The City of Miami Gardens has received an ‘A’ issuer credit rating (ICR) from the leader of worldwide financial market intelligence, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) at the close of 2009. It was the City’s first try at a national bond rating.

The City of Miami Gardens which was incorporated in 2003 and has an estimated population of 111,171 and is the third largest city in Miami-Dade County. It is home to the Miami Dolphins Stadium where the Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins, and University of Miami call home and host to the 2010 Pro Bowl and Super Bowl XLIV™.

In 2003 when the City was formed it was widely speculated that the City would not be financially viable. By 2009, the City closed its books with a positive unreserved fund balance of $10.1 million or 16% of expenditures, which is “very strong” based on S&P’s assessment. Miami Gardens’ Mayor Shirley Gibson stated that she was very pleased that the newly formed City could impress the national rating agencies, especially during a period of major recession, but added that she was not surprised. “From the beginning, the City Miami Gardens set out to be the best in whatever it did, and this rating is just another reflection of that determination.”

Overall S&P concluded that City’s financial position is strong with a stable outlook. The stable outlook reflects the City’s “good management practices” and “strong financial position” as well as the City’s diversifying employment base. Currently there are two major projects under construction in the City: Mercedes of Miami is moving its operations to the City and building a new, 12 acre dealership, and Calder Race Course is completing a new 100,000 square foot casino at its Miami Gardens racecourse.

For more information about the City of Miami Gardens S&P’s Ratings, please contact the City Manager, Dr. Danny O. Crew at (305) 622-8000.

The Miami Gardens Police Department has recently implemented an emergency notification system. The City is now using the CodeRED Emergency Notification System, which is an ultra high-speed telephone communication service for emergency notifications and distribution of information considered to be important to our residents.

This system allows us to telephone all or targeted areas of the City for informational purposes or in case of an emergency situation that requires immediate action, such as an evacuation, contaminated water, hazardous chemical spill, a missing child, etc. This system is capable of dialing the entire City within minutes, delivering a prerecorded message describing the situations to a live person or an answering machine in the affected area. This information could include instructions requiring immediate action on the part of the recipient.

A calling database was established by extracting information from the City’s computerized files and other public record sources. It is certain that not all phone numbers of residents and business/residential property owners within our incorporated limits were captured.

If you reside in the City, operate a business, or own property within the incorporated limits of the City of Miami Gardens and would like to receive CodeRED emergency messages you may sign up by visiting the Department’s web site, www.MiamiGardensPolice.org or by clicking the CodeRED icon below. IMPORTANT: USE YOUR PHYSICAL MIAMI GARDENS ADDRESS. DO NOT USE POST OFFICE OR OUT OF TOWN ADDRESSES. Should you at anytime desire to be removed from the calling list you may do so by calling the Miami Gardens Police Department at (305)474-1469.

It’s all politics: power and money. How do states and local governments get some of the money they need to provide certain services? Well, parts of those funds are provided by the federal government based on information collected by returned letters mailed out to every household address in the United States. It is important that every person is counted by the Census Bureau, and in Miami Gardens, that means that the people hardest to count – Black males between the ages of 18-25 and non-English speakers, primarily Haitian and Spanish speakers – deserve extra attention for full allocation of funds towards our city.

The census seeks to count those who have historically been undercounted. The Census on Campus Campaign attempts to count highly mobile college students living on and off campus. Students living away from home will receive their own questionnaires to prevent being counted twice or not at all. The census is usually mailed out in English only, but it will be sent in English and Spanish to areas with high Spanish speaking populations. For Miami Gardens, that is not the case.

We as neighbors need to speak with our communities and tell how the census is safe to complete and return. We are the most powerful force towards debunking deportation and other myths about participation in the census. The more representation, the more money can be expected by state and local governments by the federal government. Article 1, Section 2 of the United States Constitution says, “Representation and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States… according to their respective Numbers…” The census collects this data to “determine the distribution of Congressional seats to states,” and to “distribute $400 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year,” amongst other things, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Here in Miami Gardens, we need full participation in order to receive our fair share of census dollars.

So the next time you think that the census is unimportant and that you don’t have to participate in it, think about your community and how much more money could become available to your local city council to fix some of the problems that stagnate in your community. You should begin to see questionnaires arrive in your mail in March of 2010. Fill it out, send it back, and help make our city better.

