Roots In the City: Growing More than Collard Greens in Miami

Some of the best collard greens that you will eat in the City of Miami were grown right here - in the Overtown Roots in the City garden - with compost from local restaurants. Yesterday, we launched a pilot composting program that will help reduce the waste going into our landfills and improve our community soil at the same time. The organic compost, also known as "black gold," is a rich, environmentally-friendly fertilizer alternative that the City will produce in bulk from waste collected from local restaurants. Volunteers and staff of the Roots in the City garden will use the compost and then sell their produce to local supermarkets.

When I toured the Overtown garden with Director and friend, Dr. Marvin Dunn, I remarked that it had been a long time since I had eaten collard greens. Now, after enjoying Dr. Dunn's collard greens (picked just yesterday), I join my staff in thanking him for some of the best collards we have ever tasted.

The Roots in the City project is another example of how residents, government and the private sector can work together to improve our neighborhoods, create green jobs and make a lasting difference for the environment.

The Miami New Times covered the press conference HERE.

For more information on the project, please visit the Roots In the City website HERE.

-Manny

Mexican President in Miami for the 15th Annual Latin Trade Symposium

President Calderon of Mexico made his first visit to the City of Miami this weekend. President Calderon was here to receive the BRAVO Business Award for “Leader of the Year,” as part of the 15th Annual Latin Trade Symposium. The Symposium, organized in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank and the Americas Society/Council of the Americas, focuses on the hemisphere’s response to the global economic crisis and how Latin American companies are giving back to their communities. The event brought more than 300 international business, government and social leaders to Downtown Miami.

In the last eight years, Miami has truly become the epicenter of the Americas. It was an honor to welcome the Mexican President and the Latin Trade Symposium to the Magic City.

For more information about the City of Miami in the international context, please visit the Mayor's International Council website HERE.

-Manny

City of Miami Unveils Eco-Friendly Landscaping at City Hall, Dinner Key

City Hall is now home to hundreds of Florida native and Florida Friendly trees, plants and grasses. I invite you to come see this new, ecologically responsible landscaping at Dinner Key. This project, which was made possible at zero cost to taxpayers, makes our City Hall a model for sustainable greening practices, beautifying Dinner Key with plants that will significantly reduce our water consumption, storm-water runoff and reliance on fossil fuels used for maintenance. It is a step to return our city to its roots and an example of the new requirements outlined in thelandscaping ordinance that passed on October 22nd.

Today, 50% of the drinking water in Miami is used for irrigation. That's horrendous and it's irresponsible. In South Florida, water is one of our most precious resources. Increasing salt water intrusion and decreasing precipitation are threatening to further reduce our drinking water supply, but there is much we can do. We live in a tropical paradise, home to beautiful plants and trees that require minimal watering or fertilizers. I hope that you will have the opportunity to visit the historic open space of Dinner Key, the site of our City Hall, and see for yourself how sustainable design might work for your home or business.

This project is the result of the hard work and dedication of city staff, members of the Green Commission and the talented work of Southern Blossoms and BOMA Miami. Like so much of what we have done to increase our tree canopy over the last eight years, it was made possible by The Home Depot Foundation. The Home Depot Foundation has granted our city $1 million towards sustainable initiatives, helping us to plant more than 8,000 new street trees, provide fruit trees to residents, and promote eco-friendly practices through the OurGreenMiami.org campaign.

I am also honored to have worked with ACT - the Alliance for Community Trees, on this project. ACT works with 160 cities like ours across the country, promoting grass-roots programs to protect America’s urban forest. Today, ACT joined us to celebrate our city’s newest public landscaping project and to award me with the “Mayor of Trees” Award. It has been a privilege to partner with them and I thank them for their support.

Materials and services were also provided by Botanics Wholesale, Netafirm, Sunset Sod, D’Ultimate Bahoe Service, Affordable Irrigation and EBS Engineering.

We have a responsibility to each other and to future generations to conserve our natural resources. You can learn more about sustainable design in landscaping at OurGreenMiami.org.

