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"Occupied Territory" helped me decide to finally cancel my subscription. Every month after reading your magazine, I could not help but sense an overall negative attitude toward southeastern Florida. I know Florida Trend is published out of St. Petersburg and I understand that northern Florida is in the deep South, but how dare Underwood imply that the fiscal problems of Miami are due to the Cubans?
The Cuban community is extremely proud and appreciative to be American. If he could see through his racism, Underwood would observe a people who have served in wars and who shed tears when the U.S. national anthem is played. The Cuban immigration has been net positive to this country.
In every community, there are enthusiastic nationalists who are important for maintenance of a diverse cultural heritage. But you Southerners would have trouble understanding this. Simply ask African-Americans about their experiences of living in the South.
Rodolfo L. Pages
South Miami
It is hard to understand why a so-called business magazine would print a story slamming a community which has helped transform the economy of a 1960s sleepy backwater beach town into a 1990s enterprising, dynamic and internationally recognized financial entity.
Was Mr. Underwood a Miami resident in the '60s when Cuban exiles were consistently denied rentals in Miami Beach? Or in the '70s when cultural animosity led to the passage of Metro-Dade's Anti-Bilingual Ordinance? What Mr. Underwood sees as polarization is the natural shift of Miami's economy towards an international clientele. Florida Trend should nurture the efforts of the hard-working Miami Cuban community.
Graciela C. Catasus
Miami
The policies of the U.S. in the early '60s favored Cuban immigration to this country, but not for altruistic reasons. Cuba was a pawn in the Cold War. The professional class of Cuba was enticed into this country as a means to deprive Castro of his elite citizens.
In favoring Cuban immigration, the U.S. was protecting its backyard. When that did not succeed, the U.S. organized and financed the Bay of Pigs invasion. After that failure, the Kennedy administration developed a guilty conscience, for allegedly failing to provide air cover, and immigration from Cuba gained momentum.
Mr. Underwood seems to resent the fact that Cubans in Dade County have achieved a certain degree of prominence in the business world and lately in politics.
Peter Rodriguez
Coral Gables
The chauvinism and partisanship of the leadership of the Cuban establishment is only too apparent. The composition of a committee to encourage community cooperation, appointed by state Sen. Alberto Gutman, cavalierly ignored African-American citizens and seems to be dominated by Cubans. Much of the Cuban establishment's agenda seems to reflect the very repression they claim caused them to depart their homeland.
Sandra K. Sharp
Miami Beach
"Occupied Territory" should be read by those who accuse the Spanish media of being extremist for they will realize that in the Anglo press there are also extremists. It is very sad to see how a good writer can let his emotions guide an article. I am offended by the insults of Mr. Underwood to Miami's residents and especially to the Cubans who are also part of this great city. As a journalist, I can tell Mr. Underwood to check his facts about the past and present of Cuba. None of them is correct.
Tomas Regalado
Vice Mayor, City of Miami
I can relate to Underwood's frustration. Miamians have enjoyed a lot of what the Cuban influx brought to the city - the Latin charm, music, food, etc. But there is a downside to living in "occupied territory."
I grew up in Miami, lived there almost 30 years and experienced how someone can become an outsider in his hometown. If I am shopping in Calle Ocho, I don't mind the language barrier, but I get frustrated when I can't communicate with a sales clerk at Dadeland Mall. Unless you are bilingual, you are at a disadvantage. For such reasons, as well as the staggering crime rate, we moved our family out of the city I once called home.
Bruce Gagne
Port St. Lucie
Underwood wrote what I've thought for years. My wife is Mexican. We had to go through all kinds of gyrations to get her legal resident alien status. No one rolled out the red carpet for her, nor should they have. I strongly support legal, limited and balanced immigration - no special favors. If Cuban immigrants want freedom, maybe upon arrival in the U.S. they should first be given a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, so they can see the price tag.
J. Carlson
Alachua
Most Cuban exiles have become good citizens and good neighbors and have made significant contributions to the community. However, the arrogance, lack of civility and ingratitude of many of their spokespersons have created an enormous chasm. I would hope that those who proclaim leadership in the Cuban community will read the piece, understand where they have gone too far and make some effort to reduce the hostility that has been generated and which has caused an exodus of many long-time Americans from Dade. My emotions are mixed as the mother of my two grandsons was born in Cuba.
Stuart G. Newman
Miami
"Occupied Territory" was an accurate representation of the hidden opinions of a great many Americans living in Miami. Though it is true that our once monolingual anglo-society has been richly enhanced by the Latin influence, it is also true that our healthcare and education systems have been overrun and qualitatively reduced by the overwhelming numbers of uneducated and sick immigrants that arrive each year.
