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

Why Was It Defeated?

It would seem that the desire for impeccable moral standards in government would smooth the way for any reform introduced to an elected political body. For that reason it is hard to accept the decision of the Coral Gables City Commission to reject the proposal offered by Commissioner Joe Murphy last week. Commissioner Murphy asked the Commission to consider legislation to tighten up the conflict of interest provision of the City Charter. Anyone reading this provision as it stands today can see quickly that it is vague and insufficient to serve the idea that men holding political office should not be allowed to make decisions concerning matters that could benefit them personally. The charter provision was written in the 1920's in the era of laissez faire and wheeling and dealing in Coral Gables. Those days have gone forever, although some people in Coral Gables insist on acting as if they are still here, an attitude that has worked a hardship on this city more than once. In rejecting the reform offered by Mr. Murphy, the Commission argued that the Charter provision is adequate as it now stands. A simple reading, as mentioned before, will show that this just isn't the fact. A tighter conflict of interest law, such as advocated by Mr. Murphy, would have helped prevent one of the scandals and lingering sores in this community. We refer to the much-publicized Blount case. To refresh the reader, the Blount conflict grew out of a decision of the Commision to re-assess local property to the advantage, in several cases, of elected officials. They attempted to get around the conflict of interest angle by ordering Tax Assessor Tommy Blount to put the tax reductions into effect. However, Mr. Blount refused to order the tax reductions on the grounds that they were not justified. He was demoted for his pains and the reductions were put into effect anyway. It can be concluded from these circumstances that the Charter's conflict of interest provision as it now stands is easily circumvented. The Blount case, a classic one, is only one instance where a tighter provision was called for. When the ICty Commission rejected Commissioner Murphy's proposal last week, it did nothing to enhance confidence in local government and it did nothing to hasten the death of the slow-dying every-man-for-himself attitude that was the byword of the boom and bust days of Coral Gables. One would think that any law which bolstered honesty in government would be quickly enacted by any well-meaning group of elected officials. Instead, the City Commission turned aside this opportunity with sophistries and evasions. Those who voted against the move in effect refused to contribute to better local government.

Letters To The Editor

Editor, The Times, Many,many thanks to the Times and Guide for the nice check awarded to me in the "Santa Sleigh Contest" and to the judges for making my Christmas a much happier one by selecting mine as the winning entry. I shall enjoying spending it as much as I enjoy reading your friendly paper. A blessed holiday season to you all. Mrs. Alvah Jenkins Biscayne Park * * * Dear Sirs, It was such a thrill to receive your letter and check, awarding me second prize in the Times and Guide "Santa Sleigh" contest. Ever since moving here, I have read the TIMES each week. It has helped me to find services, stores, supplies, etc., in a neighborhood which is new to me. Thank you again - it was fun. Sincerely, Selma Magram 11120 Killian Park Road

Ooof!

Remember The Times

25 Years Ago Coral Gables City Manager Gene Williams, returning home from Kent, Ohio, brought with him the five new busses the city had bought to modernize its transportation network ... While Miami police arrested 32 persons for breaking the law over the holidays, Coral Gables notched a perfect record of no arrests ... The First Presbyterian Church of Coral Gables was dedicated ... Babs Beckwith, a former Gables' resident, was fast becoming a top New York model. Her picture had appeared twice on the cover of a prominent fashion magazine. 10 Years Ago The first baby born in Coral Gables in the new year of 1951 was Joan Carol Wiener, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Wiener. The baby was delivered during the early morning hours of Jan. 1 ... Miracle Mile, a mecca of merchant's shops, turned into "A Mile of Dimes". Collecting money for the March of Dimes, the Coral Gables Jaycees planned to mark off with tape on the Mile each dime contributed ... Mrs. C. W. Munson, the first president of the Coral Gables Civic Club, was guest of honor as the group observed its second birthday ... Coral Gables police and the Coral Gables First National Bank teamed up to remind forgetful drivers that their meters were running out of time. Each person who paid his parking ticket at the station was presented a "time reminder" with a built-in clock that indicated how much time remained on the person's meter.

PROFILE of the week

JUREIT A two-fold threat in the business world is William F. Jureit Jr., who is both a practicing attorney and a certified public accountant. He is a partner in the law firm of McHenry & Jureit and Ayers, Jureit & Bond, certified public accountants. Both firms are at 3300 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Jureit was born in Baltimore but came to Miami as an infant in 1922. He attended Miami public schools, graduating from Miami Senior High in 1939. He attended the University of Florida for one year, then went on to Columbia where he got his B.S. degree in accounting. World War II interrupted his education. He served in the Army Air Corps from 1942-45. After the war, he attended the University of Miami Law School, graduating in the class of 1949. Jureit is the "perennial" financial chairman of his Kiwanis Club. He is past treasurer and director of the Coral Gables Bar Association and has been active in the local, state and national affairs of certified public accountants, serving on many committees. He is past secretary of the Dade County Chapter of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Jureit is also a Mason. Married in 1947, Jureit is the father of three: April, 12, Leslie, 4 1/2, and William Jr., who is three. They live at 8920 SW 118th St., Kendall. A man with no time to waste, Jureit's hobby helps him get places more quickly. He has been flying for about two years and owns an interest in a private plane which he uses for business trips throughout the state and for taking the family for a Sunday ride. B. Baltimore, Md. M. Mary C. April, 12; Leslie 4 1/2, William 3 O. Attorney and Certified Public Accountant Ed. Univ. of Florida, Columbia Univ., U. of M.

