Sisson, Patrick. “As Sea Level Rises, Miami Neighborhoods Feel Rising Tide of Gentrification.” Curbed, Curbed, 10 Feb. 2020, https://archive.curbed.com/2020/2/10/21128496/miami-real-estate-climate-change-gentrification.

“Miami Is Racing against Time to Keep up with Sea-Level Rise.” Business Insider, Business Insider, https://www.businessinsider.com/miami-floods-sea-level-rise-solutions-2018-4.

                2. Second piece of evidence -The city will embark on a $100 million project to raise roads, install pumps and water mains and redo sewer connections during the next two years across a swath of single-family homes in the La Gorce and Lakeview neighborhoods of Mid-Beach. A sizable chunk of a citywide effort estimated to cost $400 to $500 million, the work is meant to keep streets dry in the face of sea level rise.

    The sea level around Virginia Key, Florida, has risen by 8 inches since 1950. Its speed of rise has accelerated over the last ten years and it’s now rising by 1 inch every 3 years.Scientists know this because sea levels are measured every 6 minutes using equipment like satellites, floating buoys off the coast, and tidal gauges to accurately measure the local sea level as it accelerates and changes (Sea Level Rise, 2013). In addition , the cause of sea level rise is due to the melting ice from the North and South Poles. Furthermore, Around Miami, it took around 31 years for the sea level to rise by 6 inches. Scientists now forecast that in just the next 15 years, the sea level will have risen by another 6 inches. 

       Thus , rising sea levels and higher tides cause water to get pushed into pipes and spill out into the streets. This causes flooding even on days without rain. For example , especially in Miami when water spills over into the streets, it puts not only homes and cars at risk, but can cause roads to be shut down and prevent access to important infrastructure like schools and hospitals. Thus making it difficult for Miamians to navigate . According to native Miamian Manolo Pedraza he said ,”I walk only where the water, likely filled with fecal bacteria, won’t rise above my waterproof boots. I’m lucky that day. Pools cover parts of the streets, but at least I can walk the area without soaking my feet” (Business Insider, 2018). In addition , flooding also threatens drinking water and plant life. The salt water could start intruding on drinking-water reservoirs and killing off non-salt-tolerant vegetation, including shade-providing palm trees. 

       Sea Level Rise will not only affect Miami’s environment ,but our economy as well. For example, it can cause climate gentrification . Which is when the rich start buying property and force lower income people out of their homes. This can definitely happen in Miami according to a 2018 Harvard study of Miami real estate transactions that found rising property values in higher-elevation neighborhoods, climate gentrification has become a rallying cry for activists in Miami neighborhoods such as Little Haiti (which is 7 to 14 feet above sea level), Liberty City , and Allapattah, traditionally disinvested areas with large populations of black and Latino residents which also happen to be on higher ground (Sisson, 2020). Furthermore, fellow Miamians that live in this area are usually people who are living check by check and of lower income so they cannot financially afford to just get up and move, 

       Miami has also been affected economically by climate change which causes excess flooding  . For example,Miami Beach has allocated $400 million towards seawalls, pumps and raising roads in their plan (Business Insider, 2018). In addition, the city will embark on a $100 million project to raise roads, install pumps and water mains and redo sewer connections during the next two years across a swath of single-family homes in the La Gorce and Lakeview neighborhoods of Mid-Beach. A sizable chunk of a citywide effort estimated to cost $400 to $500 million, the work is meant to keep streets dry in the face of sea level rise . It is great that the city is finding ways to fix this issue , however I feel that as a community we can do our part as well . We can do environment friendly projects as a community to help contribute to reducing sea level rise. 

        In conclusion ,  Sea level rise is of importance and us Miamians should take it more seriously. The community should implement things that we can do to help reduce sea level rise before it destroys our city. In addition , let us not cause sea level rise to displace people of lower income due to climate gentrification. This topic is to show locals that we should worry about climate change now and learn how it will affect us in the long run. Sea level rise is no joke and we need to come together to end it . 

Works Cited

SeaLevelRise.org. “Florida's Sea Level Is Rising.” Sea Level Rise, https://sealevelrise.org/states/florida/. 

Sisson, Patrick. “As Sea Level Rises, Miami Neighborhoods Feel Rising Tide of Gentrification.” Curbed, Curbed, 10 Feb. 2020, https://archive.curbed.com/2020/2/10/21128496/miami-real-estate-climate-change-gentrification. 

“Miami Is Racing against Time to Keep up with Sea-Level Rise.” Business Insider, Business Insider, https://www.businessinsider.com/miami-floods-sea-level-rise-solutions-2018-4. 

This is my second year at Miami Dade College and i'm studying health services administration . The topic I selected was about sea level rise in Miami and how it affects us Miamians .

I selected this topic because it is a concerning issue and if it is not addressed it will get worse in the years to come . Sea level rise will not only affect our environment , but can also cause climate gentrification . 

My research shows that The sea level around Florida is up to 8 inches higher than it was in 1950. This increase is mostly due to ice melting into the ocean and, complicated by the porous limestone that the state sits on, it’s causing major issues. Around Miami, it took around 31 years for the sea level to rise by 6 inches. Scientists now forecast that in just the next 15 years, the sea level will have risen by another 6 inches. 

 In terms of climate gentrification, This can definitely happen in Miami according to a 2018 Harvard study of Miami real estate transactions that found rising property values in higher-elevation neighborhoods, climate gentrification has become a rallying cry for activists in Miami neighborhoods such as Little Haiti (which is 7 to 14 feet above sea level), Liberty City , and Allapattah, traditionally disinvested areas with large populations of black and Latino residents which also happen to be on higher ground (Sisson, 2020). Furthermore, fellow Miamians that live in this area are usually people who are living check by check and of lower income so they cannot financially afford to just get up and move.

 My thoughts about this are concerning , I feel as though we as a community should do our part in trying to reduce sea level rise  such as reducing your carbon footprint and preserving wetlands . Also protect mangroves 

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The titles of the sources I used for my talk were "Florida's Sea Level Is Rising” by Sea level rise.org  and “As Sea Level Rises, Miami Neighborhoods Feel Rising Tide of Gentrification” by Patrick Sisson . 

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Thank you for listening