Letter to "The Reader's Forum" of The Miami Herald

Leonard Pitts’ January 31st column in the Miami Herald, Public Silence Greets Poor’s Powerlessness, rightly calls attention to the lack of outrage over the deplorable comments by South Carolina’s Lt. Governor Andre Bauer regarding the poor. Mr. Pitts’ piece is a well-reasoned call to action for the millions of people in this county who live in poverty. I was particularly struck by Mr. Pitts’ salient question: Who speaks for the poor? Clearly too few.

Thankfully, there are organizations in South Florida that are committed to providing a voice for those who sit silent on the edges of our community. One bright light in our community is Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. (“LSGMI”).

LSGMI is the largest provider of broad-based civil legal services for the poor in Miami-Dade County. For over 40 years, the staff attorneys of LSGMI have shunned lucrative jobs in private practice to successfully provide innovative and effective free legal services to poverty stricken families throughout South Florida. Their commitment to equal justice is unrivaled. On a daily basis, LSGMI’s team of attorneys help clients in need vindicate their rights in cases relating to housing, health care, education, disability benefits, family issues and employment.

In these trying times, as poverty in Miami-Dade County continues to escalate, LSGMI is positioned to play an even more vital role in keeping the doors of justice open to all. I encourage everyone who is concerned for the plight of the impoverished to take a closer look at LSGMI. In keeping with Mr. Pitts’ call to action, I urge you to volunteer your time and/or resources to help LSGMI continue to provide a voice for those in need.

Respectfully,

Garrett J. Biondo, Esq.
Legal Service of Greater Miami, Inc., President