Miami, FL
Residents Evacuate Miami Beach Condo Near Surfside Collapse Site
Residents of a Miami Seaside, Fla., condominium situated south of the constructing that collapsed and killed 98 individuals final yr have been required to evacuate Thursday attributable to issues over structural injury.
Town of Miami Seaside posted an “Unsafe Construction” discover on the Port Royale condominium constructing Thursday, mentioned
Melissa Berthier,
a spokeswoman for the town, forcing residents to rapidly depart their houses.
Engineers from Inspection Engineers Inc. advisable residents “evacuate the constructing instantly” in a letter to metropolis officers Thursday detailing the injury on the constructing, situated at 6969 Collins Avenue. The engineers mentioned what they consider to be one of many constructing’s predominant assist beams within the storage had shifted by about half an inch and an present crack appeared to enlarge.
“It’s an enormous accountability,” Inspection Engineers President
Douglas Mercado
mentioned in an interview, of the choice to suggest evacuating residents.
“Particularly after the collapse of the opposite constructing,” he mentioned, “we determined we’re not going to take any dangers.”
A consultant for the Port Royale didn’t reply to requests for remark.
The evacuation comes greater than a yr after Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Fla., collapsed within the early hours of June 24, 2021, whereas many residents have been nonetheless asleep. The catastrophe was one of many deadliest constructing failures in U.S. historical past.
A Wall Road Journal investigation discovered the constructing, constructed round 40 years in the past, made cost-cutting selections that met constructing codes on the time however could have created long-term security dangers, together with skipping waterproofing areas the place saltwater might seep into concrete.
Kinfolk of the victims of the Surfside collapse reached an almost $1 billion settlement to resolve wrongful loss of life claims this yr.
The tragedy additionally raised issues in regards to the structural integrity and expensive repairs dealing with the growing older condominium buildings that line Miami’s beachfront. A brand new statewide regulation handed in Might requires inspections on condos situated close to the seashore each 25 years.
The Port Royale, a 164-unit condominium constructing that was constructed in 1971, is within the technique of its 50-year recertification, mentioned Ms. Berthier, the town’s spokeswoman. The condominium constructing is situated about 1.3 miles south of the Surfside collapse website.
Engineers inspected the Port Royale 10 months in the past and recognized spots for restore within the constructing’s storage, in keeping with their letter to the town Thursday. The constructing’s affiliation discovered a contractor that started repairs 4 weeks in the past, with supervision from the engineers, the letter mentioned. They recognized injury to one of many constructing’s predominant assist beams this week, which raised issues, Mr. Mercado mentioned.
The engineers are looking for a allow to put in “specialty shoring” to bolster the areas that want restore—a course of that will take about 10 days. It wasn’t instantly clear when residents would have the ability to return to the constructing, however engineers mentioned it might occur after shoring is full.
A Miami-Dade County ordinance requires homeowners to cowl the prices of housing and different bills akin to transportation if their constructing is “declared unfit for human habitation.” Ought to homeowners fail to rapidly accomplish that, the town helps evacuated residents discover locations to remain. Ms. Berthier, the town spokeswoman, mentioned the town supplied lodging for 4 of the households that evacuated.
Write to Jennifer Calfas at jennifer.calfas@wsj.com
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Miami, FL
Miami homeowners could see trash collection fee increase
MIAMI – For the first time in 14 years the City of Miami could be increasing a service that many homeowners have considered effective.
“I think it’s excellent, they’re always here,” said Sally Howie about the trash service in Miami, where she has lived since 2005.
In June, Miami commissioners voted 4 to 1 in favor of increasing the cap on garbage fees from $380 to a $60 increase for a total of $440.
“I think it’s a reasonable request because it’s been 14 years, so it seems reasonable to me,” said Howie.
“I voted against it,” said Manolo Reyes, Miami Commissioner for District 4, who opposed the measure, among other things because of people on fixed incomes.
“For those people, those households an increase of 60 dollars means a lot for them,” said Reyes.
“I can understand if someone has a fixed income and bills increase, they’re not going to like it,” said Howie, who lives in Coconut Grove.
Damian Pardo, recently elected as Miami Commissioner voted in favor of increasing the cap.
“Unlike any other municipality, we’re paying a much lower fee,” said the commissioner for District 2. Homeowners in Unincorporated Miami-Dade pay $547 a year.
Pardo says the garbage fee in Miami not only applies to trash collection but also to recycling service and what is known as bulky trash – piled garbage from debris, branches, or when people remodel their houses.
“They’re getting bulky trash pick-up every single week unlike any other municipality,” said Pardo.
CBS Miami reached out to the City of Miami for a request for an interview, they replied with a statement saying:
“The level of (trash) service provided exceeds what we currently charge, thus the consideration of increasing the fee to $440 per household.”
“The difference between the actual cost of service and what is charged to households is being offset by General Fund money. The possible increase would reduce the reliance on general fund dollars to support the delivery of solid waste residential services.”
CBS News Miami asked Commissioner Reyes, “How soon Miami residents would actually see an increase on the garbage fee?”
“It’s up to the administration,” he replied.
Pardo replied differently, “The cap doesn’t mean there’s any increase at all, it just provides flexibility in the future should residents decide that they want an increase as opposed to losing services.”
Both commissioners said there should be another meeting if the city does decide to increase the fee any time soon.
Miami, FL
Police arrest man accused of vandalizing Miami bagel shop; he’s facing hate crime charge
MIAMI – Police announced the arrest Tuesday of a man who they say vandalized a bagel shop in Miami last month.
According to an arrest affidavit from the Miami Police Department, 28-year-old Kenneth Guerrera is facing one count of criminal mischief with prejudice, a hate crime enhancement.
Josh Nodel, the owner of Holy Bagels & Pizzeria, located at 93 NW First St., told Local 10 News that one of his shops was targeted around 4:45 a.m. on June 14.
Numerous volunteers came to clean up the graffiti that read, “Free Palestine End Genocide.”
Surveillance video obtained by Local 10 News showed Guerrera spray painting the message on the shop’s front windows, according to police.
An affidavit stated that Guerrera was also seen ripping down an Israeli flag that was hung above the entrance of the restaurant.
Police said he then proceeded to spray-paint the flag on the ground.
An officer in the area said she identified Guerrera through a Miami police wanted flyer and surveillance video.
After being taken into custody, police said Guerrera agreed to speak with detectives without an attorney, but his full confession was redacted in the publicly released report.
“It’s unbelievable,” Nodel told Local 10 News last month. “It’s an act of violence against the Jewish nation and an act of violence against the law of Florida.”
Nodel reported another incident back in December at Bagel Time Cafe, located at 3915 Alton Road, which had Israeli and American flags vandalized by different suspects since war broke out in the Middle East.
Police arrested another suspect in one of the incidents.
Local 10 News has requested Guerrera’s mugshot after he was not listed as an inmate on Miami-Dade Corrections’ website as of Tuesday evening.
Miami Police Chief Manny Morales released a statement following Guerrera’s arrest which you can read below.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
Miami, FL
Miami Post-Hardcore Band DIME Release Heavy, Cathartic Self-Titled EP: Stream
Do you like really, really big guitar sounds? Guitar sounds so big that they suck up all the oxygen in the room and leave you gasping for breath? Guitar sounds that achieve physical dimensionality, like they’re caverns so large and complex that you get lost there and then make up your mind that you’re just going to live the rest of your life in there? Well, then DIME have you covered. (more…)
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