The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, April 12, 1962, page 4 (of 31)

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THE Coral Gables TIMES

4 CORAL GABLES TIMES Thursday, April 12, 1962 THE Coral Gables TIMES Established Jan. 15, 1926 Second Class Postage Paid at Miami, Fla. Published at 364 Sevilla Ave., Coral Gables 34, Fla. JOHN T. WATTERS | President ROLFE NEILL | Editor & Publisher Robert Collins | Advertising Manager Murry Evans | Circulation Manager Maurice LaBelle, Raymond Lang | Reporters Mrs. Kay Squires | Classified Manager Miss Helen Reynolds | Society Editor Mrs. Dorothy McCreary | Office Manager Subscriptions: $4.20 year by mail anywhere

What Is And What Needs to Be

Needed: Statesmanship. Where: Among the Advertising Advisory Board, the City's publicity advertising consultant, and the City Commission. When: Immediately. Why: The City's whole advertising program is imperiled by an out-of-hand argument that needn't have been. A good bit of emotion is now stuffed into the imbroglio between Bert Burris, the consultant, and the Advertising Board. Nearly everybody's feelings are on the sleeve and since we regard all involved as men of integrity, we won't seek to localize the blame. It is apparent to The Times that all must share to a degree. The affair started, you may recall, when the Board said that the City-sponsored Ralph Renick newscast later this month should have one of its major commercials dedicated to Bargain Days. Burris declined to do so. The Board insisted and he told the Board it had no authority. Incredulous with disbelief, the Board accompanied Burris to the City Commission last week. The Commissioners backed Burris unequivocally. For that matter, so did this newspaper in an editorial in these columns. However, we'll amend our opinion in the light of subsequent information brought to our attention. In the first place, there is a considerable volume of correspondence — much of it from Burris' own pen — attesting that in his opinion the Board was his boss. Burris freely acknowledges the authorship but says the wording is unfortunate since it is now being held up to scrutiny; its deferential tone was deliberate, he explains, in an effort to have strong rapport between himself and the Board. However, he says he never has regarded the Board as his superior. At least one of the three men responsible for setting up the original Board says it was not intended to be Burris' boss, merely his advisor. The ordinance itself establishing the Board is vague as to powers. The City Commission says it never has considered that the Board was anything but advisory. Now all of this may be so. But it would seem to us a gross dereliction by both the City Commission and Burris that five men would be permitted to operate for nearly two years with an understanding of their authority which, in fact, did not exist. Further, we believe that the City Commission might alter its own position on the matter at hand — the Bargain Days commercial — if it knew all the facts. Unfortunately, a lengthy letter sent them by Burris fails to represent properly the attitude of the Advertising Advisory Board. Perhaps it can be explained that the reason the town fathers appeared so inattentive at last week's explanation session is that they had already made up their minds on the basis of what Burris had told them. To do so was to come to a conclusion based, in part, on false information. We have a fine advertising program. It has rightly avoided the blatant commercialism, the hard sell sought by some of the merchant element. In Burris, the City has a superior man for the job. In the advisory group, it has five men who are knowledgable and dedicated and who, until now, have agreed nearly unanimously with Burris. Add to this the fact that we are near the launching of our third year's program and you can see why it's necessary for statesmanship. Will it be supplied?

Wake Up, City Hall

Incredible and ludicrous. We know of no more apt description of the continuing City Hall situation permitted by the City Commission relative to the recording of its official proceedings. The office of Miss Loretta Sheehy is again six weeks' behind in writing up the minutes of the City Commission (about the usual tardiness). You can't find out what has happened at any City Commission meeting since Feb. 27th except for what you read in this newspaper. Suppose you're affected by the proceedings and need to know precisely what happened? Sorry, citizen, they'll tell you, but you can't see the minutes because we haven't typed them for official approval, and you can't see our notes because they're unofficial. It is inexcusable that the people of our community are given this run around. There are two clerks in Miss Sheehy's office in addition to herself. She says she is overworked and we accept her word. Let the town fathers look into the matter and take appropriate action. Six weeks between action and recording? Indeed, incredible and ludicrous are the only words.

Postscript

An ordinance — deemed an emergency one and cutting off homeowners' appeals — was rushed through City Commission two weeks ago to permit more apartments to be built in Sunrise Harbour. Aiding in the preparation was the City Clerk's office and the haste with which the work was done resulted in its being done wrong. This is the same office which is so overworked that it is right now six weeks behind in writing up the minutes of the City Commission's weekly meetings. Any connection?

