Citizens Speak, Officials Listen
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Tempora Mutantur Et Nos Mutamur In Illis VOLUME 95 NUMBER 18 MIAMI, FLORIDA, DECEMBER 20-26, 2017 50 CENTS Barbershop Speaks’ fi rst dialogue on education Citizens speak, in August of 2016. offi cials listen Black Miami-Dade agency leaders seek support from Tallahassee By Janiah Adams included in the list of issues [email protected] the county submits to the delegation. On Friday, South Florida “Moving folks in our com- organizations came before munity is the most important state Sen. Oscar issue we can tackle Braynon II and other right now,” Bovo said. members of the “Transportation is the Miami-Dade County key to economic sta- Legislative Del- bility. It becomes the egation to give their nexus on all these is- wish list on what sues.” should be on their In particular, Bovo priority list as they said the Strategic Mi- go into the 2018 leg- BRAYNON ami Area Rapid Tran- —Photos courtesy of Jefferson Noel islative session. sit (SMART) Plan is Braynon, the priority number one for Democratic leader in the Miami-Dade County. Florida Senate, presided over The SMART Plan was a fi ve-hour meeting in which adopted by the Miami-Dade county commissioners and Transportation Planning Or- leaders of Black organiza- ganization (TPO) in 2016. It tions presented their plans to expand Miami- wish lists. Among Dade County’s trans- the hot topics were portation system by im- transportation, chil- plementing six priority dren and families, rapid transit corridors and social advocacy. as well as eight comple- Miami-Dade mentary express bus County Commission routes. Chairman Esteban Bovo said transporta- L. Bovo, speaking on tion needs to be ad- shop talk an issue important HARDEMON dressed for economic Miamian creates serious dialogue in between haircuts from Florida City growth in Miami. to Miami Gardens, said the “If we want to bring an area needs assistance from Amazon or Google to Miami- Tallahassee with boosting Dade County, then this issue By Nyamekye Daniel its mass transit system. He of transportation must be [email protected] said transportation would be Please turn to MEETING 6A Jefferson Noel was at the barbershop for his routine haircut when he came up with an idea that would help the Black community. In the middle of a heated argument about basketball, Noel said he decided Keep them fi red? that barbershops should become plat- forms for more constructive discussions. Suarez, NAACP discuss fi refi ghters “I was like you know what, this is an interesting argument,” said Noel. “But scandal, reaction to union support I was thinking, ‘what would be more By Andrea Robinson the future.” interesting’. What if we had the same [email protected] On Dec. 12, the Miami fi re- passion about something that mattered? fi ghters union voted to take “said Noel. Following a union’s favor- up the cause of the six mem- So, Noel started a series of barbershop able vote last week to help bers who lost their jobs last conversations called Barbershop Speaks, six fi refi ghters regain their month after defacing family jobs, the Miami-Dade NAACP photos belonging to a Black where community leaders, residents and Barbershop Speaks on civic engagement in Opa-locka. people of all ages could come together met with Miami Mayor Fran- colleague’s family members. to express their opinions and spread cis Suarez Tuesday morning The favorable decision by plished an important achievement in his on issues that are important on a plat- information. to discuss the decision and the International Associa- city. form that is comfortable.” For over a year, Barbershop Speaks tion of Firefi ghters means “I applaud Jeff for creating a plat- Pigatt also added that as a city offi cial, has covered topics such as politics, race, the union will join with the form for people in the community that community engagement is the most dif- education and women empowerment in six men who fi led grievances is preeminent in our community,” said fi cult obstacle, and he admires Noel for Liberty City, North Miami Beach, North against the city of Miami Pigatt. “Barbershops and beauty salons his ability to crack the code. Miami and Opa-locka. contesting their termina- are places that our people will come to To get the forums going, Noel said he Opa-locka City Commissioner Matthew tions. Those grievances now discuss many topics that aren't that so contacts the owners of the popular Pigatt, who has participated in several go to the city’s labor depart- positive. However, Jeff was able to focus Please turn to SHOP TALK 6A of the events, said that Noel has accom- ment for negotiations. If a settlement is not reached, it then goes to arbitration. Local