Venezuelans choose Doral as their new home

By Ana Sanchez

Daniela Mavares had everything she wanted in Venezuela. Her family was financially prosperous; she had lots of friends and a school she loved. It wasn’t until President Hugo Chavez came in to the picture that her world began to change.

“My father was fired from the PDVSA, a Venezuelan oil company, simply because he did not support Chavez or his ideologies,” said Mavares.

So, Mavares’ family did what many Venezuelans do – packed their bags and headed to Doral, Fla.

According to the 2000 census, Doral’s population is made up of 67.44 percent Hispanic, of which Venezuelans make up the second largest group with 12.2 percent.

Although Venezuelans leave their country for political reasons, one of the reasons they pick to live in Doral is because of the booming business opportunities that a new city tends to offer.

“It was easy to start a business however, as the city grows it will become more difficult because it will be more competitive,” said Taimy Jimenez, who works at La Reina de las Empanadas cafeteria. “At the same time, the growth benefits businesses because the more people there are, the more clientele,” Jimenez adds.

Another reason Venezuelans pick Doral is that they find things that remind them of their country. For example, a taste of Venezuelan culture makes Taina Tapanes, who works in public relations for the city, feel at home in Doral.

“Venezuelan food is available everywhere, I can find everything I need within four corners, just like in Venezuela,” said Tapanes, who says she talks to everyone wherever she goes. “Eventually, I found people that I studied with, who I had not seen in years.”

A typical Venezuelan dish is the arepa. It is made with corn dough, flattened, grilled or fried and usually served with cheese. Many Doral eateries serve arepas, such as El Arepaso on 58 St and 92 ave.

“When we moved to the U.S. we mixed our two cultures together by putting peanut butter and jelly on arepas,” said Ian Achong.

Some Venezuelans have started their lives over in Doral and are satisfied with their new lifestyle.

“We feel very comfortable here, I guess that’s why they call it Doralzuela,” said Mavares.

Throughout the holidays, rhythmic drumbeats fill Venezuelan homes with gaitas; ethnic Venezuelan music. This music originated from the Zulia region in Venezuela. Other instruments used are maracas and charrassca; a steel tubed instrument played with two metallic strikers.

“In Venezuela, you hardly hear anything but gaitas during the holiday season, we even have gaitas dance competitions in high school,” said Mariana Guererro.

In order to keep customs alive, Venezuelans bring their music and dance to South Florida.

“A group of Venezuelan students from my high school thought that just because we are here doesn’t mean we shouldn’t follow tradition, so we did a gaitas performance for our school, and then for a holiday event in the town center,” Guerrero said.

Although Venezuelans have brought many familiar things to Doral, others still remember their country with nostalgia and would return if the political situation changes.

“If Chavez weren’t in Venezuela I would go back, everyone I talk to says the same thing whether they have money or not,” Tapanes said.

According to Homeland Security analysis, 11,758 Venezuelans became residents of the U.S in 2006. However, those numbers can be misleading because 393,584 Venezuelans were given business and tourism visas and it is unknown how many of these Venezuelans stayed.

While President Chavez is still in office, more Venezuelans hope to leave the country but it isn’t as simple as it once was.

“In reality, everyone wants to come over here but Venezuelans aren’t getting visas like they used to, not even for tourists, the situation has gotten more complicated over time,” said Mavares.

The number of Venezuelans given permanent residence in the U.S. is much larger between 2004 and 2005 with an increase of 4,535 than between 2005 and 2006 with only an increase of 888, according to Homeland Security analysis.

Vanessa Santodomingo, agrees with Mavares but thinks that U.S. immigration laws might benefit Venezuelans in the future.

“If Venezuela becomes another Cuba, the U.S. might be more lenient with the immigration status of Venezuelans,” Santodomingo said.

Some of the challenges Venezuelans face in trying to leave the country is selling their properties and businesses.

“No one wants to invest in Venezuelan right now, much less buy property – not only is it difficult to sell but also to make money off the sale,” Santodomingo added.

While President Chavez tightens control of the country’s economy, media and resources, Venezuelans will be faced to make a decision; whether or not to move out of the country. That might mean bringing their businesses over to the U.S. or to start from zero. The immigration process might be rigorous but it’s an option many Venezuelans will have to consider.

Whatever the political situation in Venezuela is, Doral will continue to be a refuge for Venezuelans who will bring their food, traditions, and businesses with them.

