The Mosaic Mural community project took more than two years to complete and involved more than 80 area children, whose drawings and paintings inspired the marine-themed mosaic mural, and the dedicated team of local artists, Cyndy Hill and Eileen Seitz, who, who along with more than 100 local volunteers, spent hundreds of hours constructing the mural panels.

Beset by many setbacks, the mural project almost didn’t happen. Commissioner Sarnoff and his District 2 staff worked diligently to find the necessary resources for the artists, from donated tile, stone and mortar to engineering expertise to the enormous work and storage spaces needed to complete the project. When the federal bureaucracy threatened to derail the project, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen stepped in and the group was able to obtain permission from the U.S. Postal Service to erect the mural on the outside wall of the U.S. Post Office Coconut Grove Branch.

“The Children’s Mosaic Mural is truly about community, with people from throughout Coconut Grove contributing to the effort and pulling together as ‘One Grove’,” said Commissioner Sarnoff, whose district encompasses Coconut Grove. “From conception to completion, this mural represents all the good that the City of Miami has to offer.”

The idea to place a mural at the Coconut Grove Post Office came about initially as a way to combat graffiti. The project quickly took hold of the hearts and minds of a diverse group of people – artists and non-artists, the young and not-so-young – who pulled together in an effort to create a visible heart of the community.

“Every volunteer worked hard to contribute their own unique piece that when brought together highlights the mural’s marine theme,” Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen said. “Individually, each tile represents the broad diversity of our South Florida community, but combined they create this wonderful mural that showcases our unity and strength.”

The earliest fruit of this collaborative effort appears in the watercolor painting “Layers of Love,” by Eileen Seitz, who drew from Cyndy Hill’s design concept and which serves as the basis for the mural. The mural design takes its major elements directly from original children’s paintings and drawings gathered from Coconut Grove Cares/ Barnyard Community Center, Shake-A-Leg Miami, Blu Moon Studio of Art, and other contributors.

In addition to those organizations, youths from Coconut Grove Elementary School, Coral Gables High School, Ponce de Leon Middle School and the Coconut Grove Sailing Club, as well as additional local artists and community members, helped to the assemble the 56 panels that comprise the mural.

“It shows what a dedicated group of people can do,” artist Hill said. “It took local people, local government and local businesses to accomplish this mural project.”

Each of the 56 panels weighs approximately 100 pounds and incorporates tiles donated by Juan Carlos Ruiz, of the non-profit group The Artile Project, that were mounted onto stone panels provided by Amir Awal, of the company Excellence In Stone. Sylvia Jordan, director of the Coconut Grove Cares / The Barnyard Community Center, provided workspace and the non-profit framework for the group to accept donations. Barbara Bisno and the Venetian Causeway Neighborhood Alliance provided $2,200 to pay for additional materials. The majority of the prefabrication of the panels was done at the City of Miami’s Neighborhood Enhancement Team office in Coconut Grove. Shake-A-Leg Miami provided its hanger for storage and workspace to complete the panels.

Commissioner Sarnoff invites neighbors, public officials and the general public to the unveiling ceremony next Friday, Oct. 7 at 3:00 p.m., at 3191 Grand Avenue, in Coconut Grove. For more information about the mural and the artists please visit the Coconut Grove Children’s Mosaic Mural Facebook page at

http://on.fb.me/onegrovemural ]]> http://www.marcsarnoff.com/press-releases/coconut-grove-childrens-mosaic-mural-to-be-unveiled/feed/ 0 http://www.marcsarnoff.com/press-releases/commissioner-marc-d-sarnoff-invites-the-community-to-the-groundbreaking-for-the-new-playground-at-brickell-park/ http://www.marcsarnoff.com/press-releases/commissioner-marc-d-sarnoff-invites-the-community-to-the-groundbreaking-for-the-new-playground-at-brickell-park/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:06:04 +0000 Marc http://www.marcsarnoff.com/?p=505  

District 2 is responding to the growing needs of Brickell families (MIAMI, FL  October 4, 2011) – City of Miami Commissioner Marc D. Sarnoff is proud to announce the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new children’s playground at Brickell Park, Thursday, Oct. 6 at 10:00 a.m. at 501 Brickell Avenue, between ICON at Brickell and the First Presbyterian Church. The playground comes in response to the growing number of families who have moved to the Brickell area in recent years, many of whom requested a play area nearby.   “Families are the bedrock of growth for our city,” said Commissioner Sarnoff. “The pioneering Brickell family who settled this area knew that, and this playground is just another wonderful addition for the families of Miami to enjoy the outdoors.”   The Brickell Park playground, just south of the ICON building, should be completed within 70 days from the time of the groundbreaking, according to the City of Miami Capital Improvements Program. The cost of the playground equipment and construction is roughly $88,000 and will be paid for from the Homeland Defense Bond (Series 3).   Commissioner Sarnoff invites neighbors, public officials and the general public to the groundbreaking ceremony next Thursday.