Since the Latin "leadership" put its noose around the neck of Miami's city government, our city has been driven to bankruptcy. I am third generation Miamian and have seen my city become the welfare department of the Cuban government. Yet many of these recipients of our hospitality have little or no appreciation. Also, there is inequality in the special treatment of Cuban immigrants. Ask any citizen of any other Latin American country who is trying to become an American citizen.
Clarke J. Jones Jr.
Miami
Having lived in Miami since 1935, I've seen it grow and change a lot. Nothing compares with the Cuban invasion. Underwood's comments that they seem not to consider themselves immigrants but "exiles" is right on the mark. They ignore the blessing of democracy and are prone to throw bombs at even Cubans who advocate free speech. What was not mentioned is an exodus of "Americans" (accelerated by Hurricane Andrew) from south Florida. Before I sold my business and retired, one of my employees moved to Stuart. She had a bumper sticker that read: "Will the last American leaving Dade County please bring the flag?"
Holbrook E. Ayer Jr.
Miami
I was born in Cuba 46 years ago. I am proud of my heritage. I am also proud to be an American. Mr. Underwood is correct. We are loud, clannish and nationalistic. However, if we are going to indulge in generalizations, then let's add that we are also hard-working, entrepreneurial and staunchly pro-American. We think of ourselves as political exiles, not economic immigrants, which is usually misinterpreted as arrogance, but exiles are typically more concerned with plotting a return than assimilating into the mainstream.
If Cubans have "occupied" Miami, taking over the town, as Underwood implies, then why does Miami Beach (with a 60% Hispanic population) find itself without Hispanic representation in the all-Jewish City Commission. If not for civil rights legislation and single member districts, blacks, Hispanics and other minorities might still be sitting in the back of the bus.
Willy A. Bermello
Bermello-Ajamil & Partners
Miami
Growth Management
Your item on growth management in Jacksonville [Around The State, February 1997] needs a positive footnote. As the Legislature intended, the city and the department are working together to resolve important and difficult issues promptly and fairly.
We applaud Mayor John Delaney's initiative in appointing the 40-member Growth Management Task Force to review Jacksonville's future growth. There are many substantive issues needing review, especially infrastructure, and we believe this effort shows the commitment to develop real solutions.
On the education front, the department has met with city officials three times in 45 days to address the issue mentioned in your article concerning a local comprehensive plan amendment associated with two desperately needed public schools. In addition to facilitating the school sites, the amendment will reconfigure retail, office and residential uses into an improved design in the fast-growing Bay Meadows Drive/State Road 9A area, while adding new protection to 55 acres of wetlands. By trading increased density and intensity on a site already within the urban area, and already scheduled to receive urban services, an agreement was reached to approve the amendment as requested. Public interests and issues were addressed equitably and promptly at both the local and state level.
Our state's ability to address the multiple and complicated issues raised by growth and development can only be done in partnership with local government.
James F. Murley
Secretary, Department of Community Affairs
Tallahassee
Long Distance Rates
In "Competition On Hold," [FT, February 1996] Wayne Harris provided an excellent update on the state of the telecommunications industry. I would like to stress, however, that competition has had a tremendous impact on long-distance rates. Rates are dropping daily and comparison shopping can save businesses thousands. By implying that companies should look for integrated services, the article points readers to a few large companies that may have higher long-distance rates than companies which focus on long distance. Most of your readers do not need integrated services and can benefit from lower long-distance rates immediately.
Joe DiMaio
General Manager
Primus Telecommunications
Tampa
Job Growth Incentives
In Florida Trend letters for Jan. 1997, the comment from Matt Walsh (editor, Longboat Observer) - "Glad to see you point out the folly of Florida spending $1.36 billion on business tax breaks and incentives" - is an example of the "Opinion du jour" regarding business-related government programs without even basic analysis of such programs.
How satisfying it is to see Larry Pelton (president, Business Development Board of Palm Beach County) argue for a worthwhile and efficient use of taxpayer funds. The multiplier effect of getting 3,967 people into newly created jobs that give them the ability to pay taxes and buy consumer goods not only helps job incentive programs pay for themselves in a relatively short period of time, but helps people out of unemployment and into productive employment.
Cristen D. Glancy
Coral Springs
Corrections & Clarifications
In February, Florida Trend incorrectly cited the Central Florida Business Journal. It is actually called the Orlando Business Journal.
