While all Floridians should be indebted to Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerald Kogan for decrying the "ignorant and misguided ideas" coming out of the Florida Legislature [Openers, August 1998], he misses the point in assigning the cause to a shortage of attorneys in that body. Our legislators are no more ignorant than the population at large in their lack of understanding of or appreciation for the principle of separation of power. The blame for that shortcoming lies at the schoolhouse.
However, just as one should not have to complete law school to comprehend the separation of power, citizens should be able to comprehend issues before the Legislature and understand the laws it passes without having to have it all interpreted by lawyers. All too many of this nation's legislative bodies are dominated by attorneys who appear to be dedicated to assuring the future employment of other attorneys. It seems to me that around 20% is a healthy percentage of lawyers in the Florida Legislature.
Purves "Turk" Harley Jr.
President, Cinema Ex Machina
Hollywood
Constitution Revision
Florida Trend reports ["Changing Florida's Constitution," July 1998] that proposed amendment No. 9 purports to address "equal rights," and without careful reading it might appear to do so. Constitution Revision Commission members voted, however, to retain long-standing discriminatory language people seem not to recognize: The commission voted to retain the word "physical" before the noun "disability." In 1838, Florida's first constitution placed the word "free" before the noun "men" to be assured that no one defined as other than free would find equal rights in Florida. By placing the word "physical" before "disability," anyone whose disability is not defined as physical cannot refer to Florida's constitution for equal rights. The constitution remains equal rights for some. It establishes a philosophy, still, that some do not merit equality. Shameful, is it not?
Harold A. Maio
Director, Mental Health Clearing House
Fort Myers
Who is the Minority?
In its July 1998 issue, Florida Trend lists "Minority-Owned Businesses." I noticed that the majority of the names on that list are Latin. I can't help but feel anger and frustration that Latins are still classified as a minority. We all know that Latins in Dade County are in the majority. They make up some 60% of the population here. I believe that makes everyone else the minority.
My anger lies in that there are all sorts of special loans and financial aid reserved for the Latin business owner. (Also for the black business owner, but I believe the black businessman is entitled to all the aid that is available.) However, my husband, who has owned his own business in Miami for more than 40 years and is a Purple Heart-decorated veteran of WWII with a service-related disability, has been turned down several times for aid. Perhaps, although he is a minority as a handicapped business owner, he is the wrong minority.
I no longer recognize my hometown. Miami has become an unfair (bigoted in reverse) city that is a difficult place to live, with a poor quality of life for people like us.
Leona LaPato
Coral Gables
Venture Capital
Barbara Miracle's article "Playing the Venture Game" [FT, August 1998] points to a lack of investors as the reason start-ups and small firms are having trouble getting capital. The problem is not with a lack of investors. The problem is a lack of communication, understanding or ability on the part of local business groups or economic development offices to put capital with the companies that need it. My firm has been focusing on supplying capital of between $25,000 and $100,000 to such companies. Most local and regional business networks don't know what to do with venture capital. The Tallahassee/Leon County Chamber of Commerce even told us that our business "isn't needed here." Fortunately, Enterprise Florida has been more helpful, but it lacks a cohesive network. The investment money exists, but many groups would rather beg the Legislature for a hand-out of public tax dollars than be responsible for their own economic well-being.
Ted Reinhard
President, Intrepid Global Industries
Tallahassee
Flagler County
For seven years, I served as the governor's appointee from Flagler County on the Northeast Regional Planning Council, but Florida Trend does not consider Flagler northeast Florida. As the fastest-growing county in the state, I think we should be recognized, and I feel we are northeast.
Martyna McLean
Palm Coast
Corrections & Clarifications
The August TopRank Florida list of Self-Insurer Funds incorrectly stated 1997 direct losses for the Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal & A/C Contractors SIF, Operators SIF and Citrus SIF. The figures listed were the SIFs' loss reserves for all years.