The Times

The Times

the local community newspaper for all South Dade John T. Watters, President & Publisher William von Maurer, Editor Robert M. Slane, Advertising Manager Subscription: $3.00 year by mail anywhere

City At A Crossroads

The future of Coral Gables is at a crossroads. The decision is whether to follow the road that leads to a highly urbanized community with multiple dwellings and big city atmosphere or to continue on the road that will keep the quiet residential atmosphere of which all of us are proud. Coral Gables has been faced with this dilemma for more than 10 years, but it has never quite come to grips with it. The heavy influx of population and the increasing value of the land has placed more and more pressure on Coral Gables to change from a suburban paradise to a heavily settled, multi-dwelling area. The bitter feelings aroused last week over the approval of a 12-story apartment building has finally brought the crisis out into the open. A 12-story apartment building in the middle of Coral Gables will be a precedent smasher. No one would have thought of attempting to erect such a building 10 years ago. But times have changed and the profits and tax revenues from intense development of the land has become irresistibly alluring. Once this 12-story building, regarded as a monstrosity by many, is begun, an increasing demand will be set in motion for more such structures. The future can not be put off, it must be plotted now. Too much of Coral Gables' planning has been after the fact instead of before it. The fairest way to determine the future of Coral Gables is to go to the people who live here. This can be done, of course, by referendum. But even the course indicated by referendum will not be sufficient as a guide to planning the future of the city. About all the referendum that has been suggested can do is to answer the question of whether or not the people of Coral Gables want high rise buildings, as they are called. This question answered yes or no will not suffice to give planners of the city adequate guidance. About a year ago, a 13-story apartment building was approved in the Sunrise Harbour section of Coral Gables without a peep of protest. The question, therefore, seems to be not whether Coral Gables should have high rise buildings, but rather where these buildings should be located. Only the most callous profiteers could ignore the attempts of homeowners in wide areas of Coral Gables to protect their neighborhoods from the intrusion of buildings whose architecture is incompatible with the surroundings. These people have every right to safeguards from such grating contrasts. They moved to Coral Gables because they desired a quiet residential area in which to live their lives. Surely they deserve the right to this dream. However, in the face of the changing economic and population picture, it is unrealistic to prevent the construction of multi-storied apartments in some areas. The city must have tax funds to support its services in an era of growing costs and population. The thing to be done, it seems to us, is to declare a moratorium on all apartment buildings over three stories in Coral Gables while a study which is now being made can be completed. This study is an attempt to determine where such buildings can be erected without working a hardship on entrenched residential neighborhoods. Once the study has been completed and explained, it can be taken to the people in the form of a referendum. This should be done at once. The tide of population in Dade County, like time in the proverb, will wait for no man.

Letters To The Editor Hope School

Editor, The Times: I want to take this oppor- tunity to express my appre- ciation and thanks to you for your excellent cooperation in assisting me in the Hope School clean up day and open house projects. All members of the board and the officers of Hope School join me in expressing our sincere gratitude to you and the members of your staff for a very fine job well done. MRS. WALLACE J. NIMER Publicity Director

Next Time You Take A Stand, Study The Lay Of The Land!

Remember The Times

25 Years Ago The official opening of the Coral Gables Cuntry Club was two weeks away... A campaign to put only safe drivers on the streets of Coral Gables was underway. Police were bearing down hard on persons found guilty of reckless driving and those who didn't have driver's licenses or inspection tags... The big guns of the golf world trained their sights on the $10,000 purse at stake in the Miami Biltmore tournament... A little friendly persuasion worked. A word from Mayor Roscoe Brunstetter and the Coral Gables Realty Board that "For Sale" and "For Rent" signs were distasteful and should not be posted in front of homes had a magical effect. Instantly, many of the signs disappeared from the scene. 10 Years Ago Andy Gustafson signed a 10-year-contract to remain as head coach of the football team at the University of Miami. This put to an end rumors that Gustafson might head north to handle the gridiron squad at a university in Minnesota... Are our schools in Coral Gables victims of overcrowding? That was the question that sparked debates on whether Coral Gables Elementary School and South Miami Elementary School were short of space... West Miami dedicated its new City Hall... What did children want most for Christmas? The Santa Claus at a Gables' store said the small fry wanted bicycles the most, although the year before the most popular item was guns.

Letters To The Editor Seeks Referendum On Heights

Editor, The Times, One Commissioner changes the future of Coral Gables. After many years residence in South Florida we finally purchased a house in Coral Gables, because it seemed to be a wonderful place for a home. It has been. We have enjoyed the advantages of Miracle Mile, the many churches, the beautiful shaded streets, the selective zoning, the quiet, friendly atmosphere of its living. Not the least of its charms was the usually accepted fact for 35 years that buildings were limited to three stories in height, which gave promise the city would never become a dollar-mad commercial circus. Plan Violated Of course this three story plan has been violated here and there by permission given by the City Commissioners. Opposite our beautiful City Hall, the 401 Building, called the "Pigeon Roost" because four stories are jammed into the usual three story height, is a prominent example, but there are others and more are planned. BUT I do not believe that one man should make this possible. There were probably 500 homeowners represented by petition, group officers, and persons present at the Commission meeting. Against these there were a few business interests and a newcomer who had a splendid idea to make a dollar-and he could, possibly $50,000. One can wonder just what it would take to impress the City Commissioners? One of Thousands We are only one of thousands of homeowners and our wishes are unimportant. If a majority of the property owners, or even 30 percent, want the system changed we will go along peacefully. BUT why not give every property owner a chance to vote? Start a referendum making a legal three story limit? If enough sign the petition it will be ample evidence of their wishes and then the City Commission can make an effective ordinance or call a special election. Why not settle it once for all and relieve the City Commission of worry over our three story future? Shall we have a home city or a hurly-burly metropolis? The time for a decision is; NOW. L. C. Mount, 644 Navarre Ave.

