That Herald, They Leave Out Listings, Too!

[Re: Letter: “Leaving Out Facts? What is This, the Miami Herald?!?” published August 7.]

Surfing the Internet on June 5, 2008, I discovered a [house for] sale in my area for $30,000. It was well below market value.

On June 22, the Neighbors Aventura section in the Miami Herald listed a sale in the same area for $149,000. Since they both had the same sale date of April 2008, I called the number in the header of Listed Sales and asked why the one for $30,000 was not listed. I was told it’s the newspaper that decides what gets published.

On July 17, while surfing the net again, [I found that] this same property had a different name and the same $30,000 sales amount, and also a sale date of April 2008.

I was under the impression all sales were listed. Why would the newspaper decide not to publish the $30,000 sale? I am puzzled why only partial facts are published. Who decides to leave out facts?

Mildred Husak

Aventura

The Path to Greener Dollars

[Re: “Thanks, Mr. Braman, for Standing up for Us!” Letter by Vivian Rodriguez, published July 31.]

Reasonable people may disagree about spending tourist tax dollars on a new stadium for the Florida Marlins, but no one can disagree that tourism will benefit if we make Miami-Dade County better for bicycling. 

Imagine a network of facilities that would take visitors and residents around Miami Beach, across the Venetian Causeway, along Biscayne Bay and the Miami River, up to the Design District, and down to Key Biscayne and Coconut Grove. How about a nature tour that includes Matheson Hammock, Black Point Marina, Larry and Penny Thompson Park, MetroZoo, West Kendall Regional [Library], Homestead [Park], Bayfront [Park] and Biscayne National Park, with a connection to Everglades National Park?  Miami, Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County have realistic plans to do all this and more. Carrying out these plans will make Miami-Dade safer, more sustainable and economically successful. 

If Greater Miami wants this part of the local economy to thrive, it must look at every way to be more attractive to visitors. A small investment in bicycling will pay big dividends to us all.  

John D. Hopkins, Chairman

Green Mobility Network

Some Miamians Think They Own the Road

Last Wednesday, August 13th, while driving through the Roads section of Miami at approximately 8:45 a.m., I witnessed a man, driving a BMW, throw a large-sized Dunkin Donuts box out of his car window! My guess is it was a dozen donut-sized box — a pretty significant piece of trash. 

This type of behavior is deplorable! Five or six years ago, the City of Miami kicked off the “Clean Up Miami Campaign,” and has had great success, recently being ranked as one of the cleanest cities in America by Forbes (per Mayor Manny Diaz). Unfortunately, there are still some people out there who continue to display a lack of manners and respect for our city, and who need to be continuously reminded, to keep our city CLEAN and GREEN! 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kimberly

Miami

Listen Up, Kids: A Lot’s at Stake Here

In a few months we will be electing a president. He will be the most powerful leader of the free world except for the pope. Now let us be aware of all the responsibilities of this individual. Within a short time after becoming president, he will be nominating as many as three Supreme Court justices. These justices will be influencing this nation, along with those already in the court, for the next 20 to 30 years. Hopefully upholding our constitution, their power and influence can never be underestimated.

A president has tremendous power regarding entering a war. As we have seen over many years what those circumstances can bring Vietnam, Korea, WWI and WWII.

Personally, I have always believed that war is the child of hell! Unfortunately, what distinguishes war is that men are slain and crushed by the obvious cruelty, injustice and treachery of the murderous hands of other men. It is like a plague that sickens people. It destroys religious beliefs, it destroys families, and it destroys countries. War, as we see again and again is as much a penalty to the punisher as it is to those who suffer from it.

A president has great influence on our economy. Many years ago we saw what could happen — depression, inflation, recession, stagflation — we had better pay very close attention to the speeches and intentions of the two men seeking our vote for the presidency. This is not a decision to be taken lightly. Energy policy, monetary policy, foreign affairs, taxes and a myriad of other issues will weigh in this election. It is not a popularity contest, or at least should not be.

Our future as a country, our safety, our financial position, our being prepared for the unexpected are in the balance. Don’t forget also that being able to keep the peace is best achieved by being prepared for war. Outer space has become a major area for our nation’s security. We cannot trust Russia or China. They are not our allies or friends. China, very patiently is achieving a place in world dominations. Pay close attention to the political and financial moves it makes.

Once again, we Americans must vote wisely.

Ronald C. Rickey

Miami Beach