-Manny

President Announces $200million to Expand Energy Smart Miami Program

Today, President Obama has committed $200million to expanding the Energy Smart Miami throughout the State of Florida. The grant, funded by the Recovery Act, will bring 6,000 green jobs to Florida, stimulating our green economy and promoting increased energy efficiency and reliability for residences and businesses. The announcement is part of the Administration’s $3.4 billion commitment to spurring the transition to Smart Grid, investing in alternative and renewable energy, ending our addiction to foreign oil, addressing the global climate crisis and jumpstarting the green economy.

Within the next two years, Florida Power & Light will install 2.6 million smart meters and other advanced monitoring systems in homes and businesses. Smart meters allow you to see where you are using the most energy and to manage your electricity bills accordingly. One day soon, you will be able to manage your energy consumption with the click of your mouse or even by sending a simple text message. This technology will also improve the reliabilty of your electrical service and help prevent or reduce brownouts.

Energy Smart Miami, now Energy Smart Florida, is the result of a model public-private partnership of the City of Miami, FPL, Cisco Systems, General Electric and Silver Spring Networks. This program is helping to support the integration of renewable energy into our electrical grid, help us all make more informed choices about our energy use and move our city and state into the 21st century.

Learn more about the program at www.energysmartmiami.com.

-Manny

Miami Primed for Investment, New Drill Down Report Shows

Today marked a milestone for the City Miami with the release of the SocialCompact Drill Down Report, which shows that our city's neighborhoods are both bigger and carry more spending power than previously thought. In other words, the City of Miami has more than 137,000 more people than the Census projected. As much as we have been able to accomplish in the last 8 years in terms of poverty reduction and financial literacy, the DrillDown may be the most significant project of my administration. By demonstrating the real number of people in our community and their real income, this study tells banks and retailers, investors and the federal government, that Miami truly is primed for investment.

This report, which you can read in full HERE, indicates that the City of Miami has more than 500,000 residents and is therefore eligible for millions of dollars in federal dollars for our residents that we have not received. It also indicates that several of our city's neighborhoods are 'leaking' their income dollars; residents spending their money outside of their neighborhood or the city. This means that in neighborhoods like Wynwood, where the household income is as much as 186% more than the last Census showed, there is an opportunity to attract local banks, services and employers that may not have considered this district before.

I would like to thank Social Compact for their extremely important work and both the Citi and John S. and James L. Knight Foundations for the support that made this possible. Now, it is up to us. I call on you to join me in the next year and be an advocate for our city - let us work together to ensure that our residents get counted accurately in the 2010 Census.

For more information about the report, click HERE. You can learn more about City of Miami poverty reduction programs at www.ACCESSMiamiJobs.com.

-Manny

Miami 21 Adopted by the City Commission

Today is a historic day for the City of Miami and for the future of planning in the United States. Miami 21, the blueprint for a sustainable Miami, was adopted by the City Commission. We are proud that Miami is the first large U.S. city to adopt a citywide comprehensive zoning code based on the principles of Smart Growth and New Urbanism. With this important step, we are laying the foundation for a better, more walkable, bikeable and livable City of Miami.

I would like to thank Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, Ana Gelabert-Sanchez and everyone at DPZ and in our Planning Department, for their exceptional dedication and hard work on this project. It has been an honor to work with them on Miami 21. I would also like to thank the thousands of Miamians who have participated in the most democratically produced document in our city's history. Thank you for being a part of this process to define the future of the city we love.

-Manny

Univision Profiles Miami in 'Think Green, Act Green' Segment

Recently, I was interviewed by Univision for a segment titled, "Piensa Verde, Actua Verde" (Think Green, Act Green). The piece highlights the solar panels and retrofit of City Hall, our water conservation efforts and the Tree Master Plan, among other green initiatives. You can view the entire piece on the Univision website, HERE.

To learn more about the City's sustainable initiatives, please visit www.miamigov.com/MSI.

