Winter 2017 BNA News

www.bnamiami.org BNA News

Five seconds is the average time One pile of dog waste can take a Keep your dog on a leash at all your eyes are off the road while year or more to fully breakdown. times. texting. Meanwhile, parasites from the It is the law ! At 55 mph that is equivalent to waste can pass on to children, you, and other dogs. driving a full city block blind. Welcome to the winter issue of BNA News

It was a very active year for BNA. DDA can bring similar programs as the beautification of Flagler, the Ambassadors program, Biscayne Green and We continue to work with the City of Police the extension of the Bay Walk farther north. to address many issues from social situations as homelessness to traffic and safety. What DDA has accomplished downtown can be done also in our neighborhood if their footprint goes far Our closer relationship with the Downtown Neighbors enough into . Alliance and Homeowners Association is starting to produce results. We are looking at education and This year will bring more opportunities for Omni/ schools as a common problem that requires working Edgewater to work with DDA. together towards the same goal: to have more and better schools. Mentioned in a previous newsletter was a slowdown in the real estate market and the need to establish the Andres Althabe alliances to minimize the effects. Working with DDA President, BNA and CRA is the main tool to keep Omni/Edgewater progressing to sustain property values. 2 BNA News A PLAN FOR BISCAYNE BLVD. Biscayne Blvd. 32nd to 39th

Andres Althabe We suggested also that FDOT BNA President should have more information of the new building permits A group of stakeholders from that are approved on the side the BNA area had meetings with streets, to fully understand the FDOT that started on March 30th impact of that construction on 2016 the volume of traffic on Biscayne There are five lanes on Biscayne FDOT presented a safety study Blvd. (Immediately that was Blvd: All traffic in one direction for Biscayne Blvd between 32nd incorporated and they have been would allow for and 39th Streets. The project was receiving the information from the „ to build a median for pedestrian City) Dedicated bus lane safety and blocking traffic turns on „ Bike lane that stretch of Biscayne. One way Biscayne Blvd. „ Since then, FDOT started another Three lanes for other traffic We gave them suggestions that more comprehensive project. they incorporated to their study, Advantages: reduce congestion like a traffic light on 35th Street A traffic study on US1 (aka and increase safety. allowing a left turn so south Biscayne Blvd.) from SE 8th Street We asked also to look into bound traffic could reach all the to Miami-Dade/Broward County parking during off peak hours. existing buildings and the new Line. Edgewater is such an active construction between Biscayne At our first meeting with the area and growing so fast that at Blvd. and the Bay. Project Advisory Team (PAT) the last meeting on November for this project on May 17th we 17th, the PAT suggested that we The project was to build a presented the idea of changing should have a separate meeting median for pedestrian safety Biscayne into one direction only of the Advisory Team, FDOT and and blocking traffic turns on and Second Ave. the opposite Edgewater only. that stretch of Biscayne. direction.

