S, IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE WHAT YOU'VE DONE SO FAR, AND I CAN'T WAIT.

I THINK WE ALL CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU DO.

AND, UM, AND, UM, ONCE YOU GET BORED OF FLYING AROUND, YOU'LL HOPEFULLY COME BACK TO MIAMI BEACH AND PICK UP WHERE YOUR DAD HAS LEFT OFF ON IN, UH, IN FIGHTING FOR THE, FOR WHAT'S RIGHT AND FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT.

SO TODAY, UM, WE ARE REALLY PROUD TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION TO AVIATION AND TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

AND WE, UH, AS MAYOR AND COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, HEREBY PROCLAIM TODAY, MAY 28TH, 2025 AS MASEO HALL DAY.

CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER BOT.

CAN I SAY A COUPLE, COUPLE THINGS? A COUPLE THINGS? ALRIGHT.

UM, I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE RECOGNIZE THE FIRST PERSON.

I WANNA, LEMME BACK UP.

IT REALLY, THERE'S AN AFRICAN PROVERB THAT SAYS IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD.

AND THAT'S WHAT MIAMI BEACH HAS DONE.

UH, THE FIRST PERSON TO GIVE MACEO A JOB WAS KING ARTHUR ART MARTINO, HIS FIRST JOB, RIGHT? THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

UM, HE'S ALSO BEEN HELPED WITH HIS AVIATION JOURNEY THROUGH CHIEF JONES.

LOT OF YOU GUYS KNOW THAT CHIEF JONES IS A, IS A PILOT AND HAS HIS OWN PLANE, HAS TAKEN UP MASSE A COUPLE TIMES AND WORKED ON HIS POINTERS AND STUFF.

SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITHIN THIS CITY HAVE PROVIDED THAT GUIDANCE AND THAT, THAT PUSH.

SO I WANTED JUST TO RECOGNIZE THAT ALSO.

THANK YOU .

HE DOESN'T SPEAK MUCH, BUT HE'S SHY.

I'M JUST VERY THANKFUL FOR THE HONOR OF AWARDING ME THIS PROCLAMATION.

AND I WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE AND DO MY BEST IN ORDER TO BECOME A COMMERCIAL PILOT.

AND I'LL REACH BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS HELPED ME TO REACH WHERE I AM TODAY.

ALL

[00:40:18]

HEY, LOOK AT THAT RIGHT HERE.

VERY COOL.

THREE.

WAIT, I THINK WE NEED THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT.

OH, THAT'S A YES.

AND UM, PJ, CAN YOU PUT THE PHOTOGRAPH A SECOND? LET OH, LOOK AT THAT.

ONE OTHER QUICK NOTE, HIS SHIRT HAS ON THE LUKE WEATHERS FLIGHT ACADEMY, HE HAS GOTTEN INTO THE LUKE WEATHERS FLIGHT ACADEMY IN MISSISSIPPI.

SO BY THE END OF THIS SUMMER, HE'LL HAVE HIS PRIVATE PARENT LICENSE.

RIGHT? ALRIGHT, CONGRATULATIONS.

IT'S CALLED, UH, PA

[PA 5 CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO CIVILIAN VOLUNTEER PATROL PROGRAM AND VOLUNTEERS.]

PA FIVE IS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO CIVILIAN VOLUNTEER PATROL PROGRAM, AND VOLUNTEERS COME ON UP GUYS.

SO THE, UH, CIVILIAN VOLUNTEER PATROL, THE CVP, AND I'M, UH, I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF THIS GROUP FOR ANYBODY WHO'S NOT FAMILIAR.

HEY, COME, COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

YOU CAN STAND BY THE PODIUM OVER THERE.

OKAY.

RIGHT HERE.

I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF THIS, THIS GROUP, BASICALLY, EVEN BEFORE I WAS ELECTED INITIALLY AS COMMISSIONER, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAD THOUGHT ABOUT.

I, ANYBODY WHO KNOWS, WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED.

I READ A LOT ABOUT POLICING AND THE JUDICIAL AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND SPEAK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND THIS IS AN IDEA THAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, NOT MANY, BUT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, NEW YORK, OTHERS TAMPA, HAD REALLY UTILIZED WELL.

YOU GET VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING THEIR COMMUNITY BETTER.

THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT, AND THIS IS CERTAINLY A VERY, UH, AN EXCELLENT WAY.

AND BASICALLY THE IDEA IS TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN UNIFORM AS YOU ARE, WHO HAVE RADIO COMMUNICATION WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND JUST HAVING AN EXTRA EYES AND EARS ON THE STREETS, THAT, THAT EXTRA VISIBILITY, UH, TO BE ABLE TO REPORT.

ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF THE CBP RECENTLY REPORTED, UH, SOMETHING TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH ULTIMATELY LED TO AN ARREST.

UH, AND THERE'S SO MANY MORE STORIES THAT YOU ARE ALL DOING OUT THERE, BUT WHAT I'M SO PROUD IS THIS COME TOGETHER TO SEE THIS, BECAUSE WHEN I INITIALLY BROUGHT THIS IDEA FIVE YEARS AGO, THERE WERE MANY WHO TOLD ME IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN.

THERE'S NO WAY THIS IS HAPPENING IN MIAMI BEACH AND YOUR TESTAMENT.

THAT ABSOLUTELY IS HAPPENING, AND IT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR STREETS.

YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE ON OUR STREETS, WHETHER IT BE LARGE EVENTS, WHETHER IT BE PATROLLING THE STREETS, AND SOMETIMES I'M DRIVING BY, I CAN'T EVEN STOP TO SAY HELLO, BECAUSE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND I, UH, I CAN'T, I CAN'T SCREW OUT THE WINDOW, BUT I, I SEE YOU OUT THERE.

SO IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED.

I'M GONNA MENTION EACH OF YOU BY NAME, WHO'S HERE BECAUSE, UH, BUT EVERY GREAT GROUP NEEDS A LEADER.

AND SERGEANT SROKA, YOU REALLY HAVE TAKEN THIS, THIS CVP GROUP TO ANOTHER LEVEL.

UH, SO THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR THAT.

THERE'S, UH, 15 ACTIVE MEMBERS.

CURRENTLY, THERE'S THREE ADDITIONAL ONES IN TRAINING.

WE'RE, THERE'S ALWAYS NEW CLASSES, NOT ALWAYS, BUT A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR THERE'S NEW CLASSES STARTING.

SO IF EVERYBODY'S INTERESTED, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ME, UM, JUST TO LET US KNOW YOU'RE INTERESTED AND WE'LL GET THE, UH, WE'LL GET THE APPLICATION, UH, UP AND RUNNING.

I WANNA MENTION EACH OF YOU BY NAME, WHO'S, WHO'S HERE.

ALAN SLANG.

THANKS.

AND BY THE WAY, I KNOW ALL OF YOU AND I HOPE, I JUST HOPE I GET ALL THE NAMES RIGHT.

FLAVIO ROSSI, MATT SARUS, SARAH, SORRY, TAKE VALERIE.

NEVER THAT ONE.

I GOT RIGHT.

YOLANDA TI FELIX MANTIS.

[00:45:03]

AND I'M GONNA MENTION EVEN THOUGH HE IS NOT HERE, HE'S BEEN AT EVERY OTHER EVENT THAT I'VE BEEN AT RECENTLY, IS MARK BRILL, WHO'S ALSO A MEMBER OF THE, UH, CVP.

PLEASE, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING, SERGEANT.

NO, GO AHEAD, SERGEANT.

SURE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT.

UH, WHEN I FIRST TOOK OVER THIS UNIT, UH, SORRY, SERGEANT C JAMOCA WITH THE MAYA BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY AFFAIRS UNIT, AND I OVERSEE THE CIVILIAN VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.

UH, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, UH, YOUR, THEIR GOAL, YOUR VISION WAS TO KEEP GROWING.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

UH, WE MET UP AS A TEAM, WE WORKED HARD.

UH, WE WENT OUT THERE, ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY EYES AND EARS FOR THE, FOR THE COMMUNITY ASSISTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE ARE, WE ARE INVOLVED IN MOSTLY ALL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

SO I'M VERY PROUD, UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

YOU HAVE REALLY COOL HATS.

I MEAN, I WANT ONE OF THOSE HATS.

, COME ON.

YOU CAN DO IT.

BY THE WAY, I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT.

I LITERALLY COULD PROBABLY WRITE A CHAPTER IN A BOOK ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE UNIFORMS AND HOW, HOW THAT CAME ABOUT AND THE DIFFERENT, UH, VARIATIONS.

SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR, FOR THAT.

IT WAS, IT WAS A LOT OF WORK COMING UP WITH THE, WITH HOW PROFESSIONAL YOU, YOU ALL LOOK.

THANK YOU.

YOU WANNA DO, UH, SHOULD I COME DOWN WITH THE LITTLE SHORTS? ONE RIGHT HERE? 1, 2, 3, HERE.

ALL.