-Manny

Miami 21: Second Reading this Thursday

Tomorrow is an important day for the City of Miami. The Miami Commission will have before them the opportunity to formally, and finally, approve Miami 21, the blueprint for a sustainable city. Miami 21, the result of over 500 public meetings over 4 years, has now been unanimously approved by the South Florida Regional Planning Council and vetted by the State Department of Community Affairs. All that remains is for a Second Reading by the City Commission, scheduled to take place tomorrow at 2:00pm at City Hall.

I want to thank all of you who have participated in the most democratic planning process in our city's history. We have received thousands of your emails, phone calls and comments. The City of Miami is ready for a plan that promotes sustainability, walkability, pedestrian-friendly streets, bicycling, historic preservation, open spaces and health. We are ready for a plan that recognizes a need to address climate change, obesity and a changing global economy.

One last time, I hope that you will join us in support of Miami 21 during the Regular Meeting of the City Commission, this Thursday at 2:00pm.

-Manny

Be Water Wise Miami Campaign Video

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) has shared a video with me that they created from the Be Water Wise Miami campaign that we brought to Miami last May. I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I did and that you will take a moment to think about what you can do to Be Water Wise Miami!

Watch the video HERE.

For more information about the Be Water Wise Miami Campaign and the NEEF, click HERE for the press release or click HERE for my earlier blog post.

-Manny

Bike Miami Days Receives Two Prestigious Recognitions

Miami’s largest pedestrian and bicycle-friendly street festival, Bike Miami Days, has received two prestigious honors from the Association of Pedestrian & Biking Professionals (APBP) and the Florida Bicycle Association.

The APBP has named Kathryn Moore, Mayor’s Aide and Bike Miami Days organizer, as Young Professional of the Year for her work in Bike Miami Days. The award was created this year and it will be given during Walk21, the 10th International Conference on Walking and Livable Communities, held in New York City on October 7 - 9.

Additionally, the Florida Bicycle Association selected Bike Miami Days and Bike Miami Rides to receive the Event of the Year Award on behalf of Bike Miami Days and Bike Miami Rides.

“We would like to recognize your efforts and achievements that help us deliver our mission to inspire and support people and communities to enjoy greater freedom and well being through bicycling,” reads the association’s announcement.

I am proud that the cycling community has recognized our efforts to make Miami a more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly city, and I hope to see Bike Miami Days continue with the support of our community.

Learn more about this award-winning event at http://www.bike-miami.com/

UPDATE: What the Florida Bicycle Association has to say about Bike Miami Days:

"Program or Event: Mayor Manny Diaz and Kathryn Moore, City of Miami: Bike Miami Days
In 2008 the City of Miami began to develop and implement an ambitious Bicycle Action Plan. The BAP included the usual program areas: engineering, education, and enforcement. The key to making the plan a success was showing that bicycling was popular among City residents and that investing in bicycling would bring substantial returns. The Bike Miami Days events were an ambitious strategy that proved that Miamians wanted safe opportunities to ride their bikes and helped build support for the other elements in the Action Plan. The seven BMD events closed over two miles of streets in downtown Miami to motorized traffic (one event took place in Coconut Grove) and were attended by over 10,000 participants. The closed streets allowed families, new cyclists, frequent riders and those that had not been on their bikes in years to experience on-road riding. In addition to the usual partners that are brought into a bicycling event, the City included artists, environmentalists, yoga teachers, fixed-gear riders, and the Dutch Consulate in Bike Miami Days. When the weather got too hot for a half-day street closure, Bike Miami Days were transformed into Bike Miami Rides: 8-10 mile explorations of the city that emphasized inclusiveness, vehicular-style riding and basic bicycle safety education. The four Bike Miami Rides held since June have each attracted 30-50 riders. BMD resumed October 4, 2009. It is not an exaggeration to say that Mayor Diaz’ vision and leadership were essential for the existence, of the Bike Miami Day and Bike Miami Ride events. Essential cooperation from the Police and Sanitation Departments, merchants, residents and property owners would not have been forthcoming without the Mayor’s direct involvement. Kathryn Moore coordinated each of the events and used her organizational skill and personal charisma to make each one a success. All of the Bike Miami Days and Bike Miami Rides events are documented at: http://bikemiamiblog.wordpress.com. "

