At its February 10, 2021 meeting, the City Commission referred an item, sponsored by Commissioner David Richardson, to the March 2021 Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee (NQLC) regarding a discussion on the co-naming of 19 Street, between Meridian Avenue and Convention Center Drive/Muhammad Ali Way, in honor of a prominent Jewish figure who made a mark on Jewish history. 

The rich legacy of the Jewish community in Florida can be found in every region of the state.  As a people, Jews have contributed dramatically to Florida's economy, and culture government and created institutions that allowed their heritage to flourish and their identity to strengthen.  Various Jewish landmarks exist throughout the City, including the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU, the Holocaust Memorial, and several temples including Temple Emanu-El, Temple Beth Sholom, and Temple Beth Schmuel. 19 Street is adjacent to the City’s Holocaust Memorial, a striking, beautiful memorial built by Holocaust survivors as a reminder of lives extinguished in the Holocaust.

In order to facilitate the co-naming of 19 Street, Commissioner David Richardson proposed that NQLC further recommend an amendment to the City’s naming ordinance, codified in Article VI, Section 82-503 of the City Code, which would expand the provided criteria for the co-naming of City streets in honor of deceased persons who left a prominent mark on history.  There is precedent regarding exemptions for naming of public facilities, such as Miami City Ballet, Miami Beach Botanical Gardens, New World Symphony.  Most recently, the Naming Ordinance was amended to permit the co-naming of Convention Center Drive as “Muhammad Ali Way.”  Additionally, Commissioner David Richardson recommended that the City seek community input before choosing a suitable candidate to co-name 19 Street after.

Pursuant to Section 82-503(c)(1)a. of the City Code, for a street co-naming request to be considered, it must meet the following criteria:

1. Miami Beach police officers who died or were killed in the line of duty;
2.  A public facility located on the street to be co-named;
3. Private not-for-profit organizations with significant historic value to the city and associated with structures which have a significant historical value or architectural significance to the City and which are located on the street, or portion thereof, to be co-named;
4. Geographic areas within the City;
5. A commercial establishment that has been in business in the City of Miami Beach for 100 or more years and which is located on the street to be co-named.
   
   

A code amendment would be necessary to co-name 19 Street in honor of a prominent Jewish figure who made a mark on Jewish history.  Once the NQLC makes a recommendation as to whether the code should be amended, and once the amendment is subsequently approved by the City Commission in two separate readings, the NQLC shall then consider the co-naming request and make a recommendation to the City Commission, and the item would need to be approved by the City Commission, by a 5/7ths vote, following a public hearing.  If approved by the City Commission, the co-naming will need to be subsequently approved by the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners (BCC).  Following BCC approval, City staff will coordinate with Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works for the installation of the new street co-naming signs.