Volume 95 Number 27 | FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 6, 2018 | MiamiTimesOnline.com | Ninety-Three Cents Mayor vetos oversight panel, Jordan blocks two-thirds commissioners voted 7-5 to the item off the table from Matter to return to dais April 10 de- majority of restore funding to its over- discussion. That motion is BY ANDREA ROBINSON Gimenez’s veto of the res- commission- sight agency — and to au- rarely used in such a man- [email protected] olution that would have ers necessary thorize a new name. Under ner. But, Jordan said later, it created the Independent for an over- the ordinance, $170,000 to kept the ICP alive. The restoration of civilian Community Panel, an agen- ride. With fund the agency would be “It was a strategic move oversight of county govern- cy that previously operated 13 members taken from the Miami-Dade to avoid having to start all ment — seriously wounded as the Independent Review “When citizens have present she Police Department bud- over again with the pro- after a veto by Miami-Dade Panel. needed nine get. Those voting no were cess,” Jordan said, adding County Mayor Carlos The IRP, created in the af- a complaint, they of 13 mem- Commission Chairman Es- she would bring the item Gimenez — was resurrect- termath of the 1980 McDuffie need a vehicle to bers. At best, she may have teban Bovo, Joe Martinez, back to the full commission ed by Commissioner Barba- uprising, was popular in the register that received eight votes — one Rebeca Sosa, Javier Souto on April 10. ra Jordan. Black community, as well as “ short needed. and Jose “Pepe” Diaz. In the interim, she will At the Feb. 21 meeting, with civil rights and civil lib- complaint.” The back and forth start- Instead, Jordan made a consider suggestions for the commissioners were set erties organizations. Commissioner Barbara Jordan ed after the Feb. 6 com- motion to reconsider her ICP structure that Gimenez to vote on an override of But Jordan was short of the mission meeting, when proposal, which pulled SEE VETO 5A STATE OF BLACK PHILANTHROPY Pierre’s seat safe – for now Court rules in favor of North Miami Beach commissioner NYAMEKYE DANIEL [email protected] In addition to battling medical issues for the last several months, North Miami Beach Commissioner Frantz Pierre is in a fight to keep his commission seat. Due to an illness, Pierre’s attorneys say, the com- missioner has been attending meetings virtually. But an attorney’s interpretation of the words “at- tend” and “present” may determine whether Pierre will remain in his seat. Pierre hasn’t been physically in commission chambers but has attended and participated by telephone or video conferencing, which was previ- ously authorized by the city attorney and the commission, ac- cording to his com- plaint. But according to Greg Jules, Imagery by Jules City Attorney Jose Smith, attending meetings virtually is a violation of the city charter. That finding set in mo- tion the wheels to fill Pierre’s seat, MAKING A CASE FOR Frantz Pierre which was deemed vacant by a consult- ing attorney. North Miami Beach Mayor George Vallejo and Commissioners Barbara Kramer and Anthony F. DeFillipo all asked the city attorney to investigate the issue after a resident question Pierre’s absen- GIVING BLACK teeism. Attorney for Pierre, Benedict Kuehne, said his JULIANA ACCIOLY Special to The Miami Times According to Kuehne, Pierre believes ver the past decade or so, Black philanthropy has taken an increasingly more signif- the attempt to remove him from his icant role in the global fabric for civic action. According to a 2012 report from the seat is a way to silence the only minority W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Black people are more inclined to give back: Each year, Af- member of the commission. rican American households give away, on average, 25 percent more of their incomes thanO their white counterparts, whether it’s through charitable organizations, individual dona- client has attended meetings and has his voting re- tions, businesses or social enterprises. cord to prove it. “Pierre, despite his health issues, continues to So how are philanthropic organiza- brought together philanthropic leaders, Barron Channer, a member of the fulfill his duties to the benefit of the residents of the tions using that rising force in address- set out to consider local organizations' board of directors of the American city, and he will continue to do so until the end of ing systemic issues and how are they challenges and how their work can have Friends of Jamaica, spoke about philan- his term,” said Kuehne. Pierre was elected in 2015 creating opportunities within the com- a more effective, sustained impact. thropy as a heterogeneous sector, going to a four-year term. munities they serve? Moderator Nadege Green, a reporter SEE GIVING 5A What’s worse, Kuehne’s client, the lone Black These questions were the starting for WLRN Public Radio, lead the discus- person on the commission feels like he is being tar- point for