Election Day is Coming

Vol. 3, No. 18 9 September 2022

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8

This year's voters will select representatives for a number of governmental seats. South Miami has three openings on its Commission: one for Mayor and two for Commissioners.

In addition there are five referendums which may change South Miami's Charter. While the Commission supports all of these changes, it does not have the power to change the Charter. The City's voters are the ones that make Charter decisions. For instance, on the 2020 ballot of the last national election there was a referendum to move South Miami's election day from February to the November national election day. The electorate voted to do so, which is why, this year, the Commission members will be selected in about seven weeks.

If you are like me, you do not want to spend a lot of time in the voting booth reading through the ballot. You can find the Official SAMPLE BALLOT (in orange) for South Miami on the City's website: https://southmiamifl.gov/130/Elections. All five of the referendums are posted there, after you scroll past the candidates.

Department at this site.

You will note that there are 8 different precincts in South Miami and four different polling places. Check you voter registration card to find out which polling place is the correct one for you.

CANDIDATE FORUM

All six of the South Miami Commission candidates will be participating in a forum on October 5 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm.

The forum is taking place at the American Legion Post 31, 7710 SW 59th Ave.

Please attend and bring your questions with you. Three of these people will make up 60% of the Commission for the next two years. Why not get to know them (better) before you vote?

HOMETOWN HEROES PARADE

"Join Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners for the first-ever Hometown Heroes Parade. Help us honor the healthcare professionals, law enforcement and frontline workers who kept our County safe throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hometown Heroes Parade is meant to honor the sacrifices first responders, healthcare workers, and law enforcement professionals have made on behalf of Miami-Dade County residents, including during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Date: Sunday, Oct. 30

Event Time: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Route: Biscayne Blvd from the Intercontinental

Hotel to FTX Arena/ Parcel B"

*For more about Family Fun Fest click here.

The address for the FTX Arena is 601 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33132. Directions on how to get to the FTX Arena by public transportation are on its website; so, too, are parking options.

South Miami's Police Department will be representing the City in the Parade. Go cheer the best Police Department in Miami-Dade County!

PLANT A BUTTERFLY GARDEN

I received an interesting email part of which I have reprinted below:

Except for the McCormick article all the blue live links go here. Erin McCormick's essay is here.

PURPLE HEART CEREMONY

On September 9, it was my honor be a speaker at the South Miami Senior High School JROTC Cobra Battalion's Patriot Day Ceremony. In particular it was a remembrance of the 9/11 catastrophe and of the people who were victims, witnesses, and first responders. Clips of that day were shown about three times during the ceremony. I reacted again - somewhat less intensely - to the televised coverage I had watched 20 years ago. I was shaky when it was my turn to speak, not because I was in front of an audience of distinguished people and students, but because I was reliving some of my own shock.

This is my speech. I wish I could more closely live MLK's words.

Keep healthy, stay safe.