[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4733]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH ON ITS CENTENNIAL

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                     HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 26, 2015

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I 
rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the City of Miami 
Beach in Florida's 23rd Congressional District.
  Incorporated on March 26th, 1915, Miami Beach took its place on the 
map with only a handful of residents. Now home to nearly 100,000 
people, the City of Miami Beach has not only grown in population but in 
reputation. This vacation paradise is an internationally recognized 
tourist destination visited by millions each year. However, for as much 
as Miami Beach is known for its fun and sun, it has evolved into a hub 
for business and is a trendsetter in the areas of arts and culture, 
fine dining and entertainment.
  More than 100 years ago, Miami Beach pioneers Carl Fisher, John 
Collins and the Lummus brothers had a vision to develop a small island 
that could stand as a city in and of itself. Combining their efforts, 
the Collins Bridge, the longest wooden bridge in the world at that 
time, was constructed to connect Miami's mainland with this new island 
community. And with just 33 registered voters, John Newton Lummus was 
elected the city's first mayor. Soon thereafter, the building boom of 
the 1920's helped create the now historic and famed Art Deco district, 
known to the world as ``South Beach.''
  As a matter of fact, Miami Beach is home to numerous sites in the 
National Register of Historic Places, from the Venetian Causeway to the 
Fountainebleau Hotel to Beth Jacob Congregation which now houses the 
Jewish Museum of Florida. The city's various neighborhoods are as 
distinct as its residents, from South Beach to Mid Beach to North 
Beach, Miami Beach radiates a true sense of community.
  Miami Beach has served as a cultural playground for entertainers such 
as Jackie Gleason, Frank Sinatra and even The Beatles who performed on 
the Ed Sullivan Show live from the Deauville Hotel.
  This month Miami Beach will celebrate its Centennial with 100 hours 
of showcasing its history and all the city has to offer, including a 
performance by Miami Beach residents and cultural icons Gloria Estefan, 
Barry Gibb and Andrea Bocelli.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to represent the City of 
Miami Beach in our nation's capital. I thank Mayor Philip Levine, the 
Members of the City Commission, and the city's staff for their many 
accomplishments that have made the City of Miami Beach a wonderful 
place to live, work, visit and raise a family.

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