One solution to Miami’s housing crisis lies in our historic buildings | Opinion
Reason to give
In Greater Miami, we are immersed in an environment of abundance and unimaginable wealth, which shines brightly in marketing materials for the Magic City. Putting aside such neighborhoods as Wynwood, Coconut Grove, Brickell, Edgewater, Shenandoah, Silver Bluff, the Design District and the Upper Eastside’s historic districts, a different city emerges.
Diverse urban neighborhoods have been underserved for decades. New residential development in these areas is putting extreme financial pressure on working-class residents. It’s no secret that housing affordability is at a crisis level in Miami.
As our community’s largest historic preservation organization, Dade Heritage Trust is using our mission to help solve this problem. Our initiative — the preservation of naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) — is the most prevalent affordable housing across the country.
NOAH is not government subsidized. It’s affordable because the living conditions are so bad and the landlords don’t charge high rents. Tenants don’t complain about the deteriorating conditions for fear of being evicted or rents being increased. Landlords don’t repair anything because they don’t need to. So, living conditions remain affordable yet unhealthy.
Dade Heritage Trust has purchased three historic multifamily apartment buildings in Little Havana. When we buy the buildings, they invariably have leaky roofs and windows, non-functioning appliances, roaches and even termites. Through our program, we historically designate the buildings and restore and rehabilitate them, providing healthy, lovely living conditions with impact windows, new roofs, new kitchens and baths, all while maintaining the affordability for some of Miami’s most needy residents.
We’re also kicking off a new artist housing project in a once abandoned historic residence in the Lummus Park Historic District. Equally important as preserving affordability, the program preserves green space, trees and neighborhood character — no new zero lot line, out-of-neighborhood character projects.
We want to do more — and we can, with your help on Give Miami Day. We encourage you to support Dade Heritage Trust and our affordable housing initiative which, building by building, project by project, helps ensure a better Miami for all.
Christine Rupp,
executive director,
Dade Heritage Trust,
Miami
SNAP suspension
The termination of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for older adults will be devastating. They rely on benefits under the program to meet basic nutritional needs.
In the region served by the Alliance for Aging, the Area Agency on Aging for Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, there are more than 129,000 households with people aged 60 and older, or 224,562 older adults, who receive SNAP benefits. These numbers reflect real people — our neighbors, parents, grandparents — who are now at risk of going hungry.
The average monthly SNAP benefit for households with older adults in Florida is just $156, roughly $5.20 per day. This modest support helps them maintain their health, independence and dignity.
This is not just a policy issue — it is a moral one. We must address the health and food security of those who have spent their lives contributing to our communities. Older adults in need deserve better. Please donate to your local food bank.
Max B. Rothman,
president and CEO,
Alliance for Aging,
Miami
Line of credit
Now is the time for banks to offer zero percent interest loans to government employees who are trying to get along without a paycheck. They’ll be paid back when the shutdown ends.
Doing the right thing will probably bring in many new bank customers.
Bill Bieler,
Aventura
Foolish move
Gov. Ron DeSantis has instructed Florida universities not to hire H1B workers because it is “cheap labor.“ If that is the case, the universities should be investigated. Every petitioner on an H1B petition is required to certify it is paying the required wage, which is the higher of the prevailing or actual wage. The Department of Labor collects fees to conduct this investigation from every petitioner. If Florida universities are using H1B workers as cheap labor, it is a violation of the law.
Moreover, universities are not looking for any qualified U.S. worker, they are looking for stars. Top professors often come with extensive credentials, including awards, patents, publications, presentations and research experience. Bringing these brilliant minds to teach in the U.S. makes the education system stronger.
Do we want to continue dumbing down America by barring the best in academia from teaching our university students?
If the governor is concerned about cheap labor, he must make sure these universities are complying with the law. Instead, he has opted to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Tammy Fox-Isicoff,
Miami
Coping crocodile
The picture of a crocodile with a spear sticking out of its head and a bullet between its eyes in the Oct. 22 Miami Herald shows how resilient these reptiles are. Unfortunately, the pathetic soul who did this is still at large.
How about a reward?
The croc is rehabilitating at Zoo Miami and should be kept there with the photo near its enclosure. If the FWC releases it into the wild, it might encounter another human threat.
Mark Osman,
Kendall
Scary times
I was enjoying a pleasant October day when news on the 30th scared the hell out of me. President Trump’s offensive against American livelihood began on his first day. The gutting hasn’t stopped.
Our government is shutdown because the budget passed by a congressional majority drastically slashes benefits. Signaling our disagreement with this Draconian agenda, millions have peacefully protested. For months, we’ve lived with heavy-handed ICE patrolling our neighborhoods and National Guard troops intimidating designated cities.
During his recent trip to Asia to discuss job-killing tariffs, Trump announced his rightful power to summon the military to quell (nonexistent) unrest in all 50 states. A second bulletin alerted us to the resumption of nuclear weapons testing, not done in 30 years.
I’m petrified that a man who delights in dumping artificial poop on Americans is commander-in-chief, with access to armed forces he may use against people exercising protected free speech and assembly. I’m terrified that a man who portrays himself as a religious leader has access to nuclear codes.
Our representatives placate our president’s boorish memes and support thuggish executive orders while the rest of us dread the latest news threatening our very lives.
Johnnie McDonald,
Coconut Grove