- Manny

Another Successful Bike Miami Day

Yesterday, thousands of people biked, skated, walked and enjoyed the heart of their city during Bike Miami Day, Miami’s biggest free & family-friendly street festival.
I would like to personally thank all of the amazing volunteers, Waste services of Florida Inc., the Miami Downtown Development Authority, the City of Miami Police Department, Commissioner Marc Sarnoff and the Florida Bicycle Association for making this the best Bike Miami Days to date.
We couldn’t have made this happen without the support of our community, so – Thank you!
I invite you to take some time to listen to the WLRN story about Bike Miami Days and to read some of the comments posted on the Bike Miami Days blog, on the Bike Miami Days Facebook page and sent via email (below.)

Thank you all for your support and comments!

- Manny

Support for Bike Miami Days:

Support via email:

Please continue to support BMD!! It's a very effective and unique community-building activity and one that we as residents see it as an important building block to create union, meet diversity, discover our city in a different light and most importantly, feel the City's presence in its improvements.

Thank you for continuing this program and introducing new and exciting ways to enjoy our city!
Regards,Yeraldine Ordonez

Comments from Participants to our blog:

Author : A Disgruntled Browarder
Comment:
What an awesome event. Broward needs to learn a lesson from Miami-Dade and show their cycling community a little respect. All of the volunteers and police present were super friendly and helpful. I certainly hope that whoever picks up the reins after Mayor Diaz will continue these fantastic events. Miami can and will be a city of cyclists if we can keep building this positive spirit and political momentum!

Comments from Participants to our Facebook:

Michelle Melin Niemeyer
I was out today and was VERY impressed with the numbers and especially the number of families with children who were out this time. It was a great day!

Ana Colls
Great day with great people! Don't be a fool, City of Miami, keep Bike Miami Days going!!!

Mariela Rossel
BIKE MIAMI ROCKS!!!!!! :)

Maria Hernandez Gestido
Perfect weather for a great time out there today. It was my first time and I can't wait to go again!

Carla F. Llamas

Today's event was awesome! Thanks for such a wonderful event in Miami!

Bicycle Master Plan Presented at Third Miami Bicycle Summit

This week, the City of Miami hosted our third Miami Bicycle Summit to present the latest draft of the city's first Bicycle Master Plan. The summit, held at Belafonte TACOLCY Center in Liberty City, brought cyclists, planners and community residents together to view the last draft of the plan, which will be available in online for everyone to review next week.

The City of Miami Bicycle Plan is the result of nearly two years of hard work on the part of the Bicycle Action Committee, city planners and staff, the Bike Miami Days Team and countless advocates, local groups and individuals. The Plan includes a map of over 285 miles of inter-connected bicycle routes that we want to see in the City by 2030. These bicycle routes include bicycle lanes, greenways and innovative new bicycle facilities, called 'sharrows' and 'bicycle boulevards'. When built, whether as part of existing projects or as new capital improvements, they will provide a network of bikeways accessible to every Miami resident within a 1/4mile of where they live, work and play.

The Plan also introduces bicycle parking standards and calls for the implementation of bicycle parking racks, shelters or lockers at nearly 1,000 new locations throughout our city. This is important because we want to ensure that residents and visitors who travel by bicycle are able to safely and securely park their bicycles wherever they go in the city.

Bicycling is a fun, healthy and environmentally-friendly way to explore our city. I look forward to presenting the Bicycle Master Plan to the City Commission on October 8 and hope that our commissioners will join me in supporting this plan for a bicycle-friendly Miami.

For more information about the City of Miami's bicycling program, please visit www.miamigov.com/bikes. I also hope to see you for my last Bike Miami Days event on Sunday, October 4.

