HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1986-04-10 Discussion ItemCItY OF MIAMI, PLOPIDA
INTCA-CIPPICE MEMORANDUM
TO THE iidNORAttot MEMBERS DATE: April 14,1986 FILE
6P THE CITY C0t4MTSS,,10N
;;..a suDrECT. Special transcript request
excerpt minutes of April 10, 1986.
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FROM A ' I REFERENCES: ;
ENCLOSURES:
Enclosed herein please find an excerpt from the Minutes of the
April 10, 1986 City Commission meeting, which this office has
completed upon request from Commissioner Joe Carollo.
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SPECIAL 7'o'1NSCR1 T REC UFST
MEETING r,.,rE: �� /�%t
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Agenda Item No. Item/ Label Nr
Tape (s):
Assigned to:
REQUEST DATE:
COMPLETION DATE:
PROOFREAD & APPROVED FOR CORRECTION:
CORRECTED:()
Corrected by:
City Clerk
PLEASE FILL IN AS APPROPRIATE:
Transmitted under cover memo: ( )
Handcarried upon completion to: ( }
Transcript released upon emergency request, though not
proofread: ( ) - Delivered to:
Transcript back on R.G.O.'s desk following distribution: ( )
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0. RESOLUTION ASKING U.S. ATTORNEY, SOUTHERN DISTRICT TO TAKE
ACTION CONCERNING POSSIBLE PRESENCE OF UNREGISTERED FOREIGN
AGENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
Mayor Suarez: Agenda item 65. Commissioner.
Mr. Carollo: Item 65, I am sure that all the members of the
Commission have a copy now. If I may read the resolution:
"A resolution urging the United States Attorney for the
Southern District of Florida to investigate and prosecute,
pursuant to 22, United States Code 618, those foreign agents
who are found in violation of 22, United States Code 612(a),
whereas any person who acts as an agent, representative,
employee, or servant, or any person who acts in any other
capacity, at the order, request, or under the direction, or
under the control of a foreign principal, or if a person, any
of whose activities are directly or indirectly supervised,
directed, controlled, financed, subsidized, in whole or in a
major part by a foreign principal, and who directly or
through any other person, engages within the United States in
political activities for or in the interest of such foreign
principal; or acts within the United States as a public
relations counsel, publicity agent, information service
employee or political consultant for or in the interests of
such foreign principal; or, within the United States, solic-
its, collects, disburses or dispenses contributions, loans,
money or other things of value for or in the interest of such
foreign principal, or, within the United States, represents
the interests of such foreign principal before any agency or
official of the Government of the United States; and who
agrees, consents, assumes or purports to act as, or who is,
or holds himself out to be, whether or not pursuant to con-
tractual relationship, an agent of a foreign principal must
register as an agent pursuant to the laws of the United
States; and whereas, there are one or more persons who may
engage in the above activities and who travel frequently
between the United States and Cuba and who may have formed a
support group for Procommunist Cuba or other foreign princi-
pals; and whereas, said person or persons have failed to
register or file a registration statement as required by law,
and whereas, for the protection of the law abiding citizens
of Miami and the general welfare of the City residents, it is
necessary that said political agent or agents comply with the
law; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1, The United States Attorney
for the Southern District of Florida is hereby urged to
investigate and prosecute pursuant to 22 United States Code,
618, those foreign agents who are found in violation of 22
United States Code 612(a)."
I make the motion for this resolution to be approved.
Mayor Suarez: So moved.
Mrs. Kennedy: Commissioner Carollo, I thought this was the
Federal government's responsibility, but if you want us to urge
them to look into this, I will second your motion.
Mayor Suarez: Moved and seconded. Madam City Attorney, are we,
from your reading of this ... I guess you must have drafted, or
cooperated in the drafting of it, are we are doing anything other
than asking the Federal government to enforce its laws?
Id 1 April 10, 1986
A
Mrs. Dougherty:
Nothing at all.
