Welcome To The World Of Black News
Burn your problems away by Investigative Reporter Keith Wilson
Shanty Town Burned to the Ground
No Suspects Found
Our organization supported any aggressive move by government or private sector to house the homeless of our community.
Promises have been given by government throughout the years that affordable housing “is forthcoming to those in need of shelter”
A year ago a small group of frustrated, determined citizens and activists decided to take the government up on its many promises to provide housing for the multitude of homeless individuals in our society.
The organizational leaders confiscated the city-owned property at the corner of 17th Ave. and 62nd St., which was vacant for years.
It was affectionately referred to as “Shanty Town”
The City immediately began setting up road blocks and threaten to create new legislation that would make it illegal to occupy city-owned land.
In other words, it would be illegal to congregate or hold rallies on such land, with the exception of parks or public events.
After much legal wrangling, the City backed off, which was very smart on their behalf!
One of the organizers of Shanty Town, Mr. Max, went forward in establishing a make-shift
housing camp for the homeless. He went ahead and clothed those in need of clothing, and fed the hungry.
Meanwhile, there were plans in the works by the City of Miami to get rid of Shanty Town, “by any means necessary” (famous quote by a human rights fighter named Malcolm X), much to the embarrassment of the City.
The community supported and applauded the grass roots efforts of self-help initiative.
To best describe Shanty Town, one would compare it to a long-time drug addict, who, after 10 years of hardship, disappointments and physical damage to himself, decides to stop using narcotics, to clean up his lifestyle with sheer determination and will power.
Then comes along the “System” that once arrested him for drug use and possession, and “handcuffs” the reformed individual’s ability to help himself.
It’s designed to destroy any will or idea to help oneself.
It seems like anyone who strives for self reliance after being disenfranchised, cast aside and abused, will become an enemy of the state.
Interview with Mr. Max Rameau
Center for the Pan-African Development
Then a fire was set. A professionally controlled fire, in the early morning hours - one hurt, two hurt, maybe 8 hurt. The grounds were blazed, as was the grass, the wooden logs, the rocks...the very dirt was blazed.
Hours after the fire was put out, the media arrived. Dumpsters were dropped off and mere
minutes later, bulldozers began to clean up the rubble.
A City sign went up:
NO TRESPASSING
A task force consisting of government officials and Reverends assembled on the grounds, blasting the efforts of the Shanty Town organizers.
They were calling the cardboard boxes in Shanty Town “unsafe”.
Any structure is unsafe when a fire is set to it.
In actuality, the existence of Shanty Town was an embarrassment to the City and several of their attempts to shut it down failed....until the mysterious fire.
This day should be recorded in Miami’s history.
“When all other forms of negotiatons fail, set the problem ablaze...”
Today, a chain linked fence secures the entire empty lot. I guess the City Officials won.
The homeless citizens? Still homeless.
Go figure....
To view the first of our video series about the fire, click here
If you have any comments, please e-mail us at info@blacknewsmiami.com
Shanty town is getting fenced in...where will its people live now??
Find Our People!
Last month MDHA admitted to losing over 600 families from Scott Homes.
This agency was supposed to provide housing and services for the former residents of Scotts when the Hope VI project tore down their homes. Now, over five years later, many are worse off than before.
We are taking matters into our own hands and launching the "Find the People" Campaign.
The campaign is based at the Name Wall (7155 NW 22nd Ave.)
We won't rest until every Scott person is found and is safe in their own home.
We need your help!
Donate items and money to support Find Our People campaign at our website
http://www.findourpeople.blogspot.com
Come by the Name Wall (7155 NW 22nd Ave.), give information about
former Scott residents and volunteer with the campaign.
For more information call Aiyeshia at 305-389-7639
Call our toll-free hotline if you have any information on former Scott residents.
1-877-33-HOUSING - Now!
Shanty Town Burned to the Ground
No Suspects Found
Our organization supported any aggressive move by government or private sector to house the homeless of our community.
Promises have been given by government throughout the years that affordable housing “is forthcoming to those in need of shelter”
A year ago a small group of frustrated, determined citizens and activists decided to take the government up on its many promises to provide housing for the multitude of homeless individuals in our society.
The organizational leaders confiscated the city-owned property at the corner of 17th Ave. and 62nd St., which was vacant for years.
It was affectionately referred to as “Shanty Town”
The City immediately began setting up road blocks and threaten to create new legislation that would make it illegal to occupy city-owned land.
In other words, it would be illegal to congregate or hold rallies on such land, with the exception of parks or public events.
After much legal wrangling, the City backed off, which was very smart on their behalf!
One of the organizers of Shanty Town, Mr. Max, went forward in establishing a make-shift
housing camp for the homeless. He went ahead and clothed those in need of clothing, and fed the hungry.
Meanwhile, there were plans in the works by the City of Miami to get rid of Shanty Town, “by any means necessary” (famous quote by a human rights fighter named Malcolm X), much to the embarrassment of the City.
The community supported and applauded the grass roots efforts of self-help initiative.
To best describe Shanty Town, one would compare it to a long-time drug addict, who, after 10 years of hardship, disappointments and physical damage to himself, decides to stop using narcotics, to clean up his lifestyle with sheer determination and will power.
Then comes along the “System” that once arrested him for drug use and possession, and “handcuffs” the reformed individual’s ability to help himself.
It’s designed to destroy any will or idea to help oneself.
It seems like anyone who strives for self reliance after being disenfranchised, cast aside and abused, will become an enemy of the state.
Interview with Mr. Max Rameau
Center for the Pan-African Development
Then a fire was set. A professionally controlled fire, in the early morning hours - one hurt, two hurt, maybe 8 hurt. The grounds were blazed, as was the grass, the wooden logs, the rocks...the very dirt was blazed.
Hours after the fire was put out, the media arrived. Dumpsters were dropped off and mere
minutes later, bulldozers began to clean up the rubble.
A City sign went up:
NO TRESPASSING
A task force consisting of government officials and Reverends assembled on the grounds, blasting the efforts of the Shanty Town organizers.
They were calling the cardboard boxes in Shanty Town “unsafe”.
Any structure is unsafe when a fire is set to it.
In actuality, the existence of Shanty Town was an embarrassment to the City and several of their attempts to shut it down failed....until the mysterious fire.
This day should be recorded in Miami’s history.
“When all other forms of negotiatons fail, set the problem ablaze...”
Today, a chain linked fence secures the entire empty lot. I guess the City Officials won.
The homeless citizens? Still homeless.
Go figure....
To view the first of our video series about the fire, click here
If you have any comments, please e-mail us at info@blacknewsmiami.com
Shanty town is getting fenced in...where will its people live now??
Find Our People!
Last month MDHA admitted to losing over 600 families from Scott Homes.
This agency was supposed to provide housing and services for the former residents of Scotts when the Hope VI project tore down their homes. Now, over five years later, many are worse off than before.
We are taking matters into our own hands and launching the "Find the People" Campaign.
The campaign is based at the Name Wall (7155 NW 22nd Ave.)
We won't rest until every Scott person is found and is safe in their own home.
We need your help!
Donate items and money to support Find Our People campaign at our website
http://www.findourpeople.blogspot.com
Come by the Name Wall (7155 NW 22nd Ave.), give information about
former Scott residents and volunteer with the campaign.
For more information call Aiyeshia at 305-389-7639
Call our toll-free hotline if you have any information on former Scott residents.
1-877-33-HOUSING - Now!