Safety First

By Larisa Svechin, Vice Mayor

(Friday, April 26, 2019) – Safety is every parent’s priority. As a parent of four school-age children, I understand this first hand. Safety education and activism has turned into a passion for me.

During this current and last legislative session, I have been advocating for legislation in Tallahassee and Washington DC, supporting distracted driving laws, pedestrian safety, and anti-violence against children and women. Yet while lawmakers are presenting and debating, we, the residents of Sunny Isles Beach, have the challenge of living in a small city with a major state road and millions of people passing through every year.

You do NOT need to wait for laws to be passed and/or enforced. At this moment, you can actively get involved in being part of the solution. Did you know that together with the NSE SIB K-8 School and the City of Sunny Isles Beach PD, you can attend free safety events? Past events include Internet Safety, Mental Health, Human Trafficking, and most recently, Pedestrian & Vehicular Safety. As a SIB PTSA Board member, I, along with Sergeant Gonzalez of the SIBPD, have carefully curated these events for the past six years. The SIB PTSA generously provides a light meal and the City provided child care for our latest event.

Whether you are a parent, grandparent, or resident with no children, it is important to be engaged, educated, and responsive to your city’s pedestrians, vehicles, bikes, scooters, and strollers. Please contact me with questions or suggestions for future events at lsvechin@sibfl.net.