Photo credits:
kristainlondon.typepad.com
gastronomynyc.blogspot.com
orbita.starmedia.com
mipagina.cantv.net
www.venezuelatuya.com

Traffic It's a Problem in Doral

BY: Jennifer Rodriguez

It’s 7:30 a.m. and Cecilia Forsberg gets into her car. She is uneasy as she leaves her house a few minutes later than usual. These few minutes can transform into long repetitions of breaking and accelerating through Doral. She slowly trails behind school buses in the gated community she lives in. When Forsberg exits onto North West 114th Street, traffic is slow as it usually is. Along with the many other vehicles on the road, she remains calm, as this is routine.
“I live nearby 107th Avenue and 58th Street. There is a lot of traffic because of condominiums and trucks that come and go. If I leave at 8 to work, it takes me an hour, so I had to change my work schedule. So, now, I leave home at seven and it takes me half and hour. It’s terrible here and the school buses don’t help,” said Forsberg.
Traffic in Doral is no fun. Some residents like Forsberg, are stuck in the middle of it and are left with no choice, but to deal with the slow commute.
Forsberg has been a resident of Doral for the past six years. She dislikes the constant presence of trucks in the area, as she believes they contribute to the delays.
Margaret Garcia a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation’s 511 Traffic Center, agrees that traffic in the Doral area is becoming a problem. Garcia believes there are many different factors that are causing the heavy delays.
“There are a lot of trucks in the area, its light industry, a lot of construction,” said Garcia. But overall she thinks the problem may be caused by another reason, “a lot of bad drivers in the area.”
Doral started as a small city in 2003 and today it has grown probably more than was expected. Businesses are booming. Construction is booming. Population is booming.
South Florida CEO magazine reported in September 2005, that since the 1980s, the area has been the largest warehouse and office submarket in the county.
One other thing that is a benefit and possibly a curse to the young city is that many major expressways run right through it. Garcia believes that because of these highways a lot of traffic accumulates throughout the major roadways.
The Palmetto Expressway (SR 826), Dolphin Expressway (SR 836) and the Florida Turnpike all have major entrances in Doral. Some of these expressways intercept or meet in the city causing more back ups.
Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez said in an article in the Ciudad Doral Newspaper, that studies have shown that over 100,000 people come to work in the Doral/Airport West area and over an additional 70,000 navigate through the main thoroughfare, Doral Boulevard (41st Street) between 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. in the afternoon in order to get from the Turnpike to the Palmetto and vice-versa.
Paola Perez is an education major at Florida International University, who works part-time in the Doral Executive building. Everyday she experiences heavy traffic when she leaves the office to head to her house in Miami Lakes.
“Getting on the palmetto is very stressful and aggravating and makes you want to kill someone. Sitting in my car for an hour and half really, really, really sucks. They need to do something about it. I could use an hour and a half to do something productive with my life, but, no, everyday I must face the horror of being stuck in traffic,” said Perez.
Getting something done may take some serious work though. Mayor Bermudez also mentioned in his article that some of the roadways in Doral are still under County or State control, meaning it will take a combined effort to better the situation.
But what can be a solution?
“Expanding the roads could help, but by the time they are done it’s outdated. I don’t know if this is a solution, but in my opinion, I think maybe more police presence in certain roadways could help or if maybe there were more buses,” said Garcia from the Traffic Center. She believes that residents should take part in the solution as well by driving better.
South Florida CEO also reported that traffic consultant Joe Corradino has been helping the city develop a transportation master plan to improve the roadways and possibly create alternate routes.
Other local roadways that are highly transited are: Northwest 58th Street, Northwest 25th Street, 107th Avenue and Galloway Road (NW 87th). Of these, Garcia believes 107th Avenue and Galloway Road are the busiest.
Perez, the FIU student, feels one can experience heavy delays in Doral any day. She also travels through the city when heading to Dolphin or International mall, which attract a lot of customers from surrounding cities and maybe even Broward County.
Although the traffic can be an inconvenience, most people find Doral as a great place to live or for business.
“I told my mother that if we have to move out of Miami Lakes, we have to move to Doral,’ said Perez.
For Forsberg, that last six years in the community have been great, aside from the traffic that is.
“I know the traffic is bad, but I feel safe and I like to live in Doral and my work is close by,” Forsberg said.