Miami: Blink and You'll Miss It

Journalistic talent, of course, must be applied to subject matter, and Miami has never lacked for fascinating subjects. Naming all the characters who've kept us entertained would result in a very long list, but I can't end this without gratefully acknowledging some of the stars: Alex Daoud, Abel Holtz, David Paul, Miller Dawkins, Cesar Odio, Howard Gary, James Burke, Bruce Kaplan, Carmen Lunetta, Alberto Gutman, Humberto Hernandez, Donald Warshaw, Miriam Alonso, Pedro Reboredo, Demetrio Perez Jr., and Art Teele.

Teele's July 27 suicide cast a shadow over a moment in my professional career that otherwise would have been bright, a moment I'd been contemplating for more than a year. Still, I remain confident in my decision to publish the State Attorney's criminal investigation of Teele, and though it's unfortunate that many readers were upset by our report, I'm accustomed to such criticism. Being the editor of a newspaper, after all, is not a popularity contest -- or at least it shouldn't be. I'd be dishonest, however, if I didn't allow that Teele's death affected me. In unexpected ways, it affirmed my belief that this was the right time for a change.

And so the evolution continues. New Times's current editorial staff, now under the able direction of Chuck Strouse, is as fresh and talented as ever. And Miami seems determined to reinvent itself every five years or so. It's a great town, and it's been a great ride.