Adis Vila is a hero, not a disgruntled employee: In response to Kirk Nielsen's story about Miami-Dade Community College president Eduardo Padrón ("Bad Man on Campus," June 19), whistleblowers are consistently referred to as "disgruntled employees" here in Miami. Yet it takes so much courage and energy to come forward, which is why it was so unbelievable and refreshing to read about a Cuban, Adis Vila, stepping forward to expose the unethical maneuvering of Padrón and his cohorts.
I wish her well and hope that others at MDCC will courageously support a Cuban who won't play the political con game no matter what the stakes. Ms. Vila certainly deserves such support.
Alicia Banuchi
Kendall
That's what you get when a reporter becomes a partisan for a disgruntled employee: "Bad Man on Campus" made no pretense at passing for journalism. It was pure, unadulterated, and evidently unedited, junk. The article was full of lies and distortions. I expected more from New Times. The reporter, Kirk Nielsen, handled this assignment as a partisan, nonobjective cheerleader for a disgruntled employee. Although there were a number of us who wanted to return his phone calls to speak with him, it readily became apparent from his relationship to the disgruntled employee that he had no objectivity.
Roberto Martinez
Miami
Editor's note: Roberto Martinez is chairman of the Miami-Dade Community College board of trustees.
It makes us different -- and it drives away the good people: Regarding "Bad Man on Campus," I've always believed the Miami area is quite distinct from the rest of the U.S. Not only are we ethnically and culturally akin to Latin America, we have also imported a major nuisance from that region -- public corruption in metropolitan Miami is endemic! And for the sake of brevity, I won't even discuss the two staples of our economy: the drug trade and money laundering.
From the county government to Miami-Dade's numerous cities to the various public entities that serve them (the airport, the school board, police departments, the port, fire departments) -- all have been in the limelight as a result of the improprieties of upper management. And now Miami-Dade Community College is another fine addition to the list.
Is it any wonder why the county has experienced a "brain drain" for the past two and a half decades? All the righteous and professional people who once ran this area have left for Broward and Palm Beach counties. Not only are we the poorest among major metropolitan areas, but the quality of life here is the worst -- horrible infrastructure, low levels of educational attainment, inadequate sewers, high cost of living, environmental pollution, rude drivers, et cetera.
Actually I don't blame the JDs, MBAs, and MDs who run this fiefdom called Miami. They're just taking advantage of a good situation; besides, they have to pay back all those student loans somehow. No, the blame lies entirely on the voters, who are so easily duped, so easily manipulated that they deserve all the shit they have to endure to live here.
At least the area offers fantastic winters, lecherous nightlife, and loose sexual mores. I've been saying it for years: Miami is a terrible place to live, but it's the best fuck you'll ever have!
Francisco Contreras
Miami
Padrón: Presidential Seal of Approval
As student leaders we applaud the president: Kirk Nielsen's article "Bad Man on Campus," about Dr. Eduardo Padrón, our college president, was an unfair representation of the type of leader this man is. Having served as past and/or incoming presidents of the Student Government Associations at Miami-Dade Community College during the academic year, we had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Padrón and observing him in meetings with other administrators, faculty, and students.
Some of us have either attended a Board of Trustees meeting or other meetings. It is our observation that he is a fair, warm, and professional leader. There was always time for those with whom he was meeting to fully express opinions, seek information, and enter into discussions about whatever issues were being addressed. It is very common to see him seek advice from experts around the table on a particular topic and proceed with whatever action the majority has deemed necessary.
Furthermore, we truly believe that Dr. Padrón always puts the interest of students first in his day-to-day actions. As student leaders we are involved and participate in the allocation of our campus student-activity budgets. Dr.
Padrn values our opinions and suggestions, and works hard to provide leadership so stude nts have the right learning environment, the best educational tools, excellent faculty, and clean and efficient facilities.
As the college expands and enrollment increases, Dr. Padrón has recognized the need to provide us with additional space. We are convinced this is the motivation that has driven his every effort to obtain other facilities. Dr. Padrón enjoys the respect and admiration of the student body.
Kimberly Castillo, current SGA president, Wolfson campus
Jerry Huson, current SGA president, North campus
Azza Mwidau, current SGA president, Medical campus
Shaista Mohammed, current SGA president, Kendall campus
Rafael García, current SGA president, Homestead campus
Claribel Tiru, past/present SGA president, InterAmerican campus
Emerio Diaz, past SGA president, Kendall campus
Best Tobacco Tale
Sometimes a cigar store is just a cigar store: Regarding the "Best Hand-rolled Cigar" award given to Deco Drive Cigars in this year's "Best of Miami" (May 15), it should be noted that "Joey B" is my hard-working husband, Joey Bevilaqua. He is the sole owner of the company, has no "junior partners," and is solely responsible for the great success of our Miami outlets.
We are naturally grateful to have been chosen as "Best Hand-rolled Cigar," but the "junior partner" and Hollywood-style nickname given to us send the wrong message about our shops.
Laura Bevilaqua
Fort Lauderdale
How Hip the Hood
The life and letters of Jailbird John: Thanks to Tristram Korten for the dead-on piece about John Hood ("The Dull and Dreary Nightlife," May 8). As a former South Beach nightlife columnist for the Sun-Sentinel from 1993 to 1997, I met Hood through his New York City pal Luigi Scorcia when Lu lived in Miami. Hood was unavoidably likable, whether warbling "Creep" at the piano or doing drugs in my car on Collins Avenue at 11:00 a.m. while driving him to see some club owners in Hollywood. I once wrote a column about "what's hip now" and all I could think of in Miami was John.
We now correspond regularly, and I send him books to review for www.bullymag.com, for which he is sickeningly grateful. (Find the story called "I Knew She Was Mad." It's brilliant.) Pleas for a visit have gone unanswered, but his letters are so damn amusing, as he has become the letter-writer for all the inmates who tell him their hard-luck stories ("She was only in a coma, for chrissake...") and let him spin them into literary true-crime gems worthy of Norman Mailer and Truman Capote.
Yes, it is a safer world now that he is off the streets, but with a typewriter and three-to-ten during which to write, he's as free as a jailbird in cyberspace.
Sandra Schulman
Nashville, Tennessee
