My blogs

Blogs I follow

Gender	Male
Occupation	Attorney
Location	Miami, FL
Introduction	I have been in South Florida since 1992, arriving a few days after Hurricane Andrew. Throughout booms and busts I have watched local government ignore its poorest communities. South Dade rebuilt after the hurricane as if its poorest residents didn't exist. During the condo boom, poor and minority neighborhoods, suddenly became attractive to powerful real estate interests. Previously invisible, they were suddenly fighting massive displacement. Over a thousand poor households were removed from public housing in Liberty City and their homes destroyed through the HOPE VI process. After relocation they were quickly forgotten. Ten years later, the site stands virtually empty. Now, as foreclosures increase, many poor tenants are living in deteriorated foreclosed apartment buildings. Change will only come when the poor families have the ability to control their own neighborhoods, whether it be South Dade, Little Havana, Overtown, Alapattah, Liberty City or Miami . Families are working hard to organize in each of these communities and I try to use my legal skills to support their efforts.