As mayor of North Miami, I feel it is necessary to publicly address recent actions taken during the Regular City Council meeting on June 10, 2025, in reference to the renaming of a local street and park after our history-making former City Councilman, Jacques Despinosse.
Councilman Jacques Despinosse is a pillar in North Miami and throughout all of South Florida. Like myself, he is a proud Haitian American immigrant, whose advocacy and impact transcends the local Haitian community, into all corners of our community. Today, I along with the majority of the North Miami City Council Members, stand on trails paved by Jacques Despinosse, as he is a living icon, deserving of our utmost honor and respect.
After a series of disheartening public conversations, I am saddened by pivots between re-naming Breezeswept Park and its adjacent streets after the former Councilman, to redesignating only the street or the park in his name.
On June 10, the North Miami City Council voted 4 to 1 to co-designate NE 131st Street, between NE 2nd Avenue and North Miami Avenue, along with NW 131st Street, between NW 2nd Avenue and NW 13th Avenue, as “Councilman Jacques Despinosse Street.” Additionally, during that meeting the North Miami City Council also voted to rescind the resolution from the May 27th Council Meeting to redesignate Breezeswept Park as “Jacques Despinosse Park.” In alignment with preferences expressed to me during several conversations with the Despinosse Family, I voted “no” to both items to reflect my support of their desire to see a park that Jacques Despinosse fought to preserve for the beautification of North Miami and the quality of life for our residents – bear his name.
As mayor, every action I take prioritizes the people of our city first. I encourage all members of our community – to remember that we are one City striving together toward continued unity, love and neighborliness -- to maximize our quality of life in the place we call home.
Mayor Alix Desulme, Ed.D.
City of North Miami