The Coral Gables Times

THE Coral Gables TIMES

CORAL GABLES TIMES Thursday, June 14, 1962 Established Jan. 15, 1926 Second Class Postage Published at Paid at Miami, Fla. 264 Sevilla Ave., Coral Gables 34, Fla. JOHN T. WATTERS | President ROLFE NEILL | Editor & Publisher Robert Collins | Advertising Manager Murry Evans | Circulation Manager Maurice Lebelle, Raymond Lang | Reporters Miss Helen Reynolds | Society Editor Mrs. Key Squires | Classified Manager Mrs. Dorothy McCreary | Office Manager Subscriptions: $4.20 year by mail anywhere

The Mistake We Could Avoid -- and Must

The privilege of choosing the site and approving a design for a major public building in the Gables is one given few men. Because of this there is a special burden resting on the City Commission relative to a new library. The Commissioners seem happy to put the building behind the City Hall where it would: -- Destroy the natural beauty there. -- Be hemmed in on the west by a doctor's building. -- Be in competition ultimately, when the third story is added, with the City Hall itself, an architectural gem which shouldn't be cramped or overshadowed. -- Be in violation of both the Rader Land Use Plan and the City-paid study by three of the nation's eminent librarians. -- Result in readers looking out the back window into the grill of a Volkswagen or Chevrolet once the double decker parking garage is constructed behind it. The placement of the library on an inadequate site will be a mistake impossible to forget. As oft as we pass it, both aesthetics and common sense will be affronted. Is there to be no disposition within the Commission for reconsidering the matter?

Recommended Reading For Thinking People

A lady on Country Club Prado called last week to say that this so-called Rader Report is nothing short of revolutionary and couldn't something be done to let the people know what's in it. Well, we shall continue to keep our readers informed. And copies of the report are to be had at City Hall or at the Public Library, for those who want it in original edition form. What of the Rader Report? First, we would compliment Mayor Searle and his fellow Commissioners for ordering the work done. It makes good sense when you consider that the characteristics of the Gables are changing, particularly downtown; that about a third of our Gables land remains undeveloped, notably along the bay; and that we're spending $5.9 million a year to operate a business - the City of Coral Gables. While we disagree with some of Rader's individual decisions, The Times believes the survey to be a good piece of work. The major decision on which we dissent is the limitation placed on high rise building in the downtown area. If ever there were a place that needed them to maintain economic vitality, it's Coral Gables. However, this is still a residential community (about 7,800 houses and 2,500 apartments). The people living here have expressed themselves in substantial numbers (in the recent Jaycee report) that rigid zoning is one of the features they like best in Coral Gables. We believe the present City Commission dedicated to the preservation of this residential quality. (Their turn-down of a five-story hotel on Coral Way last week is a good example of this.) What Rader says is suggestion only. We don't have to take all of it; for that matter, we may take none of it. But it is forcing us to think beyond today and look at the tomorrows 10 or 20 years from now. Twenty years from now? The population should be around 75,000, double its present size. Who could imagine growing like that without some guidance. Like the lady on Country Club Prado said: Fellow citizens, you'd better read it. It can be done in less than 45 minutes. More public hearings are coming.

Student Leaders Say Prom Drinking? It Never Happened

EDITOR: In reference to the letter to the editor of June 7, 1962 we would like to comment on the remarks of the "indignant parent" regarding the Coral Gables High School Prom. From our experience at the Prom we know for a fact that there was nothing comparable to the "booze party" where "bottles of liquor were circulated freely within the auditorium without any obvious attempt to correct the situation," as described by the "indignant parent." To the contrary it was one of the best chaperoned parties we have attended: there were 25 faculty members from the school in attendance; there were three policemen on duty at all times; and there were several parents and other adults at the Prom. Our opinion of the behavior of the students was affirmed by Mrs. Elizabeth Bush who manages the municipal auditorium for the city and in that capacity was present at the entire Prom. She is in no way connected with Coral Gables High. Mrs. Bush stated to us that it was "an orderly party," the people all "looked nice" and that she "did not see any drinking." She further added when asked about the letter in The Times that whoever charged that there was wide scale rowdyism "was grossly inaccurate, in my opinion." Coral Gables High School has been acclaimed as one of the nation's finest high schools; this year its student body has brought national recognition to the Dade County school system and the city of Coral Gables as well as itself. We do not see how this same student body can turn into a boozing horde overnight. We cannot see the purpose in printing such a letter when there has been no corroboration of the "indignant parent's" child's observation; possibly this child was in attendance at another prom. She certainly couldn't have been at the same prom we and over 1,200 well-behaved Coral Gables High students attended. Jeff Tew, President Coral Gables High Student Government Lee Sandler, Editor of High Lights, Coral Gables High newspaper

How's Your Example? 'Essay' on Teenage Drinking

EDITOR: Having graduated six years ago, from a high school in a New England town, very similar to Coral Gables, and one which has in addition to a rather fine public school system, a men's business college, one of the 10 top women's colleges in the country and several other private schools, I had to chuckle while reading the "Indignant Parent's" letter to you in the last issue. The situation was quite similar in my town when I graduated, and I expect many similar parents are writing similar letters to their respective editors. The role of liquor in the maturation of adolescents seems to me to be a true paradox in today's society. In so many ways, parents try to be worthy of their children's emulation. In situations involving manners, temper, or intelligence, offspring are coaxed into acting "grown-up," which is like saying "follow the example of your elders." This is done in the supposition that this is the road to a properly raised and well rounded young adult, who will posess the poise and sophistication required to be an accepted member of society. Unfortunately, the liquor situation in the family is likely to be a highly irrational affair, being more of a case of "do as we say, rather than as we do." Here, immediately, the parental idol collapses. In generations past, children were trained to do as they See Essay P. 5

Thanks to the Police

To Chief Kimbrough and his men at the Police Department, congratulations on cleaning up what has long been a particularly offensive situation around the bus terminal. The situation of sexual perversion has been odious to those who observed its manifestations and the presence of perverts has been dangerous to the younger patrons of the terminal. We're glad to see the job done.

A Note About Liquor License

(Editor's note: In addition to the letters we are printing today plus the large number carried last week, we have also received letters from John W. Hoover, 2423 Alhambra Cir.; Harry Shank, 504 Biltmore Way; Daniel E. Dunn, 3916 SW 58th Ave. and Mrs. Elizabeth Hutton, 6100 SW 121st St. All express support for a license for Albert Singer's University Inu. The points they make are covered in the letters of other writers presented here.)

THE WAY WE SEE IT--IT FITS IN BEAUTIFULLY

"Six-five-four-say! Which button is it again?"