Letters from the Issue of July 08, 2004

That was my mother you smeared: I'm Neith Nevelson's youngest daughter and I would like to comment on Forrest Norman's story about her ("A Brush with Death," June 24). My mother seemed very excited that someone was interested in interviewing her, and I was excited for her as well. I assumed the article would concentrate more on her artistic genius and less on her inability to make money and provide a sufficient life for herself.

The previous article written about her, in the Miami Herald, was very disturbing and brought me to tears. But that's beside the point. My question is: What was Forrest Norman's inspiration? And why didn't he feel the need to interview those who actually know my mother (like me), rather than those who have only looked at her as a charity case?

My mother claims she never realized Mr. Norman would make her look as terrible as he did. Why would a reporter want to write an article like that? Why not just focus on her artwork? Is that so hard? Was it necessary to make her look like a haggard old bag lady on the brink of suicide?

A brush with death? I think not.

Xochtle Louise Mcknight

Irving, Texas

Only an ignoramus would write that: I am shocked at the way Brett Sokol, in his "Kulchur" column, portrayed mayoral candidate Maurice Ferré as a loser ("Ego Without End," June 17). Same with the subsequent letter to the editor from Dee Rogers (June 24).

Brett and Dee seem to be ignorant people who have no knowledge of Ferré's contribution to Miami in the past, as well as his potential for our future. These are pessimistic minds who find satisfaction in bringing down those who have a great vision for Miami.

I believe Miami-Dade voters should have many options to choose from in such a serious political race. If Ferré appears to be the sting who takes away votes from Jimmy Morales and José Cancela, then those candidates must be lacking something Ferré clearly holds.

Sonia Succar

Coral Gables

Hank is right -- no public money for the Marlins: I enjoyed reading Francisco Alvarado's interview with Hank Goldberg ("Toxic Jock Syndrome," June 24). I've listened to Hank since I got out of the Marines in 1992. In fact I've called his show eight or nine times and have always had good conversations with him, even when he's disagreed with me.

Sometimes, however, his hammerish style with other callers seems offensive. As he said in the interview: "I didn't have a great bedside manner in getting rid of [people]." I guess when you're 64 years old, it's pretty hard to start working on tact.

The interview was informative, and because of it I have now decided not to support a stadium deal for the Marlins. It's pretty easy to sit back and say, "I want the Marlins to stay, so let's support a stadium." I think on balance Hank is right about the stadium deal -- we all want the Marlins to stay, but public money should not fund a stadium. Rich owners paying rich baseball players obscene amounts of money while the public pays for their stadium? Now, that would be offensive.

Joseph Perea

Miami

Hank is all nonsense when it comes to Cubans: I'd like to respond to Hank Goldberg, who told New Times: "One of the great presumptions is that because baseball is big in Cuba, the Cuban-American population is going to show up to Marlins games. I remember when [former Marlins pitcher and Cuban defector] Livan Hernandez was called up during the Marlins' pennant run in 1997. He pitched one day, and [Cuban-American teammate] Alex Fernandez was pitching the next day. The Marlins had 19,000 people for one game and 20,000 for the other. So excuse me, but where's the passion?"

All right, Hank, that's really intelligent. Gee, I wonder how many passionate Cuban-American fans would have come to see Livan and Alex play if, say, the Marlins' ballpark were in Palm Beach. Or hey, even better, if it were in Orlando. A couple of thousand? A few hundred maybe? Come on, Hank, I thought you had some common sense.

The whole point of locating the stadium in Little Havana is because that's where we can fill seats, unlike Pro Player Stadium, which has a sad attendance record. To say that Cuban Americans lack passion for baseball is like saying Brazilians lack passion for soccer.

Angel Alonso

Miami, Texas

Editor's note: Yes, there really is a Miami, Texas. It's located in the state's Panhandle some 90 miles northeast of Amarillo. Population is 570, give or take a couple. It has been called "the last real cowtown in the Panhandle," and no, it does not have a Major League Baseball franchise.

Well, congratulations -- you succeeded: As a concerned youth who does volunteer work in the HIV/AIDS field, I'm writing in response to Rebecca Wakefield's article "The Unwanted Test" (June 24). Right off the bat, the illustration, with its shadow of someone holding up a needle, gave me the impression it was going to upset me. Needless to say, it did.