Ban Reporters from County Hall
At least if they're vying for six-figure jobs: After reading September 25's "Selling out at the Miami Herald," by Francisco Alvarado and Chuck Strouse, I realized why Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess always seems to escape accountability in Herald articles for the zillions of scandals that have occurred on his watch. The reporter who covered the county, Matt Pinzur, was angling for a job. Pinzur couldn't afford to write anything negative about Burgess because he wanted to work for him.
The whole situation makes me sick. I have no doubt Pinzur will be Burgess's loyal lap dog. He has been doing that all along as a reporter anyway. I just worry about Pinzur revealing the identity of county whistleblowers who leaked negative info to him, most of it great stuff that never made it to press.
The county forbids ex-employees from lobbying for two years after they leave; the Herald should institute a similar rule for reporters. Otherwise, reporters will expect the same future job opportunity and will go lightly on the administration.
Shame on you, Matt Pinzur!
Jeral
Pinecrest
Maybe the school board too: Mr. Pinzur's flip and Tania deLuzuriaga's connection with new Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho aren't firsts. My own adventure years ago with a Herald education reporter's bias reminded me never to assume anything. Our founders must be turning in their graves.
Charlotte Greenbarg
Hollywood
Black Mark on This Guy
Solidarity forever: I couldn't help but see all the hypocrisies in Michael Symonette's argument as described in Gus Garcia-Roberts's September 25 story "Black Against Obama." However, my main question is: How can Mr. Symonette call for blacks to unite and rally behind anything when the majority of his argument is based on the differences among African-Americans? Unfortunately, Symonette is still living in slavery days. He has an intense fixation on the color differences among African-Americans. Instead of gaining black support, he is perpetuating the rift among African-Americans. It was a well-known practice of slave owners to create unequal treatment among the slaves in order to prevent them from uniting and revolting.
In Symonette's case, the plantation must still be up and running, because throughout the article, Symonette continues to refer to this antiquated "skin color rewards system" by calling Rev. Jesse Jackson a "house negro" and saying Barack Obama "was in the house with the master." By the way, Senator Obama's ancestors were never slaves in America; therefore he wouldn't have been in anybody's "house"! If Symonette wants to gain black support for his controversial ideologies, he shouldn't continue his anti-black rants.
Danica Jones
Miami
Stepin what?: Michael the Black Man is a paid slave to the highest bidder. He has been selling his soul and pimping hatred for years. Spewing hate and fear among the races pays well in Miami. Michael spends his Sundays having huge, raucous events in residential neighborhoods — events that should be held in commercial venues.
He is no more than a Stepin Fetchit clown whom you have to laugh at to keep from crying. He is such a pitiful character. Pity the fool who dares assault a larger-than-life person such as Barack Obama.
Lorraine Rodgers
Miami
Step it up! I'm black! This story is all Symonette's noise and anti-Obama rhetoric. What is Symonette doing to help black people? Driving around in his expensive car? Oprah does way more for people than he does. Screw this guy.
G.S. George
Miami
Just Another Word
For messing with Cubans: Regarding "Freedom Fight" (Tim Elfrink, September 25): What about giving Fidel Castro the Medal of Honor for his "compassion" and "concern" for the well-being of the Cuban people? And why not give the five "patriots" freedom, unconditional citizenship, and $5 million each for their "friendly" attitude toward the United States? And let's send all Cuban terrorists to death for attempting to fight good people such as Castro and "The Heroes." Right?
Miguel
Miami
