Audio By Carbonatix
Overdone
No story: Tattoos? On chefs? Ugh. Lamest article in ages (“Kitchen Ink,” C. Stiles, July 29).
Uncle Ash
Cooked up: What it all really comes down to is if you can cook! Who gives a sh*t if you got tats or not! Show some chefs with the bomb who dig cookin’!
Anon
Split Verdict
Washed up: Suspended Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones got what she deserved (“Luke’s Gospel,” Luther Campbell, July 10). She is a political has-been whose only purpose for running for office — where people don’t know any better than to vote for her — is to use it for her own personal agenda.
Javier
Bad call: She is innocent. Yeah, sure. Just because New Times says it.
Cyrus
Wake up: It’s sad to see all the wrongdoing that’s going on in Miami. The commissioners looked into Ms. Spence-Jones, but who’s checking on them? This is why Miami is so screwed up. The people at the top rob those on the bottom. The real question is: Who cares? We better wake up, people.
David
Kingdom Come
New monarchy: We live in a backward political atmosphere resulting in a very expensive, burdensome, and inefficient city government (“All in the Family,” Erik Maza, July 22). At the sight of Raquel Regalado’s campaign signs around town, I cannot help but draw parallels between her situation and the North Korean succession of Kim Jong-il and the Syrian pseudo-presidency of Bashar Assad from their respective fathers. We now have sons of former mayors sitting on the City of Miami Commission: Francis Suarez (son of former Mayor Xavier Suarez) and Frank Carollo (son of former Mayor Joe Carollo). The democratic system our forefathers envisaged is in danger.
Jerry
Letter of the Law
Paper trail: U.S. federal immigration law, in effect for many years, is similar to that of most other sovereign nations (“Arizona and America Join Joe Arpaio in Rushing to Inquire: Are Your Papers in Order?” Michael Lacey, July 29). All visitors — tourists, students, workers, etc. — are required to carry “papers” at all times, i.e., evidence of legal status. Can you imagine being in China or Switzerland or nearly any other country and not being able to produce your “papers”? I am neither a xenophobe nor anti-immigrant nor anti-Mexican nor anti-Martian (my wife of 39 years is a naturalized citizen). And I am in favor of an orderly immigration policy, including some way of legalizing illegal aliens of good character who have been contributors to our society. However, until we are able to secure our borders, there can be no meaningful policy. Neither Congress nor the White House (not just this administration) has the spine to guarantee a secure border before engaging in meaningful immigration reform. So-called comprehensive immigration reform is Orwellian newspeak for open borders. That is simply unacceptable.
Bob
Enforce the law: I cannot believe people’s lack of ability to connect the dots. As a teacher (and a senior who occasionally needs social security income and food stamps) in Miami, I see firsthand how illegal immigration negatively affects the social security system. I see social workers allow illegals social services; I see schools flooded with children who refuse to salute the flag, saying, “My father tells me I do not have to salute the flag. I am not American. I am Haitian.” I know many legal immigrants from all over Europe and the Caribbean islands who went through the required legal immigration channels and became citizens. They, too, are disappointed in the system that is not enforcing the law.
Julie
Show me: We have laws. We should have been asking for proof of legal entry no matter what for the past 60 years anyway! Greed is what started this, and greed is continuing it. How can you write such inflammatory rubbish?
Joan
People power: Yes, our ancestors were immigrants. However, were space and jobs as much of an issue at the time? Every nationality has its own history of being picked on. Many of the European immigrants hated each other even though they were white. Do people forget that? The only thing driving the immigration decision should be the answer to this question: What best represents what the citizens of our country want and are willing to support? Does “of the people and for the people” ring political bells anymore?
Anon
Correction
In the July 29 issue, Night & Day item “Boobs for Bombs” incorrectly listed the admission price for the World Erotic Art Museum’s exhibition “Sexual War Politics,” which opened August 2 and runs through the end of the month. It costs $15 for adults, $14 for seniors, and $13.50 for students 18 and older.