Miami Herald Logo

The challenges and rewards of Village West | Miami Herald

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Site Information
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Herald Store
    • RSS Feeds
    • Special Sections
    • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    • Sections
    • News
    • South Florida
    • Miami-Dade
    • Broward
    • Florida Keys
    • Florida
    • Politics
    • Weird News
    • Weather
    • National & World
    • Colombia
    • National
    • World
    • Americas
    • Cuba
    • Guantánamo
    • Haiti
    • Venezuela
    • Local Issues
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • In Depth
    • Issues & Ideas
    • Traffic
    • Sections
    • Sports
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Pro & College
    • Miami Dolphins
    • Miami Heat
    • Miami Marlins
    • Florida Panthers
    • College Sports
    • University of Miami
    • Florida International
    • University of Florida
    • Florida State University
    • More Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Fighting
    • Golf
    • Horse Racing
    • Outdoors
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Youth Sports
    • Other Sports
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The Florida Influencer Series
    • Sections
    • Business
    • Business Monday
    • Banking
    • International Business
    • National Business
    • Personal Finance
    • Real Estate News
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Tourism & Cruises
    • Workplace
    • Business Plan Challenge
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Cindy Krischer Goodman
    • The Starting Gate
    • Work/Life Balancing Act
    • Movers
    • Sections
    • Living
    • Advice
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Pets
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • Wine
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Dave Barry
    • Ana Veciana-Suarez
    • Flashback Miami
    • More Living
    • LGBTQ South Florida
    • Palette Magazine
    • Indulge Magazine
    • South Florida Album
    • Broward Album
    • Sections
    • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Games & Puzzles
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • Music & Nightlife
    • People
    • Performing Arts
    • Restaurants
    • TV
    • Visual Arts
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Jose Lambiet
    • Lesley Abravanel
    • More Entertainment
    • Events Calendar
    • Miami.com
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Sections
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Ed
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Jim Morin
    • Letters to the Editor
    • From Our Inbox
    • Speak Up
    • Submit a Letter
    • Meet the Editorial Board
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Blog Directory
    • Columnist Directory
    • Andres Oppenheimer
    • Carl Hiaasen
    • Leonard Pitts Jr.
    • Fabiola Santiago
    • Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Place an Obituary

    • Place an ad
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Apartments
    • Auctions/Sales
    • Automotive
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Employment
    • Garage Sales
    • Legals
    • Merchandise
    • Obituaries
    • Pets
    • Public Notices
    • Real Estate
    • Services
  • Public Notices
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Real Estate
  • Mobile & Apps

  • el Nuevo Herald
  • Miami.com
  • Indulge

Letters to the Editor

The challenges and rewards of Village West

While we all strive for an improvement in the quality of life, the challenges of Village West in District 2 seem to be greater and more systemic than those in other areas. To address the ongoing violence in the neighborhood, we pushed for the establishment of a police substation on Grand Avenue. To address the physical condition of the neighborhood, we organized intensive clean-up efforts with the departments of Solid Waste and Code Enforcement.

Green space and recreation areas were given top priority with the installation of a state-of-the-art turf playing field and track at Armbrister Park. There are plans to refurbish the pool at Virrick Park, the only public swimming pool in the southern and central part of the district. These are only changes to the physical surroundings.

I believe the most significant investment that I have made is in the young people in Village West and I hope to prove that this investment will continue to give back for years, if not decades, to come.

As part of an ongoing multifaceted strategy for the neighborhood, our office has dedicated a tremendous amount of time, talent and resources in Village West. Since September 2013 there has been $5,728,391 in infrastructure, human services, grants and housing dedicated to this historic 15-block area.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

The START Program and the One Grove Foundation have proven to be exceptional community partners for youth programming as well as Coconut Grove Cares, St. Alban’s Child Enrichment Center and the Thelma Gibson Health Initiative.

Recently, both the city of Miami’s fire and police departments have launched intensive mentorship and training programs focused on middle and high school students. Together with the city of Miami Parks Department we are collectively ensuring that all students in Village West have an afterschool home.

After privately raising $70,000 to give 41 middle and high school students from the neighborhood the chance to visit Washington, D.C., for Close Up, it was rewarding to hear about their experiences and their renewed commitment to the community and themselves.

Recently, we heard from the students as they conducted a mock debate on the Stand Your Ground law and discussed how gun violence has affected their lives. We will honor the 21 donors from the private sector who ultimately made this trip possible.

My work isn’t complete in Village West, and we are looking forward to continuing to support these young leaders in fulfilling their civic responsibilities.

Marc D. Sarnoff, commissioner, District 2, Miami

  Comments  

Videos

Spelling Bee Winner

Congress members tour Homestead Temporary Shelter for Unaccompanied Migrant Children

View More Video

Trending Stories

Haitian police arrest five Americans who claimed they were on a ‘government mission’

February 18, 2019 06:37 PM

Man arrested after climbing crane near FIU to ask Trump for mercy for Cuban exile bomber

February 18, 2019 08:44 AM

A Florida 6th-grader called the Pledge of Allegiance ‘racist.’ Then he got arrested.

February 18, 2019 08:59 AM

Double vision: Miami will host Miami in future football game

February 18, 2019 06:36 PM

Why were former members of the U.S. military driving around Haiti heavily armed?

February 19, 2019 07:49 PM

Read Next

Letters to the Editor

Miami-Dade needs bold solutions to confront deep poverty in the county

By Daniella Levine Cava

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 18, 2019 02:53 PM

The grim reality outlined in the Miami Herald’s Feb. 7 story, “Booming economy? For South Florida residents, barely getting by is increasingly the norm,” is so true, yet truly disturbing.

The United Way’s recently published Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed report (ALICE), examines household finances for some Miami-Dade families.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

‘I had the honor of working with Florence Knoll Bassett’

Letters to the Editor

‘I had the honor of working with Florence Knoll Bassett’

February 02, 2019 07:37 PM

Letters to the Editor

Education about human trafficking is a must

February 01, 2019 02:54 AM

Letters to the Editor

Fond memories of architect and designer, Florence Knoll Bassett

January 31, 2019 02:29 AM

Letters to the Editor

Miami-Dade septic tanks vulnerable, but working

January 30, 2019 02:13 AM

Letters to the Editor

Let’s keep the Federal Judicial Nominating Commission

January 29, 2019 03:23 AM

Letters to the Editor

How you can help prevent suicides

January 23, 2019 02:46 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Miami Herald App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Public Insight Network
  • Reader Panel
Advertising
  • Place a Classified
  • Media Kit
  • Commercial Printing
  • Public Notices
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story