On Sunday, October 24, 1999, our community learned through the news media that 700 hardened criminals were being moved from a maximum security prison in Martin County to the State Correction Facility less than 2 miles west of the Doral area on NW 41st Street and NW 140th  Avenue. That facility has always been described to us as a minimum security facility.

The South Unit of that facility has not much more than a barracks where most of the 700 criminals would be housed. What a challenge that would be for the murderers, rapists and other hardened criminals to escape! And the only route out of that prison is NW 41st Street, a thoroughfare which leads directly into the Doral Community.

These criminals are scheduled to remain at the nearby location for three months, until the maximum security facility in Martin County has its water and sewer problems resolved that resulted from the flooding in that area. This time frame could be extended should the repairs not be completed as scheduled.

The WDFHA called an emergency meeting for 8 PM Monday night, October 25, 1999, at the Doral Park Clubhouse.

Commissioner Miriam Alonso, who had been alerted to this problem, attended the meeting along with Assistant Director of Metro-Dade Police Department Sam Williams and Major Robert Munecas of the Doral Police Station.

We were reassured by Assistant Director Williams that the Metro-Dade Police had a plan in place for the protection of the public, including additional units patrolling the area. But the Assistant Director also made it clear that he had no advance notice of this large number of criminals being moved into this area.

Commissioner Alonso also stated that the county was also not informed in advance.

All attempts by the WDFHA and Assistant Director Williams to meet with Warden Wasi of the local correctional facility were initially unsuccessful.

Finally, Assistant Director Williams was able to get a tentative date for a meeting with the warden on Tuesday, November 2, 1999.

Some of the questions to be resolved at that time are: What additional security measures is the State of Florida Correctional Department taking to protect the public while these criminals are being housed in this minimum security facility? Why was no advance notice given to Miami-Dade County government officials, local police, state police and the community?

The WDFHA intends to follow up on this problem by requesting that the State Department of Corrections to do a better job of communicating to local government and the public on any plans might potentially be of concern to them.

Additionally, the WDFHA will be contacting our state legislators to follow up on this problem, with the goal of returning these prisoners as quickly as possible to the Martin County maximum security facility.

We’d also like to require the State Department of Corrections to communicate to local government and police on any plans like this one that are in place and requiring them to alert us when something of this nature occurs in the future.

The WDFHA will notify the Doral residents of what is learned. Stay tuned!

Incorporation Team for Doral Requests Rehearing

On October 14, 1999, the WDFHA continued its pursuit of Doral incorporation by filing a motion for rehearing in the Third District Court of Appeals.

On September 7, 1999 a three-judge panel reversed Judge Postman’s ruling in favor of Doral that would have required a vote on incorporation.

Now, attorneys for Doral and Palmetto Bay are requesting a rehearing, citing that the three-judge panel did not address the argument that the Board of County Commissioners was in violation of the Citizen’s Bill of Rights, a portion of the Home Rule Charter. Our attorneys argue that that our rights as citizens were violated by the County when they deferred any decision on our petition for incorporation for more than three years.

It is hoped that the Third Circuit Court of Appeals will grant this appeal and set a date for the hearing.

The Miami-Dade County Charter clearly states that any public official who is found to have willfully violated the Citizen’s Bill of Rights shall forthwith forfeit his office or employment.

New Associations Joining WDFHA

WDFHA Membership Chairperson Maria Guba has been working hard to bring new associations into the WDFHA.

Meetings have recently been held with Doral Palms, Eagle Cove and Hawks Nest to inform them of the importance of being a member of WDFHA. All of them have indicated that they will become new members.

If your association is not a WDFHA member, call Maria at 305 463 0291.

Some member associations are over 90 days late with their dues. Remember that all officers and committee chairpersons are volunteers, and that every dollar of your membership dues goes directly to help our community.

Doral Doings Reporter Needed

There are many meetings, social events, sports events and announcements that would be good to include in the Doral Tribune every month.

Please call 305 591 2222 to help with this important information for Doral.