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Public Good from Public Money
JwJ coalition members have met with the Marlins
With the Orange Bowl Stadium demolished and a Marlins facility in question, a coalition of residents, small and minority contractors and labor unions pin their last hopes on the court system, specifically that Judge Cohen will ensure that any court approved settlement require negotiations with the community.
For nearly two years, Little Havana residents have been demanding that the City of Miami honor its promise to negotiate a legally binding agreement, known as a community benefit agreement, on any future stadium renovations. Despite a public commitment from Mayor Diaz’s office and a series of negotiations with the project management team, community members repeatedly faced government inaction when attempting to hold City capital improvements staff accountable. County administrators have been equally efficient in touting community uplift from the project without setting standards that will ensure such public benefits.
Any future stadium project should uplift area residents, grow small and minority businesses and offer good jobs for workers. After all, these are the cornerstones of a strong local economy. But how do we get there?
SFJwJ won a commitment from Mayor Diaz’s office for a legally binding agreement on the Orange Bowl stadium renovations. And our coalition of residents, minority contractors and labor unions negotiated important changes to the RFP including:
- Better refinement of the project impact area;
- Increased local hiring requirements; and
- Higher usage of minority contractors.
During this same period SFJwJ introduced the first enforcement of the Miami Living Wage ordinance, a class action suit of 188 Orange Bowl stadium workers who have not received the $11.23 per hour due them. The back pay alone is nearly $90,000.
Now, with the decision made to demolish the Orange Bowl and build a new Marlins Stadium in its stead, Jobs With Justice and a coalition of trade unions, minority contractors, and local residents is seeking to secure a Community Benefits Agreement for the new project. We believe it to be a grave injustice when millions of public dollars spent to provide a privately held company with a facility does not include local hiring, sustainable wages, and community oversight.
SFJwJ stands vigilant to ensure government accountability at this historic site. It’s called PUBLIC GOOD FROM PUBLIC MONEY.
ResourcesFact SheetsGraphic summary of RISEP November 2007 reportPublic Benefits from Public Subsidies RISEP 2007 ReportCommunity Benefits Agreement Information SheetRelated Links |
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