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This is Miami-Dade Now... We began my administration at a historic moment,
when voters in Miami-Dade County decided that we needed reform. We responded by restoring
honesty,
transparency, and accountability to their government. We led the reduction of the size
of government. We cut the departments by almost one half;
eliminated 1,700 positions; saved taxpayers well over $400 million and delivered the largest
tax Cut in county history. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez delivers his
2014 State of the County address at the Milander Center for Arts and Entertainment in Hialeah.
Gimenez says the state of the county is strong and spoke about some the accomplishments of
the past year including a more streamlined government and
growth in travel and trade. The mayor also talked about transforming the
way the county serves the public and future growth in our community, including finding
a home here for David
Beckham's Major League Soccer franchise. And international soccer superstar David Beckham
officially announced his plans to bring a soccer franchise to Miami-Dade County during
a news conference
at the Perez Art Museum in downtown Miami. Beckham, who retired from playing in 2013,
was joined by Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber
as he shared the
exciting news. This is an exciting time. This is in an exciting
time for myself. Exciting time for my family and friends and partners. And something that
we're really
looking forward to bringing to Miami. Later that day, Beckham was swarmed by fans
during a visit to Kendall Soccer Park to meet with youth soccer players and check out the
facilities. Gimenez and Commissioner Javier Souto were
among those welcoming him to the park. I hereby declare you formally and officially
installed. Soccer, no doubt, will be just one of the
many things Emilio Estefan will be promoting now that he's been sworn in as the first-ever
Special Ambassador
for Miami-Dade County in downtown Miami. The award winning music producer, businessman
and Miami resident will promote business, trade and culture as part of his new role.
Miami is about unity. It doesn't matter where you come from, we're all Miamians and we're
proud. I mean, I was a very poor kid that used to play the
accordion for tips and who could have said one day I could be an ambassador of Miami-Dade.
So I'm very proud. The four year, unpaid position was unanimously
approved by the Board of County Commissioners and began on January 1st.
And you can read more about Estefan and his business empire in Miami-Dade's newest publication
3-0-5-BIZ. The magazine is mailed to all local registered
businesses in the county and anyone can check it out online at 3-0-5 Biz 'dot' org.
Agriculture is big business in Miami-Dade County and officials in Tallahassee are taking
notice. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam
joined Commissioner Javier Souto, Commission Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa and Commissioner Dennis
Moss for a tour
of the Ronald Reagan Equestrian Complex at Tropical Park in Southwest Miami-Dade.
They discussed different ways the state and county can work together to further promote
the newly expanded facility, which hosts dozens of equestrian and
other events every year. This is an international destination for horse
and livestock shows that brings millions of dollars in economic impact. These buyers and
sellers come from
around the word. They stay here for a number of days. They invest in the local economy.
Agriculture is big business in Miami-Dade County and it's a 100
billion dollar business for the state of Florida. And one of Tropical Park's premier events
is coming up soon. Don't miss the 7th Annual Miami International Agriculture, Horse and
Cattle Show April
11ththrough the 13th. For more information about the free, fun family event visit Miami
Cattle Show 'dot' org. That I will well and faithfully perform the
duties of property appraiser of Miami-Dade County...
Lazaro Solis is sworn in as Miami-Dade's new property appraiser by Judge Thomas Logue at
the Florida Third District Court of Appeal in Southwest Miami-
Dade. Solis's family, friends and colleagues were
on-hand as he officially assumed the role. The 26-year veteran of county government has
served as deputy property appraiser since 2009 and steps in for Carlos Lopez-Cantera,
who resigned his post
to serve as Florida's Lieutenant Governor. Solis will remain in office until the next
countywide election on August 26th, when a new property appraiser will be elected.
One of the latest additions to Miami's skyline is officially dedicated.
The new Miami-Dade Children's Courthouse has been named in honor of longtime judges Seymour
Gelber and William E. Gladstone. The 94-year-old Judge Gelber and Judge Gladstone,
83, have been very influential in creating programs for children throughout their distinguished
careers. The new building in downtown Miami, expected
to be completed next year, will replace the aging and undersized Juvenile Justice Center
currently located at
Northwest 27th Avenue and 33rd Street and will house all court partners and juvenile
justice support agencies under one roof. One, two three (snip). (Applause)
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, Commissioner Esteban Bovo and officials and residents from
the Town of Miami Lakes celebrate the much anticipated opening
of the Northwest 87th Avenue link between Miami Lakes Drive and Northwest 162nd Street.
Administrations within the Town of Miami Lakes and the District 13 commission district has
always envisioned being able to connect communities, Hialeah
all the way to Palm Springs North through 87th Avenue. The opening of this road does
that today. Not only connects communities, but also alleviates a lot of
traffic in the area. Now traffic that used to be on other arteries can now come through
87th Avenue. Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue vehicles
helped inaugurate the new roadway which also provides quicker access to emergency services.
Commissioner Audrey Edmonson joins local officials and community leaders to cut the ribbon marking
the opening of the newly refurbished historic Lyric
Theater in Overtown. The theater was built in 1913 by black businessman
Geder Walker and is Miami's oldest entertainment venue. It was a busy entertainment hub and
focal
point of social life in Overtown for decades. This theater was born with all of the great
black entertainers here, when people came from all over the county as well as the country
to actually come
here and see this theater and sit out there in the audience and be able to view our culture
and see our culture and see what it's all about.
The opening event honoring sponsors and patrons who contributed to the theater's renovation
was part of Black History Month in February. Commissioner Barbara Jordan celebrated Black
History Month by hosting the first-ever District 1 Black Heritage Festival.
Hundreds of people turned out for the free event in Miami Gardens which included live
entertainment and activities for children. The event is a comprehensive celebration of
black culture and the contributions made by African Americans to the United States.
Jordan says the festival will be an annual event.
Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring... (choir singing)
The South Florida Boys and Girls Choir performs the Black National Anthem during the Third
Annual Black History Month GospelFest at the South Miami-Dade
Cultural Arts Center in Cutler Bay. The event included several performances by
soloists and groups, and local pastors and churches were honored with proclamations for
their work in the
community. GospelFest was presented by Commissioners
Dennis Moss and Lynda Bell, and the Miami-Dade Black Affairs Advisory Board.
More than 20-thousand people came together at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens to raise
awareness and money for autism. It was all part of the 4th Annual Dan Marino
Foundation Walkabout Autism and Expo. The pro-football hall of famer and his family
were joined by other families, school groups and elected leaders -- including Commissioner
Jose "Pepe" Diaz
-- for the fundraiser which helps provide autism services in our community.
And dozens of dogs and cats now have permanent loving homes thanks to the Open Your Heart
and Your Home mega pet adoption and fundraiser event at Amelia
Earhart Park in Hialeah. The event, sponsored by Commissioner Esteban
Bovo, Miami-Dade Animal Services and Miami-Dade Parks, raised more than 1-thousand dollars
for the county's
Animal Services Trust Fund to improve animal services.
More than 50 pets were adopted and nearly 60 dogs and cats were spayed or neutered for
free. The event also featured low-cost vaccines, microchips and
tags. And take a look at Benjamin, the puppy Bovo
adopted for his family at the event. And that's a wrap for this edition of Miami-Dade
Now. I'm Leila Khalil reporting.
Thanks for watching.