South Miami Roundup

By EDWIN KNIGHT KNIGHT THE WEEK AFTER CHRISTMAS—a time for parties, parades and post-season bowl games. South Miami has seen plenty of parties and a few parades. This year for the first time it will host its first bowl game, a scrap between two 115 lb. teams before a capacity crowd at South Miami Junior High Field. A BOWL GAME, whether it be between college or midget teams, is good for any city. One of the teams to play in South Miami's bowl is from Waycross, Ga. The other is from South Miami. City officials are going all out to welcome the visitors, show them a good time and make more and better plans for next year's game. BUT SOUTH MIAMI wouldn't be having its bowl game had it not been for a Coral Gables police officer. He's Charlie Skalaski, who aside from being a police officer, is South Miami's recreation director. In his spare time he attends University of Miami. He's a big man. He weighs well over 200 lbs. and he's tall. He smokes cigars and talks fast and excitedly, especially when his subject is sports and youngsters. I CALL HIM BIG Charlie. He's a busy man, going night and day to keep up with life and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. He's a native of Bridgeton, N. J., and he loves Coral Gables and South Miami. His first love is sports, though, and his second love is working with kids. Combine these two loves and you have one of the finest recreation directors any little town ever had. CHARLIE CAME TO CORAL Gables on a UM scholarship. But this was in 1945. He has been a policeman for 11 years and South Miami's recreation director four years. He does his squad car riding at night and his sleeping by day. In the afternoons he is South Miami's recreation director. IT'S A TOUGH LIFE for any man. But Big Charlie is a born recreation director. South Miamians are glad he is. Since coming to the city he has organized South Miami, Dade County and Coral Gables youngsters into organized teams in nearly every sport. There are over 400 boys and girls on baseball and softball teams and some 150 adults on softball teams. IN FOOTBALL, BIG Charlie has some 160 youngsters in pads and helmets playing honest-to-goodness tackle. In basketball, there will be approximately 175 adults and boys running down the courts this winter. Even South Miami's colored youngsters are given a big hand. Charlie has a recreation director at Lee Park, where probably the only Negro midget-size bowl game in the country will be played this weekend. ASK CHARLIE WHY he is doing all this and the answers seem evasive and modest. Charlie came from a poor family. There were few organized sports when he was growing up. When a lad played football he did so at the risk of life and limb. They were just a bunch of kids in a littered street with a borrowed - or stolen - football. THE BIG BOYS WON the games and the little fellows were beaten. There were no such things as weight divisions, pads, helmets, referees or bowl games. There were no hackslaps if games were won. Their parents punished them if their clothes were torn after games. "I want to help these kids have something I didn't have when I was growing up," he explains modestly. "KIDS HAVE ENERGY to burn. If they don't expend it on the playing field, they'll do it in stealing bicycles or breaking into stores," he added. "Show a boy what fun there is in sports and you show him a way of life." How about the boys in Charlie's home town who belittled football and baseball as kids' stuff? Many are in prison now-and Charlie never forgot. BIG CHARLIE BEGAN his recreation work in Coral Gables. After police duty he helped in the afternoons and at night with baseball and football at Coral Gables Youth Center. The Center then was at LeJeune Road and Andalusia. He wasn't paid. He did it because he liked it. He wanted to help the kids. LATER CHARLIE HELPED improve the Police Benevolent Association athletic field at Coral Way and SW 74th Ave. It is known today as Coral Gables Stadium. It was Charlie who went before the Coral Gables Commission to have the city lease the land to PBA, and it was Charlie who put the bite on Arthur Vining Davis for money to fence in the property and lay pipe for a sprinkler system. WHEN CHARLIE CAME to South Miami, the city had little to offer youngsters, adults or senior citizens. Today, South Miami has more than enough recreation for South Miamians. Actually, about 60 percent of those in South Miami's programs are not South Miamians at all, but County residents. ANOTHER FIVE PERCENT are Coral Gables residents and the remaining 35 percent are South Miamians. For as long as Big Charlie has had organized football in his program he has wanted a bowl game. He had an outstanding team this year, saw the opportunity for a bowl game and grabbed it. In a speech before the Dade County Civitans, he outlined his plan. HE TOLD THEM THE COST would be negligible, because the visiting team would pay its way. The Civitans agreed to sponsor the game, with the proceeds going to the March of Dimes. Next Charlie had to find the visiting team. After talks with other recreation directors and friends, Charlie got his visiting team. CHARLIE IS PROUD of his work. He's proud of the boys, too, and the cooperation from the parents. "The [?] thing we need is a field house or a recreation center to round out the program," the big man said. South Miamians want the recreation center, but more than that, they have Charlie Skalaski.