WHAT:                 Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new children’s playground at Brickell Park

WHEN:                Thursday, October 6, 2011 @ 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:               501 Brickell Avenue, between ICON at Brickell and the First Presbyterian Church ]]> http://www.marcsarnoff.com/press-releases/commissioner-marc-d-sarnoff-invites-the-community-to-the-groundbreaking-for-the-new-playground-at-brickell-park/feed/ 0 http://www.marcsarnoff.com/press-releases/commissioner-marc-d-sarnoff-invites-the-community-to-the-groundbreaking-for-flatiron-park/ http://www.marcsarnoff.com/press-releases/commissioner-marc-d-sarnoff-invites-the-community-to-the-groundbreaking-for-flatiron-park/#comments Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:42:38 +0000 Marc http://www.marcsarnoff.com/?p=491 Public-private partnership brings a new park to the Brickell area.

MIAMI – July 16, 2011 – Commissioner Marc Sarnoff joined by his passionate neighbors, Miami’s Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET), and his staff aided in the successful completion of the revitalization of six foreclosed properties in the northern city limits. Work began around 9:00am with a few motivational words from concerned Miami citizens along with Commissioner Sarnoff. The hard work in the brutal South Florida sun continued throughout the afternoon by trimming overgrown trees, mowing neglected lawns, and removing unsightly debris from the deserted properties.

The day’s hard work was all in part of a community initiative lead by active community leaders Jennifer Ocana and Jack Barnes to keep Miami neighborhoods safe and clean. Since bank owned properties see little to no maintenance, Commissioner Sarnoff believes it is up to motivated community members to pitch in and “clean this city up” one house at a time.

With the assistance of the Neighborhood Enhancement Team and concerned neighbors, the two-dozen volunteers were able to turn abandoned homes into much more appealing properties. The actions by the volunteers will not only increase property values in the affected neighborhood, but also aid in the wellbeing and safety of the Miami community.

Bank foreclosed homes that have become eyesores to neighbors have much deeper affects then just being unattractive. Some of the neglected properties in the area have boarded up and broken windows and doors, stagnant water, and overgrown foliage. The combination of this negligence can potentially lead to health and safety hazards such as unwanted mosquitoes, rodents, and other pests to the neighborhood.

Commissioner Sarnoff understands the importance of maintenance and integration of the environment into the City of Miami’s culture. Through programs such as the Canopy Revitalization, the planting of over 150 trees in Coconut Grove, and the creation of many city parks over Commissioner Sarnoff’s tenure as a citizen and city official shows that he is ready to get involved on a grassroots level. The Commissioner would like to make the City of Miami safer and even more beautiful not only for current citizens but also for future generations to enjoy.

In order to keep abandoned negligent properties from becoming a hazard the Miami community must come together to combat this issue head on in a positive fashion. Lending a helping hand in other projects around the City of Miami through the Neighborhood Enhancement Team can go a long way in the further beautification of our already great city.

If you would like more information on the Neighborhood Enhancement Team of Miami or how you can become involved please contact Commissioner Sarnoff at MarcSarnoff.com or visit miamigov.com/NETS/pages to contact the Miami Neighborhood Enhancement Team.

MIAMI – April 28, 2011 – The City of Miami is supporting international development firm Swire Properties as it lays the groundwork for Brickell CitiCentre (BCC). BCC is a nine acre mixed-use development in the heart of Miami’s Brickell Financial District. In an important step forward for the project, City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and Swire Properties President Stephen Owens jointly announce the submission of the BCC Special Area Plan.

“The City of Miami is proud to support Swire Properties as it readies for the development of Brickell CitiCentre, and we are excited to partner with the company in its submission for Special Area Plan,” said City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado. “Brickell CitiCentre has the potential to be an anchor for downtown Miami, bringing major retailers and an economic boost to the heart of our City.”

