Subject: Crime In Miami-Dade: A Personal Account From A Barry University Graduate Student

Dear Honorable Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez and Honorable Mayor George Vallejo, and to whom else it may concern:

Hi, my name is (name removed). I am a graduate student at Barry University. I live in North Miami Beach.
I recently started winter break and it’s a good thing because I have not been able to sleep.
I received an email from my father Monday night that there is a meeting on December 21st to address the crime in the Miami-Dade community.

This email brought me to tears.

Why is that?

Because I was robbed at gunpoint two years ago.

Allow me to share my experience, in providing a personal account to crime in the Miami-Dade area, which needs to be addressed more vigilantly.

After a long day of college, I got off the H bus and started walking home.
At 8:30 p.m., right by Bank of America at 1199 NE 163rd Street in North Miami Beach, I felt an overwhelming darkness overcome me. It sent chills everywhere.

I ignored my feelings and continued to walk.

A few steps later, I heard rapid footsteps, which seemed like they were in every direction.
By the time the sound subsided, I was looking face to face at two men–two young boys, actually, of maybe 14 or 15 years of age.

One of them was in front of me.
The other, behind me, had a gun pointed to the side of my head.

I could feel the tip of the gun pressing into my skull.

Trembling, I asked, “What do you want?”
One responded, “Give me yo stuff!”

So I proceeded to take off my backpack. I did not want to part with it, as I had all of my college work in there.
But they took it.

And then one of the boys proceeded to pat me down.
“Wallet and phone!! GIVE THEM!”

So I did not hesitate and gave the wallet and cell phone to them.

“HAHA!” Yelled one boy with a sense of accomplishment, as they opened the wallet to see that there was a credit and debit card, with some cash, only $40. I’m a college student, after all.

Then they both disappeared into the darkness from whence they had emerged.
I was left with my windbreaker jacket, feeling shocked and confused…

I ran into the restaurant right next door, with tears frozen in place, and told a man what had happened.
He called the police. And then he asked me what my mother’s number was. I was nervous giving it to him because I did not want her to know, as she gets so emotional. I usually end up supporting her instead. But I gave him the number, and he spoke to her, as I was for a loss at words.

She came to the scene faster than anything I’ve ever seen.
I don’t remember who arrived first, the police or my mother.
That’s Mom, you know.

She was strong, and she and the man helped me get my words out when the police were asking me questions.

The police asked me what the boys looked like and what they were wearing, but I did not know. I couldn’t get a good visual on them, even though they had been right next to me. It was dark and I was too shocked to remember images.
The police got down as much information as they could and assigned me a detective.

My father came home a few hours later and worked constantly with the detective over the next few days.

A week later, my credit card was found. It was in the pants of one of the boys.
The police caught a boy stealing a car. I don’t know if they caught both of them. I just wanted all of this to end.

I did not want to go out anymore–especially at nighttime. I was afraid of people walking in the streets.
I stopped taking the bus that night. My classmates gave me rides home from then on.
This traumatic event haunted me for awhile, and continues to do so at times.

I don’t really know what closing down thirteen of the seventeen access points in our small community means, but I have a feeling that won’t solve everything.

The answer, I believe, is in the lost souls.
Children, teenagers, and young adults. Living right near us.
There are many who are crying out in the darkness, surrounded by people who are not positive role models.
These individuals may also be bullied in school. They may also be the bullies. Some may not even go to school.

But as a community, we have to be more aware of helping others to make an impact on those who may be susceptible to committing crimes.
We have to step up, be a mentor, and support those who may succumb to darkness.

I myself, will volunteer to help out, once a week or more, if I can, to support those who may be in pain or in need of some positive social support, perhaps those also leading to a destructive path. However, I would be worried for my safety.

Let me know when and where I can help.

I am asking you to help out anyway you can. However you feel will make our city more safe.

This is just my understanding of what happened to me and how I feel we can prevent and minimize these terrible scenes.
It is a miracle I am alive today sending you this message. So I beg you, please help make more miracles in our community.

Here’s to a better city.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

(name removed)