EVERYBODY'S Business

By Rolfe Neill Catty Mrs. H. J. Knerr sends along an interesting ordinance which was passed 32 years ago by the Gables City Commission when C. L. McGarr was mayor and Percy Wright was clerk. The ordinance requires that "no cat shall be permitted to be at large outside of any residence unless such cat shall wear a bell securely attached to said cat by ribbon so that the sound of such bell shall be heard at a distance of 50 feet." The idea was that cats prey on birds and birds are essential to plant life. Penalties? Ten dollars the first time your cat offended and $25 the second time, plus five days in the pokey if the judge wishes. AND — "If such unbelled cat at large shall kill any bird not disabled in flight, any person may and it is hereby made the duty of all members of the Police and Fire Departments to kill such cat in as humane manner as circumstances permit." If only life were that simple today. The ordinance is still in effect, she says. Information When I next see Jack Larkin of Goodbody & Co. I'm going to ask him for an explanation of that brokerage firm's latest stock market letter which begins: "The market continues in a vigorous state of apathy." * * * True Enough Attorney Owen Freed was lamenting the recent daylight robbery at his home when burglars cleaned him, from neckties to Scotch. They obtained entrance by removing jalousies. "Yes," I volunteered, "they're the easiest things in the world to get in through." Warren Blackmon, who was at the table, looked up and said, "Except when you've locked yourself out of the house." * * * Coming Events One of the Gables' best known businessmen will make headlines shortly with the news he's selling out to a competitor . . . Will Austin Burke take the vacant Miracle Mile spot of Curlee's? * * * Stop Does it irritate you, too, when a pedestrian pushes the crosswalk light and then beats it across before it turns green, leaving you to stop for a blank crosswalk when the timer finally does turn on? * * * In Stock Anybody in the market for practical jokes should check with City Commissioner Joe Murphy. He's got a kit bag full.

MAILBOX

EDITOR: Coral Gables is a bird sanctuary. At this time of the year many young birds are on the ground. There are many stray cats or illegal cats roaming about killing birds. A public service can be rendered by calling attention to a city ordinance which the Audubon Society informs me is still in effect. The ordinance requires a bell on cat's necks. H. J. KNERR 645 Attara

A Look at What We Say About Ourselves

MIRACLE MILE PICTURE DISTRIBUTED NATIONALLY A Look at What We Say About Ourselves (Editor's note: We thought citizens of the community might enjoy seeing the type of material distributed nationally by our City publicity department. Here is a current release and photograph.) CORAL GABLES, Florida — Hell, the English poet Shelley said, was a city like London. American might well substitute the name of one of our own bloated, chaotic metropolitan areas. For it is a great national superstition that ugliness is a practical necessity for American cities. Perhaps this accounts in part for the interest which so many travelers and vacationists exhibit in the south Florida city of Coral Gables. More than 40 years ago the vision of one man created this community, which is built like a great garden set with houses. It is a park where people may live and enjoy all the natural advantages of a mild and sunny climate without the distressing crimes against good taste which mar so many urban centers. One aspect of Coral Gables which comes as a surprise to most visitors is the charm of the retail district. This is primarily a collection of specialty shops — a department store on one level — set in skillfully landscaped parkways and honeycombed with parking areas. A stroll down one of the principal shopping streets (Miracle Mile, for instance) is like touring a botanical garden. There are palms from all over the tropical world: fishtail palms from the East Indies; Christmas palms, with their bright red berries, from the New Hebrides; clumps of yellow-stemmed Madagascar palms towering over the delicate, feathery fronds of the pygmy date palm. At sidewalk level, masses of soft blue plumbago are punctuated by flaming ixora. The huge, velvety leaves of the Chinese rice-paper plant contrast with those other oriental imports, pittosporum and hibiscus. Scores of exotic varieties vie for attention. The shopper is torn between high style and horticulture. Only a few minutes drive from this merchandise-mart-in-a-garden is the main campus of the University of Miami. Its crisply functional buildings occupy about 250 acres, but these are set in the heart of some 2,000 acres designed as one of the most beautiful residential parks in the world. The vigorously active cultural life of Coral Gables revolves about this great university, with its symphony orchestra, its famous Ring Theater, its summer Shakespearean Festival, and its Joe and Emily Lowe Art Gallery with several notable collections. For the casual visitor, the most convenient way to explore this showcase community is to take the self-guided tour. This is a well-marked automobile route which covers many of the lovely winding drives, beautiful gardens and interesting structures of the city. A free self-guided tour map may be picked up at the City Hall (itself well worth inspecting) or at the Chamber of Commerce.