Sunday, March 7, 2010

CRA VIOLATES DEMOLITION STAY ORDER, NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANS UP SO CALLED 'CRACK DEN' DESPITE GRANT REFUSAL

Late Friday evening the City of Miami Community Redevelopment Agency cut electrical service to the threatened building housing the Apostolic Revival Temple,  proceding with the demolition process despite a Miami-Dade County Judge's temporary stay on the demolition order.  "We think it was done illegally," Pastor Allen of the Temple stated, "I called FPL and they said there was no cut off order for my service, and how can they do that - I thought there was a stay on the demolition until Friday?" he said, "what if we win? - how are we going to have service next Sunday without power?"  Doris Hall, representative of the property owner said "this again shows how the CRA is manipulating the system to get what they want - they probably showed FPL the demolition order and 'forgot' to show them the Judge's stay order." she noted "we will inform the Judge first thing Monday morning of this blatant disregard and violation of her order."  James Villacorta, Executive Director of the CRA, gleefully watched as the power was cut. "he's out here all happy and jumping up and down acting like he did yesterday when they demolished Moe's garage," said a local resident, getting emotional, "it's not right - this is all we have left."  Ernest King, a well known local artist who had been looking to put a live/work art gallery in the old Moe's Garage property confronted Villacorta, who had been attempting to lobby support for the CRA.  "don't come out here all boasting about your big projects," he said, "It's disrespectful to us 'cause we know we aren't part of them."   
 
Ms. Hall also blasted the CRA in a letter to Jim Villacorta for refusing a $4,000 grant request to eliminate the 'crack den' stating:

"If the urgency of the demolition stems from the public liability from people entering the property and the trash strewn around the property, why would you not allocate funds on an emergency basis, as you are allowed to fund up to $4,500 without Board approval.  Would this not be considered negligence on your part, since the CRA trust fund is holding over $70 million dollars needing to be reinvested with the taxpayers and residents in Overtown to create jobs and revitalization of these properties?..  We believe that the true intent of the CRA is to demolish and acquire the properties through an eminent-domain like procedure in violation of Federal, State, and Local laws, in order to assemble the remaining parcels for a large development project."

Despite the refusal of the CRA to fund the cleanup, a community effort to clean up and secure the property took place Saturday as reported by CBS 4 News.  The project was in part funded by donations from Sunbelt Rentals and WSI Waste Services.  "the CRA won't give money to reduce slum and blight, which is their mission, so we decided to do it ourselves", said Bradley Knoefler, who organized the effort.  "We put three people to work, cleaned up the site, and eliminated the 'public safety' and 'liability' issues that they were using to say why the building should be demolished." he said.  "the CRA really should fix the neighborhood, its pretty easy, as we just showed, but instead they spend their time and money trying to destroy Overtown's history."  

Pastor Allen held Sunday service outisde on the street due to the Judge's decision to prohibit entry into Chrurch until the hearing next Friday.  "the devil is working against us," he said, "the devil cut off the electricity, but God is on our side."  Several members gave emotional testimonials about the importance of the Building housing the Church to them.  One member said it was symbolic because this building helped him to quit drugs and get off the street.  Barry Moore, the caretaker who resides at the Church and has been homeless and unable to get his clothes since the Judge's order came into effect said, " I am 58 years old and all my life I have not seen the Government put a Church out on the street.  I can't believe this is the United States of America. What happened to 'all men are created equal' and ' land of the free'" he said, holding back tears. 

The formal hearing for the stay of the Demolition order will be Friday, March 12 at 2:30 PM at the Dade County Courthouse, 73 W. Flagler St, Miami FL





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