The Mayor and Council of North Miami Beach received an email today from one J. Anthony Davis, asking them to “save Greynolds Park!” Apparently, the mere thought of building a (YIKES!) ten story commercial building on a piece of property outside and adjacent to the main entrance of Greynolds Park is akin to completely destroying “a 265-acre urban park in metropolitan Miami, just north of North Miami Beach, Florida, United States,” according to Wikipedia.
Mr. Davis wrote:
Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2013 12:46 PM
To: Kramer, Barbara; Martell, Marlen; Pierre, Frantz; Spiegel, Beth; Smith, Phyllis; Derose,Philip; Vallejo, George
Subject: Please save Greynolds Park!To all concerned:
PLEASE – save Greynolds Park! We need to save, maintain and cherish what little natural beauty remains in Florida for our future residents and visitors. We cannot continue to let our beautiful State be tortured with over development – no one comes to Florida to see asphalt and hi-rises, they come because of the climate and the beauty that is Florida and Dade and Broward county. Please do not let the development of our land rule over the wishes of the people of the area!
J. Anthony Davis
DAVIS & ASSOCIATES
P. O. Box 7488
Naples, FL 34101
(239) 430-0806 – Voice
(866) 226-7990 – Fax
A little research yielded information about J. Anthony Davis, specifically that he is an insurance agent for a company called Davis and Associates in Naples, Florida, which sells health and life insurance policies because it cares so much about your “Healthy Lifestyle.”
Last time I checked, insurance companies were in business to (GASP!) make money.
Last time I also checked, Naples, Florida is a long way from North Miami Beach.
Which begs the question, “Why is an insurance agent, whose source of income is in Naples, Florida, concerning himself with development in North Miami Beach?” Glad you asked.
But, first, let’s take a look at the city of Naples.
According to Wikipedia, “As of the census of 2000, there were 20,976 people, 10,803 households, and 6,568 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,744.3 per square mile. There were 16,956 housing units at an average density of 1,410.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 92.50% White, 4.6% Black, 0.12% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 2.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.2% of the population.”
As for the Naples economy, “The median income for a household in the city was $71,553, and the median income for a family was $102,262. Males had a median income of $86,092 versus $30,948 for females. The per capital income the city was $61,141. About 3.1% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
Wikipedia continues, “Companies based in Naples include Beasley Broadcast Group and ASG in addition to numerous small businesses. Due to the wealth present in Collier County, Naples is also home to many small non-profit organizations. The Naples metro area is also home to major private employers. Fortune 1000 company Health Management Associates, technology companies NewsBank and INgage Networks, and medical equipment manufacturer Arthrex are located just north of the city in North Naples.”
Glaringly, Wikipedia also states, “In 2009, Naples was ranked as one of 10 pricey cities worth its high cost.”
North Miami Beach, by contrast, according to Wikipedia, “As of the census of 2000, there were 40,786 people, 13,987 households, and 9,804 families residing in the city. The population density was 8,230.6 inhabitants per square mile. There were 15,350 housing units at an average density of 3,097.6 per square mile (1,194.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 46.68% White (24.8% were Non-Hispanic White,) 38.97% black and/or African American, 0.29% Native American, 4.04% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 4.61% from other races, and 5.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.02% of the population.”
Wikipedia does NOT mention all the well known and wealthy companies based in North Miami Beach because, well, because THERE ARE NONE!
Wikipedia also does NOT state how NMB was ranked in terms of it’s “pricey-ness,” but does “boast” that “The median income for a household in the city was $31,377, and the median income for a family was $35,047. Males had a median income of $26,278 versus $22,110 for females. The per capita income or the city was $14,699. About 18.4% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 18.2% of those age 65 or over.”
In layman terms, Naples, Florida has everything that North Miami Beach, Florida does not. We have nearly five times the bodies per square mile, way less than half the median household income, and approximately one third the median family income. A paltry 3.1% of Naples families, or 5.9% of the population, are below the poverty line, while 18.4% of North Miami Beach families, or 20.5% of the population, are poor. That includes 18.2% of our seniors as compared to Naples’ 3.3% poor people over the age of 65.
Hardly “apples to apples.”
But the most noteworthy aspect of Naples, Florida, is its booming development. A website called Naples By Day, has an extensive list of high rise and mid rise condominiums for sale, and states that, “Naples has many beautiful high rise condominiums, giving residents the luxury of sunset views of Naples and the Gulf of Mexico, Naples Bay and the vast amount of Golf courses that Naples is home to.”
The list of units for sale are quite impressive in buildings ranging from 5 to 28 stories high, and are too numerous to count. The high rises far outnumber the mid rise buildings. Apparently, Naples’ 20,976 residents have a wide range of high rises to choose from when deciding to purchase a condominium.
North Miami Beach’s 40,786 residents get to choose between none and, well, none.
A prominent Florida developer, BCBE Construction, “has built over 150 high rise condominiums throughout Florida. Many of those high rises were built in the Park Shore & Bay Colony neighborhoods in Naples, Florida.”
