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I believe in the arts. It is vital for any developing city. I like to think of it as a large part of the soul of any area. Take for example a neighborhood like Overtown in Miami. Today we look at it as one of the poorest areas in the city; the fact is it was once the heart and soul of the Black music scene in Miami. Many of the great jazz musicians of the 40s and 50s would play the clubs in Miami Beach, but after hours would end up in Overtown for a real show of their talents. But the music in Overtown died (or was killed by development and highways trying to segregate it) and the place has never been the same.

While on the Council we conducted a study that shows that for every dollar the city of Miami Beach spent on the arts, almost $2.50 was returned to the area in the form of money spent in restaurants, clubs, stores, etc. In other words, art is good business for any city — especially a growing city.

Which brings me to the vote taken by the Miami-Dade County commission approving $4.1 million to bail-out the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts.

Did anyone who follows what goes on in Miami have any doubts the commission would ultimately fork over the dough? Seriously, I thought of watching proceedings on the county’s cable channel, but decided against it, I was really too busy, and anyway, I knew exactly what would go on. And I was exactly right.

Plenty of complaining by commissioners for mismanagement, faulty planning, etc. was the order of the day. A group, clad in yellow, was there to plead for the dollars. “Please don’t close down the PAC,” they seemed to be saying.

Seriously, folks, after half a billion (That’s right the correct word is billion — or 500 million. It was supposed to have cost $250 million to build…) has been spent to build the very attractive white elephant close to Downtown Miami, a great part of the money being tax dollars, the commission was not about to say, “Close down the joint” after less than a year of operation. How would they defend that? At least by bailing out the place, they can blame the people (”other” people) they have running it for being incompetent.

The fact is I am glad Miami built the Performing Art Center. I just wish we had politicians and public administrators who would not view our tax dollars as their own personal piggy bank. This place has had money woes since the get go, but no one in a position to complain has said much of anything that makes a difference. And as I mentioned, the Center ended up costing twice as projected.

Also, there are many who live off these programs (and buildings) who represent not-for-profit artistic organizations and who seem to be untouchable in this town. I know of one, for example, who retired recently, and has only drawn praise for her work. And she did do many good things for Miami. What was never reported, and will never be known, is that this person traveled the world at our expense. Part of the job, I understand, looking for talent and the next big show or artist to bring to town. But this person thought herself a diva, so demanded five star hotels, and expensive champagne dinners — all at our expense. No one in power ever dared tell her she ran a NOT FOR PROFIT. And like her, there are many in this town, and we help subsidize them.

And don’t doubt for a second that the politicians don’t know about what goes on. Most of the time, they just don’t want to rock a boat where the people on it help get them elected.

So like I said, I am glad the Carnival Center will remain open. I just wish we could close down, remove and replace some of the people in power who made it the reality it is.

Alvaro F. Fernandez

Thinking back almost 20 years I remember questioning the fact that Bork was not approved. I am very glad he was not. And a recent incident bears out what all opposing senators must have known in 1987. Bork was not fit to serve on the court.

Bork is recognized as a brilliant legal mind. But he has his detractors, and to some, his faults. A recent New York Times editorial stated that “He has long been famous for his lack of sympathy for people who go to court with claims of race or sex discrimination, or other injustices. He has gotten particularly exercised about accident victims driving up the cost of business by filing lawsuits. In an op-ed article, he once complained that ‘juries dispense lottery-like windfalls,’ and compared the civil justice system to ‘Barbary pirates.’”

Here’s the catch: Maybe for his smarts, the positions he’s held, or, who knows, maybe for being friendly with presidents, but Bork considers himself above the fray — in other words, better than most.

That bothers me. The first rule I would impose on any judge, for that matter is that he at least be empathetic. Definitely not the case with Bork.

Let me tell you about what happened just last year; Bork spoke at the Yale Club. On his way to the dais he stumbled and fell injuring a leg and his noggin. Now he’s doing what he called others Barbary pirates for doing. He sued the Yale Club.

For starters, and to set the record straight, after Bork took the plunge, he apparently dusted himself off and proceeded to give his speech. So there wasn’t much in the way of injuries. He followed that performance, though, with a $1 million lawsuit — add to that punitive damages, and he wants the Club to pay for his attorney’s fees. Speaking of lottery-like windfalls…

What irks me is that Bork probably believes that he deserves the money. In other words, he considers himself above those simpletons who in the past he referred to as pirates and such.

Alvaro F. Fernandez