NAACP members had urged the union to stay out Police search for killer of 2-year-old of the matter on behalf of the six men — Captain William South Dade leaders beg for information W. Bryson, Lt. Alejandro the shooter. Period.” By Marcus Lim Francis Suarez Carnell was doing what any Carnell Williams- He personally went Special to the Miami Times Miami Mayor other 2-year-old boy would do, Thomas was doing Miami-Dade Police and playing in his courtyard of a what any other voice their displeasure. to the station at 2:30 South Miami-Dade leaders are Goulds apartment complex on Suarez, who has been urging people to come forward Friday night. He was enjoying 2-year-old boy on the job as mayor for six a.m., he said, and with information following the a ride on his scooter, eager to would do, playing weeks, said members of the shooting death of 2-year-old learn how to ride a bicycle in in his courtyard of civil rights organization had was “disgusted and Carnell Williams-Thomas. the holiday season when he concerns about what hap- a Goulds apartment State Rep. Kionne McGhee was fatally struck. pens now that the union will appalled” by the told the Miami Times that he Offi cers from South Dis- complex on seek reinstatement of the six was in contact with the moth- trict responded to reports of a Friday night fi refi ghters. One key request “graphic and er, who was “understandably child shot around 6:19 p.m. the NAACP leaders had, he distraught.” He is currently when they saw the wounded said, is an examination of supporting her “through this boy and his mother holding the culture inside the Miami obscene” images. horrible time.” him. Carmell was airlifted to Fire Department that led to “The community is com- Kendall Regional Medical Cen- 214th Street and SW 114th a child,” said Sgt. Carlos Ro- the “lewd” actions that trig- pletely shocked by the recent ter, where police said he was Court, close to U.S. 1 and sario of the Miami-Dade Police gered the dismissals. Sese, and fi refi ghters Kevin death. It is an unfortunate pronounced dead. Southland Mall, which was Department. “The Miami-Dade “They’re concerned about Meizoso, David Rivera, Jus- situation and we are looking Police said that Carmell was experiencing increased activity Police department will use how this process is going to tin Rumbaugh and Harold for answers,” McGhee said. not the intended target but in preparations for Christmas. every resource available to work out,” Suarez said. “We Santana. “We need the community was caught in the crossfi re. “Once again, we fi nd our- locate the person responsible.” talked about how we can Union president Lt. Freddy members to assist and locate The incident happened at selves mourning the death of Please turn to SEARCH 6A avoid this happening in Please turn to SCANDAL 6A 8 90158 00100 0 2A THE MIAMI TIMES, DECEMBER 20-26, 2017 Opinion Blacks Must Control Their Own Destiny Member of National Newspaper Publisher Association Editorial Member of the Newspaper Association of America E Subscription Rates: One Year $45.00 – Six Months $30.00 — Foreign $60.00 (ISSN 0739-0319) 7 percent sales tax for Florida residents Published Weekly at 900 NW 54th Street, Periodicals Postage Paid at Miami, Florida A sobering holiday thought Miami, Florida 33127-1818 Post Offi ce Box 270200 Postmaster: Send address changes to The Miami Times, P.O. Box 270200 e’re in the season of holiday cheer and tidings. But Buena Vista Station, Miami, Florida 33127 Buena Vista Station, Miami, FL 33127-0200 • 305-694-6210 Phone 305-694-6210 for some families, gunfi re, stray bullets and senseless CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESS death have taken the joy out of yet another Christ- W H.E. SIGISMUND REEVES, Founder, 1923-1968 The Black Press believes that America can best lead the mas in South Florida. GARTH C. REEVES, JR., Editor, 1972-1982 world from racial and national antagonism when it accords to Alicia Roundtree, Claudel Pinder and Carnell Williams-Thom- every person, regardless of race, creed or color, his or her as did not know each other. Their paths never crossed. Yet, their GARTH C. REEVES, SR., Publisher Emeritus human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, untimely deaths — caused by bullets intended for Lord knows RACHEL J. REEVES, Publisher and Chairman the Black Press strives to help every person in the fi rm belief that all persons are hurt as long as anyone is held back. who — link their families into a steadily growing fraternity that no one should join. They died within six days of each other. Both Miami Gardens and Miami-Dade Police Departments have issued pleas for clues BY EUGENE ROBINSON, [email protected] into who took these precious lives.