Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Times
Wednesday, September 1, 1976, page 6 (of 61)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
opinion • editorials • commentary • letters / Support 'rights'
opinion • editorials • commentary • letters Support 'rights' Coral Gables City Commissioners are upset with the Citizen's Bill of Rights, a proposed amendment to the Metro Charter which will appear on the ballot in next Tuesday's election. They consider the legislation to be unnecessary, saying that Coral Gables and other municipalities already observe many of the canons set forth in the proposed document. We don't agree totally with that reasoning, particularly as concerns that portion of the amendment broadening financial disclosure requirements. We do, however, agree with the city's feeling that including municipalities in the "bill of rights" is a gesture of consolidation and an intrusion on the city's right to pass its own laws. Dade County needs the bill, as presented by Metro Mayor Steve Clark. Metro is and has been an unresponsive giant. Red tape and bureaucratic delays are its trademark and citizens in the unincorporated areas need some form of redress. Smaller political entities, such as Coral Gables, are more responsive to those they serve, because citizen reaction to unfair treatment can be readily felt at the polls. But without the ability to recall county commissioners from within individual districts, and electing them county-wide to begin with, the same degree of responsiveness is simply not there. South Dade's needs surpass the feelings of indignation felt by Coral Gables, and with that in mind, we urge voters to pass the proposed amendment Tuesday.
New approach
Incisive and intellectual political commentary by the media has not resulted in hordes of voters going to the polls on past election days. It's not that readers or television viewers are unable to comprehend issues or listen to campaign rhetoric without falling asleep. It's just that there's a lot to contemplate and, it often seems, little time to think things through. So we took a different tack in our special election section which starts on Page 29. We stuck to printing biographies of all the local candidates and tossed in a photogarah of each for good measure. It is our hope that because of this approach, those running for office will be more than a name on the ballot to those who are planning to vote Tuesday. And to those who think they might not, perhaps reading about someone's civic involvement, educational background, learning candidates' ages, whether he or she has a spouse or children, might strike a chord and stimulate someone to vote who might otherwise not have bothered.
the gables publishing company serving south dade and coral gables since 1926
jim storey general manager bea moss managing editor address: 4627 ponce de leon blvd. coral gables, fla. 33146 gary gibbs news editor carole myers advertising manager bill mc hugh circulation yvonne moss classified manager telephone: 666-7981
camera comment
Photo by ELIZABETH OWEN One wonders if all that campaign literature that seems to be plastered in every conceivable place ever really is seen by the potential voter's eye. Obviously, something as apparent as "No Parking," which we can see in four places along this alley behind some stores in South Miami, is either not seen at all, or simply ignored.
SM Jaycees credited with giving one can
EDITOR: A recent Times/Guide article gave the Bus Bench Advertising Company credit for providing both garbage cans at the problem bus stop adjoining the Doc Thomas House at 5530 Sunset Drive. We at Tropical Audubon would like the community to know that the one large orange can was provided by the South Miami-Kendall Jaycees to encourage people to keep the site litter-free. We, too, thank Marge Radomski, Audubon's secretary, for emptying the cans on an interim basis until either the County or Bus Bench Advertising Company assumes proper responsibility. In Tropical Audubon's efforts to establish the Doc Thomas House as an Environmental Education Center, a massive clean-up was needed on the grounds. Tropical Audubon is grateful to the South Miami-Kendall Jaycees, Boy Scout Troop 1776, and Cub Scout Pack 483 for enthusiastically doing the job on July 17. Such combined community effort warrants public recognition. TOBY DAVIDOW Tropical Audubon Society 8860 SW 87th St.
reader response / Articles help them grow
reader response Articles help them grow EDITOR: I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the article about the start of a chapter of American Association of Retired Persons members. It will interest you to know that of all the phone calls I received, only one did not join. Our initial membership from that article was 52. Your paper does reach people. D. FERGARSKEY 7920 SW 21st Terr.
Why did they bother?
EDITOR: I don't know why the Republicans bothered to have a convention in Kansas City. The Democrats very effectively won the 1976 campaign for president in 1974 when they overwhelmingly approved Gerald Ford as vice president under Richard Nixon. Obviously, they knew very well what they were doing. R.A. WOOLLEY 8320 SW 119th St.