Plans for BCC call for approximately 4.6 million square feet of mixed use development and incorporates sophisticated retail, office, residential, and hotel components. A total of six towers will rest atop a substantial retail complex, offering pedestrian experiences at multiple levels. The site is bounded by SW 8th Street on the south and SW 6th Street on the north and between Brickell Avenue on the east and SW 1st Avenue on the west. The original acquisition for Brickell CitiCentre was completed in 2008.

Designed by Arquitectonica, BCC is believed to be the largest registered urban mixed-use LEED Neighborhood Development projects currently being planned in the United States.

According to an independent study by Miami Economic Associates, BCC is expected to generate $1 billion in overall economic impact. An average of 1,700 jobs per year during a four-year construction phase and roughly 3,800 jobs on an ongoing basis upon completion are expected to be created.

“Brickell CitiCentre will be a game-changer for downtown Miami, enhancing its emergence as a vibrant urban core,” said Stephen Owens, President of Swire Properties. “The project will bring significant retail opportunities to the area and activate our streets with a pedestrian-friendly experience. It is a natural next step for Swire Properties, which has been active in Brickell development for nearly 30 years.”

Plans for Brickell CitiCentre include landscaped sidewalks and plazas accented with public art offerings. These will create an interaction with adjacent streets and the Metromover system that will help shape a favorable environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit users. Environmentally-conscious elements include a signature elevated trellis, known as a “Climate Ribbon,” providing overhead shading, water collection and solar energy. It will enhance the pedestrian experience and overall project sustainability

Miami, FL —City of Miami Commissioner Marc D. Sarnoff, District 2, is asking citizens to contact their Florida legislators to support a bill that would address the rising problem of squatters taking over abandoned houses and law enforcement’s current inability to remove them.

Unwanted squatters have become an increasingly common problem statewide because of the large number of homes that have been foreclosed and abandoned. Squatters who break into these abandoned residential properties cannot be dislodged because current state laws prohibit police and other law enforcement officials from removing squatters unless it can be proven that they are trespassing or breaking other laws.

Both HB#1089 (House Bill) and CS/SB#786 (Committee Substitute/Senate Bill #786) would exempt squatters, “a Person,” from Florida’s Landlord and Tenant Law. If the bill is signed into law, the police would have the ability to remove squatters for trespassing. The law would be scheduled to go into effect July 1, 2011.

“This issue can adversely affect the quality of life in any community, so we must act now to give our law enforcement officials the tools necessary to deal with unwanted squatters,” commented Commissioner Sarnoff. “I urge everyone to reach out to legislators in Tallahassee in support of this proposed legislation.”

Those in support of this change should get in touch with the bill’s sponsors in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate:

State House-District 117
Representative Michael Bileca
1003 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Fl 32399-1300
Tel: (850) 488-6506
michael.bileca@myfloridahouse.gov

State Senate-District 36
Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla
312 Senate Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Fl 32399-1300
Tel: (850) 487-5109
portilla.miguel.web@flsenate.gov
For a list of all Miami Dade County state legislators, visit http://www.miamidade.gov/dadedelegation/

“On October 8, 2009, we led the City of Miami Commission in bestowing Tory one of its highest honors with the naming of S.E. 25th Road to “Tory Jacobs Boulevard.,” The Commissioner added, “It was one of my proudest moments as a city commissioner.”

“It was a privilege to work side by side with Tory in his role as president of the Brickell Homeowners Association and as a longtime board member of the Brickell Area Association, where we tackled quality of life and related issues in Miami.”

On a final note Commissioner Sarnoff explained, “Together with Tory we successfully fought for increased beautification, noise and traffic abatement, as well as the launching of the Brickell Avenue Streetscape Plan and backing projects such as Mary Brickell Village. A great man has passed on but he leaves behind a great legacy for the residents and businesses of Brickell Avenue and the City of Miami to enjoy for decades to come.”

Go Green Auto Rally (GGAR) has partnered with the 2011 Miami Sailing Week for a special -and FREE – Miami-area Green Driving event. GGAR will teach drivers to reduce their carbon footprint, significantly reduce their fuel consumption and increase safety behind the wheel of their own vehicle – no matter what they drive.

