Exit Interview
Cristina Palomo, the DNA President, will be stepping down on September 4. We sat for coffee to review her one-year tenure. If you could capture in one word your one-year tenure, what would it be? Cristina says half in jest: “Challenging.”
Downtown no longer is a commercial and bureaucratic center. Some 40 thousand people call the downtown proper home, making it a thriving residential enclave. Yet, it seems, sometimes, authorities under the influence of powerful lobbyists fail to recognize the new reality, and fail to address issues affecting residents.
An informal survey conducted by Downtown NEWS shows that most pressing for residents are the issues of homelessness, noise pollution, streets in disrepair, traffic signage, the lack of adequate schools and, last but certainly not least, mega events like Ultra that close Bayfront Park for redesigns six months of the year.
Cristina Palomo: “Our thriving and constantly changing downtown neighborhood, indeed, confronts a gamut of issues. And the Downtown Neighbors Alliance, through its various committees, has influenced policy regarding noise abatement, homelessness, pedestrian safety, policing, the creation of adequate schools, and the use and abuse of Bayfront Park.”
Downtown NEWS: Not easy… Downtown is not a monolithic entity.
CP: We epitomize diversity, generational, occupation, ethnicity, gender and lifestyles. Some people are opposed to Formula 1 disrupting our streets, others can’t wait to be part of it. Many young professionals enjoy Ultra, albeit from a distance. Some people consider the homeless a nuisance and even a public health threat. Others see it as the effect of failed government policies regarding mental health care, housing, a growing economic gap and an educational system that has failed our youth. Some residents are terrorized by noise pollution, but businesses in the entertainment sector disagree. By the way, that is another sign of our diversity: location. Even though downtown is a small area, we have neighborhoods within the neighborhood, each facing its own issues.
DN: Diplomacy, then, is essential for representing the DNA.
CP: That calls for a definition. The best definition of diplomacy is to make residents, all stakeholders, feel represented. That in the game of give and take, we all end up winners.
DN: Let’s descend from the philosophical to the specific. Can you give us some examples of achievements during your tenure?
CP: I think we have made significant improvements with the very complex issue of homelessness. The DNA has been instrumental in getting all parties together, the Homeless Trust, the DDA, the Police and residents to find solutions, and the results are obvious. What used to be an encampment with dozens of homeless residents, if not hundreds, behind the defunct Macy’s is now gone. Our police officers have done a wonderful job finding shelters for many in the homeless population. Of course much remains to be done.

DN: Perhaps the most contentious issue has been the use and abuse of Bayfront Park, or as one resident put it, the prostitution of Miami’s front porch.
CP: The attack to the quality of life that mega events suppose is intolerable. At a Bayfront Park Management Trust meeting a resident summarized her personal conundrum: “Moving to downtown from the suburbs, from a house to an apartment, meant giving up space for cultural and recreational options the city offers. Bayfront Park was to be the new backyard, our green space. But I can’t take my son to the park because it’s either closed to residents or in state of total disrepair. My child has to sleep in a closet. And the disruption goes beyond the park. Ultra disrupts not only residents, it disrupts businesses and the tourism industry.” Ultra is not the only Mega Event, we also had the hip hop festival Rolling Loud. The DNA in concert with Homeowners Associations in the neighborhood played an important role in raising awareness and pressuring authorities to reconsider extending the contract to Rolling Loud indefinitely, causing the park to close for another month. We understand that the park, which does not receive city funding for its operations, needs to rent the place, but the DNA insists that the quality of life of residents and stakeholders must be part of the equation, not only maximizing profits for organizers.
DN: Many residents have approached Downtown NEWS to express their dissatisfaction with elected officials. Many claim representatives too often cave-in to special interests instead of standing up for residents. What’s the DNA position?
CP: Residents, as constituents of City and County Commissions, have the right to protest and denounce what they perceive as misgovernment. For the DNA it’s a very fine line, channeling the community’s concerns and collaborating with elected officials. Sometimes, as residents, we tend to focus on our needs exclusively, while elected officials must represent the plurality. As the DNA President my goal in dealing with elected officials and authorities has been to maintain an open dialogue and negotiate the best policies for our residents.”
DN: Of course, diplomacy can be misconstrued as weakness.
CP (she laughs): When we had to put our foot down we sure did. When interest groups, for example, maneuvered behind the public’s back to use Parcel B to build a Museum, I defended it, writing a forceful editorial that reached over two thousand people. The proposal was killed. We opposed to having Formula 1 in our streets without the proper input of residents. Also when we had no other alternative than resorting to legal action, as in the case of noise abatement in the Park West area, the DNA provided financial support.
By the way, also a priority has been to reverse the neglect in media coverage. Our issues have historically been underreported. In partnership with the Downtown Arts + Science Salon, DNA organized an outstanding media forum to connect Downtowners to Miami’s leading journalists from digital, print and broadcasts news outlets. The panel included representatives from the Miami Herald, The New Tropic, The Miami New Times and NBC/Telemundo. After the forum, the Miami Herald’s Joe Flechas has covered downtown regularly.
DN: A report by the Downtown Development Authority shows an increase in families with children, the greater downtown accounts for over 15 thousand schools-age kids.
CP: Through our Education Committee, we have been very much involved in advocating for measures to expand Southside Elementary with a secondary school campus. Additionally, we have been advocating for an expansion of I-Prep, ensuring that plans include a significant number of designated seats for Downtown residents. To this end we organized more than one education forum.
DN: Flagler St. has been an eyesore for so many years, yet, when revitalization plans appear to be heading in the right direction, one institution that has stood in the middle of it all as a reminder of what can be great in the Historical District, the Olympia Theater, is threatened. The Miami City Commission has made it impossible for the current operator to obtain grants, loans or raise money for the theater’s ongoing operation. As new businesses are opening, The Olympia is going dormant, isn’t that detrimental for Downtown?
CP: The Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, extended a grant in the amount of $500,000 for the Olympia Theater. The Downtown Neighbors Alliance resolved to encourage the City to approve any required agreements. It is our understanding that since early 2018 it has been requested for the grant agreement to be heard by the commission but it has never made its way to an agenda. If this amount of money is available, it must be utilized to preserve one of our city’s most iconic buildings.
DN: Final words?
CP: Downtown Miami, while still maintaining an element of culture and history that few neighborhoods in Miami can rival, continues to transform daily before our very eyes. It has been a true honor and privilege to represent the residents of this unique and constantly evolving community!

