2012-28045 Reso RESOLUTION NO! 2012 -28045 j
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, EXPRESSING
APPRECIATION FOR THE RETURN OF THE CUBAN
FLAG AT THE FREEDOM TOWER AND REQUESTING AN
EXPLANATION AS TO THE FLAG'S TEMPORARY
REMOVAL.
WHEREAS, the Downtown Miami Freedom Tower, with its distinctive Mediterranean
Revival silhouette, stands as the most identifiable monument associated with the Cuban exile
experience in America; and
WHEREAS, when the Castro regime came into power, Cuban refugees came to Florida
looking for a new beginning and the Tower was used by the U.S. government between 1962
and 1974 to provide assistance to Cuban immigrants, thus, earning its name as the Freedom
Tower; and
WHEREAS, the Freedom Tower, holds rich historical significance for thousands of
Cuban Americans for whom its halls became the gateway to liberty and opportunity in the
United States; and .
WHEREAS, for many years, the Freedom Tower displayed the Cuban Flag as a
symbol of freedom from the communist regime of Fidel Castro; and
WHEREAS the Freedom Tower's rich history began in 1925 when, from that time until
1957, it housed the offices for the Miami News & Metropolis newspaper, and
WHEREAS, in 1979, the Freedom Tower was added to the U.S. National Register of
Historic Places and was designated as a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 2008; and
WHEREAS, the Freedom Tower was purchased in 1974 by Jorge Mas Canosa who sold
it in 2004 to the Pedro Martin Family which later donated it to Miami Dade College in 2005; and
WHEREAS, as an educational center, the Freedom Tower is currently a destination not
only for students, but is the site for many cultural and community events; and
WHEREAS, the President of Miami Dade College, Dr. Eduardo J. Padron, a Cuban -
American, is among the many refugees who passed through the Freedom Tower's halls in
1961; and
WHEREAS, recently, the Cuban flag was inexplicably removed from the Freedom
Tower; and
WHEREAS, with the assistance of the Cuban American Patriots and Friends and its
President Emilio Izquierdo, and Prensa Libre, which first publicized the missing flag and was
instrumental in its return, the Cuban flag has been restored to the Freedom Tower; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach Mayor and City Commissioners appreciate the
return of the Cuban flag to its rightful location at the Freedom Tower, but request that Dr.
Eduardo J. Padron, President of Miami -Dade College, provide an explanation to.the Mayor and
City Commission as to the flag's temporary absence.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that while. appreciative of the
return of Cuban flag to the Freedom Tower, the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami
Beach hereby respectfully request that Miami Dade College President Dr. Eduardo J. Padron
provide an explanation regarding the temporary absence of the Cuban flag from the Freedom
Tower.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of October, 2012.
ATTEST:
Jorge R. Exposito \!
i Vice -Mayor
Raf el Granado 1�
City Clerk
INCORP ORAT
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
it ate
F:WTTO \TURN \RESOS \The Freedom Tower.docx
MIAMSEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
JOSE SMITH, CITY ATTORNEY COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: MAYOR MATTI HERRERA BOWER,
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION
KATHIE BROOKS, INTERIM CITY MANAGER
FROM: JOSE SMITH ;-
CITY ATTORNE
DATE: OCTOBER 24,20 2
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR THE
RETURN OF THE CUBAN FLAG AT THE FREEDOM TOWER AND
REQUESTING AN EXPLANATION AS TO THE FLAG'S
TEMPORARY REMOVAL.
Pursuant to the request of Commissioner Jonah Wolfson, the attached Resolution
expressing appreciation for the return of the Cuban flag at the Freedom Tower and requesting an
explanation as to the flag's temporary removal is submitted for consideration by the Mayor and
'City Commission at the October 24, 2012 City Commission meeting.
F:WTTO \TURN \COMMMEMO \Freedom Tower.doc
Agenda Item f
Date
V i i del Ml r AC
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
Office of the City Clerk
Rafael E. Granado
Tel: 305- 673 -7411 Fax: 786 -394 -4127 Email CityClerk @miamibeachfl.gov
November 1, 2012
Dr. Eduardo J. Padron
Miami Dade
300 NE 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33132
Dear Dr. Padron,
Attached please find Resolution R- 2012 - 28045, a resolution of the Mayor and City
Commission of.the City of Miami Beach, Florida, expressing appreciation for the return of
the Cuban flag at the Freedom Tower and requesting an explanation as to the flag's
temporary removal.
This Resolution was passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commission of the City
of Miami Beach on October 24, 2012.
If you need additional information, please do not hesitate to call.
Respectfully,
I
fael E.
ran(
City Clerk
REG /kf
We ore committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live. work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community.
C:\ Users \CLERFigK \Documents \Letters of Transmittal \Transmittal Resolution 2012 -28045 Freedom Tower Flag.doc