Running to make city of Miami a better place

I’m Seth Sklarey, candidate for Miami commissioner in District 2 running because I love and care about Miami, my home for 48 years.

On the Coconut Grove Village Council, I deal daily with the problems and concerns of the community. Together we fight crime, beseech the city to provide adequate services, including keeping an open government at all times and keeping the people informed of upcoming deals that are often hatched and negotiated in private back rooms and foisted upon the public for the first time at city commission meetings.

I want to change the way Miami works. As a former building and structural inspector and the father of a Miami firefighter, I understand the problems and concerns of the employees as well as the residents and the services they seek.

I understand the frustrations of crime victims as well as the police officers who are not allowed to do their jobs. I am sick of the misappropriation of CRA monies that are supposed to eliminate blight, yet wind up in the pockets of wealthy developers.

I want to resolve homelessness. The Homeless Trust has a $57 million budget to deal with 5,700 homeless Miamians. That’s $10,000 for each homeless person, but most are still on the street and don’t see a penny of that money. I disagree with the current commissioner and his wife that the solution is to provide mats so they can sleep on the floor, denying them basic amenities like public bathrooms. Downtown residents feel like prisoners, afraid to go out at night. It should be a vibrant, clean and enjoyable place. Sea level rise, crumbling infrastructure and beautification are my issues. I want to increase parks and green spaces and invest in affordable and workforce housing and parking.

I have solutions for most of these problems and more. Elect Seth Sklarey for a wonderful Miami we’ll all be proud of. Punch #76.

This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 8:41 PM with the headline "Running to make city of Miami a better place."