|
MPD: Protecting the Public from Stop Sign Runners
I live
in the Upper Eastside and am alarmed at the marked increase in
crime and passive response by the police
[“Help Wanted,”
published Oct. 25]. I pay taxes and, yet, see the
police at the big lots in droves, writing tickets for drivers
rolling through side street stop signs. Go figure.
Christopher Eddy
Miami
The Power of 15 Minutes
I wanted
to thank you once again for nominating me as a “Power Woman.”
[SunPost Power
Women 2007, published Oct. 11.] Although words cannot really
express what I felt, please know that, to me, it was a great
honor to be considered worthy of such recognition. I have
thoroughly enjoyed my 15 minutes of fame.
Magda
Abdo-Gomez
Miami
Vote
Yes, Vote Yes, Vote Yes
The wording of the Nov. 6
ballot question is confusing to many residents. Here is how I
explain it.
A “yes” vote will protect the
city's ethics laws. It would amend the city charter so that any
future ordinance that would weaken these laws would have to
first receive voter approval.
There are four sections of the city's Standards of Conduct
(Chapter 2, Article VII, City Code) that will be protected by
such a change:
1.
Restrictions on inside dealing by city employees and board
members — nepotism, favoritism, interest in contracts with the
city.
2.
Lobbyist disclosure and registration.
3.
Protections against inside dealing on contracts with the city,
procurement rules and “cone of silence” prohibiting inside
consultation with commissioners on contracts.
4.
Campaign finance restrictions on contributions by developers,
vendors and lobbyists.
I am in
favor of this charter amendment. Without it, a simple majority
vote of the City Commission could undermine our hard-won ethics
reforms.
Frank Del Vecchio
Miami Beach
No More, No More, No More
Here we go again. Why does
your newspaper dedicate so much time, energy and space to the
ridiculous bantering between the current mayor of Surfside and
his former rivals?
[Letters, “Firing Line: Recording Misses One Shot at a Time,”
published Oct. 25.]
Surely, your newspaper has
more important things to print, although it appears the current
mayor has way too much time on his hands with the long “weekly
column” you provide him, which usually says little of interest
to most of us readers.
What this administration
deserves is to face former Mayor Paul Novack in an election;
after all, he won six elections (and never lost one) for good
reason.
Let's elevate the debate to
something more important than something resembling a high school
spat!
Gisela Gomar
Miami
Mystery
About $95 Million Bond Issue Continues
Now that the
Mount Sinai bailout is off the ballot and the city of Miami
Beach
will survive without another poorly maintained park, there is a
very serious question to answer. How did the city manager and
city attorney (not to mention the commissioners themselves, who
should know better) allow a potential purchase by the citizens
of Miami
Beach without first obtaining not one but three certified
appraisals? I challenge the SunPost to do your own
investigation by obtaining independent appraisals based on
today’s real estate market. Of the seven acres, three are deed
restricted to parking use only. I would be surprised if any
exceed $10 million as the only true value the property has is to
renovate the existing building when the condo market comes back.
J. Barnes
Miami Beach
More
Deep Thoughts With Harry Gottlieb
I know
there are class-action lawsuits against stock brokerage
companies by individuals who feel they were advised to buy
stocks and ended up losing money. So I was wondering: Has anyone
ever thought of a class-action lawsuit against a city government
and elected officials for encouraging the public to invest in
residential property and then devaluating everyone’s property by
permitting way too many units to be built?
Harry Emilio
Gottlieb
Miami |
