By Barbara Bisno,
Vice Chair, Building Better Communities Citizens Advisory Committee

Members of the Building Better Communities Citizens' Advisory Committee recently toured a number of projects that encompass what is one of the most ambitious infrastructure improvement efforts in our County's history for a close-up look of what is going on behind all those construction signs advertising "your tax dollars at work."   Here's what we found:

Residents are moving into the first affordable housing built with GOB support.  The 300-unit Hialeah rental complex for low-income elderly is an example of what well invested public housing dollars can accomplish-attractive, well built apartments where monthly rentals are $300.   The GOB has earmarked $130 million for affordable housing, and more projects like Hialeah are sorely needed.

The GOB is funding numerous improvements at Jackson Memorial Hospital.  The first to be completed is the new pediatric wing where 30 renovated rooms are designed to allow families to take a more active role in the care of critically ill children.  There are two new operating rooms and cardio-test facilities dedicated to pediatrics for more efficient patient flow.  GOB funds leveraged with other monies, including donations from Carnival Cruise Lines and the Public Health Trust Foundation, allow the hospital to stretch its tax dollars further. Other JMH projects include emergency room upgrades, improvements to the radiology facilities and the expansion of Jackson South to bring more services to South Miami-Dade.

A brand new four-pool complex, at Grapeland Park, is an example of how we can invest in neighborhood parks to provide a variety of recreational opportunities.  Until recently Grapeland was largely a collection of dusty sports fields near the airport, but thanks to GOB dollars it has been transformed into a water park complex that is much like a Disney attraction (but closer to home and much less expensive).  In addition to water sports, the upgraded park playing fields are home to girl and boy sports teams.   Other parks' projects benefitting from GOB dollars include road repairs at Matheson Hammock, boathouse renovations at Greynolds and numerous beach and marina improvements at Haulover, Crandon and Blackpoint.  The GOB is helping several cities-including Doral, Palmetto Bay and South Miami-build new parks on vacant land.

Other GOB projects underway include the Cuban Museum housed in the former Florida Opera building on Coral Way.  Now in the design stage, this is the first museum of-its-kind dedicated to the Cuban exile experience in South Florida.  Extensive renovations are well underway at the Lyric Theater in Overtown where the GOB is helping restore this national landmark building.  A few weeks ago, the Camillus House held a ground breaking for a new building west of downtown which will expand services to the homeless. . Our committee ended its tour at Vizcaya where a $50 million restoration project is just getting underway.  Over the next decade the museum and adjacent buildings will undergo major renovations necessary to preserve this architectural gem for future generations.

There are more than 360 separate GOB projects with work scheduled for more than a 1,000 sites over the next 20 years.  Miles of new sidewalks, drainage upgrades and road re-surfacing are in various stages of completion.  We are renovating libraries, expanding community centers and, as part of the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program, thousands of acres of wetlands have been purchased for preservation.  Several large projects are nearly finished including the new Amazon and Beyond exhibit at Miami Metrozoo, scheduled to open next month, and the long-awaited South Dade Cultural Center, set for a 2009 completion date.

Miami-Dade voters placed a great deal of confidence in their government when they overwhelmingly approved Building Better Communities four years ago.    I am happy to report that the program is on track and we are benefitting in ways large and small. These accomplishments should be a source of great pride for Miami-Dade residents.   The next time you see a sign with Building Better Communities, rest assured work is being done to improve our community.