I read your article titled “City Slugger” and can’t help feeling that the city has an employee that needs a little jail time [“City Slugger,” by Ben Torter, published Feb. 21]. A person that has the physical problems Alexios Campos appears to have could hardly be the aggressor. Keep up the good reporting.

Ross Landau

Venice, Fla.

A Consistent Winner

[Re: Make Me the President, “Episode 6: Out of Gas and Praying for a Miracle,” by Lee Molloy, published Feb. 14.] Forget the embattled candidates. Make Me the President is the consistent winner. I have been a loyal follower of this reality series, but Episode 6 convinces me that Mr. Molloy must be a magician: taking the boring and making it fun to read. Someone should send him to Cuba to cover “the election” of Fidel's brother Raul.   

Val Greenfield

West Kendall

All Talk, No Walk?

I couldn’t agree more with the sentiment of this episode [Make Me the President, “Episode 7: Hillary Is a ‘C’ Word,” by Lee Molloy, published Feb. 21]. I’d love to hear Obama stand up aggressively and address the sexism that is being permitted. Unfortunately, that would very factually show that he stands for making a difference and being a leader of change. As we know, Obama isn’t about leading by example; he’s about leading by a promise and, instead, prefers to say he is for change. This election year reminds me of the old saying “do as I say, not as I do,” and I’m left with the simple question: How can a member of a minority group that was once enslaved not feel compelled, if not obligated, to stand up for equal rights for all humans? He talks a good talk, but can he walk the walk?

Bubba McSmith

Washington, D.C.

Move that Damn Festival!

[Re: “Welcome to Tent City,” by Ben Torter, published Feb. 21.] My wife and I attended the SoBe Wine & Food extravaganza once (the second year — the one they oversold and had a near-riot when ticket-holders were held at the entrance for about two hours past the advertised opening hour). I ended up using my travel writer business card to “talk” our way in an hour past the appointed time. I should have stayed home. To the organizers’ credit, they realized that they oversold it big time and made corrections in following years. But now, the “show” has grown to the size where it is out of control.
Positively, I have no problem with the city waiving fees in that, ostensibly, all or the bulk of the profits go to FIU — bravo!

But to hell with the fees! It’s the impact, as Commissioner Saul Gross properly stated. The wisest suggestion I read in your story was, “... moving the festival to ... 23rd Street and Collins Avenue, where there is more parking and less tourist traffic,” and less resident beach traffic!
What I and many of the residents object to is that the city obviously waived all responsibility to police the infractions that the permits, with or without payment, include.

Examples:
1. Glass (from the wine) is all over the beach as the attendees stroll down to or sit at the water’s edge, half sloshed, and break an alarming number of these glasses. Miami Beach Police don’t stand a chance of stopping this bloody foot and/or ass waiting to happen.
2. Dune buggies drive along the edge of the dunes and mow down sea oats with no concern.
3. The same dune buggies, usually driven by young volunteers, put the pedal to the metal between the dunes and the tent line, particularly in the sand path on the south side of Lummus Park. One contractor-driven ATV spun out as he started in the soft sand and blasted myself and everyone to his rear who were walking through the area.
4. Last, but not least, the damned Maginot Line of fence from 10th to 13th streets for three weeks prior to and during the event, and Lord knows how long after the event.
We live at 13th Street, so the walk around isn’t bad. If we lived at 11th or 12th, we would be all over the commissioners.
Move the damned thing to where the rich and famous play: 23rd and north!

Elizabeth and James Stanton
Miami Beach