Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Coral Gables Times
Thursday, January 18, 1962, page 17 (of 28)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
Now Look Here, Mr. Editor, About This Room Renting...
Rolfe Neill, editor and publisher of The Times, spoke to the Apartment Owners Association Wednesday night of last week about trends in the newspaper industry. But it was plain from the questions that followed that the audience of about 35 people was most interested in a different subject: Regulation of the competition they receive from private home owners here. Of the 35 minutes of questions, 33 of them were devoted to this subject. "We don't like bootlet competition," said one man. "And that's what it is, bootleg." "Yes," said a woman apartment house owner. "Let these people pay the same charges we do and they can rent all they want." A man stood at the rear of the meeting room at the Coliseum on Douglas Road. "One of the most frequently-advanced reasons for permitting room renting to continue is this one, 'You wouldn't want widows to be deprived of their livelihood.' "Well I can tell you that we don't. And if anybody will show us such cases we would gladly consent to exemptions. As for widows, we have some in our own association whose livelihood is threatened by this." There are 2,400 apartments in Coral Gables, about 17 per cent of all dwelling units in the city. The City Commission has passed an ordinance looking to the eventual elimination of room renting here by private home owners but it will be many years before the last potential room is made ineligible. The Apartment Owners Association has estimated that there are 500 such rooms that could be rented. "Let me ask you this, Mr. Neill," said a woman. "Do you think it's fair to us to have to provide parking, pay extra garbage tax, pay property taxes, pay occupational licenses and all the rest and to have to compete with people who don't pay any of this?". Neill said he did not think it is fair. "Listen to this," said a hotel owner, rising to his feet. "I pay a higher electrical rate for my air conditioning because I'm a private business but these bootleg operators can air condition their rooms at residential rates." "Why doesn't someone ask him about the water rates?" said a woman seated nearb y "Yes, the water rates," said her seatmate, also a woman. "Water rates are killing us here but we can't get the City Commission to do a thing." "Have you talked to the commissioners?" asked Editor Neill. "What good would that do?" came a question in reply. "The City Commission thought in 1945 that room renting should stop and passed an ordinance to that effect and then it's changed 15 years later." "Did you talk to the Commission candidates last spring about this matter?" asked Neill. "Yes." "Did you endorse candidates?" "Yes," said President Robert Brinkman. "We endorsed four and two of them won. However, we didn't do it as an association and neither did we ask any promises from them." And as for the future of newspapers? Neill said it's good, particularly for suburban papers such as The Coral Gables Times. He said further consolidations of big city papers would take place under monopoly ownership due to the high cost of maintaining separate printing plants. He said that the big expansion in newspapers is taking place in the suburbs where 75 per cent of the nation's metropolitan growth is occurring (at the expense of the big cities proper).
Protective Fence Due for S. Dixie
A sidewalk perimeter fence — five and one-half feet high — has been approved for a section of South Dixie Highway to act as a protective barrier. The Commission decided Tuesday to go ahead on the pilot project for an estimated $1,800. Starting at the City limits, the chain link fence would end at Oak Avenue. It will be erected on the north side of the highway initially and extended if feasible. The project has been recommended by many individuals and the Planning Board.
Scooter Wreck Hospitalizes
A 14-year-old boy, David Lee Harris, 517 Zamora Ave., was treated at Doctors' Hospital Saturday for shock and abrassions after he was knocked off his motorscooter in the 2000 block of Granada Boulevard. Officer Harry Herndon, who investigated the accident, reported that the youth struck a car driven by Henrietta Helen, 411 Avenue of 1228 Venetia Ave. from the rear when she slowed down.
CADILLAC SPECIALIST
Complete Automotive Repair Expert paint and body work. Engine and transmission overhaul. EXPERT MOTOR TUNE-UP By Factory Trained Mechanics Complete Auto Repairs on All Makes Model Cars Open 7:30 a.m. till 5:30 p.m. AAA Expert Front End Alignment And Wheel Balancing PICK UP AND DELIVERY SERVICE Serving Coral Gables over 30 years CORAL GABLES GARAGE 4200 LAGUNA STREET Day — HI 8-2691 Night—MO 7-1091
IN THE RED BIRD SHOPPING CENTER IT'S BELK'S
Belk's Home of Better Values NOTICE TO OUR PAN AM CHARGE CUSTOMERS WE AT BELK'S INVITE YOU TO OPEN A BELK'S REVOLVING OR 30 DAY CHARGE REAP THESE SPECIALS THIS WEEK AT BELK'S LADIES' DRESSES SPECIAL RACK Broken Sizes And Styles Reduced 1/3 TO 1/2 OFF | MEN'S SPORT COATS Values To $37.99 BROKEN SIZES ON SALE $19.77 | JEWELRY Special Selection from our Regular Stock Of $1.00 Up Values ON SALE 66c Plus Tax | SPECIAL GROUP MATERIALS Short Lengths Values To 79c YD. ON SALE 44c Yd. | LADIES' SPORTS WEAR Higher Quality At Big Reductions For Clearance 1/3 TO 1/2 OFF BELK'S Red And Bird Roads