CITY OF MIAMI RALLIES FOR A CAUSE
Close to 1,000 seniors and children to gather in support of the
Miami, Florida (April 21, 2011) –
City of Miami Mayor Tomás P. Regalado along with Commission Chairman
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner Frank Carollo, Commissioner Richard
P. Dunn, II, Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, and Commissioner Francis Suarez
will join Miami-Dade County officials, members of the U.S. Congressional
delegation, and hundreds of children and seniors for a rally on
Monday, April 25, 2011, 10 a.m., at the Manuel Artime Theater in
Little Havana, 900 SW 1st Street, to express support
for the preservation of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).
CDBG funds are federal dollars distributed to more than 1,200
communities nationwide in order to fund a wide range of public service
and improvement activities to help meet the needs of low- and
moderate-income persons.
The City of Miami currently receives approximately
$8.9
million a year in CDBG funding.
In Miami, CDBG funds
presently help provide:
meals for 1,378 elderly;
daily after school care and youth services for
538 children; emergency
counseling services for 30
seniors; programs for 20
adults with disabilities; the creation/retention of
24 jobs; the completion of
183 façade rehabilitations
of small businesses and commercial spaces; and, technical and/or
commercial code compliance assistance to
17 small businesses.
Some members of the federal government have proposed cutting CDBG
funding by up to 65 percent nationwide in an effort to balance the
federal budget. A cut of this nature would be devastating to communities
that have large populations of disadvantaged persons and impoverished
neighborhoods in need of revitalization.
“The need to continue assisting low-income households under our nation’s
present economic state is more important than ever,” said Mayor Tomas
Regalado. “Many of Miami’s low-income residents and their families rely
on this federal assistance to get them by, especially in a climate where
jobs are scarce and the cost of living continues to rise. These CDBG
dollars are crucial.”
The
rally coincides with National Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Week, celebrated this year from April 25-29th nationwide. The
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program was created in 1974 and
is funded under the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
(HUD). For additional information, please visit
www.ushud.gov.
WHO:
Mayor Tomás P. Regalado, City of Miami
Commissioner Wifredo (Willy) Gort, City of Miami
Commissioner Frank Carollo, City of Miami
Commissioner Richard P. Dunn, II, City of Miami
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, City of Miami
Commissioner Francis Suarez, City of Miami
Miami-Dade County officials
Members of the U.S. Congressional delegation
WHAT:
Special event recognizing public service agencies throughout the
City
of Miami that receive Community Development Block Grant funding and
provide services to low-income residents.
WHEN:
Monday, April 25, 2011, 10 a.m.
WHERE:
Manuel Artime Theater,
900 SW 1st Street
Editorial Note:
Members of the press interested in covering the event can park in the
parking lot behind the Artime Theater.