LTC 041-2024 Motion from the Miami Beach Commission for WomenMIAM I BEACH
RECEIVED
FEB 08 2024
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF TI CITY CLERK
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
LETTER TO COMMISSION
L TC NO: 041-2024
TO: Honorable Mayor Meiner and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
Ko REGIS BARBOU
DATE: February 6th, 2024
SUBJECT: Motion from the Miami Beach Commission for Women
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to provide you with the motions made at the Miami
Beach Commission for Women meeting held on February 6, 2024. For any questions or
comments please contact Monica Matteo-Salinas, committee liaison.
1. Members present: Dr. Louise DePodesta, Janis Good, Charlotte Libov, Dr. Lynette
Long, Robyn Malek, Pamela Mayer, Trisha Sindler, Merle Shama, Marjorie York,
Yvette Tache, Jo Manning, Sandy Rojas.
Members Absent:, Amani Ayers, Francinelee Hand, Debra Schwartz, Elizabeth Resnick,
Liliam Lopez, Pam Rodgers.
Motion Made by Janis Good
Seconded by Pam Mayer
The Miami Beach Commission for Women made a motion to co-designate Miami Beach city
streets in honor of women who have made a significant and valuable impact in Miami Beach
history and culture.
There are 22 streets named after historical figures in the City of Mimi Beach and only two of
them are named after women. The Commission for Women would like to submit the
following seven names of historical female figures to be considered for ceremonial street re-
namings. All of these women are deserving of this honor.
We recommend the following outstanding noteworthy women:
Josephine Baker
Judy Drucker
Naomi Wilzig
Elizabeth Goodnow Cooper
Sophie Tucker
Gwen Margolis
DeAnne Connolly Graham
Motion Passage: Unanimously.
The Miami Beach Commission for Women urges the Mayor and Commission to support the
above request.
Ce re m o n ia l Stre e t N a m e C a n d id a te s
Jo se p h in e B a ke r
C a b a ret sin g e r an d da n ce r an d civil rig hts activist. O n Ja n u a ry 10 , 19 5 1, Jo se p h in e
Baker became the first known entertainer to perform at a prominent Miami Beach club
before an integrated audience. Baker was considered to a be a bridge between France
and the United States in the struggle against discrimination.
Judy Drucker
Known as an impresario of concerts, opera, dance, all things art, founded CAF (Concert
Association of Florida) in 1967 at Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach. In less than a year the
Gleason Theater became home. During the next 40 years Drucker developed the organization
into the largest classical presenter in the southeastern U.S. to include stars such as: Pinchas
Zukerman, ltzhak Perlman, Andr_ Watts, Luciano Pavarotti, Beverly Sills, Dmitri Hvorostovsky,
Cecilia Bartoli, and Mikhail Baryshnikov.
Naomi Wilzig
An American art collector, who searched for a place to call home for her collection for 6 years
overcoming obstacles from cities to landlords. Finally found home on 12 and Washington
becoming the founder and director of The World Erotic Art Museum in Miami Beach, Florida. On
the 5"" anniversary, Wilzig wrote 3 books about her collection, received an honorary doctorate
from The Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in the study of erotic art and an
honorary doctorate from the U.S. Rabbinical Council for her philanthropy and finances.
Elizabeth Goodnow Cooper
Also known as Mrs. Clayton Sedgwick Cooper distinguished novelist, founded the Miami Beach
Women's Club at 24"" and Pinetree to foster friendships withing the community. The Club
organized the "book shower" at the Pancoast Hotel receiving 899 volumes in donations and
resulting in the creation of present-day Miami Beach Library. The Clubs efforts impressed Carl
G. Fisher enough to contribute by donating a site to the Club in March of 1927.
Sophie Tucker
Known by the nickname "the Last of the Red-Hot Mamas," Tucker started singing in her family's
restaurant at a young age. Eventually becoming one of the most popular multifaceted
entertainers in the US during the 20" Century, a singer, comedian, actress and radio personality.
S h e s p e n t tim e in M ia m i B e a c h w ith he r s o n , a h o te l m a n a g e r. S h e a ls o p e rfo rm e d at th e
C o lo n ia l In n , th e B e a c h c o m b e r, J a c k D e m p s e y 's B a r a n d th e L a tin Q u a rte r, p a v in g th e w a y fo r
o th e r w o m e n e n te rta in e rs .
G w e n M a rg o lis
M a rg o lis d e s c rib e d a s a tra ilb la z e r, c h a m p io n in g w o m e n 's rig h ts , c h ild re n 's h e a lth is s u e s , o p e n
a n d e t h ic a l g o v e rn m e n t. D u r in g h e r 6 y e a r s a s c h a ir o f M ia m i-D a d e C o u n ty D e p a rtm e n t o f
C u lt u r a l A f fa ir s s h e t o o k e le v a t e d t h e d e p a r t m e n t t r ip l in g it s b u d g e t. S h e le d r e s t o r a t io n e f fo r t s
t o f u n d t h e g r a n t s p r o g ra m s u n d e r t h e D iv is io n o f C u lt u r a l A ff a ir s le a d i n g t o t h e c u lt u r a l h o t s p o t
M i a m i B e a c h is t o d a y .
D e A n n e C o n n o ll y G ra h a m
D e A n n e e f fo r t le s s ly w o r e m a n y h a t s r a n g in g fr o m a p u b lic s p e a k e r, a c t o r , m o d e l n o t t o m e n t io n
a s u c c e s s f u l e n t r e p r e n e u r . C o n n o lly G r a h a m a c t iv e ly t o p r o m o t e s o c ia l ju s t ic e a n d e q u a l
m in o r it y p a r t ic ip a t io n in b u s in e s s , p a r t ic ip a t in g in n u m e r o u s in it ia t iv e s t o h e lp u n d e r d e v e lo p e d
c o m m u n it ie s ; M i a m i B e a c h 's B la c k A f fa ir s A d v is o r y C om mi t t e e, A Y UD A, an d M i a m i B e a c h 's
C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e W o m e n 's B u s in e s s C o u n c il, j u s t t o n a m e a f e w .