Miami Foundation’s annual sion with questions ranging from engag- geted. State of Black Philanthropy, held this ing donors from different, local Black Kalyn James (standing) facing One issue is what the word “attend” means. If a commissioner fails to attend meetings for 120 past Wednesday at the Overtown Arts communities to the transparency in or- Wendy Ellis, Barron Channer and days, his or her seat becomes automatically vacant, Performing Center. The event, which ganizational practices. Nadege Green on stage. according to the city charter. SEE PIERRE 6A A $120 million pitch for GO Bond in North Miami mean higher taxes for some resi- Top dollars allocated for new city hall and dents. Mayor Joseph, the chief pro- ponent of the bond, said he’s ready. expansion of contemporary art museum In an interview, he said it’s a matter ANDREA ROBINSON officials must sell voters on the idea of educating the public. [email protected] to finance myriad improvements, in- “It would be a missed opportunity cluding a new municipal complex. if we don’t repair the infrastructure After more than two years of dis- That could prove a hard sell in SEE GO BOND 4A cussions, North Miami City Council North Miami, where six years ago members have given the go-ahead to voters rejected a smaller bond to ex- Museum of Contemporary Art send a $120 million general obliga- pand its Museum of Contemporary tion bond to residents later this year. Art (MOCA). located at 770 NE 125th St, Now, Mayor Smith Joseph and city Approval of such a bond could North Miami, FL 33161. BUSINESS ................................................. 7B LIFESTYLE HAPPENINGS ....................... 7C FAITH CALENDAR ................................... 10D Today CLASSIFIED ............................................. 11B SOCIAL WHIRL ......................................... 3C CHURCH LISTINGS .................................. 10D 82° SPORTS .................................................... 9B HEALTH & WELLNESS ............................. 11D CHURCH DIRECTORY ................................ 13D IN GOOD TASTE ......................................... 1C YOU & YOURS ............................................ 9D OBITUARIES ............................................. 14D INSIDE 8 90158 00100 0 Editorials Cartoons Opinions Letters VIEWPOINT BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY | FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 6, 2018 | MiamiTimesOnline.com Credo Of The Black Press MEMBER: National Newspaper Periodicals Postage EDITORIAL The Black Press believes that America Publisher Association paid at Miami, Florida (ISSN 0739-0319) can best lead the world from racial and MEMBER: The Newspaper POSTMASTER: Published Weekly at 900 NW 54th Street, Association of America Send address changes to national antagonism when it accords Miami, Florida 33127-1818 Subscription Rates: One Year THE MIAMI TIMES, to every person, regardless of race, Inequity noticeable Post Office Box 270200 $52.99 – Two Year $99.99 P.O. Box 270200 creed or color, his or her human and Buena Vista Station, Miami, Florida 33127 Foreign $75.00 Buena Vista Station, Miami, FL Phone 305-694-6210 legal rights. Hating no person, fearing 7 percent sales tax for Florida residents 33127-0200 • 305-694-6210 when white kids die no person, the Black Press strives to H.E. SIGISMUND REEVES, Founder, 1923-1968 help every person in the firm belief that t’s been more than two weeks since a young GARTH C. REEVES, JR., Editor, 1972-1982 all persons are hurt as long as anyone GARTH C. REEVES, SR., Publisher Emeritus is held back. man who was screaming to the entire world RACHEL J. REEVES, Publisher and Chairman Ithat he was planning to shoot up a school car- ried out his threat at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. When he walked away, he left a carnage behind that will haunt the American Leaders need to focus on trauma psyche for years. VALENCIA GUNDER, Make the Homeless Smile But what started as a whisper of how unequal the In the face of the Marjo- ment of peer counseling and support system seems to be for Black children and ry Stoneman Douglas High before- and after-school pro- families who are survivors of gun violence has mor- School shooting in Parkland, grams that address the whole phed into outright anger on social media. And, right- Florida we have seen in- child. Professional develop- fully so. creased media attention and ment around restorative jus- Once again, children have been used as human advocacy around gun control tice and holistic restorative targets, because cowards see them as defenseless. and gun violence. Yet sugges- practices should be provided Children in Black communities have been under this tions to arm teachers or ban to not only school employ- threat from time immemorial. They get shot chasing rifles are missing the source of ees, but law enforcement a ball in front of their homes. They get shot while the problem. If we truly want and community partners that walking to buy candy at the story.