It seems that what many residents suspected about the mayor is finally being revealed. If this isn't a classic case of conflict of interest, I don't know what is. I particularly found it amusing that Griffin claimed not to know whether Bill Keith had done work for the city. Keith was standing at the podium before Griffin during a commission meeting when the mayor thanked him for the fine work he had done in the Slum & Blight Study, which led to the Community Redevelopment Agency. It appears that Griffin has only selective memory.
All of Norman's articles on this proposed project have been passed around among homeowners and throughout condominiums in the beach area. It's encouraging to have an investigative reporter shed some light on the shady dealings that are transpiring at Pompano Beach City Hall. As a member of People of Pompano (an activist group), I always tell others that we are not against development, only over-development, which is what will happen if this hall-of-fame public land grab is allowed to take place.
I wholeheartedly agree with Norman that Bill Griffin does not belong in public service. It seems that public service is merely a stepping stone toward his real career ambitions. The only problem is that this new position as business developer with Turner is being bestowed upon his highness at the expense of the residents he represents. We're hoping to gather more momentum and signatures to have Griffin removed from office, but our immediate goal is to stop the Swerdlow/Swimming Hall of Fame deal, which will negatively impact Pompano Beach for years to come. Our commission, led by the mayor, conveniently continues to ignore critical issues like density, traffic congestion, environmental impact, compatibility, open space, emergency evacuation problems, schools, and quality of life.
Pretending to be concerned about the future of all Pompano Beach residents, Griffin neglects to inform citizens that an overdeveloped barrier island will deprive them of access to the beaches that they've always enjoyed. Now, thanks to Norman's article, we understand a little better what is motivating our illustrious mayor. Keep up the good work!
Christopher Van Vliet
Pompano Beach
Jim DeFede, repent!... Cuz you made a ba-a-a-ad choice: I've just read, in "the mullet wrapper by the bay," (the Herald) that Miami New Times¹ Jim DeFede, who regularly hot-dogged the Miami Herald with relish, is now just another drone/writer there who, in time, due to "financial restraints" at 1 Herald Plaza, will find his very testicles fed to the sharks! His journalistic testicles, anyway.
There is no fucking way in hell that those assholes in the Herald's ivory tower will allow the now-compromising DeFede to operate as he did over the years at New Times -- in a straight and forceful investigative manner. There are too many skeletons in and around Miami-Dade County that, for reasons other than good journalism, are taboo at the Miami Herald.
It appears that Jim DeFede has sold out to the "enemy" -- at least to the Miami Herald, the real enemy of the taxpayers and citizens of South Florida. Bad luck, Jim. You deserve it! What's next Jim, the Washington Times?
Harvey Slavin
Hollywood
Gays and New Times, repent!... You're all on the wrong side of the fence: The story "Cross Purposes" (Ashley Fantz, May 2) was very good, indeed. Any article that reports conflicts makes entertainment in reading. Still, when this news piece mentioned the movie Like a Mighty Army, it brought to mind somebody I used to know in the distant past, and therefore, I would like to add a thorough footnote. Whereas, I did not know any of those who produced it at the time, later on, I did know the star, Chris Robinson. This project was a promotional flick for Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and its pastor, D. James Kennedy. It is rather short, about a half-hour in length, I believe. The title, Like a Mighty Army, was adopted from the opening lyrics of the second verse of the world-renowned spiritual "Onward, Christian Soldiers."
To return to the Kennedy-versus-homosexuals feud, here are some biblical references to support Kennedy's standpoint. In the first place, if he is truly a born-again Judeo-Christian, which he must be, being that Jehovah has allowed him to maintain his ministry for such a long time, he should not detest gays. On the contrary, he should love them as God's children, just as much as if they were straight and righteous, but he should despise their unnatural sexual preferences and practices, which are denounced in the Holy Bible. Can his opponents truthfully distinguish whether he preaches hatred or simply open rebuke of iniquity, an action that God commands his followers to carry out? To illustrate, the Holy Bible states in Leviticus 19:17: "Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt." Additionally, it is asserted in Proverbs 27:5: "Better is open rebuke than hidden love." It is affirmed in First Timothy 5:20: "Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning."
Since Richard Murphy likes to quote verses from the Leviticus section so much, does he ever refer to Leviticus 20:13: "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable." Does he ever recite First Corinthians 6:9, which lists homosexuals as one of the categories of sinners that will not inherit the kingdom of God? Instead of trying to ridicule Kennedy, Murphy and other gays should be seeking his assistance. They should ask to kneel beside him and pray the sinner's prayer of repentance, to petition forgiveness from God, and beg in Jesus's name for his help to expel the demons of homosexuality and all other kinds of sin that dwell within them. Jesus assures us in Matthew 18:19: "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
On the other hand, there are a couple of sins that are much more pervasive than homosexuality, and they are fornication and adultery, committed by straight people and bisexuals. A notable case in point of the evildoings that are associated with these two popular transgressions is evident in the Chandra Levy and Gary Condit scandal. Both amorists are victims of their own immorality. She is now physically dead and had already been spiritually dead. He is spiritually dead and will be politically dead during the next congressional election. Fornication and adultery are the next two vices that Kennedy should publicly reprove. Praise be to the Lord!
Chris Kaminski's editorial letter (May 23), disapproving of those sleazy, demoralizing advertisements within the back pages of New Times, is right-on! They are unchristian filth. Even worse are the photo advertisements for tanning salons, topless bars, adult video stores, and lingerie stores that depict scantily clad and sometimes entirely unclothed bimbos. Moreover, those bartending, psychic readings, and gay/bi ads should also be weeded out, as they violate other tenets of the Bible. If New Times begins to prohibit them, it will then start to gain integrity and decency and acquire approval from Jehovah. At least, the competing newspaper, City Link, has very few of such sinful photo ads, but their acceptance of them is bad enough. The Lord declares in First Timothy 2:9, "I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds." Appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
Thank you very much. May the good Lord bless you in Jesus's almighty name.
Gary DeSarro
West Palm Beach
