FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2020
AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO THE MIAMI HERALD
7BB
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES Q: What key issues affecting the Black community would you address as county commissioner?
SYBRINA FULTON
Before my son Trayvon Martin was killed, I was a dedicated county professional for 24 years. What I learned during that time is that too many people in Miami-Dade County are struggling simply because they never had a fair shot. I look forward to bringing new ideas to the county commission aimed at improving work, wages, and wealth for everyone and addressing the root causes of generational poverty in Black and Brown communities.
OLIVER GILBERT III
Far too often, politicians want you to believe there’s one easy answer. Everything relates and connects to everything else. Economic development impacts jobs. Jobs impact housing affordability. Transportation impacts economic development. Public health impacts public safety. Public safety impacts development. Development impacts quality-of-life. We need an agenda for the community that’s holistic and recognizes that needs are not singular. As a community, we have the bandwidth to change our situation and I’ll lead the charge.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 3 CANDIDATES
Q: What key issues affecting the Black community would you address as county commissioner? BRIAN DENNIS
KEON HARDEMON
MONESTER D. LEE-KINSLER
One key issue affecting the Black community that I will address as county commissioner is poverty. I will address this issue by ensuring proper funding and accountability for community-based organizations. I will also forge equitable economic development strategies coupled with community-led benefits agreement, job creation, workforce training, homeownership, affordable housing and transit mobility options for all.
The Black community suffers most from Miami-Dade County’s dramatic income and wealth disparity. The county uses income to determine one’s economic status and encourage policy decisions. However, wealth variability is a better tool to measure the condition of Black communities because it considers assets that are owned by Blacks instead of simply the flow of money into their household. Using strategies like my Anti-Poverty Initiative, I would foster greater wealth generation for the Black community.
The Black community has an issue of homelessness; a place to “live” with no sense of home. The school system doesn’t teach our children about economic freedom, crippling them mentally in the future. There are thousands of people being displaced and are now physically homeless. Systematic oppression is emotionally keeping the people stagnant. I will change the mindset and instill programs to help the PEOPLE in the community, not just the city, move forward.
EDDIE LEWIS
TISA M. MCGHEE
GEPSIE MORISSET METELLUS
I played a pivotal role in this county that ensured we elected good responsible office holders that would focus on our community needs. I truly understand the role of being responsible, honest and having integrity. The citizens living in our community who are affected by the Miami Dade Board of Commissioner’s Office require quality service, and that is where I pledge my leadership of Eddie Lewis.
While COVID-19 significantly impacted our community and could be considered a key issue, I would argue that the social inequality it highlighted is a far more pressing issue. Data clearly exposed economic and health disparities, and when you add in education, transportation, and public safety, the Black community is at an overall disadvantage. As a commissioner, I will work to address social inequality, to make sure we have more access to needed resources and opportunities.
The issues that affect the Black community are intersectional and must be addressed through their unique intersectionality. Hence, I would prioritize restoring hope in the promise of a better future rooted in safe and secure neighborhoods through reforms in policing and corrections, while also working with community stakeholders to lift up strategies to expand economic opportunities that enable small business owners to prosper while also enabling hardworking households to thrive.
