[Re:Wakefield, “Devilish Details,” by Rebecca Wakefield, published Feb. 28.] While I agree with and appreciate your story about the back-room projects approved by the city and county, I take definite issue with your insulting characterization of Norman Braman as a “cranky old man.” 

He is a real hero in my eyes, and those of many others, for standing up for what is right against politicians who spit in our faces after courting and winning our votes, and then bending all the rules from CRA guidelines to the Comprehensive Plan to suit their wants and needs — and those of developers. 

I say, “Thank you, Mr. Braman,” and I think you should consider saying “I'm sorry” to him. 

Gracias to Commissioner Tomas Regalado as well for his “NO” vote on the issue.

Ginger Vela

Upper Eastside Preservation Coalition

 

You Hit the Nail on the Head

[Re: Wakefield, “Devilish Details,” by Rebecca Wakefield, published Feb. 28.] Ms. Wakefield hits the nail squarely on the head, as usual, in “Devilish Details.” The lack of attention to details is precisely what gets Miami and Miami-Dade politicians in so much trouble. But I would add that it is lack of attention to the details of the process. In the case of the Orange Bowl deal, there was just a deal; there was no public process, and, yes, thanks to Mr. Braman for fighting for this detail. Miami residents are constantly crying out for Mayor Manny Diaz and the commission to follow the game plan as detailed in our ordinances and to have a public process.   

In regard to the tremendous Orange Bowl asset, they are totally ignoring an ordinance that says Miami must have at least three competitive bids to assure the owners of the land — that’s us, poor slob Miami taxpayers — are getting the best deal before they sell it or lease it.  

As approved, the Marlins get more then a quarter of the Orange Bowl site, plus a sweetheart rent of a city-financed parking garage. As it appears, the only way “families” will be able to access the remainder of the site, much less enjoy it, will be if they are patronizing one of the proposed hotels, restaurants, retail shops or the parking garage.

No one at the city or county seems to give a hoot about who is entitled to have access to or “public benefit” of this public land. The only public benefits discussed were limited to labor contracts during construction and which police or fire department will get to protect it.

Shame on Mayor Diaz and commissioners, who give only lip service to the public process, parks and the green revolution, for not declaring that all of the Orange Bowl site needs to be brought to the public in a series of meetings to determine how it can be used for the greatest “public benefit,” in light of the fact that Miami is terribly void of parks for families to enjoy. Has anyone at City Hall contemplated adding a Central Park to our scarce park inventory?

If Miami and Miami-Dade leaders first lived up to the intention of their ordinances, then listened to meaningful public debate beyond the humiliating two-minute limitations at commission hearings and developed detailed plans accordingly, they might just come closer to providing the assets a family and community actually need to sustain themselves. The details of the process and the ultimate plans do make a difference. As it stands, the city of Miami fails miserably in the process of developing the Orange Bowl site, Bicentennial Park and Miami 21 for the benefit of its residents.

Steve Hagen

Miami

Down With the Dolts

I sympathize with M. David Frost regarding his negative experiences at the Regal Cinemas on Lincoln Road [Letters, “This Movie Theater Sucks!” by M. David Frost, published Jan. 31]. There are times when I, too, have had my film viewing experience shattered. But it could be worse, considering the standard of truly awful multiplexes all over South Florida.

That Regal theater does not always run smoothly, I agree. They have annoyed me on a number of occasions, notably the many times their projector blows out (this has happened six times in the last three months, three times during one movie); Neanderthal parents who bring very young children into movies rated PG-13 and above and then let them run around, disturbing everyone and cursing you out if you ask them to control those kids, or, better still, take them to an age-appropriate movie they might enjoy; cell phones going off; and selectively refusing to seat those whom they perceive as bringing food from the outside into the theater.

They kicked me and my husband out of a first-run film we were eager to see (we are film buffs and my husband makes films and teaches film production) because we were carrying strawberries we'd just bought at Epicure Market. This qualified as “bringing food into the theater” (translation: not buying their greasy, overpriced food). And, too, we are nice, quiet-looking patrons, not the kind who would yell or shove or punch someone out, no matter how tempted to do so.

Mr. Frost is correct, too, when he claims that ushers do not routinely patrol the showings. Nor have I ever seen anyone thrown out for cell phone use, talking in a loud voice or not controlling their children. As for those strawberries — Epicure was having a sale on them and they were big, red and beautiful — when we were kicked out, we asked, but no one at the Regal’s food counter would hold the shopping bag for us. So we went to Williams-Sonoma, where the very kind salespeople babysat our strawberries.

By the time we got back to the showing, however, the place had filled up and we had to sit in Neck-Crane Alley. We were not able to enjoy the film with our necks stretched back, tendons taut. Interestingly enough, two rows ahead of us in N-CA, a fellow was eating a full-course (and very smelly) meal with great gusto, which he'd clearly bought on Alton or Lincoln Road with great gusto. Our only satisfaction was that his neck probably hurt more than ours did.

But, put it in perspective. It's a great multiplex and shows many obscure foreign films we wouldn’t be able to see anywhere else. (With all due respect to the Miami International Film Festival, it’s only an annual event and very few of those films are screened at the Regal.) And, truly, the great majority of Regal audiences are people who do really love film and make an effort to be respectful of others. They are grown-ups. (Try going to any AMC at any South Florida shopping mall and you will recognize that very important difference! Those audiences are animals.)

Was the manager who thought we were bringing in strawberries for our dinner and depriving his food services a possible sale a dolt? Yes. Were the manager/ushers to whom we complained about the screaming children at the viewing of a movie inappropriate for their age group incompetent and too scared to confront the prehistoric parents? Yes. Wrapped-up containers of strawberries versus having to deal with screaming kids and very scary parents — you get the picture.

There definitely have to be better ways to handle problems at the Regal than those now in place, but these managers/ushers are young, inexperienced kids. There really are no adults in the place to maintain order and enforce rules — except for the dolt who threw us out, who seemed to be, maybe, 20 years old — and I don't think he's there anymore. It can be a no-win situation, unfortunately. The Regal is the only game in our particular town.

Solution? Get out of your seat and pop into another of the plexes in this multiplex and see something else, with a kinder, gentler audience, or just wait until that particular showing is over and try it again. Lightning doesn't usually strike twice in the same place, or so I am told.

Jo Manning

Miami Beach