Coversheet

Committee Assignments - C4 AA

COMMISSION MEMORANDUM

TO:	Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM:	Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt
DATE:	January 31, 2024

SUBJECT:	REFERRAL TO THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS FUNDING FOR SOUTH FLORIDA SAFE HAVEN BABY BOXES IN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.

BACKGROUND/HISTORY

Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No

If so, specify name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s): N/A

ANALYSIS

There are currently NO South Florida Safe Sites available and now a baby in Hollywood has died. My late sister was abandoned at birth by her destitute birth parents, because they knew they couldn’t take care of a baby, but because they left her in a hospital, she survived and was adopted by us at six months.

The cost to install boxes and train personnel is just $15,000. Given the realities of the increasingly difficult choices facing struggling families in this state, providing a safe harbor in a fire station seems to be the least that we can do.

As a community, we extend ourselves significantly for adults who are on the street, as we should; this small step would provide an equally compassionate extension of a helping hand when needed for people in a different sort of life crisis.

https://www.wlrn.org/health/2024-01-25/south-florida-safe-haven-baby-boxes

SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA

N/A

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

N/A

Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14?		Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds?
No		No

Legislative Tracking
Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt