2000-24071 RESO
RESOLUTION NO. 2000-24071
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING
THE PLEDGE ADOPTED BY THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD TO WORK TOWARD
BUILDING A COMMUNITY THAT OPENS ITS HEART,
MIND, AND ARMS TO ALL WHO CALL MIAMI HOME.
WHEREAS, a recent full page advertisement in the Miami Herald offered a pledge by 341
private sector community leaders, comprising Miami-Dade Countians of all ethnic, religious, and
racial groups who pledged to: "work toward building a community that opens its heart, its mind, and
its arms to all who call Miami home;" and
WHEREAS, at its meeting of June 21, 2000, the Miami-Dade County Community Relations
Board adopted a Resolution introduced by Judge Seymour Gelber to join these community leaders,
not only to endorse and subscribe to this pledge, but a]so to enlarge the number of those in support
of the pledge, particularly Miami-Dade County's political leadership; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach hereby endorse
and subscribe to the following pledge as a step toward building a framework of peace and
understanding among all individuals residing in our diverse and vibrant community:
Some of were born and raised here. Others of us come from different states
and other countries. Despite our respective differences, we do agree on
some basic values. We love our community. We love our country. We have
our own opinions, and we respect those who have different opinions. And
we are absolutely opposed to hatred, bigotry and prejudice in any form
whatsoever. As individuals who care deeply about our future as a
community, we pledge to continue to work toward building a community
that opens its heart, its mind and its arms to all who call Miami home.
Please join us. (Miami Herald, Sunday, May 29, 2000, page 7B).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the above stated pledge
to work toward building a community that opens its heart, its mind, and its arms to all who call
Miami home is hereby endorsed and adopted,
PASSED and ADOPTED this 13th
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CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
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Date
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR & COMMISSION
TO:
LAWRENCE A. LEVY
CITY MANAGER
NEISEN KASDIN II.4l
MAYOR "'{
FROM:
SUBJECT: MIAMI-DADE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD RESOumON
DATE: 07/24/00
CC: MURRAYDUBBIN
CITY ATIORNEY
Attached please find the County's resolution pledging to "wotk toward building a community
that opens its hem, mind and arms to all who call Miami home.' I feel that the City of Miami Beach
would greatly benefit from a resolution of this nature and would like to have a similar resolution
placed on the September 13 Commission Agenda. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Agenda Item C 7 S
Date-3-13-0o
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STEPHEN P. CLARK CENTER
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MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, flORIDA
MIAMI-OA.E
----
Past CluJirpersons
Mario A. Martinez-Malo
Adora Obi Nweze
Raul Diaz
Joseph Serota
Wilbert T. Holloway
Manny Crespo, Sr.
Donald I. Biennan
Vemeka Silva
Dr. Bradford Brown
Rabbi Solomon Schiff
Oscar Baisman
Jerome Shevin
Tanya Dawkins
Irwin Block
* John J. Gibson
Msgr, Bryan O. Walsh
Rabbi Herben M. Baumgard
Rev. Conrad R. Willard
Rev. Irvin Elligan. Jr,
Alben W, Dilthery We urge you to support this resolution and look forward to your
~::::~:f.."w correspo.ndence confirming the same. We all can make a difference in our
Alfredo G, Duran community.
Audren Fiukelslein ~
* Joseph Robbie S' I
Edwin S, Shirley, Jr.. M,D, mce y your
Jan Janis
Henry King Stanford ~
. Harry P. Cain
. Rabbi Joseph R. Narot ang ang
Bishop James L. Duncan Chair erson
. Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll
Executive Board.
CIuJi~non
Sang Whang
C/urir..Ekct
Henry Givens
&cnlary
Danielle Romer
TrcG$llnr
Victor M. Ramos
PruIUIIMnI4Itian
Rev. Dr. Walter T. Richardson
Membe,., at Lture
Carolyn Boyce
Judith Gilben-Gould
Magda Orta
Rev. Guillenno Revuelta
Board Members
ArIes Carballo
Waldo Faura
Teresita Gyari
Rev. Jose Hernandez
Ana Milton
Adora Obi Nweze
Pamela Perry, Esq,
Lourdes Quirch
Ada Rojas
Tania Rotio
Dr. Mireille Tribie
. Oeceued
Dinctor
Rev, Willie E. Sims. Jr,
00 "!1_ ,~ -
COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD
111 N.W. 1st STREET. SUITE 620
MIAMI, FLORIDA 33128-1968
(305) 375-5730
FAX: (305) 375-5715
"
"
July 11, 2000
The Honorable Neisen O. Kasdin
Mayor of the City of Miami Beach
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Dear Mayor Kasdin:
The Miami-Dade Community Relations Board at its June 21, 2000 meeting
adopted the enclosed resolution introduced by Judge Seymour Gelber to
assist in diminishing the divisiveness created as a result of the Elian Gonzalez
issue. This resolution captures the Board's primary objective to foster mutual
understanding, tolerance and respect among all economic, social, religious
and ethnic groups in Miami-Dade County."
In an effort to continue the bridging of our communities, the Community
Relations Board moved to add its name to the 341 private sector community
leaders who in the May 2, 2000 edition of the Miami Herald pledged to "work
toward building a community that opens its heart, its mind and arms to all who
call Miami home." In an attempt to further this effort, the Community
Relations Board is requesting Miami-Dade County's political leadership to join
them in this process. As Mayor of Miami Beach, we are encouraging you and
your Commissioners to also subscribe to this pledge:
.Some of us were born and raised here. Others of us come from
different states and other countries. Despite our respective
differences, we do agree on some basic values. We love our
community. We love our country. We have our own opinions, and
we respect those who have different opinions. And we are
absolutely opposed to hatred, bigotry and prejudice in any form
whatsoever. As indivlduats who care deeply about our future as a
community, we pledge to continue to work toward building a
community that opens its heart, Its mind and its arms to all who call
Miami home. .
Enclosure
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Mission of the Community Relations Board
stating: "to foster mutual understanding, tolerance, and respect
among all economic:, social, religious and ethnic groups in the
County", is a clear call for the Community Relations Board to
assist in diminishing the divisiveness caused by the unfortunate
plight of Elian Gonzalez; and
WHEREAS, a recent full page advertisement in the Miami
Herald offered a pledge by 341 private sector community leaders,
comprising Miami-Dade Countians of all ethnic, religious and
racial groups who pledged to: "work toward building a community
that opens its heart, its mind, and its arms to all who call
Miami home"; and
WHEREAS, it is incumbent upon the Community Relations Board
to join these community leaders, not only to endorse and
subscribe to this pledge, but as well to enlarge the number of
those in support, more particularly, elected public officials
who are our chosen leaders.
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Community Relations
Board endorses and subscribes to this pledge and further, that
the Community Relations Board enlist our political leaders,
through each of the Mayors to join in this pledge, along with
their elected Commissioners/Councilpersons. Hopefully, other
groups in the public sector will join in this effort. This
involvement by the Community Relations Board is but a small step
in what appears to be a long journey. Let us begin.
USome or us were born and raised here. Others of us come rrOlll
different states and other countries. Despite our respective
differences I we do agree on S0101e basic values. We love our
community. We love our countxy. We have our own opinions, and
we respect those who have different opi.nions. And we are
abso.lute.ly opposed to hatred, bigotJ:Y and prejudice in any form
what:soever. As indivi.duals who care deeply about our future as a
community, we p.ledge to continue to work toward bui.lding a
communi ty tha t opens its heart, its mind and its arms to a.l.l who
ca.l.l Miami home. P.lease join us." (Miami Herald, Sunday, May 28,
2000, page 7B)
Introduced by: Judge Seymour Gelber
Adopted: June 21, 2000
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
1700 CONVENTION CENTER D~IVE
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
NEISEN O. KASOI N
MAYOR
July 24, 2000
Mr. Sang Whang
Chairperson
Community Relations Board
III N,W. I" Street, Suite 620
Miami, FL 33128-1968
Dear Mr. Whang:
As Mayor of the City of Miami Beach, I feel that the Miami-Dade Community Relations Board
Resolution embraces the spirit of tolerance and acceptance in the diverse and vibrant
communities of Miami-Dade County. It is through statements of this nature that our communities
move into the millennium with a framework of peace and understanding between all individuals
residing in this unique South Florida environment.
Thank you for bringing this resolution, so full of wisdom and foresight, to my attention. Attached
please find my memorandum to the City Manager requesting that a resolution of this nature be
placed in the September 13,2000 Commission Agenda. On behalf of the City of Miami Beach
you have my full support.
s~
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Mayor
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