Miramar Gardens -- Many homeowners in this low-income community have been asking for help! So far without success. The citizens of this community don't have the resources to hire expensive attorneys to fight for their rights. But homeowners in our society shouldn't be forced to go this way in the first place. Our government who created these problems without passing laws protecting the consumers has so far failed to help these people in need.

On Sunday, 3-16-2003, they finally gave up asking for help in all the wrong places and took the bull by the horns. On short notice homeowners arranged a protest rally and 150 of them showed up. Armed with protest signs they lined up on 21310 NW 37 Ave in Miami and waved their signs at the cars passing by on a busy Sunday morning.  The signs told the story of a desperate neighborhood, running fast out of options.  Threatened with foreclosures, liens and eviction they have obviously nobody to turn to.

So far not one official with the necessary power to help has been willing to do so. Residents are blaming the Universal Truth Center, a church in their midst, for most of the problems in their community. That's one of the reason they decided to stage the rally on a Sunday morning in front of this "church".

Many residents are feeling they are at war against an almighty enemy who threatens their homes and lifelihood. But desperate cries for help have not been answered yet and the residents feel left alone, unable to win a fight against an enemy who has all the necessary resources. Their finances drained by endless legal battles, unsuccessful but costly, they think that our government and legislators should step up to the plate and help their constituents in need.

Local politicians, who got involved in the beginning of the problems claiming to help the community and its members, are being asked for help again, but this time to prevent many families from losing their homes. Instead if the promised help these law-suits created huge expenses, money the community couldn't afford in the first place. The appointed receiver, who in the eyes of community members was paid big sums of money to harass, cause mental anguish and fear to the elderly, just threatened to take peoples' homes away.

One homeowner commented:" He terrorized a community that used to live in peace and where neighbors loved their neighbors."

I think it's time to get over politics and posturing, it's really high time to help our neighbors in need!