To the Madam Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Honorable Commissioners of Miami-Dade County, journalists, news outlets and publications covering Miami,
It is with great concern that I write to express my strong opposition to the proposed resolution to rename several historic streets within a vital cultural corridor in Miami. While the intent may be to honor local music and artistic contributions, the execution of this plan risks diminishing the very community it seeks to celebrate.
This proposed area in Liberty City (Northwest 18th Avenue from Northwest 62nd Terrace to 71st Street), is a neighborhood that has long served as a beacon of artistic expression, resilience and cultural pride. Over the years, community members, business owners and artists have worked tirelessly to establish a space that reflects dignity, heritage and forward progress — not to mention, uplift and inspire the people that reside there. Changing the names of its streets to titles drawn from rap lyrics, some of which reinforce negative stereotypes, undermines that work and could deter the long-term investment and growth this area desperately needs.
To be clear, Miami’s contribution to hip-hop and Black culture is significant, and there are many ways to honor that legacy. But reducing our streets to names like “Act Up Street,” “Big Money Baller Street” and “Trenches Street,” sends the wrong message. Additionally, “Lum Lum” (a proposed name for Northwest 68th Street), is slang for the sound an AK-47 assault rifle makes upon firing, and the song that bears this name makes references to injuring potential targets. This creates an environment where we as a community are not taken seriously by developers, business owners or even our own youth who look to these streets as part of their identity. This district should be synonymous with progress, not parody.
Perhaps the push for this renaming comes from a desire to reflect Miami’s evolving culture, and maybe, given Commissioner Keon Hardemon’s relatively young political career, he sees this as a way to engage younger generations. However, we must ensure that any changes align with the long-term vision of this corridor as a place of pride and empowerment, not a social media punchline.
Instead of renaming these streets in a way that could harm the district’s and county’s integrity, I urge the commission to consider other ways to honor Miami’s rich hip-hop history — perhaps through a cultural landmark, a music festival, or an arts initiative that uplifts and motivates, rather than diminishes. Moreover, it is essential that we focus on what this community has been promised for years: infrastructure improvements, small business investment, youth programs, and the much-needed revitalization funds that have yet to materialize.
I respectfully ask this commission to vote against this resolution and to ensure that any changes to this district reflect the values of the people who live, work and create here. Let’s not allow that vision to be overshadowed by short-sighted decisions that could set the community back.
Sincerely,
Keith Griffin
A concerned resident of Liberty City
This letter initially appeared in an email to the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners and various media outlets. The BCC is scheduled to vote on the street renamings at its Tuesday, March 18 regular commission meeting.
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