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MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT

Meeting date and location: March 7, 2012, 1:00 p.m. Stephen P. Clark Government

Center, 111 NW 1st

Street, Miami, FL 33128, 10th

Floor CITT Conference Room

Attendance: CRB Executive Members: Dr. Walter Richardson; Reinaldo Valdes;Vickie Smith Jackson; Ronald Fulton; Eduard Shohat; George Yap. Staff: AmyCarswell

The agenda was approved.

The CRB February Executive Meeting Report was approved.

CRB Chairs Report

Dr. Richardson reported the following: Condolences were extended to the family of CRB Executive Committee member

Ronald Fulton upon the tragic death of his 17-year-old nephew Trayvon Martin inSanford Florida. Mr. Martin was enrolled at Michael Krop Senior High and waspreviously a student at Miami Carol City Sr. He was shot and killed undermysterious circumstances while visiting family members in Sanford Florida. Thisyoung mans death has caught the attention of local activists along with Miami-Dadefamily members who are questioning the killing of an African-American youth duringan unexplained altercation with a Sanford resident (a white male, age 28 years).The family is awaiting more information from the Sanford Police. CRB CommunityIntervention staff has also reached out to the Sanford Police Department and have

also not received any additional information. We understand that, at this time, theyoung man who shot Trayvon has not been arrested.

Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman J oe Martinez has submitted hismandatory resignation to the Clerk of the Courts and the Supervisor of Elections.

The CRB forwarded a letter to Florida Legislators encouraging them to protect thesuccessful Miami-Dade Wage Theft Ordinance.

Local supporters of the Wage Theft Ordinance have conducted demonstrations anddistributed flyers outside the downtown Macys department store this past week.

Miami-Dade Corrections Director Tim Ryan has agreed to meet with the CRB at theApril 18 General Membership Meeting. Dr. Richardson and Amy Carswell met withMr. Ryan and a representative of the County Attorney and shared the CRBs goal of

engaging residents to reduce tensions. Mr. Ryan agreed to share information andwill decline to answer any questions on the advice of the countys attorney.

The RACE Exhibit Fundraising Committee has met its goals for bringing the exhibitto our community. A total of $16,000 has been collected including a $500 donationfrom the CRB and $10,000 from the Childrens Trust.

CRB member Maritza Lopez will represent the CRB at a planning committeemeeting for the Gideon at 50 Celebration. The Miami-Dade Public Defender is

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.

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organizing activities in our community and the CRB has been invited to participate inthe planning.

The Commission for Women is co-hosting the In the Company of Women event onMarch 21 at the Biltmore Hotel.

Administ rat ive Issues: Amy Carswell reported that the following committee meetings have been scheduled:

CRB 5th Anniversary Commemoration Planning, Thursday, March 15, 2012, Noon;CRB Hate Crimes Forum Planning Group, Thursday, March 15, 2012, 2 p.m., CRBCriminal J ustice and Law Enforcement Committee, Monday, March 19, 2012, 10a.m.

Staff was asked to poll the CRB members about potential dates in May for the CRBMember Retreat.

Issue 1: Proposed Jackson Hospital CRB and Community LiaisonDiscussion: Ronald Fulton reported that there is growing public conflict between

employee groups and the administration at the countys public hospital systemconcerning appropriate staffing levels, proposed lay-offs and the impact on staff moraland patient care. There is a need for a community liaison to implement strategies aimedat reducing tensions between JMH administrators, employees and consumers. Dr.Richardson will reach out to County Commissioner J ose Diaz, Chair of the Board ofCounty Commissioners Public Safety and Healthcare Administration, to determine whatmay be an appropriate role for the CRB to help reduce tensions.

Issue 2: Florida Alien Land LawDiscussion: The CRB received a Resolution adopted by the Miami-Dade AsianAmerican Advisory Board (AAAB) urging the CRB to support the repeal of the Alien

Land Law from the State of Florida Constitution. The law, adopted in 1926, outlaws thesale of property to any person ineligible for U.S. citizenship. This original intent of thelaw was to keep the many immigrants of Chinese and J apanese heritage frompurchasing farmland in the state. The AAAB Resolution states that the law indiscriminatory, hurtful and insulting to all Asian Americans and non-Asian Americansand should be removed from the Florida Constitution. The CRB members stated thatthe repeal of the law is a multi-cultural, equal protection issue and appropriate for theCRB to address. CRB staff was asked to reach out the leadership of the AAAB todetermine what specific action is recommended. Actions may include a resolution,letter of support, or educational activities. A representative of the AAAB will be invitedto address the CRB Executive Committee on this issue.

Issue 3: Questions and Comments for Miami-Dade Elections SupervisorDiscussion: CRB staff was asked to poll the CRB members and submit their questionsfor review and approval by the CRB Chair.

Issue 4: Critical and Pressing Community Relations ConcernsDiscussion: The CRB will continue to monitor community tensions related to the deathof Miami-Dade teenager Trayvon Martin.

Obtained via FOIA by Judicial Watch, Inc.