After a slow start, racism ends in arrest downtown After repeated threats to kill South Americans and African Americans, Andrew Kleopa, a resident of MarinaBlue was arrested. Miami Police Commander Jose Fernandez referred to this incident on December 16th: “First and foremost, I want to thank you all for communicating this issue to us. The Miami Police Department takes all these issues of public safety with the utmost importance. I would like to inform everyone that we immediately began to work on this issue upon notification. Utilizing a methodical problem solving approach, we were able to locate and apprehend this individual, who was causing great concern to the residents of the Marina Blue building and the employees of the CVS located at Biscayne Boulevard and 8 Street. This individual was arrested and transported to the Jail this afternoon.” BNA News 3 What’s Next for Airbnb in Miami? Andres Althabe consider unfair. The competition BNA President from short term rentals limits how high hotel rates can go. N.Y. Governor Cuomo Signs Bill The dilemma is about income to Fine Illegal Airbnb Hosts for the city to provide services New York Governor Andrew funded by taxes and quality of Cuomo in October signed a bill life of the permanent resident into law that will fine residents against the extra income for some who rent out their apartments for homeowners. illegal short-term stays. The fines In Europe, Barcelona is the only could be as high as $7,500 for city in the world that fines the repeat offenders. company instead of the host. It Airbnb says the New York fined the company 600,000 euro legislature has ignored the and announced a second such wishes of their constituents and fine. rewarded a special interest -- the London and Amsterdam were price-gouging hotel industry. Miami-Dade receives about 40% the first cities trying a negotiated of those visitors, and it is the The San Francisco-based solution. In London, since 2015 Airbnb’s fourth largest market in company plans to sue the state, short term rentals are legal no the nation. alleging that the law violates more than 90 days a year. Airbnb several federal protections, will introduce automated limits of Miami Beach voted additional including Section 230 of the 90 days a year for any home to be restrictions requiring hosts in Communications Decency Act, listed, and in Amsterdam 60 days areas that are zoned for short- which prohibits governments from a year. (Amsterdam is considering term rentals to submit an affidavit punishing websites for content reducing to 30 days a year). to the city and obtain a business tax receipt and resort tax account posted by their users. However, They hope this will stop illegal the New York law punishes the to affirm they are operating hotels and prevent housing legally. Hosts will also have to people that advertise illegal short shortages while contemplating term rentals, not the company. show that their condo association the interests and rights of the rules allow short-term rentals. The City of Miami Beach in March homeowners. Resistance against home- increased the fines for illegal In Miami short term rentals to $20,000 per sharing is prevalent across occurrence. S.T.R. Monitor is a company the state. Earlier this month, a dedicated to solving some of neighborhood watch group called The tourism industry advocates the issues for building managers AirbnbWatch started a for short term rentals that and Boards due to the exploding campaign against Airbnb. compete with hotels to pay taxes Airbnb- issues and be regulated. According to a Miami Herald poll “To help managers save time, we (the Daily Question, described Residents that oppose the short have developed a search system by the Herald as an unscientific term activity also complain that that finds the listings from all the measure of our community pulse) they affect safety and quality major vacation rental web sites on December 23rd 64 percent of of life, attracting partiers and in minutes” says Nicolas Lund- respondents were unfavorable creating safety concerns. Larsen to Airbnb, saying that attracts obnoxious partiers and create During events like Art Basel, hotel Airbnb provided accommodation safety concerns. rates usually go up to what many to about 2% of the 85 million that visited Florida in the first nine Miami-Dade may be close to a tax months of the year alone, but the deal with the company, trying the numbers are growing. negotiated solution. 4 BNA News HUD’S HOUSING FIRST “SOLUTION” Andres Althabe go to permanent housing at the with an aggressive housing-first BNA President expense of traditional shelters. approach from 2005 to 2011, using rent subsidies to move HUD spokesman Charles McNally The year 2016 brought 33,000 people out of shelters. told Politico New York. devastating news for many of the But families who were not ready shelters at a time when there is a “While transitional housing to maintain a stable housing surge of homelessness in cities situation began to bounce back across the country. The homeless programs play an important into shelter (the return to shelter population in cities like New York temporary role for people rate climbed to 60%) and instead is near an all-time high. experiencing homelessness, of going down. The federal funding to house, permanent supportive Some families need the support, feed, and care for some of the housing has demonstrably education, therapy, training, very neediest Americans is going and safety that only transitional away. With this policy many will better outcomes at a lower shelters can provide. Temporarily stay on the streets. cost.” government paying the rent is not Well established shelters in many a solution. If the behavior doesn’t states, including Camillus House Basically, HUD favors programs change most end up homeless in Miami had their grants from that put people in permanent again. the U.S. Department of Housing housing and the government pays In the name of helping a and Urban Development (HUD) the rent. permanent solution, HUD is taking drastically reduced or taken away. The Housing First programs away hundreds of beds from What changed at HUD? Not their to which HUD is giving grants transitional programs that provide budget that actually had a five provide temporary rent support, the essential to incorporate the percent increase in 2016. There typically for two years or less. homeless to the work force. is a change in policy: “housing Under Mayor Mike Bloomberg, first” means most of the funds New York City experimented BNA News 5 BNA and Miami Police Have Lunch with Homeless Women and Children

Wynwood Police Commander Guerra, Commissioner Francis Suarez (middle) with Andres Major Morales and Sargent Cabrera Althabe, BNA President, and Jessica Raffo, Water Restoration Group

Sue Nelson, Biscayne Neighborhoods Association Board Member with MPD and Office of the Mayor

Children from the Rescue Mission

BNA President Andres Althabe with Chief of Police Rodolfo Llanes, Exec. Assistant to the Chief James Bernat, Wynwood Police Major Morales, Commander Guerra, Sargent Cabrera, Management Team of Pollo Tropical and Jessica Raffo WRG 6 BNA News 3 Styrofoam® and Plastic Pollution: We Must Be The Solution

