Letters from the Issue of October 10, 2002

The article by Kirk Nielsen about the failure of the city's housing programs in Model City ("Where Did All the People Go?" September 26), points to another conclusion: Government solutions do not work!

We've heard all these things before. But New Times did not offer clear analysis or solutions. That would have been more helpful.

Randy Koper

Miami

You'd be surprised what bright, determined people can do: I'm still wondering why none of the local papers bothered to pick up on the fact that Miami is now the poorest city in the nation and do a series like this one. Thanks to New Times for putting a human face on the demographics and even more important, for asking local politicians to be accountable to their constituents.

I am an African-American woman who grew up in New York City during the Seventies. I remember the staggering crime, garbage strikes, and the blackout. I've also witnessed what happens when smart, committed people get together and say, "Hey, let's do something about this problem."

No, New York is no Utopia, but there are programs in place that work. Some of the folks quoted in "A Few Good Ideas" (October 3) have some great suggestions. Let's hope that someone with power can help bring those ideas to fruition. (Clearly it won't be Joe Carollo. He didn't even bother to answer a simple question about his role in helping to alleviate poverty in the city. No wonder nothing gets done around here.)

T. Simmons

Coral Gables

It almost made me want to return: I lived in Miami between 1986 and 1990, in the Belle Meade neighborhood. I was an inner-city high school teacher during that time at Carol City and Miami Northwestern. Luckily I have gotten out of teaching and into computers, and since 1996 I've lived in Minneapolis. When I lived in Miami, I read every issue of New Times. Now I go to the New Times Website.

I recently read "We're Number One!" and must say that once again New Times's professional journalism shines brightly, almost making me wish I were back there in the trenches, teaching science to students who didn't give a crap, who had bigger things to worry about, such as getting shot, so they slept in bathtubs; or doing science-fair projects about the bacteria on cockroaches that ate off people's eyebrows while they slept.

So much for nostalgia. Thanks for the memories.

Bob Naydol

Minneapolis

Get rid of the embargo, then get ready for boom time:One must try to discover the reasons why Miami has been given such a remarkable award as America's Poorest City. Among many, I would suggest that one is our elected officials in Washington, who have been exchanging political favors in the House and Senate to maintain a useless embargo against Cuba instead of bringing badly needed federal funds to our area.

Obviously the era of Claude Pepper and Dante Fascell is gone. It is time these elected officials stop this game and work toward eliminating the Cuba embargo. When it is gone, I can safely forecast a boom in South Florida's economy.

Isidro Borja

Miami

Who needs a corrupt, lawless, racist town?I worked in Miami for more than eight years and would have quit my job to get out if I had not received the transfer I asked for. I worked for the Immigration and Naturalization Service at Miami International Airport. It was a good paying job with good benefits, yet people keep quitting and going elsewhere. The City of Miami is one reason.

We would stop illegal aliens and find they had the business cards of congressional representatives on them. Miami-Dade County has turned into a true representative of the Third World. It has all the corruption, failure of law, and racism you could want. That's why so many people are leaving.

James Carroll

Calgary

Alberta, Canada