-Manny

Everyone Must Sacrifice

These are challenging times for the City of Miami and for its residents. The economic perfect storm - an economic meltdown, the worst since the great depression, leading to a significant decline in housing values, a record number of foreclosures, the highest unemployment rate in decades and substantial drops in consumer confidence and spending, has made this the most difficult budget year that I have had to face since taking office eight years ago.

My budget includes a large number of layoffs. During these difficult economic times, the last thing we want is to add our employees to the ranks of the unemployed. But we must also deal with reality. The City and the taxpayers cannot afford and will not be able to afford the current cost structure.

However, most of these layoffs can be prevented if all of the City’s Unions to come to the table and make the sacrifices that must be made. We are asking no more, and no less, than that which is being asked of every employee everywhere, in order to keep their jobs: Salary and pension concessions.

We simply cannot continue to place the economic burden with the tax payers.

There is no question that sacrifices must be made. The question we have to answer is who should make these sacrifices. Should it be those whose salaries and benefits are paid by the public? Or, should it be those same people who pay our salaries and who today are hurting economically, losing their jobs and homes or in fear of losing their jobs and homes and taking salary cuts?

This is the time to decide: does the city serve the needs of the people? Or do the people serve the needs of the city?

Read my budget address here

- Manny

United We Serve: National Day of Service and Remembrance

Today is the first National Day of Service and Remembrance. In honor of those lost eight years ago, the President and First Lady are calling on people across the country to come together, renew our commitments to community service and recognize the heroism of our servicemen and women.

I hope that you will join us by taking a moment day to reflect on what you can do for your community and to make the commitment to active citizenship and service throughout the coming year. At the City of Miami Administration Building (444 SW 2nd Ave.), city staff and volunteers will be on hand from 11am to 1pm to provide information about opportunities to give back. You are welcome to drop by and write letters to Americans serving abroad, make a pledge to serve or just learn more about local community service groups and other non-profits in need.

You can read the President and First Lady's call to service HERE. Make your pledge online at 911dayofservice.org or learn more at http://www.serve.gov/.

Thank you.

-Manny

Mayor's Challenge: Pledge to Water Conservation

This week, I accepted The South Florida Living Green Fair’s Mayors Challenge and now I'm asking for your help to show that City of Miami residents support water conservation. The City of Miami is dedicated to Green practices that minimize our impact on the environment. By reducing unecessary water use, we can all make a real difference for the planet. Please join me in taking a few minutes to review easy and helpful tips for preserving our precious water resources. You will receive a free family pass for five to the South Florida Living Green Fair and the City of Miami could win the opportunity to display an original 45-foot mural by marine artist and conservationist Wyland.

With just a few simple steps, you can save millions of gallons of water throughout your lifetime. I know that Miami residents care about our environment and with your help, we can prove that we are "The Most Water Wise City" in South Florida.

Let's show that Miami residents care about living green. Take the Pledge HERE.

-Manny

Miami 21 Approved

Yesterday was a proud day for the City of Miami. The Miami Commission approved Miami 21, the blueprint for a sustainable city, on First Reading, after extensive public input and a truly democratic process.
I was exceptionally proud of the number of Miamians who embraced Miami 21 and was proud to sit through the debate. Speaker after speaker stressed the importance of sustainability, climate change, walkability, pedestrian-friendly streets, bicycling, historic preservation, open spaces, health, obesity, etc. Speaker after speaker reflected the new Miami, a different demographic that embraces the urban experience and advocates for a very different Miami. I also welcomed the opportunity to address many of the concerns brought up by our residents.
I want to thank all of you who have participated in the over 500 public meetings and who visited our website, with more than a quarter million unique visitors, over 4000 subscribers and 7 million hits over the past 4 years. Your participation has made this plan the most democratic planning document in our city's history.

Read my Sept 4 remarks before the City Commission

Visit http://www.miami21.org/ for more information

- Manny

9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance

September 11th is National Day of Service and Remembrance. In honor of this day, which is also the culmination of President Obama's United We Serve campaign, the City of Miami is reaching out to its employees and residents to make a pledge to engage in at least one community service project before the end of this year.