I THINK THE COMMON THEME TODAY IS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE ALL WORK HARD UP HERE TO TRY TO MAKE OUR CITY BETTER, BUT WE ARE, IT TAKES THE COMMUNITY, IT TAKES OUR RESIDENTS, IT TAKES OUR DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO REALLY TAKE US TO THE NEXT LEVEL, WHICH WE ARE DOING.

SO REALLY A A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO EVERYONE, UH, IN OUR, IN OUR CITY WHO LITERALLY WORKS HARD TO MAKE US, UH, THE GREAT CITY THAT WE ARE.

LET'S CALL

[PA 4 CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO BELLA CUBA RESTAURANT.]

OKAY.

TO GO.

COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, SO BAYA, CUBA, OR AS EVERYONE CALLS IT HERE, BELLA CUBA , UM, IS REALLY A VERY SPECIAL PLACE.

UM, MARK AND I USED TO GO THERE OFTEN, PARTICULARLY BEFORE ANY EVENT THAT WE WOULD ATTEND AT THE, UM, AT THE THEATER, AT THE FILLMORE, AND THAT WOULD BE OUR STOP.

AND THAT WAS OUR STOP ONE YEAR WHEN OMAR WAS THERE AND HIS DAD, AND THEY WERE CELEBRATING THEIR 16 YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

BUT WE ARE HERE TODAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

SO BEVA RESTAURANT LOCATED JUST STEPS FROM THE ICONIC LINCOLN ROAD IN THE HEART OF SOUTH BEACH ON WASHINGTON AVENUE.

BELLA CUBA RESTAURANT HAS BEEN SERVING UP THE SOUL OF CUBAN CUISINE FOR TWO DECADES, ESTABLISHED IN 2005 BY A FAMILY WITH DEEP ROOTS IN HOSPITALITY AND CULTURAL PRIDE, BELLA CUBA HAS BECOME MORE THAN JUST A RESTAURANT.

IT IS A LIVING TRIBUTE

[00:50:01]

THE JIMENEZ FAMILY HAS BUILT BEA CUBA INTO A BELOVED INSTITUTION, KNOWN FOR ITS HOMEMADE CLASSICS, WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE AND VIBRANT CELEBRATION OF CUBAN CULTURE FROM FRAGRANT VIEJA, TRADITIONAL TON AND HAND PRESSED TOIS TO RICH CAFE, CUNO, AND FRESH MOJITOS.

EVERY DISH AT BEVA TELLS A STORY OF HERITAGE, FAMILY RECIPES, AND A DEEP LOVE FOR THE FLAVORS OF THE ISLAND.

OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, THE RESTAURANT HAS WELCOMED LOCALS, TOURISTS, ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, POLITICIANS, AND EVERYDAY DREAMERS, ALL LOOKING TO EXPERIENCE THE WARMTH OF A HOME COOKED MEAL AND THE ENERGY OF A PLACE WHERE CULTURE IS PROUDLY ALIVE THROUGH HURRICANES, ECONOMIC UPS AND DOWNS, AND A CHANGING CULINARY LANDSCAPE.

VEA GUBA HAS REMAINED A CONSTANT IN MIAMI BEACH, A FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS ROOTED IN INTEGRITY, FLAVOR, AND WARM HOSPITALITY.

AS WE CELEBRATE THEIR 20TH ANNIVERSARY, WE HONOR THEIR GUESTS, THEIR TEAM, AND OUR COMMUNITY, WITHOUT WHOM THIS JOURNEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.

AND HERE IS TO TWO DECADES OF UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES AND TO MANY MORE YEARS OF SERVING THE COMMUNITY.

AND I WANNA SAY BEFORE WE GO DOWN AND PRESENT THIS, UM, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE MIAMI, UH, BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS SAID, OH YEAH, WE HAVE DONATED FOOD FROM, UM, BEA UVA, UH, THE CHURCH, ALL SOULS CHURCH.

YEAH.

WE'RE SERVING THE HOMELESS WITH DONATED FOOD FROM BEA UVA.

SO IT'S MORE THAN JUST A RESTAURANT.

WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS, UH, SUCH AN INSPIRATION.

YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING.

CONGRATULATIONS ON 20 YEARS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND FEEL FREE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, AND I JUST WANNA JUST ADD TO THAT BECAUSE AS A, AS A CUBAN AMERICAN, I'M SO PROUD TO SEE, UH, A FAMILY, UH, LIKE YOURS.

UH, AND WE ALL KNOW OMAR VERY WELL.

BUT TO SEE YOUR MOM AND DAD STANDING NEXT TO YOU TO, TO SEE THIS SMALL BUSINESS, UH, THRIVE AND SUCCEED AT MIAMI BEACH AND CARRY CULTURE, CARRY FORWARD, UH, THE FLAVORS OF OUR CUBAN CULTURE, IT REALLY IS BEAUTIFUL.