On Saturday, December 5, 2009, Lulu’s Carwash held its official grand opening. Lulu’s Carwash is a private, family-owned business, committed to delivering a high quality and customer friendly car wash. The first Lulu’s is now open at 17551 Northwest 27th Avenue in Miami Gardens, Fl. Over 200 cars were washed with proceeds being donated to His House Ministries. Mayor Shirley Gibson and members from the North Dade Chamber of Commerce attended the event. 99 Jamz hosted the event with music and games. Lulu’s environmentally-friendly carwash system uses reclaimed water and reduces water consumption by as little as eight gallons of fresh water per car; the “green” shampoos are biodegradable and non-corrosive.

The business is owned by a set of father-daughter teams; Angel Canete, and his daughter, Lourdes Canete Wydra along with Alex Rubio and his daughter, Vivian Bonet Rubio. Back in 2005, the City of Miami Gardens held a seminar by the Small Business Administration and the Beacon Council to encourage businesses to open in the City’s enterprise zones. It was Mayor Shirley Gibson’s vision for her City and residents that inspired this Father-daughter team to debut their first carwash franchise in the City of Miami Gardens. The City’s vision for growth along the 27th Ave corridor and the Master Community Development Plan made it a no brainer for this family owned business. It is because of the city’s leadership that they are now home to the first, (GREEN) environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art Carwash in Miami Gardens and in south Florida. This carwash will immediately bring a positive economic benefit to the City. This environmentally friendly business is providing upwards of 20 new jobs.

Lulu’s Carwash wants to lead the industry in the Green movement, which is why they have incorporated several eco-friendly initiatives. They have incorporated their own water plant in their facility to recycle the water used in the wash through revolutionary Reverse Osmosis. The Free Vacuums and Free Mat Cleaners are energy efficient; all soaps and chemicals are environmentally friendly; all paper products are 100% recycled. For more information on Business fleet accounts, fundraising programs, or just have questions contact Lourdes Canete Wydra at 305-319-1819. Or visit www.luluscarwash.com

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft . . . Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is – how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

• If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.

• Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census . . . The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.

THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH ACORN ON GATHERING THIS INFORMATION. No Acorn worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.

Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

* Excerpts from article: Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers by Susan Johnson

Hosted By Tom Joyner March 20 & 21, 2010 at Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fl Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Robin Thicke, Teena Marie, Boys II Men, Melanie Fiona, Cassandra Wilson, David Sanborn, K’jon & Joe Sample Headline

The City of Miami Gardens is pleased to announce the star-studded lineup for the 5th Annual “Jazz in the Gardens” hosted by #1 rated, nationally syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner, taking place on Saturday, March 20th and Sunday, March 21st at Dolphin Stadium, 2269 Dan Marino Blvd, Miami Gardens, Florida 33056.

Confirmed artists include the queen of R&B, Mary J. Blige; Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter, John Legend; R&B crooner, Robin Thicke; funk/R&B diva, Teena Marie; 90’s R&B/pop super group, Boyz II Men; Grammy nominated R&B vocalist, Melanie Fiona; jazz chanteuse, Cassandra Wilson; saxophone king, David Sanborn; already classic newcomer, K’Jon; and famed pianist, keyboarder and founding member of the Jazz Crusaders, Joe Sample. Local artist names will be released soon.

Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased at the Dolphin Stadium Box office or through < www.jazzinthegardens.com > or < www.ticketmaster.com >. Ticket prices range anywhere from $55 for a one-day ticket to $125 for the two-day ticket; an amazing value given the fact the concert is completely loaded with the a star-studded line-up and the experience of the event goes beyond music, offering food, shopping and sophisticated pleasures.

“’Jazz in the Gardens’ has grown beyond almost any and everyone’s imagination. When we first started, it was with optimism to make this event, not only well known, but also highly respected amongst other music festivals. Five years later, this is a dream realized and still growing. In 2009 we transcended the local, national and international borders, drastically increasing the previous years’ attendance. Our expectations have grown and remain high,” says Mayor Shirley Gibson.

Jazz in the Gardens, a two-day weekend festival is now in its fifth year and has grown to be one of the top cultural events in America. The jazz festival delivers a diverse mix of music genres that range from jazz, R&B, Caribbean and African sounds. Having something to offer all music aficionados at an affordable price, the 4th Annual Jazz in the Gardens shattered expected ticket sales, enjoying an attendance of almost 40,000, which was more than double the sales of the 2008 festival. In 2009, the Jazz in the Gardens crowd enjoyed the hip-hop flavor of Common, the beautiful neo-soul melodies of Erykah Badu, the smooth R&B of Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds and the crowd-stopping soul of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, among other a-list artists.

For more information on the highly-anticipated 5th Annual “Jazz in the Gardens” Hosted by Tom Joyner, go to < www.jazzinthegardens.com > or contact the City of Miami Gardens at 1-877-640-5299.