(Miami, FL) – Chairman Joe Sanchez issued the following statement urging Mayor Manny Diaz to cancel the Miami 21 meeting the Mayor called for Aug. 6:

•         It is our mandate from the people to focus 100 percent on the budget crisis.

•         Hundreds of people have contacted my office about the dire financial situation our City is in.  Not one person has contacted me pushing to get Miami 21 adopted before the Mayor’s term expires.

•         I had scheduled a budget cutting workshop special meeting for Aug. 6. Instead, the Mayor has called for a Miami 21 meeting that day.

•         I respectfully disagree and ask that the Mayor cancel the Miami 21 meeting immediately – before the City spends thousands advertising a meeting that will be nothing more than a distraction from the budget cuts we have to make.

•         The Miami 21 process had value because it focused our attention on key urban issues and taught us about smart growth. Our neighborhoods are better off because of that exercise -- but now is not the time to be voting on Miami 21.

•         We must focus our full attention on a budget crisis that will bankrupt this City if we don’t address the bloated salaries and pensions that have skyrocketed out of control.