Coconut Grove Village Council Elections

Stephen Murray chats with local residents at a campaign meet and greet held at the Community Green Space on October 17th. Photo by Chelsea Matiash

On November 3, Coconut Grove residents will go to the polls to elect their Village Council representatives. All nine spots on the advisory board are up for grabs as the current members’ four year terms expired this fall.

Two incumbents are not seeking reelection, current chair Martin Zilber and Village West activist Lottie Person. Person, who has lived in the Grove since 1999, said she wanted to give young voices an opportunity to be heard.

“Four years is enough for any one person. It is time to give someone else a chance,” she said.

The body was created in 1991 when the Grove was advocating secession. It communicates residents’ concerns over municipal services and development to the Miami City Council. While the council deals with issues affecting the entire Grove, Person is the only currently serving member representing the Village West.

Out of the 18 candidates running for the council only two, Stephen Murray and Renita Samuels-Dixon, live in the Village West. Dixon blamed elected officials for her community’s lack of involvement whom she argued failed to properly disseminate information on important policies and proposals.

“I do not even know about a law until it passed. By the time we hear about a project, all of the important choices have already been made,” said Dixon.
If elected, she promised to push for training programs that will prepare the unemployed to seek recession proof jobs.

“I believe that could help more than anything in motivating African Americans to get involved in the greater Village community,” she added.
Underrepresentation is only a symptom of the challenges facing the Village West. Half of the buildings on Grand Avenue are abandoned or for sale, driving down the value of surrounding properties. Many residents are out of work.

Murray, 21, the youngest candidate, is a student at the University of Miami. Since moving to Day Avenue his sophomore year, he has petitioned the council to address the needs of his neighbors.

“There is a problem when afterschool programs are being cut while the average city official makes six figures. Instead of handing the area over to the developers, we need real solutions,” he said.

The gentrification of Grand Avenue has been a point of controversy for council members and residents. Many like Murray believe that bringing in developers will force out families who have lived in their homes for generations.

“Central Grove politicians cannot just pave over the entire community just because they do not like the people who are living there,” said Murray.

Others, like Pat Sessions, argue that bringing in new investments will revitalize the Grove. Sessions has lived in the village for 45 years and supported the non-profit Point Group, which spearheaded efforts to attract business to the Village West.

“But people were up in arms about preserving the community. Now, half the street is empty,” said Sessions.

He is running because of what he views as poor development decisions by the Village Council. He said he lost his mind when the board did nothing to contest a Fresh Market moving into prime waterfront property.

“If they had put it a block over it would have helped revitalize the Village West and kept the space available to patrons that generate more revenue,” he said.

Some of the council’s most visible work has been accomplished through its permanent Waterfront Committee which works with city officials on Coconut Grove’s Waterfront Master Plan.

The plan involves opening access to the ocean and the committee’s job is to communicate the proposals to the public. Michelle Niemeyer, attorney and council incumbent, was the most active member in formulating and disseminating the master plan.

“Issues the new council will have to hold public hearings on include creating bike lanes, expanding parks, opening access to the Spoil Islands and installing more sidewalks” she said.

Niemeyer said she said she has proven to be one of the only members to open her mouth and take action when the council is under pressure.
“I made a motion to appeal the 3am closing laws because businesses are too afraid to tell Commissioner Sarnoff that he made a mistake,” said Niemeyer.
The closing law, which mandates that businesses serving alcohol in Central Grove close by 3am, has been a point of controversy in the Village community. Niemeyer said that while the commissioner’s intentions to preserve quality of life and deter drunk driving were admirable, the law has prompted patrons to spend their weekends in Brickell or Biscayne rather than the Grove.

“People want to eat, have drinks and go dancing in the same place. The law sends a message that the Grove does not cater to these interests,” she added.

Incumbent Adam Weirich is co owner of Barracuda Bar and Grill in central Grove. He said the law does not really affect his investment but does represent a disconnect between the affluent residents who want to insulate the Grove and those who want the Village to remain a vibrant community.
“A lot of people think it is all about the New Grove and catering to the wealthiest and that sentiment is very damaging. I am running for reelection because I want to expand the dialogue on these issues to all parts of the community,” he said.

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