I grew up on Miami Beach, and I've spent almost half my life there, off and on. My parents grew up there, too. The last time I moved back to south Florida was 2005, and I'm not leaving again. I thought about moving back to the Beach, but it didn't work out. House prices were way too high, and the Beach wasn't the same Beach on which I grew up. It no longer felt like "home," for the first time in my life. I have no further special feeling for Miami Beach, sad to say. So someone put me onto Biscayne Park, I loved it, and I'm here to stay. I feel very devoted to the Park, and I've invested here. It's more than just the house. I care about the Park, and I've made it my business to give of myself beyond just paying taxes, to enhance the neighborhood. Here's a quote from Tony Goldman, a community activist who led the revitalization of Wynwood: "Feed the neighborhood, and it will feed you." Great, huh? I love this quote, and the sentiment behind it.
The first person, but not the last person, who made the following suggestion to me was Lee Evett, one of the applicants for the Manager position we filled last month: Get people to remember Biscayne Park in their wills. This is a very cool idea. There are people here, and in other communities, whose main "home," and "family," are their community, more than their relatives, of which some people have few or none. So why not? Why not leave something of yourself, more than just the memories your neighbors will have of you, to your Village? After all, your neighbors will move away or die, too. The Village stays.
And it doesn't have to be as specific or as concrete as part of your estate. Although there's certainly nothing wrong with including Biscayne Park as a beneficiary in your will. It could be a contribution to public art that will be here after you've moved away or died. Or, when we begin log cabin renovations, it could be bricks we'll "sell," or a plaque with your name on it. You wouldn't like our restored meeting room to be the ________________ Meeting Room or Auditorium? What about the ________ Family Wing for the addition we'll have to build? Your name on a plaque outside the Manager's office? Or the Police Chief's? Or just a quiet bequest to your Village, the one where you may have lived for several decades? How about one of the larger medians, which could easily be _____________ Park? Arthur Griffing's name is on a plaque in the park across 6th Avenue from the log cabin. Ed Burke's name is on the sign at the central park and recreation center. And neither of them "gave" the Village anything.
Think it over. Talk to your family or your tax advisor. Make an appointment with our Manager, Heidi Shafran. You'll be very proud of yourself, and your neighbors will be very grateful to you. And all with very good reason.
Disclaimer: I am not personally authorized to offer or promise anyone anything. I have a sneaking suspicion, however... It's certainly worth your inquiring.
Dear Commissioner Fred:
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect, after you give 27 years of your life to intensely serving the Village as did Ed Burke, you can certainly say that you "gave" heavily. I know you are looking for cash, and I applaud that, but serving the community is worth at least as much as one's ability to write a check. For the record, my Village should not be for sale to the extent that the names of public buildings are sold to the highest bidder. Bricks and plaques maybe, but not rooms or buildings or park areas.
Dan Keys
Dear Former Commissioner Dan,
To whose 27 years of service are you really referring? If you mean your own, they are more than appreciated. It would be hard to repay you for them. If you mean Burke's, as far as I know, he did not give service to the Village. He sold it to us. We did pay him, did we not? And he got to be called Mayor, and ride around town on an elephant, and whatever other perqs came his way.
Since you're stating your opinion "for the record," you should feel free to state it "on" the record. It's a great point, and a very valid opinion, and I wish you would enter it as a comment. My guess is that many people would agree with you.
As always, and for all of it,
Thank you.
Fred
PS,Dan: You don't seem to mind at all that Griffing's name is on the small park, and Burke's name is on the larger one. Griffing made nothing but money out of his "estates." Burke got his, too. So what's your objection to dedicating a wing or a room to the "highest bidder?"
DeleteFred
ReplyDeleteI was asked to post this for someone, but not to reveal the name.
My opinion of Ed Burke differs greatly from that of some others who seem to see him as some sort of deity.
First of all - his heavy handed ways of running meetings and calling for votes would likely get him booted off the commission in today's world. It was pretty much Ed's way or no way. He was pretty much a one man P&Z board. The results can be found in various parts of the Village, with structures and appurtenances that would not have been approved by a P&Z Board.
He was as cheap as you get - hence the poor conditions our employees worked under and we still are trying to fix. Then there is code enforcement - or lack thereof. Back 30+ years ago the problems were pretty much centered east of 10th and surely could have been mitigated (if not all, most) by code enforcement but he was one of those who didn't care about anything east of 10th. Now the eyesores have spread throughout the Village.
And - he is the only BP elected official to draw a pension. It was only $3000 per year but it was still a reward no one else got. With all due respect to Dan - Ed Burke is no more worthy of his name on a sign or plaque than anyone else. If someone donates a sum of money large enough to make the kind of major improvements you mentioned, and all they want in return is to see their name on a plaque, would Dan prefer we stand on some sort of misguided principle and turn it down?
From a Shy Reader
Reader,
DeleteDan said he might be willing to consider a plaque. Just not a room or a wing or a building.
Fred