AND I'D BE REMISS TO SAY THE ONLY MALANGA SOUP IN MIAMI BEACH IS IN UBA.

AND IF YOU LIKE OXTAIL RADO, THE BEST ONE IN MIAMI BEACH IS AVEA.

SO GREAT TO HAVING OUR COMMUNITY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I JUST WANNA SAY THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE HONOR.

UM, BELLA CUBA HAS BEEN IN MY LIFE SINCE I WAS 14.

UH, WE OPENED THE FIRST CUBAN RESTAURANT IN IRELAND WHEN WE LIVED THERE BEFORE WE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES.

AND, UM, IT'S PRETTY MUCH BEEN A FIXTURE IN MY LIFE THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE LIFE.

AND I'M ALMOST 40 NOW, SO DEFINITELY NOT A SPRING CHICKEN ANYMORE.

BUT, UM, WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND GROW WITH YOU ALL TOGETHER.

UH, AS YOU SAID, WE LOVE SERVING THE CHURCH WHERE I WORKED AND STARTED VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMS FOR MANY YEARS.

UM, THE SOUTH BEACH COMMUNITY, MID BEACH AND NORTH BEACH COMMUNITY, TOGETHER WITH THE FOP, WE CATERED THEIR MEETINGS SOMETIMES TOO, SO IT'S AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

TROPICAL, THAT'S THE ONE THAT THEY HAVE ON THE MENU.

1, 2, 3, 1.

THANK, 1, 2, 3.

ONE, TWO.

THANK YOU.

I GOTTA RUN MY MEETING.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST,

[PA 2 PROCLAMATION FOR MIAMI BEACH BICYCLE CENTER FOR CELEBRATING 48 YEARS IN THE MIAMI BEACH COMMUNITY.]

YAY.

PA TWO PROCLAMATION, MIAMI BEACH BICYCLE CENTER.

48 YEARS IN MIAMI BEACH COMMUNITY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.

AND TONIGHT WE'RE HONORING A TRUE MIAMI BEACH INSTITUTION, ONE THAT'S BEEN PART OF THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR CITY FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY.

AND IMAGINE THAT HALF A CENTURY HERE IN MIAMI BEACH.

THE MIAMI BEACH BICYCLE CENTER

[00:55:01]

48 YEARS.

I MEAN, AND, AND REALLY IT'S AMAZING BECAUSE SOME BUSINESSES DON'T EVEN OPEN THEIR DOORS.

AND THIS BUSINESS HAS BEEN HERE FOR, FOR 48 YEARS, NOT ONLY AS A PLACE TO BUY A BIKE OR TO, UH, FIX A FLAT, BUT IT'S BEEN A PILLAR OF SERVICE, A PILLAR OF COMMUNITY, AND OF COMMITMENT IN OUR CITY.

AND IT BEGAN IN 1977, IS THAT CORRECT? 1970.

THAT'S CORRECT.

THEN A 19-YEAR-OLD JACK RUIZ, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

ALL RIGHT.

, WHO OPENED A HUMBLE 400 SQUARE FOOT, WAS IT 400 SQUARE FEET? YEP.

400 SQUARE FOOT, UH, SHOP WITH JUST FIVE BIKES FOR SALE.

AND OVER THE YEARS, THAT VISION GREW INTO SOMETHING SO MUCH MORE.

A 4,000 SQUARE FOOT SHOWROOM RIGHT HERE IN THE HEART OF SOUTH BEACH.

AND I THINK THAT DESERVES A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

AND YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY RAN A BUSINESS BECAUSE WHAT STARTED AS JACK'S VISION AT 19 YEARS OF AGE.

TODAY IT IS RAN AND OPERATED TOGETHER WITH HIS TWO SONS, ALEX AND DANNY, AND I THINK ALEX IS HERE TODAY.

WELCOME ALEX.

UH, THIS FAMILY BUSINESS HAS DONE MORE THAN JUST SERVE CUSTOMERS.

THEY'VE CHAMPIONED A HEALTHIER, MORE SUSTAINABLE AND MORE ACCESSIBLE CITY FROM PROMOTING CYCLING AS A WAY OF LIFE TO ADVOCATING FOR BIKE SAFETY AND EDUCATION.

THE MIAMI BEACH BICYCLE CENTER HAS HELPED PUSH US FORWARD, AND I THINK WE CAN SAY ONE PEDAL AT A TIME, MOVING MIAMI BEACH FORWARD.

