Shake A Leg Miami Celebrates Summer Learning Day

Shake A Leg Miami is one of this City's great community non-profits. Shake A Leg provides children and the disabled with unique opportunities to connect with nature and to learn and grow as individuals and athletes. This year's summer program features an engaging environmental curriculum that I am proud to support. My thanks go to everyone at Shake A Leg for this video in celebration of National Summer Learning Day on July 9, 2009.

Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!

As you celebrate this 4th of July with your family, please follow all safety instructions when handling fireworks. One great way to celebrate the 4th of July safely is by joining the City of Miami in one of the largest fireworks displays in South Florida for America's Birthday Bash, in Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami.

Enjoy food and beverages, and a free Kids' Zone with inflatable slides, a "kiddie carousel," hoops, face painting and more. Bring the whole family!

Find out more on the Bayfront Park Website

- Manny

House Passes American Clean Energy and Security Act

The U.S. House of Representatives took historic action with the passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) (H.R. 2454) last week, which will set our country on the path to energy independence from fossil fuel consumption, and will significantly help to promote the deployment of renewable energy resources, thereby mitigating the dangers of global climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
I commend our Florida U.S. Representatives who recognized the importance of this bill and voted in its favor: Kendrick Meek, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Ron Klein.
Not voting for this bill, as our other U.S. Representatives, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, and Mario Diaz-Balart, is highly irresponsible, and the effects of not passing this bill would be irrevocable to our planet.
We must now work to get this bill to pass in the Senate and create a bill for President Obama to sign into law that ensures a clean, sustainable future for our children.
See the final vote on H.R. 2454 here>>

The American Clean Energy and Security Act

This week, our Congressional representatives will vote on The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) (H.R. 2454). I strongly support ACES, though I believe that it can do more to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Today, I wrote a letter to our United States Representatives urging them to help strengthen the bill by supporting the inclusion of funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. The EECBG program is a priority of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and it provides a vital nexus for emissions reduction at the local level.
This legislation is currently scheduled for floor action in the House tomorrow. ACES will set our country on the path to energy independence from fossil fuel consumption and will significantly help to promote the deployment of renewable energy resources, thereby mitigating the dangers of global climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
During this City of Miami Green Week, I urge you to join me in supporting ACES and the EECBG program. You can read my letter to representatives Kendrick Meek, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Mario Diaz-Balart, Ron Klein and Alcee Hastings HERE. I invite you to contact your representative at http://www.House.gov

-Manny

Celebrating International Olympic Day: Tuesday, June 23

Around the world and throughout the City of Miami, people will celebrate the Olympic spirit on June 23: International Olympic Day.
Olympic Day is a celebration of the Olympic values of fairplay, perseverance, respect and sportsmanship. Each year, the U.S. Olympic Committee spearheads events with athletes from Team USA. This year, I join the USOC and mayors in 145 other American cities to bring these events to our local children and to show solidarity with the Chicago 2016 bid to host the Summer Olympics.

Miami is a city with a rich athletic history. Our local Miami Heat team has several Olympic athletes and our city is host to trials for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Miami's historic Moore Park has been a training ground for local Olympic heroes like Bershawn Johnson and Sylvia Fowles. Today, our city parks, swimming pools and gymnasiums welcome young athletes with dreams of success both on and off the field. In recognition of all of our young athletes, City of Miami Parks & Recreation Summer programs are hosting weekly mini-Summer Olympic Games, starting this Wednesday. I am honored to be joined by local Olympians Gary Hall, Sr., Gary Hall, Jr. and Tiffany Cohen (all multi-medal winning athletes), who will share their stories with over 170 kids in City of Miami Summer Camp at Shenandoah Park tomorrow.

I hope that you will join me in celebrating the Olympic spirit and by pledging your support for bringing the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the USA. Click here to make your pledge.

-Manny

I'd like to thank everyone who came out to support a more Bicycle-Friendly Miami at our first Bicycle Summit on Monday. The event was a real success, with participants from across the city and county offering their questions, insights and responses to our survey. (Please click here and take our survey if you have not already).

The Summit was the first of two public forums dedicated to the development of the Miami Bicycle Master Plan, which will set specific guidelines and targets for making our city a truly bicycle-friendly place to live, work and visit. Please stay tuned for the date and time of our next summit.

I am also proud to announce the launch of the City's newest webpage, www.miamigov.com/bikes, which provides up-to-date information about our Bicycle Master Plan and all City Bicycle Initiatives. Here, you can access copies of the Bicycle Action Plan, contact city staff and local groups and get more involved.

We want to hear your thoughts and ideas, so please contact Collin Worth, the City's Bicycle Coordinator, with any questions or suggestions that you may have.

-Manny

Welcome to the New USCM President

My year-long presidency of the United States Conference of Mayors ended today during the last day of the 77th Annual meeting of the organization. This past year has been filled with challenges and opportunities, and I thank the more than 1,300 mayors members of the USCM for the opportunity to lead them through this difficult time.
I wish the new president of the USCM, Mayor Greg Nickels of Seattle, a great and productive presidency.

Watch a video about my presidency on the USCM website.

- Manny