PLATFORM

Pierre’s vision for a better City of North Miami, District 4

The greatest place to live has affordable housing, it has excellent schools, and it keeps its children safe. It is a place where residents can afford care and be able to raise their families; such a place where small businesses thrive and immigrants are welcomed with open arms. This ideal place can exist in our beautiful City of North Miami. We all love the people, diversity, and culture. So why does it have to be so hard to get by and raise a family? My vision is to make our city, particularly District 4, an enviable destination and a desired place to live.

I envision a District 4 where we improve dialogue with the stakeholders, revamp our public spaces, push for economic development on the NW 7th Avenue Corridor to create jobs and opportunities for our residents and small businesses, generate more programs for youths and senior citizens and invest in needed infrastructure to improve and beautify our neighborhoods. Moreover, a District 4 where residents work closely with law enforcement to improve community policing and keep our streets safe.

I am running for North Miami City Council to ensure that our needs and values are reflected in our collective discourses and that our children are given a fair chance to succeed. It is my distinct honor to have your vote and represent you. I will be unequivocal in championing District 4’s needs. I seek to be your voice on the dais, for I will fearlessly speak up when warranted; while being thoughtful, transparent, honest, and responsible in my deliberations.

Pierre Charles’ Statement of Candidacy

Public service is a magnanimous calling of seeing beyond your self-interest for the greater good and collective welfare of our neighbors in the community. It is a responsibility that we share, for we must be willing to contribute our time and best effort towards the wellness of the community to flourish and prosper. This quote by Mohamed Ali, "Service to others is the rent that you pay on earth," drives my belief that the bedrock principle of governing is serving others. It requires unique approaches and considerations to address the needs of our educational system, healthcare services, public safety, and the living standards of the community. To help find solutions to the aforementioned issues, I am declaring my candidacy for the City of North Miami Council, District 4.

My involvement in the North Miami community has given me valuable experience and an understanding of the city's needs and challenges, especially in District 4. It would be my distinct honor and privilege to represent the constituents of North Miami and find unique solutions to the district's needs. As a community organizer and the past chairman of the non-profit organization Veronique Destine Foundation, Inc., I believe that prioritizing the concerns of residents, partnering with others to improve the well-being of constituents, and facilitating positive changes in a community constitute the essence of good leadership. Moreover, my experience as an educator and adjunct professor has given me the skills to promote open and respectful dialogue to find strategies to improve the lives of our youth. Having taught in public schools for nearly fifteen years, I recognize and understand the needs and challenges of the younger generation. Consequently, it is imperative that we work in one accord to make North Miami neighborhoods safer, healthier, and more prosperous by focusing on improving our schools and parks, providing jobs and job training opportunities, increasing after-school activities, and developing preventive programs for our at-risk youth. These priorities will not only provide hope and opportunities for our children, but also promote families to remain in District 4 and incentivize businesses and developers to invest in the City of North Miami. My vision for District 4 also includes working with residents and the Police Department to improve community policing to keep the crime rate low.

Furthermore, I would like to increase the budget for our senior citizens program, created by former District 4 Councilman and now the Honorable Mayor Alix Desulme, to help revamp our public spaces and keep our neighborhood beautiful. Additionally, I believe it is important to continue with the NW 7th Avenue corridor economic development plan to create jobs and opportunities for our residents and small businesses. My goal is to work with the Mayor and Council on all initiatives that aim to move the city forward and put residents first. I humbly ask our residents to vote for me so together we can bring about lasting changes to this beautiful city we love and live in. On November 5, 2024, please vote Councilman Pierre Frantz Charles, for North Miami City Council, District 4.

Six Key Areas of Focus

Crime & Public Safety

My strategy centers on seeking community guidance and insights, using innovative crime-fighting technologies and tools, executing continual impact assessment and improvements to reduce crime, addressing community needs and priorities, enhancing mutual understandings between residents and police officers, and transforming community-police relations and the residents' perceptions towards policing and crime prevention measures. That said, I will support efforts to stop the loss of talented and capable officers to neighboring cities and counties. To that mean, I proffer a more competitive salary, first-rate equipment, and opportunities for advancement. While I affirm the need for a strong police presence in District 4 to deter crime, we must be sensible about the temptation of over-policing our communities.

