1616-35 The MIA Herald- Dermer Lauds City`s resurgence mh04 DERMER LAUDS CITY'S RESURGENCE 03/28/2004
THE MIAMI HERALD
Copyright (c) 2004, The Miami Herald
DATE: Sunday, March 28, 2004 EDITION: Final
SECTION: Neighbors BC PAGE: 3MB LENGTH: 52 lines
SOURCE/CREDIT LINE: BY NICOLE WHITE, nwhite@herald.com
DERMER LAUDS CITY'S RESURGENCE
In his third state of the city address Friday, Mayor David Dermer raved
about the city's strong economic resurgence after the Sept. 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks, and credited the city's continued success to residents,
businesses - and even the man who fashioned the South Beach Diet.
As proof of the city's financial resurgence, Dermer noted that $24 million
was collected in resort taxes during the past fiscal year. That represents a 4
percent increase over the previous best year, which came before the 2001
terrorist attacks, he noted.
"We're doing something right, and everyone on this dais, city employees,
police and fire departments . . . have all contributed to that success, "
Dermer said.
Dermer listed several factors that have contributed to the city's success.
Among them were a slew of new developments, including the addition of 1,000
new hotel rooms; cultural attractions such as Art Basel and plans to build a
Frank Gehry-designed Sound Space for the New World Symphony; community
facilities such as the renovated Bay Shore Golf Course and a recently
completed ice rink at the Scott Rakow Youth Center.
He also lauded Dr. Arthur Agatston, creator of the famed South Beach Diet.
"Little did we know last year that a local cardiologist working out of
Mount Sinai Hospital would become known worldwide as the diet doctor
extraordinaire, " Dermer said.
"Thank you for giving people a new effective, easy way to live and for
acting as a great goodwill ambassador for our city. "
In an hourlong speech delivered before a commission chamber packed with
officials, including state Sen. Gwen Margolis land state Rep. Dan Gelber,
Dermer also thanked commissioners for taking leadership on key issues.
The list included the recent settlement of the Alaska Parcel deal, and
several amendments to the city's charter that place more development control
in voters' hands.
Dermer also acknowledged some shortcomings.
Most notably, he said, the city's continued boom has wreaked some havoc on
some neighborhoods, especially those in the South Pointe neighborhood south of
Fifth Street.
Dermer's comments came days after hundreds of residents packed a community
meeting to complain about the lack of city services and the city's failure to
enforce the noise ordinance.
"We've been tooting our own horn on the financial security we've built,
but maybe, just maybe, we haven't considered all of the impacts of this
success upon all of our residential neighborhoods, " Dermer said.
"We have to do better to find a more-comprehensive way to preserve
resident quality of life, " he said. ' It's about time our residents' concerns
[are] our first priority. "
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