BCBE Construction has yet to build a damn thing in North Miami Beach. Gee, I wonder why.
Okay, no, I don’t.
Aside from the fact that North Miami Beach isn’t even in the same league on any level as Naples, Florida, I’m quite sure our anti-development reputation has preceded us. BCBE Construction is probably avoiding NMB like the plague.
Naples denizen Mr. J. Anthony Davis has absolutely no clue what life is like in our hell hole of a town, and he has a lot of freaking nerve telling our City Council to “save Greynolds Park.” I’d advise him to take a number and go stand in the STFU line.
Only an Act of God can save North Miami Beach from perpetual ghetto-hood. We don’t need people from a privileged city such as Naples to stand in our way to “save NMB!”
Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”
“Which begs the question, “Why is an insurance agent, whose source of income is in Naples, Florida, concerning himself with development in North Miami Beach?” Glad you asked.”
That is really the only relevant question in this matter (not to diminish your painstaking research). Obviously Mr. Davis is connected with someone here who put him up to sending this missive. Otherwise he wouldn’t (and surely doesn’t) give a frog’s fat arse what goes on in NMB. So…who is he attached to?
Good question. I haven’t found any connection as yet, but I’ll get my top researcher on it. If anyone can dig that dirt, it’s her. 😈
I object to your calling NMB a hell hole. I don’t know which part you live in but my friends live on the north side, a few very near Greynolds Park.
The residential neighborhood immediately west of Greynolds Park is very pleasant and safe.
In fact on many nights I’ve walked from 163 mall to my apartment north of Miami Gardens Drive via 15th I see barely a denizen on the streets.
I’m sure there are some parts of NMB that have a seedy underbelly, and perhaps vagrants loitering at all hours, but the part to which I am familiar is mostly devoid of that. Even the area immediately around 163rd Mall rarely has people hanging around at night, and during the day it’s only on the 15th avenue stretch from 163 to the snapper creep.
the area around snapper creek, including the trail is fantastic, even though some kids from the east side of the creek did throw eggs at me on my bike one time.
But I wouldn’t compare that to hell.
The one night NMB police came at me and friends in Snake Creek Park (with the baseball field, we were in the parking lot) with their guns drawn…and the police officer threatened to knock me out for asking to be treated as human beings…that was hell, so maybe you’re right.
Prem, you’re right about several things. First of all, not all of NMB is a ghetto. In fact, you walk right near my home on your 15th Avenue stroll, and the majority of the time it’s a very safe walk. However, even within the usually calm Sunray area (both sides of 15th and stretching east to Greynolds Park) there is plenty of crime. Homes are broken into on an almost daily basis. Most of the time this happens during the day when nearly everyone is at work. My home was broken into twice years ago until I got an alarm system and two big dogs. Criminals hate dogs. There have also been the occasional drive-by shootings, which are almost always personal in nature. So if you didn’t piss anyone off, chances are you won’t get shot. However, there have been random acts of violence. About three years ago there was a spree of rapes happening along Snake Creek Canal, and in the so-called “Jewish Section” (along 10th Avenue and its side streets), people were being attacked nightly while walking to and from synagogues. This was a major problem and was well documented by activist Alan Sakowitz. Just google him for details. In addition, homes in the vicinity of the middle and high schools are constantly being broken into and vandalized, and gangs are a major problem by the schools and businesses near them. Go to youtube and search “NMB Fights” if you want to see some real eye opening videos.
Drive east from I-95 toward Biscayne Boulevard and tell me how welcoming our gateway to the city is. Granted, most of the south side of the street is county property and not “officially” North Miami Beach, but the average visitor doesn’t know that. He only knows that he sees run down strip malls, XXX video stores, palm readers, tattoo parlors, pawn shops, a few Asian “massage” parlors and other “desirable” businesses. We have absolutely NO first class stores or hotels in NMB. Our one mall, which used to be THE place to shop, is filled with crappy stores and not one anchor department store. Unless you count Marshall’s as an “anchor.” Macy’s it’s not! Matter of fact, the Mall at 163rd Street isn’t even in NMB!
We have a few decent restaurants on Biscayne and in Eastern Shores, but other than that – zip, nada, zilch, bupkes.
Aside from one decent car dealership on 163 and West Dixie, and the Starbucks across the street from there, North Miami Beach Boulevard is a hell hole. Sorry, but it’s true. Even the Honey-Baked Store took a hike, and I really miss it! North Miami Beach is not exactly a vacation destination.
Our parks suck. ‘Nuff said about that.
What does trouble me, however, are your comments about your encounter with the NMB police. I would like some more details since what you describe is completely over the top and hard to imagine. Not to mention scary! I will look into that further.
Doesn’t our one “decent” car dealership claim to be in Aventura? Actually, any business that has any following claims to be either in Aventura, North Miami or Sunny Isles Beach. No self-respecting business seems to want to be associated with NMB.