‘Game-changing?’ Playboy relocation is nothing Miami Beach should be proud of | Opinion
Bunny Beach
Re: the Aug. 15 front page story, “Playboy is coming to town, with plans for a Miami Beach club and headquarters.” City Commissioner Jose Magazine said the move by Playboy “is game-changing“ and shows that the city is “reimagining our economy and focusing on economic development.“
The club will include a world class restaurant and an exclusive members-only space inspired by the storied Playboy Mansion. The company’s CEO hinted that live events may include topics such as cannabis advocacy, female sexuality in the arts and the future of masculinity. I am shocked and appalled.
In these days of seemingly universal disgust with the likes of Jeffrey Epstein, our civic members feel it is appropriate and economically desirable for our city to support this business, which panders to wealthy persons behind closed doors. To say it will include a world class restaurant is to say that Playboy subscribers only read the articles. Shame on Miami Beach.
Michele Beauvais-Wagoner,
Miami
An emergency?
Just because President Trump uses horrific terms to describe crime in an area (not backed up by facts or statistics), that does not mean there is an actual emergency requiring federal troops to takeover. I hope the Washington, D.C. attorney general and the city’s mayor aggressively pursue their lawsuit against this outrageous abuse of power.
If ultimately the Supreme Court allows Trump to do this without significantly showing that a true emergency exists, there will be no limit to what he will do to maintain power. This could include canceling elections or making it impossible for people to vote. The Supreme Court must not allow Trump to become a true dictator.
Leon Botkin, Miami
County investments
During Miami-Dade County Mayor Levine Cava’s recent community budget hearings, several residents expressed concerns about the county’s investments in Israeli Bonds. We understand the public may not be familiar with the legal framework and restrictions guiding the county’s investment decisions, therefore, it’s imperative to explain how these investments are determined.
The Investment Policy, as established by the county commission and adhering to Florida Statutes, is designed to ensure the safety of public funds, maintain liquidity for operational needs and achieve a reasonable return within those priorities. These policies allow certain investments that meet strict credit, maturity and risk standards, including U.S. government securities and high-quality corporate notes.
I understand the political divide that any investment may generate. My role as clerk is ministerial, to safeguard these public funds, ensure all investments comply with the adopted policies and statutes and maintain accurate transparent records of all transactions.
Most recently, Florida Statutes were amended to include that investments be subject to a “pecuniary” or financial factor, such as potential investment returns and risks. These funds are not discretionary spending. The money invested in bonds comes from specific pools of county funds designated for investment under state and local laws.
I recognize the importance of public trust in the stewardship of county resources. My office remains committed to full transparency and will continue to make investment records available for public review so residents can see exactly how and where public funds are invested.
Juan Fernandez Barquin,
clerk and comptroller,
Miami-Dade County
Vital support
As president of SCLAD (Spinal Cord Living-Assistance Development, Inc.), I work hard to alleviate the profound needs of persons with physical disabilities in Miami-Dade County. Although rewarding, my job has been difficult. The people SCLAD serves are poor, often neglected and profoudly underserved. Services for them are scarce, often non-existent.
SCLAD has played a vital role in helping its program participants live safe sanitary lives with their families, avoiding institutionalization and/or homelessness. SCLAD is essential to preserving their independence.
Without Miami-Dade CBO funding, SCLAD clients and residents will struggle and the quantity and quality of future services will suffer. This is a plea to Mayor Cava and our 13 commissioners to preserve SCLAD’s modest but vital support.
Angelina P. Rodriguez,
Hialeah
Prison for all?
Re: the Aug. 14 Miami Herald online story, “DeSantis makes plans to hold immigrant detainees in North Florida prison.” While I sympathize with my fellow citizens regarding immigrants, may I assume this same facility will be the future home of any elected politician or political appointee found guilty of apprehending said detainees without due process?
Richard Pober,
Palmetto Bay
Frail stage
Driving by the Coconut Grove Playhouse the other day, I was struck by the ugliness of the sight, a beaten down shell of a building with metal stanchions bracing the facade.
The Playhouse opened on Jan. 1, 1927 as the Player’s State Theater, part of the Paramount movie theater chain. In the 1950s it was purchased, renovated, converted to a live theater and reopened on Jan. 3, 1956. On or about April 12, 2006, it closed due to financial difficulties and has been non-productive for 19 years. Despite that, it was listed on The National Register of Historic Places in 2018. The building’s facade — which some feel is aesthetically and architecturally significant when viewed within the context of other historical and current architectural achievements — is, at best, a meh.
I understand the passion that art, architecture and local history buffs have for this building and to some extent, empathize with it. I wonder, however, what an incredible, creative structure could have built years ago if not for all the time and money already spent to, in essence, create nothing.
Robert E. Panoff,
Pinecrest
Women’s suffrage
August 18 marked the 105th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage Day, which commemorates the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting many American women the right to vote. Women’s suffrage was a hard-fought milestone. Despite this accomplishment, the path to suffrage was not universal or equal; barriers continued for the full participation of all women.
Florida is home to many women’s rights advocates, such as Carita Doggett Corse, a historian and writer who led the Florida branch of the WPA’s Writers’ Project. Her tireless efforts contributed greatly to uplifting women’s voices and preserving their history. Her civic engagement left an everlasting legacy for women across our state.
Today, the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) continues advancing gender equality by enforcing the Civil Rights Act. From protecting women against employment discrimination and sexual harassment to promoting fair housing access, our agency works to ensure women’s rights are more than symbolic, but enforced.
If you have experienced discrimination in employment, housing, or public accommodations or are interested in learning more about your rights, contact the FCHR at 850-488-7082 or visit FCHR.MyFlorida.com.
Cheyanne Costilla,
executive director,
Florida Commission on Human Relations,
Tallahassee
New party line
In several South American countries, leftists named their political parties MAS — Movimiento Al Socialismo (Movement Toward Socialism).
Given President Trump’s unconstitutional deals with computer chip makers AMD and Nvidia and the neverending unconstitional tariff chaos, perhaps MAGA should be renamed MTF — Movement Toward Fascism.
Philip Gotthold,
Miami
High crimes
President Trump is now so concerned about crime in Washington, D.C. that he is taking away control of the civilian D.C. police department and empowering the National Guard to do the police’s job.
On Jan. 6, 2021, Trump personally incited mobs to commit criminal acts against the constitutional conduct of our federal government and the Capitol Building. I don’t understand the difference between those criminals and the criminals now on the streets of D.C.
Do the criminals he personally incited have a higher authority to commit crimes than others?
Harry B. Schrier,
Kendall