The Guide

Thursday, April 27, 1961, page 15 (of 28)

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South Miami Roundup with Ed Knight

THE CITY OR NOT the city? Would it be better if west Dade and South Dade were incorporated into municipalities? Would there be more representation? Would there be better services and more conveniences? THESE QUESTIONS pop up often in the minds of those homeowners living in the western and southern ends of the county. I often have asked myself these questions. I never fail to reason that the city would be better for me, my family and my home. THERE IS SOMETHING about living in a city that sets one's home apart from those homes in the unincorporated areas. There is a feeling that the reins on government are closer to home. With those homeowners in south and west Dade, the county government, Metro, is a pitifully small substitute for the local government that could be theirs. LET'S LOOK AT these basic conveniences and services ur- gently needed by homes in west and south Dade. There are zoning, planning, recreation, fire, police, streets and traffic, garbage collection, garbage disposal, utility regulation, libraries, beautification and street lights. TAKE ONE OF THESE items, apply it to west or south Dade and you have a vacuum. Yet, these two areas are heavily taxed now and will face more taxation in the coming years. LET'S TAKE ZONING, and planning. These two items, interwoven in municipal administration, are woefully neglected in the unincorporated areas. Spot zoning is the foe of good planning end zoning. It is prevalent throughout western and southern Dade County and becomes harder to remedy with time. RECREATION, TOO, is poorly inadequate, even though Metro is donating its Florida Power & Light Co. franchise noney to county recreation. The unincorporated area lacks parks, recreation centers, pools, enough beaches, football fields, gymnasiums and the personnel to supervise these recreation functions. FIRE AND POLICE protection never will be as good in the county areas as it is in the cities. In South Miami and Coral Gables, a police or fire vehicle arrives on the scene in a matter of minutes. In the unincorporated areas, it's a matter of hours — or days. GARBAGE COLLECTION and disposal — one of the most necessary of services — is a bitter sore spot with most county homeowners. While the garbage collection is twice-weekly and expensive, the trash pickups are almost forgotten. UTILITY REGULATIONS — the controls over electricity, gas, water and sewage are urgently needed NOW in most sections of south and west Dade. Although Metro passed a watered down water company regulation, high rates from these utilities haven't decreased. CITIES CAN GRANT franchises to utilities thereby regulating their actions and rates. The citizens in the unincorporated areas can't do it and Metro won't do it. Because of these franchises, the cities get a cutback on each franchise tax. LIBRARIES AND BEAUTIFICATION can be grouped together. They are the whipped cream on top. After all other services and conveniences are granted, libraries and beautification may come along if the citizens want it. But yet, a city is only as beautiful as the homeowners want it to be. THE LIBRARY CAN BE small or large. It depends on the size of the city, the cultural background of its citizens and the age of the city. Both Coral Gables and South Miami have libraries. Both cities' libraries should be bigger. But then, south and west Dade do not even have any libraries. THE BIGGEST complaints against incorporating in south or west Dade are the added taxes. "They are too high already," the people say. But yet, what the people don't realize is that most County taxes go for schools. Another large portion goes for welfare and much of the rest for safety. BECAUSE OF THE substandard fire protection, the fire insurance on most county homes is anywhere from two to three times as much as the insurance on most city homes. Frankly, the fire insurance savings alone would pay most of the municipal taxes. YES, I WISH my area was incorporated. If I had a complaint, I could go several blocks down the street to the city hall. If I requested the police or fire units, I wouldn't have long to wait, I would have more of a say-so in my local government.

McKinley-Burton Plans Told

Mr. and Mrs. William A. McKinley of 6301 Caballero Blvd. announce the engagement of their daughter, Kathleen Mary, to William Edward Burton, son of Mrs. Thomas R. Burton of 160 NW 59th St. and the late Mr. Burton. A late-summer wedding is planned. The bride-elect is a graduate of Coral Gables High School and the University of Florida. Her fiance was graduated from Miami Edison High School and the University of Florida where he was a member of Sigma Nu, social fraternity. He was also a member of Block and Bridle, honorary fraternity. He is presently attending U.S. Naval Officer's Training School at Pensacola. MISS McKINLEY

Film About Red Tricks Due Soon

A film on Communist infiltration into the United States will be shown at Miller Heights Citizens Association meeting at 7:45 p.m., May 9. Miamians Craig Kennedy and N. J. Carden will show the film, "Operation Abolition," in the auditorium of Blue Lakes Elementary School, 9250 SW 52nd Ter. The program is open to the public.

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CAMP PERRY

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Leslie Dickinson Elected Head of SM Hospital Unit

Leslie L. Dickinson, 8325 SW 152nd St., has been elected president of the South Miami Hospital Citizens Advisory Group. He succeeds South Miami Mayor Paul U. Tevis. Other officers recently elected were V. D. Bryant, 531 Santurce, vice president; H. W. MacDonald, 1318 ElRado St., secretary, and Raymond C. Nahm, 1428 Certosa. The group works in cooperation with the hospital's board of governors in the interest of the hospital. Present group project is the furnishing of the hospital's third floor.

TELEX HEARING AIDS

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