Audio By Carbonatix
It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane!
It’s a plea agreement from hell! It flew by you good folks so darn fast that you missed it, just like all the others. In his column “Closed Case, Open Questions” (September 4), Tristram Korten alluded to the former federal prosecutor who “spent more than twenty years of [my] life forcing people to cooperate….” Therein lies the real lead to Korten’s story. It’s time for a reality check, ye fair citizens of Miami-Dade.
The Tornillo travesty is over with a capital O. The man has accepted the most gracious wrist-slap, a victory achieved through clearly skillful defense lawyering coupled with federal and state prosecutors, and FBI higher-ups, who know and fear the proverbial hot-potato case when they see it. Heads and livelihoods would surely roll were these “lawmen” to continue attempting to search under the many stones, alleys, allegiances, bonds, and skeletons the good Mr. Tornillo meticulously created in four decades as a self-anointed union political boss.
So, live with it folks. The fat lady ain’t just warmin’ up — she’s finished singing and has already left the building.
Simon Hendrixx
Coral Gables
My Man Morales
This message brought to you by Pals of Jimmy: I would like to congratulate Brett Sokol on getting the picture right concerning Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jimmy Morales (“A Plunge into the Mainstream,” August 28). Commissioner Morales is the right man for the tough job of county mayor. He’s proven himself every time a challenge has presented itself. White, Hispanic, black, Asian, or Jewish — he’s the right person to lead this community.
Fernando Cordal
Miami
I’m No Expert on Recreational Drugs
But these busts are, in my opinion, a waste: Rebecca Wakefield’s article “Party On!” (August 28) was very funny! And sad too. The fact that clubs like Space 34 will exist no matter how many investigations occur should make authorities realize the effort should be placed on drug awareness, not prevention by prosecution.
When clubs are driven underground to avoid investigation, it becomes more dangerous for the kids using drugs. I am no one to talk, but I see it as a waste of time and money when these busts don’t benefit anyone.
Mark Kitching
Santa Monica, California
Tacky, Offensive, Unimaginative, and Embarrassing
Now let me tell you what I really think about the Latin Grammys: Thank God for Celeste Fraser Delgado’s “Feel the Latin Grammys” (August 28). I thought I was the only one who felt outrage every time (at least twice a day) I passed the guitar-hugging naked man or the masturbating conga lady hovering above the hookers on Biscayne Boulevard. The “Feel the Latino” ad campaign was tacky, offensive, unimaginative, and embarrassing. Would Anglo marketers advertise the Country Music Awards with a campaign called “Feel the Gringo”?
Claudia Felicia
Miami
No Salsa, No Merengue, No Bachata
I can tell you about the Latin Grammys in one word: As a lover of Latin music and as the wife of a Latin musician, I think the Latin Grammy show sucked! It was everything Celeste Fraser Delgado warned it would be. It should have been called the Latin MTV Awards. No salsa, no merengue, no bachata, just a hodgepodge of rock, hip-hop, and pop.
If CBS was aiming for a crossover audience, they sure missed big on this one. If anything, it set back Latin music for the general American public more than if the show had never aired. What an affront to the wonderful Latin musicians out there — both here in Miami and throughout the world! What a disgrace!
Debra Angelo
Sunny Isles Beach
Memories of the Bay
It was the same place, but a very different time: I was very interested in the article “Adios Biscayne” by Juan Carlos Rodriguez regarding the Villas of Edgewater (“Urban Experience,” August 21). I lived at Bayfront Manor on 31st Street for more than 30 years, and I too remember sitting down by the bay after dark, listening to the music of the water lapping against the sea wall, the soft rustle of the palm trees, and watching the lights of Miami Beach. It was so peaceful. One felt far removed from the hustle and bustle of Miami Beach.
There was a house next to the Villas of Edgewater where my doctor lived. It too will be torn down, just as the beautiful old Spanish-tile house on 30th Street, once used by the Border Patrol, was torn down to make way for a high-rise. The condominium that will replace the Villas, to be called Ice, will be another example of condomania inhabited by people who don’t want to be part of the neighborhood. But we who lived by the bay will have our memories — one thing “progress” cannot take from us.
Deirdre M. Clegg
Miami Beach
For a Good Laugh
Call 305-668-4611
And welcome to the wacky world of Opa-locka: Although flattered that Rebecca Wakefield called me “well preserved,” I would like to add some facts and observations to her article about the lakefront development dispute in Opa-locka (“Land Grab,” August 21). I’ll start with this: If my sons ever acted the way we saw these people act, they would have received the worst paddling ever — big-shot developer or not, attorney or not.
The property in question in Opa-locka was not zoned for the apartment project that Pinnacle Housing Group planned to build. The property was zoned for townhouses. Simple. The residents would have no grounds for objecting if they would build according to the zoning codes.
But it appears that Pinnacle went far beyond the meaning of greed. Under their proposals, they would have received almost $12 million in tax credits from the Florida Housing Finance Corp. They could have built to code and still made tons of money, especially because they would not have had to pay for all of their revolting lawyers. (The meeting before the Opa-locka City Commission was good for a laugh. You can order a tape of it from the city.)
African-American residents are sick and tired of the rich white developer coming into their neighborhoods and building ugly and degrading projects. Same old shit. No wonder there is still racial tension in this country. Well, hooray for commissioners Rose Tydus, Dottie Johnson, and the Rev. Joseph Kelley for saying No to the project. But shame on Mayor Myra Taylor. Not one of your residents in Opa-locka spoke in favor of this project. May I remind you that it is your official duty to represent the people of Opa-locka, not rich developers.
The community spirit rocks here and we are blessed to have Anne Cates as our very knowledgeable president of Biscayne Gardens.
Page Shuff
Biscayne Gardens
Erratum
The source of the photograph accompanying Pamela Robin Brandt’s review of Talula restaurant was incorrectly identified (“Talula, Baby,” September 4). The photographer was Bill Cooke.