Wasserman Schultz Celebrates Miami Beach's Centennial

Washington, DC, March 26, 2015
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.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) entered the following statement into the Congressional Record today in honor of the City of Miami Beach's Centennial. She also delivered a shorter version of this statement (video):
"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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