Improving Our Neighborhoods

I want District 4 to thrive, better than before. As your District 4 Councilman, I will double my efforts to bring our community back to life. Our streets and neighborhoods should be clean, safe, healthy, and easy to move around. I will work to ensure our streets and parks are cared for and available to our families. When our community is well-off, so will our local economy and the businesses that provide goods and services.

As your elected leader, I will:

· Work to fix our roads and sidewalks.

· Improve the bike lanes.

· Promote the need for reliable transit in neighborhoods that need them most.

· Titivate vacant and abandoned houses.

· Attract and incentivize businesses on the 7th Avenue corridor to create more jobs.

· foster healthier communities, cleaner water, better food quality, and lower utility bills.

Economic Development

Of great significance to me as your Councilman is my “Build the Workforce” initiative. I will promote partnerships with technical colleges in the vicinity to certify residents seeking to improve their employable skills with technical and trade programs. The goal is to increase our certified workforce. Then, I will work with many local businesses to offer job opportunities and apprenticeships to funnel those certified workers into well-paid trade jobs. Our community lacks capital resources to deter and confront gentrification and increase homeownership. I want to lend my voice to this cause and work to leverage this abuse. I want to empower our residents with the knowledge to become engaged and active. Herein lies the solution to protect our community from being marginalized, bought out, and pushed away. I will strive for the ongoing development of the NW 7th Avenue corridor, creating incentives to attract businesses dedicated to serving the local economy. As we welcome new development projects, I want to ensure that our residents are well-positioned to partake in the growth and up-coming success.

Affordable Housing

The average median annual income in the city of North Miami, Florida, in 2020 was $43,562, far less than the average median annual income of $64,994 across the entire United States. Yet, since 2021 almost 100% of new constructions in the city are considered luxury developments. We must find a way to include people making less than fifty thousand dollars a year and require developers that receive incentives from the city to abide by it. We can also commit to issuing the Housing Opportunity Bond each year to provide ongoing funding for affordable housing. It is imperative that our residents can afford to live in our city and contribute to its continued success.

Keeping You Informed and Involved

Do you believe our city leaders are working for you? Do you trust them to do the right thing? For too many people in North Miami, the answer is NO. We need to restore trust between the city and all its residents. As your Councilman, I will make it my utmost priority to be available to you. I will educate myself on the pressing issues important to you and your family to best represent you. Conversely, I want you to stay informed, engaged, and involved because I know the common denominator of our progress is our people. I implore you to grant me the privilege to collaborate and work for you. You will always be able to reach me and my team. I will partner with you to find solutions and solve issues within the city. I will attend community-based meetings to keep you informed and engaged in what is happening in the city and how it affects residents. I will work to establish more transparent practices for elected officials, and I will always listen to your concerns.

A City That Works for Everyone

It is an exciting time for the City of North Miami because we are growing. Yet, as we grow, some people feel like the city is not working for them. As your Councilman, I will continue to work hard and advocate on your behalf so that the city of North Miami remains a beacon of hope for those who work and live there. I want our seniors, veterans, young people, low-income families, and all the residents to have access to the city's services and resources. I will work to make our community safer and to ensure we have great schools with childcare and aftercare services so our kids can learn, grow, and thrive.

Here are some of my priorities as your elected Council Representative for District 4:

· Fight crimes through prevention. I will prioritize investing in top-quality fire and police forces, increase neighborhood patrols, and embrace programs that rehabilitate offenders and gives opportunities to choose a different path.

· Expand affordable housing policies. I will work to ensure that seniors, veterans, and low-income families can stay in their homes. The city has taken steps to reduce and prevent displacement, and in my capacity, I will amplify our collective effort.

· Enhance our partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Invest in programs such as Early Childhood Education and expand our partnerships to promote learning inside and outside the classroom.

· Provide job training. Partnering with local trades and technical schools, thus our young people can immerse in North Miami’s emerging industries like film and music, technology, green jobs, and healthcare.

· Improve access to healthcare. Prevention is key. We need greater access to community-based, affordable health centers.