SO NOT ONLY HAVE THEY EARNED THE LOYALTY OF GENERATIONS OF MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO THE ADMIRATION OF OUR CITY.

AND I KNOW EVEN OUR OWN STAFF WHO HAS ENJOYED A LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP THROUGH YOUR SUPPORT TO OUR MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND MANY OF OUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING OUR PARKING DEPARTMENTS, THEIR EFFORTS HAVE MADE MIAMI BEACH A MORE CONNECTED, A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND A MORE BIKE FRIENDLY CITY.

SO ON BEHALF OF OUR RESIDENTS, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COMMISSION IN RECOGNITION OF 48 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, WE DO HERE PROCLAIM TODAY AS MIAMI BEACH BICYCLE CENTER DAY IN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.

ACTUALLY, COMMISSIONER, I ACTUALLY, I ACTUALLY WANT TO SHARE A QUICK STORY.

YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THIS.

LITERALLY THIS SATURDAY NIGHT, A FRIEND OF MINE WHO BICYCLES HUNDREDS OF MILES A WEEK, HE'S AN AVID BICYCLIST, AND HE WAS USING, FOR WHATEVER REASON, HE LIVED IN A DIFFERENT AREA.

HE WAS USING A DIFFERENT BIKE SHOP, AND HE SAID HE RECENTLY FOUND YOUR BIKE SHOP.

HE SAYS, I CANNOT BELIEVE I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THEM SOONER.

, HE KNEW ABOUT YOU, BUT HE HADN'T MOVED.

HE SAYS, THEY ARE PROFESSIONALS.

THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

HE SAYS, THIS IS A GEM IN MIAMI BEACH.

THAT'S WHAT HE TOLD ME THIS SATURDAY NIGHT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR NOW.

FERNANDEZ.

UH, THIS IS A GREAT HONOR FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

UH, THIS ALL STARTED AS A, UH, HOBBY AND A DREAM, AND IT, UH, OVER 48 YEARS HAS, UH, GROWN INTO A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS.

AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE, UH, CITIZENS OF, UH, MIAMI BEACH THAT HAVE SUPPORTED US OVER THE YEARS.

UH, WE'VE MET SOME WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND EVERY DAY WE MEET NEW PEOPLE AND, UH, IT'S A PASSION FOR US.

SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY THAT HAS EMBRACED THIS FOR SO MANY YEARS.

THANK YOU ALL MAYOR AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR HONORING US WITH THIS PROCLAMATION.

THANK YOU.

AL DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING OR NEXT? SO, 48 YEARS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME.

I'M, I'M ONLY 46, SO HE IS BEEN AROUND LONGER THAN I HAVE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A KID, I DIDN'T GO TO SUMMER CAMP.

I, I WENT TO THE BIKE SHOP AND I STARTED COUNTING TUBES, THEN MOVED UP TO CHANGING FLAT TIRES, COUNTING THE REGISTER, AND NOW I, I RUN THE BUSINESS.

SO AS THE MAYOR SAID, YOU SEE, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.

YOU KNOW, , THE GUY GAVE HIM A GOOD, GOOD REFERRAL.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE STILL DOING IT.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THANKFUL TO NOT ONLY THE CITY AND THE COMMISSION, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, THE MAYOR, BUT UH, THE SUPPORT THAT WE GET FROM OUR WIVES AND OUR CHILDREN THAT WE REALLY COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT, UH, WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THIS, THIS IS GREAT HONOR AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I JUST THANK YOU.

I WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT DURING OUR BASEL WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE OUR CITY, THANKS TO THEIR BICYCLES.

IF YOU SAW ME GETTING TO PLACES ON TIME DURING ART BASEL WAS BECAUSE I WENT OVER THERE AND I RENTED THEIR, THEIR BICYCLES.

AND ALSO, I JUST REALLY HAVE TO SAY, AS A HISPANIC ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THIS CITY TONIGHT, WE HAVE HONORED TWO VERY,

[01:00:01]

NOT ONLY ARE THEY SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT THEY'RE HISPANIC OWNED BUSINESSES, AND THEY'RE HONORABLE BUSINESSES THAT REALLY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FABRIC OF OUR CITY.

I AM SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT TO YOU WITH THIS ON BEHALF.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

OH, AND ONE, ONE MORE THING.

I'M SORRY, I, I GOTTA MENTION MY BROTHER DANNY.

HE'S, UH, HE STILL, HE'S STILL AT THE STORE RIGHT NOW, SO WE'RE HERE TODAY, BUT, UH, HE'S AT WORK, BUT, UH, HE'S, UH, AS MUCH A PART OF THIS AS, AS ALL OF US.