The Campaign Kickoff Party to Elect Alison Austin is TONIGHT!
Live Music! Spoken Word! Cocktails! A good time! Come Out and Party with a Purpose! 6-9PM! Grand Central: 697 N. Miami Ave!
Entertainment:
Community Leaders:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117964181590594&index=1
Posted in Uncategorized
On Sunday, we had a powerful walk in Precinct 517.
What made this walk special was the fact that I had more volunteers than ever! We divided into small groups to go door-to-door all throughout District 5. It was truly a Team Austin Battalion out there! However, this walk also served as a reality check. Reality in District 5. The same reality that has motivated me to stay involved in my community.
We experienced neighborhoods of wonderful residents! Vibrant people who greeted us with love but these people also live in the harshest of conditions. Our team took the route around NE 53rd Street and 3rd Ave. The residents in this area are living in despair.
We found countless homes abandoned because many people have just given up and left their neighborhood. The people who have stayed, live in fear. From their voices, I heard of the high crime rates in their area. Drug trafficking, prostitution and an abundance of trash dumped on their streets. In the front of their homes.
These residents moved me. They motivated me to fight even harder to win this race. Not for me, but for them. So that I can speak up for them in City Hall. If I don’t then who will? Who has?
Help me to win this race for our community. Volunteer with us! Donate to the campaign! Whatever you do, don’t give up on your community… Vote for the candidate who will fight for all people in this district. Visit my website to volunteer, donate or learn more about why I am the best candidate for Commissioner of District 5.
Check out pictures and videos of the team as we walk District 5 on Sunday!
Posted in September 2010
Tagged Alison Austin, Austin, City of Miami, Community, District 5, Neighborhood, Poverty
The City of Miami Unions have voiced their dissatisfaction with the City’s new budget in no uncertain terms and the city’s disgruntled employees have filed lawsuits. All over the country, unions are fighting municipal budget cuts. And, surprisingly, today, unions are fighting for their very survival. This is surprising, because, workers are still losing benefits in salaried positions across this nation. So, why is the average Joe angry with union? Well, let me try to explain. The unions have continued to do everything possible to protect the American worker. To that end, they fought to prevent the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) from becoming policy in America. The union’s strategy was successful and the vote to make NAFTA/Free Trade Agreement a national policy failed. Corporate America felt that the union had betrayed them by facilitating the failure of the NAFTA policy, and for that the union had to pay. To make the union pay, the private industry embarked upon a campaign to discredit the unions and corporate America has spared no expense in their efforts to discredit the future of the union movement in America.
The American public is fickle, it seems that we have forgotten all that the union has done to improve the life of the American worker. In recent years, unions have worked to keep jobs from being shipped overseas and are working diligently to make the ‘living wage’ the law the land. The union can also be credited for the recent hourly wage increase and passage of the universal health care legislation. Historically, the unions gave the working man dignity and rights. Unions stopped Corporate America from making children work in sweat-shops and sending miners deep into the center of the earth without the appropriate safety equipment. Oh how quickly we forget, not too long-ago (1973) Cristal Lee Sutton, Textile Worker, risked her life and liberty to unionized the Garment and Textile industry and today, the union has save the jobs of teachers in this country.
Posted in September 2010
Tagged AFL-CIO, Alison Austin, City of Miami, City of Miami Commissioner, District 5, economy, jobs, Union
Crime and violence perpetuated by youth growing up in America’s urban neighborhoods are destroying their lives and transforming our neighborhoods into dens of crime and violence. Our young males appear to have no respect for their neighborhoods or the people who reside in them. They seem to have no regard for their own lives and very little regard for the lives of others. Is getting arrested and serving time in jail some kind of Rights of Passage for young black men in our community?
For more than 40-years, beginning in 1964 with Lyndon Johnson’s “Great Society Programs,” social programs have been developed to address the need for opportunities that focuses on presenting urban youth with alternatives to the streets. The exacerbation of this self destructive behavior among this segment of the population is an indication that “best practices” social services initiatives have had limited success. In addition, the dismal failure of Miami’s curfew has shown that police initiatives are clearly not the answers.
