CocoWalk tenant
praises new owners
As a new tenant at CocoWalk, I would like to reply to the article titled ''Adios Tu Tu'' [May 7]. The article seems to portray the new owners of CocoWalk as the greedy bad guy who is unsympathetic to the history of the Grove and simply wants to get rid of nonpaying tenants. This is not the case.
Credit should be given to the new owners for what they are doing and giving to the Grove. Their idea is to build on the local, historic and individual flair of CocoWalk. The idea is to create a destination for all that builds on rather than depletes CocoWalk of its unique character; one that caters first to its local community and can still support homegrown success stories as well as the big chains.
The article misses the fact that although Tu Tu Tango may have been one of the original tenants, it became part of the movement that to some extent caused the downfall of CocoWalk. In recent history, CocoWalk lacked businesses that provided goods and services to a broad base. Instead, Tu Tu Tango and other past tenants catered to an imported drunken crowd.
An important change has taken place in the passing of the 3 a.m. law. This law developed because of support for changes by local community leaders who hold the same vision of what CocoWalk should be. Further support of this vision is needed to successfully revive the beautiful heritage at CocoWalk. I am proud to be a part of the rejuvenated CocoWalk and proud to be a part of Coconut Grove.
Emile Mourad
president, Full Bodied
Wine and Spa
Switchboard clarifieshelp line numbers
Switchboard of Miami would like to congratulate Cindy Krischer Goodman on the column about mothers' struggles to meet the needs of the families they support [''Balancing Act: Mothers on the margins,'' May 7].
She touched on very sensitive issues that we, as an agency serving the community needs for almost 40 years, know very well.
Last year alone, our Helpline services received over 180,000 from persons with problems that ranged from basic needs, domestic violence, elderly services, children issues, to the most severe: suicide attempts.
I would like to clarify that First Call for Help is the Broward 211 (954-537-0211). If your readers dial 211 from Miami, they will get us.
Trudy Krasovic
Switchboard of Miami
Mom suggests meetingto help each other
I read your column [''Balancing Act: Mothers on the margins,'' May 7] and it hit so close to home. I have two children and can totally relate to the mothers working multiple jobs to pay for bills, clothes, food, child care and summer camp. It's so tough!
The only thing I can think of which may help is creating a community, maybe over the computer, where we can all meet and exchange [children's] clothes. We should try to help each other because we are all in the same boat.
Eryka del Cueto
Miami
Thanks for listeningto flight attendants
Thank you for helping us to get the word out about such incidents like these [''Blast aboard flight probed,'' May 8]. The company probably pressured the pilot to not land to save the fuel cost. No one listens to us, the flight attendants. But you did, and for that, thank you.
Mario Nuñez
American Airlines
flight attendant
