Miami-DadeCounty Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, elected to the District 8 seat in fall 2014, formally opened her office at the South Dade Government Center on Saturday, Feb. 21, with a high school band as well as many guests and supporters attending.
Commissioner Levine Cava, who had promised during her campaign to return the District 8 office to that location, was clearly excited about the event and its significance. The office had been in a private shopping center the previous four years.
“It was really such an honor and privilege to be elected to serve this great district, and now we’ve brought our offices back to South Dade, more in the center of the district, and we’re trying to bring back services to South Dade,” she said.
“We want to make sure that the people of South Dade get their fair share and today is a great example. We’re going to see what we can do to bring back some of the critical services to people.”
Levine Cava said that going downtown for services in not convenient and is time consuming.
“We are fortunate, we do have the busway; we do have Metrorail. Those are great services for downtown, but commuting is everyone’s worst nightmare,” she said. “And we’re trying to fix that problem, too. We’re really trying to bring some common sense and real commitment to the transit system.”
The Junior ROTC Color Guard and Jazz Band from Miami Southridge Senior High participated in the event and Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn and Cutler Bay’s Mayor Peggy Bell and Vice Mayor Ernie Sochin attended.
“I think it’s really wonderful that Commissioner Levine Cava has brought the office of the County Commission District 8 back to the Government Center,” Mayor Bell said. “That’s an important place for our residents to be able to find all of the services in the same spot. I want to congratulate her. We’re very excited, the Town of Cutler Bay, about working with our commissioner for the betterment of all of the residents of District 8.”
As part of the opening there was a county services fair with nearly two dozen county departments providing information about Public Works, Transit, Animal Services, Miami-Dade Police, Miami-Dade Fire and other areas. The commissioner’s office hosted a light bulb and showerhead exchange, as well, and attendees dropped off book donations for children and incarcerated adults, and cell phones for victims of domestic violence.
Flinn also was pleased with the restoration of the District 8 office to its original location.
“Starting here, reopening these offices down here in Cutler Bay, bringing the county services here is great,” Mayor Flinn said. “If you have an issue, you can go upstairs and meet with your county commissioner, so it’s a one-stop shop again, and that’s good for the residents.”
In her brief speech Commissioner Levine Cava thanked the students of Southridge High School, Homestead Hospital for their sponsorship, and Catering by Les for providing the refreshments.
The District 8 office will be open Monday- Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To contact the office call 305-378-6677, 305-375-5218 or send an email to district8@miamidade.gov. In addition to the South Dade Government Center office, Commissioner Levine Cava holds monthly office hours the second Wednesday of every month at Homestead City Hall.