Well now is not the time to give up. When one method doesn’t prove to be effective, its time to go another direction. If social service intervention has failed and recreation programs are no longer effective, its time for innovation. New ideas based on the current practices of our youth. When was the last time we sat a young man down to ask him what he was missing in his life? Ask a young woman what kind of programs would she like to be involved in? Our youth is falling and that means we are failing. Lets work with our young people to improve their mindsets, their behaviors, and their lives.
If this topic is of interest to you, I would love to hear your comments and suggestion as to how best to speak to this situation. Contact Me Here
Posted in September 2010
Tagged Alison Austin, City of Miami Commissioner, District 5, Juvenile Crime
Early yesterday morning, the City of Miami tentatively passed its 2010-11 fiscal year budget. A budget predicated on the outcome of court challenges and legal opinions. Many of the city taxpayers voiced their concerns (pros and cons) on the proposed budget. My mission, is to save the Overtown CRA fund from being redirected into the City’s general fund—-to be spent at the city’s discretion. I am fighting alone against unchallenged forces, seeking to strip Overtown of much needed resources.
At the hearing yesterday, I questioned the wisdom of using CRA funds to balance the books, stating “it is not simply a matter of the legality of this proposal, but, rather, a moral question of how this loss of revenue will impact the Overtown residents quality of life”.
As I spoke, Richard P. Dunn, the appointed commissioner of City of Miami District 5, who oversees the city’s Park West/Overtown CRA, was absent. Nearby, in the City of Coral Gables, the law firm of Becker & Poliakoff was holding a fundraiser to support the absent Commissioner’s campaign for the District 5 seat. Dunn wouldn’t address whether or not he attended the fundraiser, he did say however, “I had to take care of something, It was real urgent,” promising to address the issue at Thursday’s Commission Meeting.
I am pleased to have been present not only to share my thoughts and concerns but to listen while City of Miami residents spoke up and spoke out sharing with city officials their opinions on the proposed budget. If you have not read the Miami Herald article already, please click here: City of Miami likely to raise fees, fines
Posted in September 2010
Tagged Alison Austin, City of Miami Commissioner, District 5, Miami Budget Hearing
It’s time to get on the D5 Express to Miami City Hall. Conducting the Express will be, Me, Alison Austin, Candidate for the City of Miami Commission Seat, District 5. Our first stop will be at Grand Central, located at 697 North Miami Avenue in Miami Florida. You will spend the evening meeting interesting people, while being entertained by the amazing fusion sound of the band SUÉNALO.
Share this blog with all of your friends and ask them to meet you at
Grand Central from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM on Tuesday, September 28, 2010.
ALL ABOARD!!!!
Posted in Events
Tagged Alison Austin, Campaign Kickoff Event, City of Miami Commissioner, District 5, Grand Central
Welcome to the people’s movement to transform the City of Miami’s District 5. Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog!
We are embarking on this journey to bring much needed change to our neighborhoods. It is only with your support that we will restore our district to the vibrant and bustling community that we know it can be. As CEO of the Belafonte TACOLCY Center, I have the unique opportunity to learn from families who live and work in District 5, allowing me to understand the situations they face daily. My experiences, dedication and unselfish service have prepared me to serve as your ambassador.
For the past 20 years, District 5 has been home to some of Miami’s most economically depressed neighborhoods. It’s up to us to change this. As a child of the district, I recognize the importance of having a leader who represents the needs of the people and as your commissioner I will put your interests first. However, I need your help. Stop by the campaign office to volunteer with us or make a donation. Whatever you choose, no contribution is too small. For more information on how you can get involved, visit us athttp://www.electalisonaustin.com/. Stay tuned for constant blog posts coming straight from Team Austin!
I appreciate you!
Posted in September 2010
Tagged Alison Austin, City of Miami Commissioner, District 5