South Miami Roundup By EDWIN KNIGHT

KNIGHT THE MIAMI POLICE motorcycleman pulled up beside my car, revved up his motor and motioned for me to pull over to the curb. He parked his cycle behind my car and walked around to the driver's window. He was big and tall. All motorcycle officers seem to be the tallest of men. He was in his early thirties and had sparkling white teeth that showed when he smiled. He was polite. I saw his white teeth but once. He only smiled once. I KNEW WHY HE had stopped me. I had made a left turn at the intersection of SW 8th St. and SW 2nd Ave. It said on the little white sign hanging under the traffic light that left turns were prohibited between the hours of 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. It was 4:55 p.m. He had seen me make the turn. He appeared from nowhere as the little white sign had. The turn completed, I looked into the mirror to see if he was following me. HE WAS COMING, not slow nor fast. Maybe if I slumped down in the seat and drove slowly he would go on by. It didn't work. He was nearing my car now and slowing down. My heart beat faster. He was at my window. "I didn't see the sign until I had begun to make the turn," I told him, swallowing hard and handing him my driver's license. I smiled but he didn't. "Is this your correct address?" he asked as he peered at me through huge sunglasses. ALL MOTORCYCLE OFFICERS wear huge sunglasses and helmets. They're all tall and big. "Yes," I answered, trying to find my cigarets. I knew there was no hope for me now. He went to the rear of my car and wrote the ticket. He returned and asked me a few more questions. I then signed the ticket and he handed me my license. He told me my trial would be held at 8:30 p.m., Dec. 8, in the courthouse. He smiled then. But I didn't. His job was completed. I HAD RECEIVED other tickets but not recently. This will be my first appearance in Metro Traffic Court. I read the ticket and put it in the glove compartment. I thought of $10, maybe $15, being handed over for the violation. I thought of what I could do with the money. DEC. 8 WAS A THURSDAY. It was dark when I entered the courthouse. Metro Traffic Court was on the sixth-floor. I learned as I entered the self-service elevator. All others in the car were headed for Metro Court. There were a few wisecracks on the elevator. My trial was scheduled for courtroom C. I slowly pushed the courtroom door open and peered in. There were nearly a hundred in the room. They were standing, sitting down and all very quiet. One man was at the bench talking to the judge. DURING THE DAY this courtroom is used for Criminal Court. I looked first at the crowd and then at the bench. There were four men there. The judge, in the black robe, was Charles Snowden. I had heard of him, but he didn't know me. Sitting beneath the judge was the court clerk. Near the clerk were the county's prosecutor and the officer who have given me the ticket. The officer looked different here in court. He was wearing a light blue suit. He resembled an attorney addressing the court. He was not as tall as I had thought. But the smile was there. NEARBY WAS ANOTHER clerk. He led the defendants, after they had been fined, to a desk in another office. Here they paid their fines. He also served as an interpreter for the large number of Spanish-speaking people in the room. I found a seat. The seat was hard. I waited for my name to be called. The man sitting beside me asked me if this was courtroom C. I looked at my ticket and told him I thought it was. The names were called and the violators went before the bench. IF THEY PLEADED GUILTY, justice moved swiftly. If the plea was not guilty, both the officer and the violator were sworn in for testimony. Some were found not guilty, but most were found guilty. The violator who pleaded guilty was asked if he had any comment before sentencing. This seldom aided the violator. An hour passed. The judge thought we needed a break and a smoke. The air conditioner wasn't working well. Court was called back into session now. There were more seats. We heard more cases. There were all types - speeding, careless and reckless driving, improper passing, failing to yield the right of way, failing to stop for a stop sign, making a prohibited U-turn and making a prohibited left turn. And there were all types of people. MY NAME WAS CALLED about 10 p.m. "How do you plead?" the prosecutor asked, "guilty or not guilty?" Pleading not guilty for making a prohibited left turn was senseless I had observed. "Guilty," I answered. The judge asked if I had any comment. I gave what reasoning I could for my having made the left turn. "Whenever I come to Miami I travel east on 8th St. to 2nd Ave. and make a left turn there," I told Judge Snowden. "The afternoon I received the ticket I was traveling west on 8th St. and made a left turn onto 2nd Ave. When traveling east on 8th St. the left turn is permitted and even encouraged because of 10-second lead." I was holding the judge's attention. "I PROBABLY MADE the prohibited left turn because I thought the same permission was granted to those traveling west on 8th St. "It was a poor excuse for the violation, especially since a sign had been there declaring no left turn. The judge said he knew of the intersection. He thought for a minute. "I find you guilty and fine you $10 or a day in jail in addition to court costs," he said looking at me. I was ready to pull out my wallet when I hear him say, "But the sentence is suspended." I thanked him and quickly left the courtroom. I smiled as I went down the elevator and out onto Flagler St. I was thinking of the uses I had for the $10 Judge Snowden had let me keep.