Oral history interview of Councilwoman Linda Julien by Elijah Pestana
In this interview, councilwoman Linda Julien explains how she became involved in public service and advocacy for the Miami Gardens community. She tells her backstory as a child of Haitian immigrants in South Florida, her background in real estate, and her experience with homeownership in Miami Gardens. She also describes the housing affordability crisis in Miami from both the renting and ownership perspective: from evictions and spiking rents to barriers like low inventory and high interest rates. She also emphasizes the importance of systemic change (including federal and local policies regarding housing) as a necessary solution to the dire situation of Miami’s unaffordability and wealth inequality.