South Miami Community leaders form new organization to call for a more effective local government

South Miami Community leaders form new organization to call for a more effective local government
South Miami Community leaders form new organization to call for a more effective local government
At the Organization Launch Reception were co-chairs (l-r) John Edward Smith, Publisher, SOMI Magazine, former South Miami Mayor Rev. Dr. Anna Price and former South Miami vice mayor Armando Oliveros, Jr.

A diverse group of South Miami residents has established South Miami Citizens for Good Government, a non-profit organization devoted to discussing critical issues facing the community.

The organization was officially launched at a reception held on December 10th. John Edward Smith, a 40 year resident of South Miami, business development consultant and Publisher of SOMI Magazine, introduced the organization’s leadership with co-chairs, former Mayor Rev. Dr. Anna Price, and former Vice-Mayor Armando Oliveros, Jr. Smith noted that with both Dr. Price and Armando Oliveros each living in and serving South Miami for 30 years, and with his 40 years, the combined “love for this community is 100 years!”

“It was important for us in forming this organization to ensure diversity of leadership and membership,” said Smith. “We want to be the voice for all residents of South Miami, whose needs are unfortunately being neglected by the current elected officials, and the consequences of a revolving door in the City Manager’s office over the past four years.”

“In recent years, more and more citizens have lost faith in local government, and for good reason,” said Dr. Anna Price. “We want to give citizens a voice to talk about important issues, the actions of our government leaders and the steps that must be taken to make South Miami a better place to live, work and play. I want to encourage more people to vote.”

“It is time for us to return to a government that serves the community as a whole, without the divisiveness and rancor we see now,” said Oliveros. “This is an opportunity for citizens to send a message to the City Commission that what we need is leadership, not lawsuits; accuracy, not accusations; discussion, not derision.”

It was noted that anyone who doubts the need for an organization like this should watch the video of the latest City Commission meeting (Dec. 3, 2013). They’ll see a commissioner get censured for printing an insensitive and offensive poster, a slander lawsuit filed by that same commissioner that will cost taxpayer dollars to defend, and a resolution calling for ‘Meatless Mondays’ as a way to, among other things, combat the negative environmental impact of livestock. Smith noted that the commission should spend the taxpayers’ dollars on matters that affect the overall economic growth and development of our city.

The group plans a number of community events and a series of informative newsletters that will be printed and distributed in two languages.

For more information, log onto www.southmiamigoodgov.org or call Cera Soli at 305-498-9011 or 305-665-2838.


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