The Rally offers hands on, real world driving instruction to teach drivers sustainable, Green Driving? principles through driving behavior modification and the use of the latest mobile technology providing real-time feedback from GGAR?s smartphone application. Participants will earn the opportunity to win free fuel, iPads, tickets to the 59th Annual Twelve Hours of Sebring American Le Mans Series race and free Pirelli tires. Major corporate and governmental participants in this week’s program include the City of Miami, Miami Police Department, Miami Fire Department, University of Miami, US Armed Services, Miami Dade College, American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón, Driver Telematics, Carbonfund.org and Pirelli Tire North America.

“The Go Green Rally is a fun and effective way for people to learn how to drive better, safer and greener,” said City of Miami Commissioner Marc D. Sarnoff, District 2. “I?m happy to be a part of this year?s rally.

Participant organizations such as the United States Navy have also signed-on with GGAR and share the commitment of preserving and protecting the environment, cutting costs, and „going green?. Service members from the US Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Miami will participate in the 2011 Go Green Auto Rally along with officers and enlisted from the US Army, US Marines and US Air Force – all in an effort to save money, drive safer and increase sustainability – all in their own government-issued hybrid vehicles.

Go Green Auto Rally (GGAR) is a finalist in the 2011 Edison Best New Product Awards™ and teaches drivers to reduce their carbon footprint, save money through less fuel consumption and to increase their safety behind the wheel of their own vehicle – no matter what they drive. To learn more about the GGAR smartphone app and to attend a Go Green Auto Rally in your area – please visit GGAR online at www.gogreenautorally.com, call 1-866-GO-GREEN (1-866.414.6473) or check us out on twitter and facebook. Go Green Auto Rally – Drive green because you can!

To see the schedule of events and to register online today, please visit www.gogreenautorally.com or call 1-866-GO-GREEN (1-866.414.6473) for information.

Media Contacts: Joe Severns, Managing Director, Integrated Marketing Communications 706.506.2195 jseverns@imc-group.net

The film Freakonomics is based on the phenomenally bestselling book by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner about incentives-based thinking. The movie examines human behavior and tries to explain it using scientific and economic theory with provocative and sometimes hilarious case studies.

Freakonomics brings together a dream team of filmmakers including the directors of Super Size Me, Enron: The Smartest Guys In the Room and Why We Fight. You can find out more about the film here: http://bit.ly/filmnightmarch25

There is no charge for admission and free popcorn will be served before the start of the movie. Parking is available at City Hall at no cost.

The film is part of the Movie Night series regularly hosted by Commissioner Sarnoff, who encourages residents of Miami to come down to City Hall and meet him and other elected officials.

For more information about the Movie Night series please contact William Plasencia at wplasencia@miamigov.com or (305) 250-5331 and reference the film.

After three months of countless hours clearing brush and molding sand and dirt, by a dedicated set of 25 volunteers every Saturday, the 4.1 mile trail will be available 7 days a week for all levels of bicycle riders. Hoping that it will be an entire family destination, the trail has courses that are designed for family outings and those that will appeal to intermediate and advanced riders.

The Virginia Key Bicycle Club with the blessing of the City of Miami Parks Department was the driving force behind the movement and put into motion the plan utilizing available resources in the biking community for technical assistance and planning. Thanks to the expertise of trail builder Bernard Riviera aka “Frenchie” and the services of the IMBA trail building crew, the volunteers were able to transform under utilized land on Virginia Key into the first City of Miami bike trail.

Thanks to the proximity to the urban core of Miami, the hope is that the Virginia Key bike trail will become a destination for many of the residents who live in the downtown area who are looking for new fitness and recreation destinations.

While most of the trail was built through donated time and resources, including $10,000 from Mack Cycle and Fitness, the City of Miami also provided $11,646 through Homeland Defense Neighborhood Improvement Bond Dollars. Looking beyond the grand opening ceremonies which will include guided tours of the trails and bicycle demos by the company Giant Bicycle, the Virginia Key Bicycle Club hopes to continue extending the trail so that as the popularity grows the trail will be able to keep up with the demands of local riders. Trails will be open daily.

The trail is accessible through the entrance to Virginia Key (across from the Miami Sea Aquarium), residents can follow trail signs that will take them to the northern end of Virginia Key. The trails are ideal for mountain bikes but not suited for road bikes.