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Survey surveyed

We weren't fishing for compliments when we ran our reader survey, but we got a lot of them and thank our readers for the many kind remarks. We also received some solid, constructive criticism and suggestions on how readers would like to see The Times/Guide better serve their local needs. In the first instance, a reader wrote, "We depend on you to give us news that affects us locally and every day." And another resident penned, "It's great having a newspaper with neighborhood news." Those are lofty compliments on past achievements, and a cue to strive to retain such praise with future issues. Suggestions and criticism were well-founded. "I would like to read more about local environmental programs and issues." Also, ". . . more coverage and debate regarding crime, sewers, street repair, police, etc." One reader asked for "more investigative reporting into Coral Gables city government" while a Gables reader countered with, "We have the finest police and fire departments in South Florida. Please leave them alone." Most popular, according to our survey, were editorials, police news, government reporting, our All About People feature, letters to the editor and personal columns. Of lesser interest were announcements of weddings and engagements, reports by high school correspondents and society columns. We would guess that if you haven't recently married or become engaged or attend high school, those items, (admittedly of limited interest) wouldn't catch your eye. But many readers are in those categories and such news is important to them. And in defense of society columns, we've never known a good one that didn't invoke the wrath of many people from time to time. The 99 per cent positive response to our editorials (they're read, if not always agreed with) pleased us. And we want to keep it that way by stating our opinions only on the editorial page, in down-to-earth, laymen's language. No stuffed-shirt phraseology for us — we know It can turn readers off. On a lighter note, one reader suggested printing "a funny cartoon now and then." Several responses asked for a sports section (which we are in the process of building). One solitary comment was a bit of an ego booster. "You are much better . . . than The Miami Herald . . . maybe you should be the daily and not them." We will carefully consider all suggestions for building reader interest. And we will continue to work hard to make your newspaper an interesting and important part of the community we serve.

the gables publishing company

serving south dade and coral gables since 1926 | jim storey general manager | bea moss managing editor | gary gibbs news editor | carole myers advertising manager | bill mc hugh circulation | address: 4627 ponce de leon blvd. coral gables, fla. 33146 | telephone: 666 7981

Solution to crime not a simple one

reader response | EDITOR: A reader wrote that on "April 1, three of Dade County's finest met the full wrath of a sick society and gave their all for it. The fact that the gunman committed suicide at the site doesn't mean that the problem is still not with us." He suggested teaching the Golden Rule to children. Agreed. But the solution is more complex. Let's begin with that gunman. He was from an upper middle class background, possessed of a better than average intelligence, reared by well-to-do Catholic parents in a rural community where he was assiduously instructed in the Golden Rule. He was a happy, well-adjusted child, except that his mother said "he told lies." He was a highly successful executive by the time he was 30, a civic leader in his community, living by that Golden Rule and reaping its rewards. He was an expert marksman, which was status symbol among his social peers. To protect the woman he loved from a jealous ex-husband, he moved to this area during a recession and insurmountable economic obstacles compounded themselves. He could not accept the idea of lowering his standard of living and became a car thief. He thought he wouldn't get caught. He thought it would be just long enough to obtain a foothold. And he did get caught. His sanity became affected while he was in a Georgia jail for six weeks, where two prisoners committed suicide because of conditions there during his incarceration. He was transferred to Dade County and permitted to be released on bond. It was apparent he was scared, couldn't cope, had claustrophobia, but it was difficult arranging to have him taken back into custody. He ran away and became a fugitive. The authorities were fully informed that he was armed and dangerous. The woman who loved him asked for a hearing in open court, which. she was granted. However, she was unsuccessful in resolving the situation because she did not understand the rules prescribed by our justice system; her only concern was getting help before someone got hurt. Perhaps it would be less painful to the survivors of the victims, as well as those of the gunman (for they too, were victims) if this disaster were allowed to be forgotten, but if we do not scrupulously scrutinize, we will never learn how to prevent it in the future. Could a more severe punishment for telling lies as a child have helped? Or outlawing marksmanship as a sport? Or more uniform requirements for the conditions in penal institutions? Or stricter rules governing release of prisoners on bail bonds? Or a better system of disseminating information regarding dangerous fugitives to the police who protect us with their lives? Here was a car thief known to be a fugitive, armed, dangerous, and from this area. He had been at large 55 days when the disaster happened. Why didn't detectives specializing in car thefts in this area use more caution when investigating stolen cars? Obviously, the Golden Rule did not help to prevent this tragedy. What could have? VIRGINIA PAUL

Photograph of girl lacked decency

EDITOR I think it unfortunate that you would have the lack of taste and decency to publish such an amateurish photograph on the front page of your April 24/25 issue. I believe that in your pursuit of "news" around town you should be able to do better than cause what I am sure is a good deal of embarrassment and humiliation to an innocent victim of a very common physical abnormality. L. R. SYDER 620 Majorca Ave. Editor's note: Mr. Snyder refers to a Page One picture which showed members of Coral Gables' fire rescue squad treating a young woman that reportedly suffered an epileptic seizure.

Pen pal wanted

EDITOR: I'm currently incarcerated in the Idaho State Prison. My reason for writing is that I'm going to parole to the Coral Gables area but I know no one there. I'm sincere in my desire to maintain my freedom and work and live in Florida. If you should have the space in the Times/Guide where you could place a small notice, I'd really appreciate it. I wish to correspond with anyone who is sincerely interested in people. I'm now a prisoner, but still a person, and my return to the free world would be much easier with at least one friend to talk to. GEORGE WAUGH P. O. Box 7309 Boise, Idaho 83707

Picture in poor taste

EDITOR: The photograph on the front page of your April 24 newspaper, concerning the young woman having the epileptic seizure, was most distasteful. I feel that if it were cancer, chicken-pox or anything else, it is in very poor taste to give publicity to anyone's personal health problems. If it were me, I would call my attorney and see if there could be an "invasion of privacy" suit. MOLLY BETHEW 160 Morningside Dr.

Pro-ERA blitz on again

EDITOR So we are to be blitzed by advertising supporting the Equal Rights Amendment featuring Jean Stapleton, the Edith Bunker of All in the Family. We will be told that the vast majority support the E.R.A., and this is as phony as a $3 bill. If this were true, why did the voters in the liberal states of New Jersey and New York reject E.R.A. amendments to their state constitutions last November? It would appear that the E.R.A. supporters are using rigged polls. E.R.A. will not do the things the proponents claim, and neither will it do all the harm the opponents claim. It will be as effective as the law which states that employers may not discriminate because of age. Ask a 60-year-old about this — in fact, ask unemployed persons over 40. The proponents of E.R.A. are far more vocal than the opponents, and this is the reason the silent majority suffers from so much bad legislation. Why not put the E.R.A. question on the ballot to permit the voters to decide? Of course the proponents will argue that we do not know what is good for us, and they would prefer to exert high pressure lobbying on our Florida legislators. WILLIAM R. ANGLE 15600 SW 77th Court

Letters to the editor on topics of local interest are welcome, but are subject to editing and condensation to meet style and space requirements. Letters must be signed.