We, the undersigned residents of Brickell Key, a vibrant and significant community within your municipality, address you with profound respect and a matter of considerable importance regarding the proposed Shoreline Resiliency Initiative. We acknowledge the gravity of the situation outlined by the Brickell Key Master Association (BKMA) concerning the urgent need to replace the island's original seawall. We understand the potential risks associated with its continued deterioration and appreciate the proactive measures being considered to safeguard our community.

However, we respectfully but firmly assert that the financial responsibility for this essential infrastructure repair should not fall upon the individual residents of Brickell Key. We believe that this undertaking is fundamentally a civic responsibility of the City of Miami, directly linked to the substantial property taxes we, as loyal residents, contribute annually.

For decades, the residents of Brickell Key have been integral contributors to the economic vitality of Miami, consistently fulfilling our civic duty through the payment of property taxes. These taxes are intended to fund and maintain the essential infrastructure that ensures the safety, stability, and overall well-being of all communities within the city's jurisdiction. While benefiting our specific locale, the seawall in question serves as a crucial element in the broader coastal defense system of Miami, protecting against the very threats of flooding and erosion that concern us all.

To impose a significant individual assessment of approximately $10,000 per unit upon the residents for a project of this scale would represent a disproportionate and undue financial burden. We believe that the repair and maintenance of critical public infrastructure, such as this aging seawall, aligns directly with the intended purpose of municipal property taxes.

Therefore, we earnestly petition the City of Miami to recognize the collective benefit of this essential project and to assume full financial responsibility for the Shoreline Resiliency Initiative. We are confident that the City possesses the resources and mechanisms to fund this crucial undertaking through the existing tax base, thereby ensuring the continued safety, stability, and prosperity of Brickell Key as an integral part of the greater Miami community.

We look forward to a positive and equitable resolution to this matter and remain committed to our partnership with the City of Miami in fostering a thriving and resilient urban environment.

Respectfully,

The Residents of Brickell Key, Miami, Florida.