CLICK HERE FOR OUR MIAMI 21 DISCUSSION BLOG! The City of Miami is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Real estate projects, economic prosperity and strong leadership have converged with natural appeal to bless the City with the greatest urban renaissance seen in its history. Since 2001, the City has witnessed a 10% increase in population. This surge is startling when contrasted with the 1% growth experienced in the 1990s and the 7% total seen from 1970-2000. Estimates suggest that by the end of this decade, Miami's population may expand by as much as 30%.Miami's growth is due in part to the worldwide trend towards greater urbanization. By 2025, the United Nations projects that urban population growth will make up about 90 percent of the world's population growth, and in the United States, in particular, 85 percent of the population will live in urban areas. These rates of urbanization are paralleled in cities and countries throughout the world. The City of Miami, in coordination with the Florida Department of Transportation, is proposing to build the Miami Streetcar Project from Government Center in Downtown Miami through Park West, the Entertainment District, Wynwood/Edgewater, Midtown Miami to the Design District and Buena Vista East District. The streetcar is an urban transit circulator that will operate in existing roadways, and provide connectivity among major activity centers, commercial and retail establishments, as well as residential communities throughout the project corridor. The City of Miami Commission approved a resolution on May 12, 2005, adopting the City of Miami Streetcar Corridor Feasibility Study, Final Report, April 2005. Subsequent to that approval, the City began the next phase of project development in the late Fall of 2005. This phase consists of an Environmental Assessment and Public Information Program. The Environmental Assessment will address technical issues, identify potential project impacts, and update the project's financial plan. The City will begin an approximate six-month coordination phase with public agencies and the community, starting in February, 2006.The Non-Violence Project USA exists to significantly change attitudes toward violence among youth. We strive to teach alternatives to negative behavior, and to motivate and engage young people in positive actions to make our communities safer and healthier. The Non-Violence Project USA is committed to the idea that only the efforts of young people combined with community based organizations, law enforcement and other government agencies, private sector funders, schools, and parents will stem the tide of youth violence. We strive to teach alternatives to negative behavior and to motivate and engage young people in positive action to make communities happier healthier and safer. Tony Cho is the Sites on the Board of the Non-Violence Project USA.Information provided from the City of Miami website www.ci.miami.fl.us. |