Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Times
Saturday, January 15, 1977, page 1 (of 24)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
Win free circus tickets
The circus is coming! The circus is coming! Maybe you never heard that familiar cry as a child. Perhaps you never even had the opportunity to go to the circus. Well, now is your chance for both because we're crying out that the circus is coming and you may have the opportunity to laugh at the clowns, smell the sawdust and marvel at the man on the flying trapeze. It's as simple as this: If your name has appeared in The Times/Guide since Jan. 1, 1977, in a story, notice, announcement or in any capacity, call our office on Monday, Jan. 17 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., phone 666-7981, tell us when and where you saw it and give us a phone number where you can be reached. Your name will then be placed with others and a drawing will take place on Monday evening. The names drawn will receive two free tickets to the Greatest Show on Earth on Miami Beach Jan. 28-31. We'll let you know on Tuesday if you won. Good luck!
Are there grounds for complaint?
See story, page 2
The Coral Gables Times \ The Southwest Guide
"Serving The City Beautiful Since 1926" 4627 Ponce de Leon Boulevard ● Coral Gables, Florida 33146 Florida's Best Suburban Newspaper ● Phone 665-7981 Weekend Edition 24 Pages Vol. 51 No. 5 January 15/16, 1977 10 Cents
Survey says CG citizens pay too much for police
By ANA MARIA ALVAREZ Staff Writer Coral Gables citizens are paying an unnecessarily high price for the level of police service they receive, according to a survey released this week of the Coral Gables Police Department. Weak and outmoded management practices within the department are the main reason cited for the high cost of police service in the City Beautiful. The survey cost the taxpayers $11,800 and took two out-of-town consultants a total of nine-man days to conduct. A total of 16 recommendations—from a 12 per cent reduction in personnel to a reorganization of the entire police department—are listed in the survey compiled by McManis Associates, Inc., a management and research consulting firm in Washington, D.C. According to the survey, the amount of money the Coral Gables Police Department spends in salaries and wages of personnel are substantially higher than that of the national average, when compared to the population it serves. "The figures indicate that the department may be clinging to the old-fashioned and disproven concept that the only answer to its problems is more manpower and more money," the survey states. The report recommends a 12 per cent reduction of personnel and a realignment of ranks that would save the city $294,860 in See SURVEY, page 4
Fear rapists SD residents meets with police
By KAY SEVERINSEN Staff Writer Fears of a rapist in the High Pines area prompted more than 250 people to meet with Public Safety officials and Coral Gables police this week. A High Pines woman was raped Dec. 10, another woman was attacked but not raped Dec. 17, and ever since, rumors and fears have run rampant through the neighborhood. "They've been panicking down there," said Officer Jim Baab of Metro police. "Some people think there have been 10 rapes and that is just not true." At the meeting, residents were told how to deal with a rapist if attacked and how to handle suspicious persons through a neighborhood crime watch system. They were also told that the Public Safety department is attempting to solve the problem. "I can't tell you exactly what the department is doing," explained Metro officer Ralph Page. "After all, the rapist might be sitting right here in the room." Shirley Magill, a crime watch area chairman, said her neighbors have calmed down now. "People were getting carried away. Everyone would add just a little more to the story. A lot of them have young daughters.
Gables Country Club employes go on strike
Photo by FRANK TURSI A few of the 44 employes at the Coral Gables Country Club who went on strike Thursday afternoon give the "V" sign. By ANA MARIA ALVAREZ Staff Writer Claiming unfair labor practices, the majority of employes at the Country Club of Coral Gables went on strike at 2 p.m. Thursday. Prompted by the firing of two employes in the past couple of days, the poster-carrying strikers picketed the club, demanding that the club management recognize their affiliation with the labor union. "We are not asking for more money or anything like that. We just want the protection of the union so that they (the management) can't arbitrarily fire us just like they did the other two men," said Manuel Suarez, one of the striking waiters. According to Mario Barrera, the organizer of Local 355 of the AFL-CIO, two years ago the club employes voted by a 2 to 1 margin in favor of union representation. "For two years we have been trying to negotiate with the club's manage- See UNION, page 16
Members sell their talents for church building
See story, page 17