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Very pleased to announce that last week, Miami-Dade’s Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to transmit CDMP amendment applications 4, 5, 6, and 7 to the state. Congratulations to everyone who made this happen!

These applications will shrink the Urban Expansion Areas (UEAs) to exclude sensitive wetlands and Coastal High Hazard Areas, and they’ll bring the county’s planning code into compliance with CERP. They’ll introduce Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) programs, and implement a host of measures to mitigate climate change and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. These are HUGE accomplishments, and we couldn’t have done it without you, HTL (Hold the Line)!

On Thursday (January 23rd), our Miami-Dade County Commissioners will be voting on amendments to the CDMP (Comprehensive Development Master Plan) through the Evaluation and Appraisal Report reviewed every seven years.

In today’s Miami Herald, Adrian Madriz (Executive Director of SMASH, Miami Climate Alliance Steering Committee Member) and Victor Dover (Dover, Kohl & Partners) wrote an Op-Ed expressing the importance of not breaching the Urban Development Boundary.

“The developers’ intent to build only single-family houses, in a manner similar to the suburban sprawl that has transformed Kendall, Doral and other western suburbs into expensive areas afflicted with frustrating commutes, will just create more distant communities that require more expensive car travel and more infrastructure needs. They’re forgetting: An affordable life isn’t really made feasible by spreading farther onto distant farmland or sensitive wilderness, then using more and more gas, money and time driving. Housing and transportation costs have to be taken into account together, not separately.”  Read the full article HERE.

The Hold the Line Coalition needs your support to let Commissioners know they have the responsibility and opportunity to make all the right choices to ensure the prosperity of our county.

A Press Conference will be held at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday, January 23rd) outside the Commission Chambers at the Media Room on the second floor prior to the hearing. Bring your friends, family, and colleagues to support these amendments and tell the developers they can’t put a price on our future. Learn more HERE.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the state will purchase 20,000 acres in Broward County from Kanter Real Estate. The state’s action follows tremendous public opposition to plans by Kanter to drill for oil on the land, which is part of the Everglades Protection Area. The area is vital to the region’s water, Everglades restoration and endangered species.

In response Diana Umpierre, Sierra Club Everglades Restoration Organizing Representative issued the following statement.

“This is welcome news. We are happy the state has taken steps to acquire the Kanter property within the Everglades Protection Area. This is an important purchase to protect the Everglades and the drinking water of millions of people.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020
LOCATION: CIC MIAMI  (1951 NW 7th Ave) – 11:30am-1:30pm

In July 2019, we held the first ever Miami Housing & Energy Justice Congress. The purpose of that event was to bring together delegations of community members across several neighborhoods to come up with a cohesive set of justice-centered demands for development in Miami-Dade County.

Since then we have been working to refine those demands. Over 2020, the demands will be incorporated by advocates in several ongoing campaigns to create sensible, sustainable development that builds resiliency and doesn’t displace.

Drop by CIC Miami (1951 NW 7th Ave) on Saturday, January 18th from 11:30am-1:30pm to provide feedback on our draft list of demands and inform our 2020 strategy. Food will be provided and parking will be free. RSVP HERE.

You work hard all year for our community and our planet. Let us say thank you at the MCA Holiday Party. Join us for music, karaoke, food, beverages (yes, including beverages for the 21+ members), all kinds of games and more! RSVP HERE

WHEN: Saturday, December 14th, 2019
WHERE: Space Called Tribe
TIME: General Meeting + Town Hall (3PM-5:30PM), Holiday Party (6PM-8PM)

We’ll hold our Miami Climate Alliance Quarterly General Meeting + Town Hallfrom 3 to 5PM, where we will look back on 2019 and ahead to 2020 with presentations, recognitions and a Hot Topics Panel.  Interpretation available in Spanish and Creole.

RSVP HERE

The City of Miami has officially declared a climate emergency.  Youth activists showed up in a big way expressing their concerns for the cities future and won a big victory.  The City of Miami is joining more than 1,100 jurisdictions in 20 countries that have made a similar declaration.

Now, we must keep up the pressure and contact our local reps and the City of Miami for next steps and what we, as citizens, expect to see in the near future; an equitable, just and inclusive plan for combating our climate crisis.

11/3/19 – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a Federal Register notice extending the validity of TPS-related documentation for beneficiaries under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua and Sudan through Jan. 4, 2021.

The notice automatically extends the validity of Employment Authorization Documents; Forms I-797, Notice of Action; and Forms I-94, Arrival/Departure Record (collectively, TPS-related documentation) through Jan. 4, 2021.

Marleine Bastien, Executive Director of Family Action Network Movement (FANM), stated, “This is wonderful news. Folks have been frantic and restless worrying about the January deadline. Now , they have a reprieve  while we continue our efforts to find a permanent solution for the 300,000 TPS recipients and their families . A lot of folks will sleep better tonight and it is a step forward.”

Florida is home to over 50,000 TPS holders from Haiti (~35,000), Honduras (~9,000), and El Salvador (~6,000). Over 2750,000 U.S.-born children in the U.S. have parents from Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Nepal, Sudan and El Salvador who have TPS.

Miami Beach has declared a climate emergency, thanks to the advocacy efforts of Miami youth climate advocates.

They see it as a victory, and a first step toward convincing the city to do more to slow carbon emissions and climate change.

“It’s not just us holding up signs now. There’s literally legislation that says we need to put this at the top of the agenda,” said John Paul Mejia, a 17-year-old Miami Beach Senior High School student and member of several Miami-based climate action groups.

Read the full Miami Herald article HERE.

Help 350 South Florida meet their fundraising goal of $10,000 to receive a matching grant from the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation.They’re only $2,000 short from their goal.  Right now, every dollar you donate will be worth 5 times more.  $5 X $1! They will only get the funds if the $10,000 goal is met by October 31st. Donate HERE.

Mission: To build a future that’s prosperous, equitable, just, inclusive, and safe from the effects of climate change through the elimination of fossil fuels. “350 South Florida” is affiliated with 350.org, an international non-profit that is building a global movement to solve the climate crisis. Growing stronger daily, the 350 family is active in 188 countries. This movement thinks and acts globally.