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What next in SM?

The only thing South Miami's City Council has said in defense of its plan to double the city's garbage collection fees is that the cost will still be less than that paid by Coral Gables residents. Big deal. Two wrongs don't make a right. In the face of a possible doubling, also, in the city's millage rate, the Council has been grasping at straws to avoid the millage hike (and therefore the spectre of increasing taxes). Last week, the straw was cutting back the police force; this week, it's doubling the garbage costs. Doesn't the council realize that a price increase is as blatant as a tax increase and the solution is prudent money management, not disguised income increases? One step toward prudent management can be seen in plans to consolidate several departments and eliminate some supervisiory positions, as recommended by City Manager Jack Present. We commend him for that idea and we hope that petty politics won't stand in the way of sensible trimming. It may just be that a relatively small population unit is facing the day when it can no longer afford to support a full-blown government.

Try for driving 'A'

Remember the orange bumper stickers that used to come out each fall: "Drive carefully, school's open." Now, that's a year-round slogan. Some 85,000 students are attending summer programs currently underway at Dade County Schools — this is no time to relax your vigilance or to ignore traffic signs posted near school buildings. While we are still sobered by the tragic accident this week at SW 136th Street and 97th Avenue, let's not lose sight of the fact that this is not the only neglected, dangerous unmarked intersection in South Dade. And while we would caution children to be careful on their skateboards and bikes, we are still the adults and they are the children. Our role is to drive not only defensively, but protectively. For the purpose of safety, school is always open and no one wants to make an "A" in tragedy.

Best education always the goal

EDITOR: Thank you very much for the supportive article on school integration which appeared in your paper this weekend. It is just such interest and concern as The Times has constantly exhibited in community affairs that has been a strong factor in the success in such a major project. Obtaining the best education for our children has always been the uppermost goal; we know that these very same people whom we call children today must become the knowledgeable and effective leaders of our society tomorrow. Your article was a fitting summary for the closing of this part of the school year. Your paper deserves an "A" for all your efforts on the behalf of quality education. MRS. IRENE COLSKY President, PTSA

reader response | Thanks for a job well done

EDITOR: This short note is to thank Sherry Gache for the manner in which she was able to clarify her notes from the material I gave her during our brief interview. The article in the Times-Guide July 3-4, was well written and I appreciate the time and trouble she gave herself to give some publicity to my efforts to promote the display of the "Declaration of Independence" as written by the founding fathers of this great country. CLAUDE BRODEUR

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.

people poll | Chocolate milk is out in school, do you care?

"They should keep chocolate milk. Regular milk is mostly for breakfast ... it's only good in the morning with cereal or something. Besides, at our school, the regular milk is sometimes sour or has big chunks of ice in it." David Purisch Sunset Park Elem. "I don't care because I don't drink either plain milk or chocolate milk." Michael Benowitz Blue Lakes Elem. "I think it's wrong not to serve chocolate milk. I like it and all my friends do too. We should have a choice." Cheryl Benowitz Blue Lakes Elem. "I really think chocolate milk should be served ... some kids just don't like the taste of plain milk." Michael Stephens SM Junior High "Chocolate milk goes a lot better with the meals they serve at school ... plain milk only goes with certain things. What they should get rid of is that orange juice ... it's terrible." Marjorie Purisch Glades Jr. High "They should keep the chocolate milk because sometimes the white milk they have is sour. A lot more kids like chocolate milk." Lori Maisel Glades Jr. High

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