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RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY OF MIAMI�S CODESIGNATION OF THAT PORTION OF NORTHWEST 14TH AVENUE FROM NORTHWEST 62ND STREET TO NORTHWEST 67TH STREET AS �BETTY WRIGHT LANE�

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WHEREAS, the musical pride and pulse of Miami-Dade County, Ms. Bessie Regina Norris, professionally known to the world as the legendary Betty Wright, (�Ms. Wright�), was born on December 21, 1953 in Miami, Florida and passed away on May 10, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the daughter of Rosa Akins Brady-Wright and McArthur Norris, Ms. Wright was the youngest of seven children who proudly attributed the fabric of her success to her strong familial, spiritual, and ancestral roots, her humble beginnings as a former resident of the Liberty Square �Pork-and-Bean� Housing Projects, and formal education as a student in the Miami-Dade County Public School System; and
WHEREAS, at the tender age of two, Ms. Wright would quickly emerge as a vocal prodigy, beginning her professional singing career in 1956 as a member of her family-based gospel group, �Echoes of Joy�, where she received the moniker �Betty Wright� and remained a touring member until the age of 11; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Wright would continue to take the music world by storm, signing her first record deal at the age of 12, releasing her debut solo album �My First Time Around� in 1968 at the age of 14, which included the Billboard 100 Top 40�s hit, �Girls Can�t Do What Guys Can Do�, and would prove to be the first of many chart-topping anthems including �Clean Up Woman�, �Tonight is the Night�, �Where is the Love�, and �No Pain No Gain�, all of which have broken generational barriers and are celebrated to this very day; and
WHEREAS, all before her 18th birthday, �Betty Wright� was a bona fide household name; and
WHEREAS, a Grammy Award winning artist, pioneer, trailblazer, mentor, writer, producer, singer and the ultimate entertainer, Ms. Wright�s discography would include the distinct honor of her being the first woman to obtain a gold-status album on a self-established independent label, �Ms. B Records�, one notable accolade on her long list of accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, her musical DNA and distinct impact are forever etched into the fabric of various genres and notable artists including Gloria Estefan, Joss Stone, Sean �P. Diddy� Combs, Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, and countless others; and
WHEREAS, greatest of all, Ms. Wright was �more than her music", as she was a consummate mother to her four children, all the while pouring into the lives of Miami�s inner-city youth, aspiring musicians, and members of the community who needed a listening ear, an encouraging word, or even a place to call home, notably establishing the renowned Miami-based M.O.S.T (�Mountain of Songs Today�) writing camp which ensured that up and coming artists developed and flourished under the guidance of her mentorship and leadership; and
WHEREAS, to honor the profound memory and matchless legacy of Ms. Wright, the consummate mother to all, woman of faith, woman on the move, and advocate for progress, change, and productivity, that she proved to be for so many, on October 8, 2020, the Commission of the City of Miami adopted Resolution No. R-20-0316, which codesignated that portion of Northwest 14th Avenue from Northwest 62nd Street to Northwest 67th Street as �Betty Wright Lane�; and


WHEREAS, a copy of Resolution No. R-20-0316 is attached hereto and incorporated by reference; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami would like the County to install signage indicating this codesignation on County street signs and traffic signal mast arms; and
WHEREAS, in the same spirit of reverence, this Board would like to honor the memory and matchless legacy of Ms. Wright by paying homage to the place of her birth and approving the City of Miami�s codesignation of that portion of Northwest 14th Avenue from Northwest 62nd Street to Northwest 67th Street as �Betty Wright Lane�; and
WHEREAS, Northwest 14th Avenue from Northwest 62nd Street to Northwest 67th Street is a city-maintained road located in the City of Miami; and
WHEREAS, this codesignation is located in County Commission District 3,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Approves the City of Miami codesignation of that portion of Northwest 14th Avenue from Northwest 62nd Street to Northwest 67th Street as �Betty Wright Lane�.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to send certified copies of this Resolution to the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami, the United States Postal Service, the Traffic Signs and Signals Division of the Department of Transportation and Public Works, the Development Services Division of the Regulatory and Economic Resources Department, the City of Miami Police Department and the City of Miami Fire-Rescue Department.