I invite you to join me, staff and volunteers at the Miami Riverside Center on Friday, September 11th from 11am to 2pm to learn about service opportunities in our community. We will be collecting donations of prepaid calling cards for local men and women who are serving overseas as well as writing letters to send out through the Florida Army and Air National Guard.

To learn more about what you can do to serve in our community, I invite you to visit HandsOnMiami.org or visit your local NET office.

Thank you for your commitment to serve.

-Manny

Miami 21 Needs Your Support

Due to the tremendous outpouring of support from our constituents, and the expressed desire of several City of Miami Commissioners to revisit Miami 21, I have called a Special Commission Meeting for September 4 at 10 am, at Miami City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Coconut Grove, to revisit the issue.

The special meeting will follow a previously scheduled of the City Commission convened for the purpose of addressing the vacancy created by Commissioner Regalado’s resignation in advance of the upcoming general election this November. The item will be discussed on First Reading, given that the 2-2 vote on August 6th meant there was “no action” on the item pursuant to the commission’s rules of procedure.

I was encouraged by the public participation and public support for Miami 21 during our last meeting and I am once again asking you to take time out of your busy schedules to return for the public hearing on September 4.

Each of you should make your support of Miami 21 known to each of the commissioners in a short letter or e-mail, as the final decision regarding the plan’s fate rests with each of them. This is especially important if you will not be able to attend the meeting.

Here is a list of email addresses:

Commissioner Angel Gonzalez - District 1.

E-mail: agonzalez@miamigov.com
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff - District 2.

E-mail: msarnoff@miamigov.com
Commissioner Joe M. Sanchez - District 3.

E-mail: jsanchez@miamigov.com
Commissioner Tomas P. Regalado - District 4.

E-mail: tregalado@miamigov.com
Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones - District 5.

E-mail: MSpence@miamigov.com

Please contact Kathryn Moore (kmoore@miamigov.com) in my office if you would like assistance drafting your letter or e-mail. Also, please remember to send a me copy at miamimayor@miamigov.com.

Make your voice be heard on Miami 21. Miami’s future depends on it!

- Manny

Sunday Bike Miami Ride through Little Havana, Shenandoah and Brickell

The City of Miami Bike Miami Rides program returns this Sunday August 23rd at 8:30am. Bring your bicycle, your helmet and water bottle to Mary Brickell Village's Brickell Plaza where you will meet with City of Miami Police officers and volunteers for a ride through the streets of Little Havana, Shenandoah and Brickell neighborhoods. You'll learn how to get ready for each bike ride, how to ride safely and share the road with cars, properly fit your helmet and more.
For more information about bicycle safety, please visit www.miamigov.com/bikes.
For more details about this weekend's ride and other bicycling events in the city, visit the Bike Miami Rides blog HERE.

Ride safely Miami.
-Manny

Miami Bicycle Summit Reviews First Draft of Bicycle Master Plan

Miami’s bicycling community continues to impress me with their enthusiasm and dedication to our city. Last night, at the second Miami Bicycle Summit, roughly 50 people came to listen to the progress of the Bicycle Master Plan and to share their experiences, ideas and reflections on where we are and where we are going.

The City of Miami Bicycle Master Plan includes a study of current conditions, standards for better bicycle parking facilities and guidelines for implementation of a bicycle route network to connect our city’s parks, schools, shopping areas, special districts and neighborhoods. When completed, the plan will drive this city’s staff and future leaders to promoting a more bicycle-friendly city through policy, infrastructure, education and enforcement. It will be up to you, the residents of our city, to keep the pressure on your local leaders and make sure that Miami fulfills its promise of becoming of safer, friendlier, more sustainable place to live, work and play.

For more on the Bicycle Master Plan and the rest of our bicycle initiatives, please visit http://www.miamigov.com/bikes.

My personal thanks go to everyone who came and participated in the summit – with special thanks to those who rode to the event, many of whom are here:
-Manny