The people of Miami aren’t mean, WalletHub, we’re passionate | Editorial

Miamians are mean? We’re calling BS on that one.

Not only is that one hard to swallow, the misguided description sticks in our craw.

Cranky, at times? Yes. But mean? No way. We prefer the word “passionate.”

Survey taker WalletHub, which lives to pick on Miami, clearly has missed the boat in ranking us one of the meanest cities in the country.

Here’s how they did it:

WalletHub looked at 100 cities across the country to see which was the most compassionate. They ranked Miami No. 93.

WalletHub considered data across 39 key indicators, taking into consideration the number of sheltered homeless people, the number of hours volunteered and the amount of income donated to charity.

The most caring city in America? Virginia Beach, Virginia, closely followed by Madison, Wisconsin.

But that we are a heartless, ungiving bunch is a bunch of baloney.

Did WalletHub consider that for decades this city has been a mini Ellis Island, opening its arms, providing community services and public schools to millions of refugees: Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans, Central Americans, chief among them.

People get a foothold on the American Dream here in Miami, WalletHub. How mean is that? Who foots the bill? The compassionate residents of Miami-Dade.

Did WalletHub ask the United Way how many Miami-Dade County residents give from their paychecks to help the needy in the community, or reach out to strangers during the 10 Days of Connection?

Did WalletHub measure how Miami-Dade long ago created a national model for ending homelessness once and for all — through the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust? How about the work of Camillus House and the Miami Rescue Mission? Maybe they did their survey in the winter, when the homeless from across the country head our way.

Did WalletHub measure how an overwhelming number of Miami-Dade voters approved taxing themselves on behalf of the Children’s Trust so that every child in the county can have a leg up in early education?

How many wealthy residents, foundations and agencies in our community work every day to make life easier for those who have fallen on hard times?

And did WalletHub notice that the donations of almost 40,000 people broke the annual record — again — during Give Miami Day last month, giving, in total, $14,478,840 in one day, slated to help more than 800 local do-good organizations? Take that, WalletHub.

Yes, we slip, we’re only human. Violence, rudeness, racism, bullying, road rage and just plain ugliness happen — here and, especially, in other crowded, bustling cities. There’s always room for improvement.

We could suggest that WalletHub take a jump in Biscayne Bay when there’s a sewer leak.

But that would be mean.

This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 1:47 PM.