Great! So maybe the City of Miami will be next? Unfortunately, no. In March 2016 Governor Rick Scott signed a bill forbidding local governments from passing any new wide-scale Styrofoam® bans. The only good news for us, in Edgewater, is that the Miami- Dade County Commission had already passed a Styrofoam® ban in all county parks, beginning in the summer of 2017. Once the ban takes effect, getting caught with Styrofoam® in county parks will carry – in theory -- a $50 fine. Realistically, though, what is the likelihood of enforcement? So what can we do? By Valerie Shea, Esq. with whom we coexist. Straws, Quantum on the Bay bottles, bags, plates, and simply None of us can single-handedly fragmented pieces of plastic are prevent overfishing, widespread As anyone who spends time in everywhere we look, and they pollution, climate change or Margaret Pace Park can attest, are not going away on their own. other threats to the environment. these two materials constitute Plastic is not biodegradable, However each of us who walks the the greatest environmental threat and some scientists suggest that park, lives in a condo association, to our coastline and park. The it is so toxic in its composition and cares about these issues deluge that comes in on each tide that it should be reclassified as can take certain steps. Don't is staggering in its volume and hazardous waste. Unless we curb pass up that plastic six-pack consistency. our use of it, it will only grow in ring – throw it in a nearby trash Plastic, as we know, poses a danger to our planet. can. Pick up other discarded huge threat to animals, who may items that you see and dispose Styrofoam®, we have learned, swallow it, or be caught in it. of them safely. Let BNA know is equally hazardous to the Plastic is everywhere at the park, you care about these issues, and environment. It takes centuries and the plastic six-pack rings are lobby our state, county and city to decompose, clogging landfills especially common. These, along officials on reducing plastic and and, when it gets into the water, with all the other debris, pose Styrofoam® pollution. Lobby contaminating the food chain and a lethal danger to the turtles, for recycling bins at the park ecosystem. And, as if that's not birds, fish, and marine mammals and on the streets, and for a enough, the EPA and International mandatory recycling program. Agency for Research on Cancer Let's get better informed about consider its main ingredient a Styrofoam® takes what each of us can do to reduce possible human carcinogen. centuries to decompose our own use of these man-made clogging landfills and, New York and San Francisco have products. If these threats won't banned Styrofoam®, and so, most be addressed by regulation, let's when it gets into the recently, did Miami Beach. There, as a community seek to achieve water, contaminating restaurants and stores can no what we can. the food chain and longer use or sell Styrofoam®. ecosystem. That means no cups, plates or containers. BNA News 7 When was the last time you updated your resume?

By Heidi Whoolery, Senior Sales Executive It’s important to be ready to take advantage of an opportunity when it arises, but it’s also very hard to keep track of your accomplishments throughout the years if you don’t write them down specifically for that purpose. There are many resources available now LEASH on the internet with Google, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. You can find the best PLEASE interview questions and how to answer them, you can look up salary City of Miami Ordinance requires information for various positions in any industry, and you can get one- all dogs be ON a leash at all times on-one help from career specialists that will guide you through every when outside. step of the process. The most important thing that you can do is to JUST Animal Control WILL levy fines if DO IT! Being proactive makes finding your next career move, when it’s your dog is off leash. time for that, so much easier and less stressful. The only exception is in Here are a few tips to keep in mind: designated dog parks. Build your professional brand: What do you want to achieve and what And, please!! Always pick up after do you want to be known for? What makes you stand out from the your dog. It will keep your pet and crowd? Be sure your brand evolves with you and your career goals. others healthier, plus it keeps our beautiful neighborhood clean. Create/update your resume: Be sure your resume communicates your professional brand and highlights your unique, specific and measurable achievements. Experiment with different formats such as chronological, functional (skills and achievements), or a combination of both. Want to learn more Network, network, and network: Get on the phone, be active on LinkedIn and other business focused internet sites, go to industry about BNA? specific conferences and talk to everyone. Apply for various positions and take every interview offered. If nothing else, it’s great practice and Click here for good experience. our brochure. Prepare for interviews: You can’t over-prepare for an interview. Do your homework on the company and people that you will be interviewing Write to us at with. List out the competencies that they are looking for, write down info@ how you meet all of their expectations in that area, and then practice bnamiami. saying it out loud so that it sounds natural when you are in the interview. org Stay true to yourself: Write down what you want, where you want it, when you want it, etc. When analyzing offers, stick to your list. Know you can do it. Be patient, Subscribe to commit to your goals receive all and be flexible – you BNA commu- may find your dream job nications. somewhere completely It is free and unexpected! easy on the home page of our website bnamiami.org 8 BNA News

BNA movie nights in Margaret Pace Park

TRAFFIC — Are they speeding in your neighborhood?

There are drivers speeding accidents involving pedestrians the speed in every neighborhood. In and cars in the city. cut-through November City Commissioners drivers trying Last Saturday, Miami Police approved a resolution to seek a to avoid heavy enforced the 20 mph limit on 25 mph limit on residential streets. traffic in major North Bayshore Drive. There Speed limits are regulated by thoroughfares. were a lot of drivers stopped for County authorities and of course speeding. City Manager they will require a study. Daniel Alfonso City Commissioner Frank Carollo Is that the solution? said that his wants to lower the speed limit City Commissioner Francis Suarez office received notice from the to 20 mph has tried to take control of the County’s Department of Public even when he City streets from the County Works that it would not support recognizes authorities. The reason: most a 20 mile limit but it would that requires requests for signage and traffic- support 25 mph limit in some enforcement calming devices are denied by neighborhoods. and that is the County. Both solutions presented by City an issue. He He wants speed bumps, speed Commissioners 20 mph and presented tables, traffic circles with law traffic-calming devices have wide studies that enforcement. support of the residents. County show a high Commissioner Wilfredo “Willy” should listen. number of Gort agrees with Suarez, stop

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