R7Z - Letter from Jerry Libbin, Miami Beach Chamber of CommerceMIAMI BEACH
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
1920 Meridian Ave, Miami Beach, FL33139
Whereas the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce received a briefing from Mr. Ron Book in
2016 asking the Chamber to support a request to the City of Miami Beach to waive the City's
exception from imposing a 1% tax on the sale of food orders at restaurants to increase
funding for homeless outreach efforts;
Whereas thereafter the Chamber's executive board passed a resolution in 2016 declining to support the
waiver based upon economic factors impacting the restaurants operating in the City including
absorption of minimum wage increases then being imposed;
Whereas Covid and recovery from the pandemic and related shutdown has already caused a significant
burden to the restaurant industry;
Whereas the proposed imposition on a 2 am rollback of alcohol sales has further complicated recovery
efforts of Miami Beach businesses;
Whereas any additional imposition of taxes will create an undue burden;
Whereas instead the Chamber continues to encourage the City to reallocate as needed from the
existing resort taxes or other city funds to effectively address the current homeless issue;
Whereas the City's budget for homeless services is $2.8 million in FY 2021 and projected to be $2.9
million in FY 2022;
Whereas Miami Beach already collects 9% as compared to the 8% collected by the majority of other
County municipalities;
Whereas any increase to the existing City contribution to homeless causes and the existing F&B taxes
that the city already collects will create an unfair and unnecessary burden on the City's businesses that
already pay more than their fair share.
Therefore the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce continues to recommend that the City not waive its
exemption to the 1% tax and instead continue to use existing funding and programs to address the
challenge of homelessness in our community.
Passed this day, July 27th, 2021.
Robin Jacobs, Board Chair
Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce
Aaron Tandy, Chair -Elect
Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce
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Jerry Libbin, President and CEO
Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce
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2020-2021 EXECUTIVE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Robin Jacobs, Miami Beach Cosmetic Plastic Surgery,Chainnan
Aaron Tandy, Pathman Lewis LLP, Chair -Elect
Wayne Pathman, Pathman Lewis LLP, immediate Past Chair
Madeleine Romanello, Compass Real Estate. Vice Chair
Richard Segal, Segal Zuckerman, Vice Chair
John Stuart, FIU. Vice Chair
Steven Kreinik, 1_isnerAmper LLP, Treasurer
Seth Feuer, Compass. Pillar Trustee Chair
John Aleman, Commissioner City of Miami Beach
Reinaldo Borges, Borges + Associates Architects
Matis Cohen, KP Kahunah Properties
Sheila Duffy -Lehrman, Tropic Survival
Marisa Galbut, Crescent Heights. Inc.
Mark Gemignanl, Dominion Builders, LLC
Jack Glottman, Sagio Development Corp.
Michael S. Gotdborg.IOERIAEANK Private Client
Alfredo J.Gonzalez, Greenberg Traurig, P.A..
Jorge Gonzalez, City Manager
Bruce Gould, Bruce K Gould Foundation
Jason Loeb, Sudsies Dry Cleaners & Laundry
Anthony Noboa, ODM Performance Solutions, Inc.
Sandor Scher, Clare Development Solutions
Lindsay Schottenstein. American Eagle
Jeevan Tlllit, East of Collins
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
George Anderson, Sun Concierge and Staffing, LLC
Arturo Arca,Tromhly Liwi Firm
Ian Bachelkov, Akerman
Peggy Benua. Dream South Beath
Jason Blilie, The Law Offices of Jason G. Blilie, PLLC
Jeffrey M. Cohen, EU,•M Realty International
Deanne Connolly-Graharn,The Charter Agency
Erin Dowd, Baptist Health South Florida
Middle Enlow, Keller4Atliiams Miami Beach Realty
Jeff Feldman, The Riraldi Group of Florida
Patricio Fernandez, WeStrearn4U
Jessica Francos, Clevelander/ Essex House Hotel
Jessica Fuentes, Cafe Avanti
Alex Furrer, The Seta' - Miami Beach
Morgan Geller AXS Law Group, PLLC
Alfredo J.Gonzalez, Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
Alex Heckler, LSN Partners
Paula Hopkins, PepsiCo
Diane Klein, Nova Southeastern University
Calvin Kohli, Mercedes Services Inc.
Michael Larkin, Bercow Radell Fernandez & Larkin
Benton Launerts, Park One of Florida LLC
Linsey Lovell, Pardo Jackson: Geinsburg, PL
Paul M. Lowenthal, Southern Audio & Visual
Joy Malakoff, Commissioner City of Miami Beach
David Martin, Terra Group
Maia Mediavilla ,Vi at Ave+tura
Bo Megginson, Gold Coast Angel Investors
George Mohama, Hotwiro Communications
Charlie Mustell, The Mustell Law Firm
Daniel Odess, GlobalPro Recovery Inc.
Jay Parker. Douglas :Elliman Real Estate
Fred Peterson, Miami Beach Convention Center
Steve Polisar, Offices of Steve Polisar
Chris Rollins, South Beach Group Hotels
Melissa Rubin, Compass Real Estate
Ily Sabuggo, Atlantic Broadband
Daria Salyakia, Nickiaus Children's Hospital
Mark Samuelian, Commissioner City of Miami Beach
Emily Sherman, W South Beach
Lyle B. Stem, Koniver Stem Group
Julianne Strout, Commissioner City of North Bay Village
Ceci Velasco, Ocean Drive Association
Josh Wallack, Mange's Tropical Cafe, Inc.
GOVERNOR EMERITUS
James Rocco Boucher. Boucher Brothers Management
Sidney Goldin, Miarni Jewish Health Systern
Michael Grieco, Criminal Law C)`lice of Michael C. Grieco
CORPORATE EMERITUS
Thais Asper, AT&T Florida
Jail)? Gonzalez, Cly National Eank of Fkrda
ChristopherFerreiraFb idaFcewran:Lg`,t
EX OFFICIO
Marc Henderson, Miami -Dade Aviation Department
William Talbert 111, GMCVB