Dozens of elderly individuals, many of them low-income Cubans, found themselves once again facing the closed doors of the center where they received food and free assistance in Hialeah, Florida, just a few weeks after having regained those services.
The closure order had been issued by the municipal authorities on October 7, with a five-day deadline to suspend activities. On Monday, October 12, users found the center that had been operating since September 16 on the second floor of the La Carreta restaurant closed, as reported by Telemundo 51.
"There was a very nice turnout, and there were many elderly people, and now we find it closed. They didn't give a reason for the closure," lamented Adolfo Pérez, one of the users who arrived at the location unaware that the service had been suspended.
For 43 years, the organization provided services to seniors at Goodlet Park. On April 27, Mayor Bryan Calvo informed LHANC that they had 30 days to vacate the municipal facilities, a decision that led to the closure of their operations at that site in May.
The reopening of La Carreta had represented a solution for those affected, thanks to an agreement that allowed the program to be moved there.
However, the Hialeah City Council claims that the organization began operating an adult daycare center, funded with state public funds, without the necessary permits and licenses.
The municipal spokesman, Julio Ligorría, stated that LHANC was given a month to regularize its situation, but did not meet the requirements. The city also highlighted issues related to the capacity of the premises and the availability of parking.
The organization challenged this last argument and explained that it transports older adults in its own vehicles, deeming it unnecessary to require the same number of parking spaces as other establishments.
The decision also triggered a confrontation between municipal authorities and those of Miami-Dade County.
The commissioner of District 13, René García, whose office allocates $3,000 monthly for the rental of the space, criticized the measure and questioned the need for an additional license to use a room within a restaurant that is already authorized to operate.
"I believe that it is obviously something beyond the issue of La Carreta," García stated to Telemundo 51, considering that the municipal administration seeks to prevent LHANC from continuing to offer its free services in Hialeah.
The commissioner also questioned the $700,000 that Mayor Calvo mentioned as the cost of maintaining the old facilities of Goodlet Park.
The dispute involves an organization founded in 1972 that has provided food, recreational activities, and social assistance to Hispanic seniors for over five decades, many of whom are Cuban.
The first eviction, ordered at the end of April, affected more than 140 elderly individuals, including participants of a high-risk nutrition program. The new measure is creating uncertainty once again for those who rely on these services.
Telemundo 51 attempted to get statements from Mayor Bryan Calvo, but the municipal offices were closed for the holiday.
Where can affected seniors receive food?
The city assured that its food programs for seniors continue to operate and highlighted the Victor Wilde Park center as an alternative, located at 1701 W. 53 Terrace in Hialeah.
According to municipal information, this space has a capacity for 180 people and offers services from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
While the disagreement over the permits persists, the elderly who attended La Carreta are facing a new change in their routine and access to the food and activities they received at the center.
Related videos:
Filed under: