Submitted by District 5 Constitue from Miami, Florida

Q: Mr. Burnett, I quite don't underestand... you wrote about a person that represent the majority of people that live in Overtown and Liberti City, she is a representative of you race, a person that lives in your community and a person that has so much influence over District 5 and also on the community she represents and... you have never contacted or met her? How difficult is for you to give her the change to meet you and for you to hear what she has to say! She lives in Miami... if you are so concern, please pick up the phone, meet her, express your concerns and then write about your opinion... but please, dont give us the readers an opinion when you have not even met the woman yet or ever chat with her! Do as a favor, pick up the phone, call her and then write your "objective" opinion.

Answered 11/20/09 13:21:24 by James Burnett

A: District 5 "Constitue" my opinion isn't objective. It's my opinion. And my column wasn't about whether or not Spence-Jones is guilty. That's not for me to decide. My column was about politicians operating under a cloud, and how their personal problems can distract them from their districts' larger problems.

Submitted by B P from Miami, FL

Q: I completely agree with your article's stance today. I ask a question for the world to answer, not necessarily for you to answer: why can't a full search for a qualified candidate be initiated within the District 5 community? I'm sure much talk has already begun on this issue, and names have been tapped. But I would like to see a consortium of District 5 non-profits, for profits, and community groups come together to support a candidate who is smart, honorable, and willing (maybe not currently wanting) to serve their community.

Answered 11/20/09 12:49:31 by James Burnett

A: BP, very good question. There are other qualified candidates who've emerged over the past year. But the voters spoke and overwhelmingly - to the tune of more than 80% - put Spence-Jones back in office. I don't have anything against her. I don't know her personally. My sole argument is that her legal problems could overshadow the larger problems of the communities she represented. And those communities don't need the distraction right now.

Submitted by Al Gill from Miami

Q: Just a compliment on your article today about Spence-Jones, you summed up everything I have been feeling. As an African-American personally I am embarrased that she cares so little about her community, and only cares about holding on to power. What bothered me the most was marching in to the indictment with "We shall Overcome", I can imagine Dr. King and others turning over in their graves.

Answered 11/20/09 11:07:43 by James Burnett

A: Al, thanks for the note. Yours is a good point. Public service is supposed to be about what's best for the community, and the constituents. I'd argue it's almost arrogant to think that, in spite of the distraction of a criminal case, no one else can better represent the fifth district right now. As for the march with "We shall Overcome," don't get me started! Take care.

Submitted by sergiu from Romania

Q: I am interested to move from Europe to FL! Can you advise me if it is a good idea in these difficult times?

Answered 11/06/09 14:38:01 by James Burnett

A: Sure, come on over. Real estate is cheap now.

Submitted by Marsha Maynard from Miami

Q: UHSAP, what does that stand for?

Answered 11/06/09 12:10:48 by James Burnett

A: Hi Marsha, it's an attempt at humor - a failed attempt, I gather, based on your questions. No worries though. My wife tells me all the time I'm not as funny as I think. Answer: You'll notice in the prior paragraph, I said that former Judge Davis would now join the ranks of other distinguished South Florida officials-turned-cons, all of them being "faculty" members at the (obviously fictional) University of How to Steal, Abuse Power, Stoke Disdain for Authority, and Increase Juveniles' Cynicism - thus the UHSAP...

Submitted by J.C. Charles from Hollywood

Q: The shooting in Overtown is nothing new, what else can the police, elected officials or whoever can do to help a community that doesn't seem to want to be helped?

Answered 10/24/09 09:17:23 by James Burnett

A: C. Charles, who said anything about elected officials or police? You must've read someone else's column, 'cause I advocated for people helping themselves. Even so, I don't think riding a high horse is warranted here 'cause I'm sure no matter how good you think your 'hood is you get govt help too. Does your community have police, garbage pickup, etc? So thevgovt helps you all keep things orderly. Plus, don't assume that the assailants were residents of Overtown. When I was a crime writer I sat inside an elderly gent's home in a bad 'hood one day and watched drug deals take place in the alley out back. I wrote down license plate #s of the buyer's cars. Turned out most were from the upscale burbs. They were the kinds of hyocrites who wouldn't want drug dealing in their 'hood but were willing to contribute to the downfall of someone else's 'hood.

Submitted by SHEQWENA EVANS from TALLAHASSEE, FL

Q: I'M REALLY IN DISBELIEF ABOUT DENNIS BEING KILLED. IT BAD THAT PEOPLE THAT NEVER KNEW HIM, NEVER GREW UP OVERTOWN, & ALWAYS HAD THE SILVER SPOON HAVE THE NERVE TO COMMENT "HE WASN'T A GOOD BOY BECAUSE HE WAS STANDING OUT THERE ON A CORNER" HE DEFEATED MANY ODDS & GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL! HE DID THE ONLY THING HE GREW UP SEEING & FIGURED AS A BLACK MAN THIS IS HOW I HAVE TO SURVIVE...HIS LIFESTYLE WASN'T RIGHT BUT HE COULD'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO TURN THINGS AROUND... WOULD IT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IF HE WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF A CHURCH & GOTTEN KILLED? OR MAYBE IF HE LIVED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A "THATS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STAND ON CORNERS"? SOME OF YOU PEOPLE ARE IGNORANT, YOUR CHILDREN PROBABLY DO THE SAME THING HE WAS DOING... & I GUESS ITS JUSTIFIABLE BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIVE OVERTOWN. IM PROUD TO SAY I MADE IT OUT & IM IN COLLEGE... BUT DENNIS WAS MY UNCLE'S BESTFRIEND & HE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SEE HIS 21ST BIRTHDAY... HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY DENNIS "HENN" HILL! I'M JST CONFUSED AS TO WHY THEY HAVE NO LEADS...

Answered 10/23/09 14:17:52 by James Burnett

A: Sheqwena, sorry for the loss of your friend. I'm a tough love kind of guy who says we have to instill a mentality of urgency in young men, so that they think of work and busying themselves with productivity as crucial to good living. But I understand your frustration with some of the criticisms. I've found in my years as a reporter that there are plenty of young people from the "right" side of the tracks involved in dirty business. Their dirty business just doesn't turn violent as often, because it doesn't involve really desperate people as often.

Submitted by BlackCoffee42 from Miami

Q: Mack: Can you start to teach your teens that despite what the streets say and what the videos play; it is okay to tell if something happens in their area. If people do not come forward as witnesses, crimes will not be solved. James, Can you pass this message along also to the gentleman who wanted his YOA organization to have more exposure. That should be a weekly topic of discussion for the youth. Try to get them deprogrammed off the videos and onto valuing life.

Answered 10/23/09 14:15:05 by James Burnett

A: BlackCoffee42, glad to pass that message along. I addressed it in last week's column: http://www.miamiherald.com/columnists/james-burnett/story/1285212.html.

Submitted by MACK from 7TH AVE LIBERTY CITY

Q: We never seem to get around to Gun Control or at least Bullet Control. There are too many weapons available for the youth in Miami. I have a teen club in Liberty City called Club 56. I have a file folder full of obituaries from all the funerals i've been to over the years. And 85% of the kids were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's always the good ones. Do we ever trace the bullets or guns back to see where they originated and how they ended up on the streets of Miami? They did that in NYC and got results. City should find out who's supplying the guns... the AK47's that are so common in these killings

Answered 10/23/09 13:35:31 by James Burnett

A: Mack, thanks for the note. We could go on all day about gun control, but I defintrly agree they need to find the source of those AKs and prosecute 'em!

Submitted by BlackCoffee42 from Miami

Q: James, I just want to comment re: BrickellPrincess. Ma'am there are people who live there because of the inexpensive costs. My friend worked nightshift for a local police dept. while attending school to become a teacher. (she is now a teacher) She lived one block from the old Miami Arena. She met her husband who works for the City of Miami (for the past 10+ years) in Overtown. My friend's mom retired from JMH (27+ years) and she still lives in her same home near the Overtown Metrorail station. Just because you see "some interesting characters" does not mean all Overtown residents are "low life" individuals. There are many working class people in Overtown.

Answered 10/23/09 13:05:09 by James Burnett

A: BlackCoffee42, I couldn't have said it better. I down w/tough love, but you can't condemn an entire neighborhood because its residents are poor or because some are criminal. There are lots of causes for poverty, and not all of 'em involve bad or irresponsible behavior.