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Community Newsmaker SONNY HOLTZMAN |
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BY CHAD COHEN |
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Sonny Holtzman, a native of western Pennsylvania, has made Coral Gables his home for the past 47 years. "I have lived in Coral Gables for a long time. I have
seen it grow and mature into the international city that it is today. And
for that I am grateful and very proud to be a part of this
community," Holtzman said. Although Holtzman is invigorated by his work with the law, his real motivation lies with his service to his community. Much of his work has focused on statewide efforts, but he devotes much of his energy to the betterment of Coral Gables. "Coral Gables has never been an expense to South Florida, only an investment that has returned a better, healthier life to many," Holtzman said. In 1994, Holtzman chaired a 20-member task force of Coral Gables citizens appointed by the mayor to provide findings and recommendations to the city commission for the Douglas Road apartment district. This area is a multi-family apartment rental neighborhood bordered by Lejeune Road (SW 42nd Avenue), SW Eighth Street, Douglas Road (SW 37th Avenue) and Alhambra Circle. "We wanted to take this area, where some of the buildings were physically deteriorating, and make capital improvements to return a higher standard of living to those who lived in the neighborhood," he said. Perhaps Holtzman is best known as the elected chairman of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority. This is a 13-member agency of the State of Florida devoted to improving the county's toll road system and adding additional roads to improve the area's traffic flow problems. "We know there is a traffic flow problem in South Florida and we are doing everything in our means to alleviate it. We are improving the 836 and I-95, we are widening lanes, solving problems on the turnpike and installing innovative traffic solutions to make traffic flow as smooth as possible," Holtzman said. "A lot of people have great ideas, but nothing in the world is cheaper than a good idea with no action. We are a pro active agency that is making positive change to the traffic dilemmas that have affected South Florida for so long." Holtzman also holds the distinction of serving in 1990 as chairman of the late Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles' General Government Transition Task Force and as co-chairman of the governor's inaugural in 1995. Holtzman also has affected change on international level as well. In the early 1980s, he assisted the Cuban-American leadership in the passage of the Radio Marti legislation in the United States Senate. In 1989, he helped to organize Ayuda a Panama, which provided emergency funds and medical supplies to the citizens of Panama immediately following the Panamanian liberation. Holtzman thereafter served as Honorary Consul in Miami for the Republic of Panama from 1990 to 1995. In September 1999, he was re-appointed as Honorary Consul by Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso. Holtzman also is responsible for successfully organizing Florida's greyhound racing industry, which is now the largest in the United States. He was instrumental in changing the state law to mandate minimum purses for greyhound winners and later served as chairman of the Florida Pari-Mutuel Commission. Holtzman is a trustee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and on the advisory board of Family Counseling Services of Greater Miami. "We help to counsel families on the spectrum of issues from addiction to abuse to financial planning. It is a mission of philanthropy and public service which has become more urgent with each passing year," Holtzman said. Holtzman also serves on the Miami-Dade County Biscayne Bay Management Agency and as director of the Dade County Housing Finance Agency. "I have lived in South Florida for a very long time. It has given me so much and I just want to give in return what I can," said Holtzman. "Getting something done is an accomplishment, getting something done right is an achievement." |
