|
[Re: “Welcome to
Tent City,” by Ben Torter, published Feb. 21.]
We know firsthand what a wonderful event the South Beach Wine &
Food Festival is, the money it raises for the
Florida International University Hospitality School and the
tourism dollars it brings in. My husband and I worked with the
volunteers in 2003.
However, this year, it’s a real slap in the face to the public,
especially locals and taxpaying
Miami Beach residents. Tenth through 14th streets of the beach
were closed to direct access for two weeks prior to the festival
and after — which means at least three weeks or more without
direct access from our street.
It is important that our mayor, Matti Bower, speak to Lee Schrager,
the festival director, to make sure the public is not cut off like
this ever again. In addition, that there should be a lower-price
admission for residents. When we worked as volunteers, the Grand
Testing Tents on Saturday and Sunday cost $65 per day. This year,
it was $187.50. This is a disgrace, and so is restricting beach
access for so long. Locals should not be inconvenienced for an
elitist event.
As new residents, we walk miles a day through our city. At the
Fontainebleau and Eden Roc, where there is construction, you have
to walk in the street and risk getting killed. Construction trucks
and delivery tucks do not care about pedestrians. We do walk the
boardwalk, but on Collins Avenue, it is impossible to walk in
places where construction is under way.
In the case of the Wine & Food Festival, our street and sidewalk
were ripped up without notice. We were held captive and could not
get out of our parking lot. Why couldn’t public works put a notice
on our front door? There are many elderly people in our building
who had doctor’s appointments that day and could not get out.
Mayor Bower, we are counting on you to help us with all we have
written about. We are now residents of
Miami Beach, and we don’t want to be turned off to this city.
Please help us.
Wendy and Gary Rugg
Miami Beach
Hey Commissioners: Deal With Some of Miami’s Real Problems
[Re: “Field of Denial,” by Cynthia Archbold, published Feb. 28.]
How sad and alarming that our city and county commissioners have
seen fit to gift a wealthy sports team a place to play at
taxpayers’ expense, without giving taxpayers the option
to choose. The Marlins pitched a tantrum, whined and threatened to
leave — and our commissioners catered to the spoiled child. We
have been plagued with corruption scandals (still waiting for
reimbursement from the fire fee scandal) and public officials who
have been ousted for abusing the public trust (then demanded
insane severance fees as they left).
Miami has the pitiful distinction of being one of the poorest
cities in the nation, and we are at the bottom of the list when it
comes to per-capita green space. Let us also remember that we are
in a housing crisis (too little affordable and too much luxury), a
mortgage crisis and an insurance crisis, and are facing crises
regarding infrastructure and services, traffic
congestion, rising property taxes, water supply, safe sewage
disposal, education and public safety.
I have no problem with Miami having a baseball stadium, but let
the Marlins pay for it. When we have so many festering issues
in our community that beg for attention but keep getting
ignored, problems that affect the quality of life of the community
as a whole, it is unfathomable that our commissioners would spend
our money this way and then applaud themselves for their wisdom
and foresight. Our commissioners' characterization of their
actions as having “vision and courage ... to create destiny” seems
arrogant, insensitive and out of touch with the gritty realities
in plain view. If our commissioners believe they are making
history, it is very possible that their decisions will be
remembered as products of acute myopia fueled by
a blatant disregard for their responsibilities to the
entire community.
Gay-Lynne Anagnostis
Miami
Go, Braman, Go!
[Re: “Field of Denial,” by Cynthia Archbold, published Feb. 28.]
I am a steady reader of your journal, which is always very
interesting. About the Orange Bowl/Marlins stadium issue, I
totally agree with Mr. Braman, who is so, so right about
everything involved in this project and in his statement that
concludes the “Field of Denial” article: “Today
will mark the beginning of our legal challenge, which I am
convinced will be successful.”
Veronika Pozmentier
Miami Beach
Post Some Credit — to Me!
[Re: “Posting the Message,” by Angie Hargot, published March 6.]
I am thrilled that the conceptual importance of Advertising
Works, Post It, an urban installation by Spanish contemporary
artist Chus Garcia Fraile, caught the SunPost’s attention.
Staff writer Angie Hargot composed a brilliant article placing it
within the context of the current advertising dilemmas facing the
cities of Miami and Miami Beach.
However, I was disappointed and taken aback that I was not given
any recognition in the article as project manager and curator of
this artistic endeavor. I spotted Advertising Works, Post It
two years ago while visiting ARCO in Madrid. The giant banners
created a lasting impression as I experienced them against the
majestic and monumental architecture in this hip and trendy
European capital. As such, when I heard about the inaugural
edition of Sleepless Night, an all-night cultural event taking
place in Miami Beach in November, I thought it the perfect
opportunity to show this urban installation on consumerism. After
a year of working with the artist in developing the Miami show,
presenting it to the city of Miami Beach, securing sponsorship and
taking care of all logistics, including permitting and production,
I find it disrespectful that I was not quoted nor mentioned in the
article. I am an independent curator and art consultant living in
Miami Beach and have been involved in different facets of the
international art community for more than 20 years. At the end of
the day, I am glad this project fulfilled its mission. However,
you need to learn to give credit where credit is due; that is part
of the game. I take this opportunity to thank all of the people
who made Advertising Works, Post It possible, especially
the artist.
Mariangela Capuzzo
Miami Beach
Let’s All Go to Market
[Re: “Fresh From
the Farm,” by Paula Niño, published March 13.]
The article about the
Miami greenmarket scene is welcomed; thank you for paying
attention to our seasonal fresh market locations. We have often
complained that the three- to four-month markets are not enough
and long for a full-time European-style market that stays open all
week. The once-a-week opportunity to buy our local fresh and
seasonal produce is not enough. We want fresh eggs! We want
artesian foods! We want to support family farms! Come on, people,
let’s do this!
Donna Reno
Leader, Slow Food
Miami
|
