LTC 010-2025 E-mail from SOBESafe Board of Directors - Urgent Promenade ReopeningMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
LTC#
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission
Eric Carpenter,City Manager
Ricardo J.Dopico,City Attorney
Joseph M.Centorino,Inspector G~I/
Rafael E.Granado,City Clerk /6{
January 8,2025
E-mail from SOBESafe Board of Directors -Urgent Promenade Reopening
Concerns
I am sharing with you an Email from the SOBESafe Board of Directors regarding Promenade
Reopening Concerns.
F:\CLER\$ALL\LTC FROM ASSOCIATIONS\SOBESAFE 1022025.docx
010-2025
Granado,Rafael
Subject:Urgent Promenade Reopening Concerns
To:Hon.Mayor &Miami-Dade County Commissioners
Hon.Mayor and Miami Beach City Commissioners
Cc:Jimmy Morales,County Chief Operating Officer
Eric Carpenter,Miami Beach City Manager
We are distressed,one might even say outraged,to learn this morning that the
leadership of Miami Dade County is poised to direct the immediate reopening of the
Ocean Drive Pedestrian Promenade to vehicular traffic.It is our understanding that this
action is triggered by the County's unwillingness to assertively defend the Promenade
in a private lawsuit brought by a private Ocean Drive business that is not located on or
adjacent to the Promenade.
While we have not had the courtesy of any formal notification,the quality of the informal
communication being shared with us is very high.If valid,the decision to reopen the
Promenade to vehicular traffic is particularly egregious given the extensive process that
the stakeholders (residents and businesses located in and adjacent to the Promenade)
have just participated in.As required by the County,there was a formal voting process
and more than 2/3's voted to maintain it.The establishment of clear ground rules by the
County,followed by the formal engagement of stakeholders in a process over many
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months concluding,only days later,in what appears to be the County leadership's
decision to ignore the clear will of the voters -is frankly startling.
Having just experienced a joyous,peaceful,and safe holiday with the Promenade being
a source of pleasure to residents and visitors alike,this capitulation to a private interest
not even on the Promenade strikes us as astonishing.The transformation of South
Beach and Ocean Drive is well underway.This capitulation now to narrow private
interests is very distressing.
For the Board of SOBESafe.org
Ken Koppel
Cc:SOBESafe membership
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