Letters for April 17-23, 2008

Calling All Cars

I would like to say thank you for the article about Julie Perry and Suki Finnerty's accident ("Next Stop, Hong Kong," Tailpipe, April 10). You left out the $1,000 Broward County Crime Stoppers reward for any information leading to the arrest of the driver. I truly believe that information will help someone come forward. I mean, how does this happen in Fort Lauderdale on New Year's Eve and no one saw a thing? It's not like they were in some remote area. People were there and someone saw something.

The driver needs to make this right. While he/she can't change what they did, an insurance policy sure would help out these two girls. These girls need help. Julie cannot work, cannot move one arm, has a half-paralyzed face, and cannot hear in one ear. How is she supposed to make ends meet? And lawyers think they don't have a case against the city. Are you kidding me? The pedi-cab owner was not properly insured and was given permits anyway. That sure sounds like the city's fault to me.

Whitney Chapman

Indianapolis, Indiana

Class Warfare

In my opinion, this is another very sad example of how an unscrupulous landlord and her lawyer have used the legal system to bring bad faith claims against several small tenants to financially bully them into vacating the premises ("Take Your Rubber Ducks And Vamoose," Amy Guthrie, April 3). The strategy is, essentially: "Who cares if we have a legitimate claim or not? Just sue them anyway because they can't fight us." Unfortunately, such tactics often work, because small business owners really don't have the resources to fight back.

The biggest loser might be the community itself, which loses the charm and character that these small businesses bring. As the saying goes: "All it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing." Thank goodness Jerry Miles is fighting back. Maybe that will make it easier for some of the other small business owners facing down this landlord and her lawyer. This is nothing short of class warfare in which the government has abandoned the little guy.

Name withheld by request

Fort Lauderdale

What have I failed to understand? A prospective tenant signs a binding agreement with the known and longtime recognized representative of a commercial property owner. For many years this same representative collects the rent, answers the phone at the landlord's place of business, pays the property maintenance service to cut the grass and sweep the parking lot, and is the only person that can be contacted with regard to any issue concerning this same property. In fact, Barbara Schweppe even routinely signs and writes checks from the Lyons Family business bank account. As time passes, Dr. Lyons dies, his out-of-town daughter takes over the management of the business, fires the old property manager, and decides that she wants the old tenants out or a huge rent increase.

When this goes before a judge and jury, it should only take about 30 seconds for a decision in favor of the tenant. Any 12-year-old could have decided that the Lyons family is wrong and should honor the agreement that they have abided by for years.

Nancy Gululini

Fort Lauderdale

About The Redesign...

Have you even tried to read your own paper this week? I have been an avid reader for years -- from front to back, every ad, every event. But this issue has a new style which makes it hard to read (I don't need glasses, either). I know you will say we went to a new digital so-and-so format or whatever. Even digital has type set close to what you had before. Hope you change the type/font and layout back to the original, as this one does not agree with me and I won't read it.

G. Lombardi

Hollywood

Thanks for the Heads-Up

Wow, people really hate this story ("Spring Break Is Still Decadent and Depraved — and Awesome, Dude!" Michael J. Mooney, April 3). Why? Should we not know that misogynistic little fucks like these are running wild on the beach every spring? Does the knowledge that privileged college kids are blowing into our city and giving piss-filled cups to homeless men not give us some kind of insight into the human condition? I think it probably does. This is fine journalism, giving readers a picture of actual life as it is actually lived by a substantial number of Florida's annual tourists. We need these stories. The haters should relax.

George Muscone

Lauderhill