Mayor Suarez: We have a motion and a second. Do we have any
further discussion from this Commission on this item?
Mr. Carollo: If I could further clarify the resolution to my
colleagues. In this resolution, the only thing that we are
doing, is urging the United States government, through its repre-
sentative in the United States Attorney for this district, to
make sure, and enforce the law that we just read. We are asking
for enforcement of this law, and if there are individual or
individuals that are found to be in violation of. this Federal
law, then to prosecute these individuals. I think that in the
times that we are living today, where you have mad men like
Khadafy that are threatening, and in fact, have committed acts of
terrorism against Americans around the world, and are even today
threatening to commit even more acts of terrorism against Ameri-
cans around the world. We have to take every precaution possible
for our citizens, and particularly, in this community, to make
sure that they are protected, and if there are individuals that
are foreign agents of foreign governments that purposely want to
disrupt this community, then I think we have to encourage the
government to enforce the law of the land - all the laws of the
land.
Mr. Dawkins: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Suarez: So noted for the record. Commissioner Dawkins?
Mr. Dawkins: We have the pleasure of having the Honorable
Martinez from Hialeah, and I would like to, out of courtesy,
since he is here, ask him if he would like to speak.
Mayor Suarez: Yes, is it on this item, Commissioner Martinez?
Mr. Julio Martinez:
My name is
Julio Martinez. I am a City
Councilman, City of
Hialeah. Thank you very much, for allowing
me this opportunity.
I would like just to express, as a City
Councilman, as a
member,
and as vice -commander of the
American Legion in
Hialeah, and
I wholeheartedly support Mr.
Carollo's resolution
here, and I
would urge all of you Commis-
sioners to please endorse this.
I think it is a needed move in
this community. You
know, after
we've seen what happened here a
`
few weeks ago, I think this would
help identify those people that
are trying to cause
much.
trouble in
our community. Thank you, very
Mr. Carollo: Thank you, Councilman Martinez.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you, Councilman, for taking the time. Commis-
sioners, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion
from this Commission? Hearing none, please call the roll.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner
Carollo, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 86-275
A RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES ATTOR-
NEY FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA TO
INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE PURSUANT TO 22
U.S.C. 618 THOSE FOREIGN AGENTS WHO ARE FOUND
IN VIOLATION OF 22 U.S.C. 612(A).
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted
here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Kennedy, the resolution
was passed and adopted by the following vote-
A
ld 2 April 10, 1986
Jae carolla
j, t, plummer, Jr,
Miller J. Dawkift§
Mayor Xavier
t, Snares
ROSS:
None.
ASSENTt.
None,
April lor 1986'
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CI` Y OP MIAMI, PLO(qIbA
INTMOPPICt M1tMOAANbUM
THE HONORAttg MtMbtkS bAtt: April 14, 1986
Af%-W1ftU- A*m-v
Special transcript request
excerpt m1butes of April 10# 1986,
Es:
its:
om the Minutes of
g# which this office
ner Joe Carbllo*
9
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SPECIAL TP ^�NSCR IPT R W V EST
MEETING [. F:
Agenda Item No. �J� Item Label Hi i
Tape (s):
Assigned to:
REQUEST DATE:
COMPLETION DATE:
PROOFREAD & APPROVE-D FOR CORR(C'TION:
CORRECTED: ( ) City Clerk
Corrected by
PLEASE FILL IN AS APPROPRIATE::
Transmitted under corer merrnr ( )
Handcarried upon completion to:
Transcript released upon emergencq request, though not
proofread: ( ) - Deh%cled to:
Transcript back on R.G.O.'s desk following distribution: ( )
0. DISCUSSION REGARDING DEMONSTRATIONS HELD AT TORCH OF FRIEND-
SHIP, ON MARCH 22, 1986.
Mayor Suarez: Dr. Wilson, personal appearance on the issue of
the March 22nd demonstration.
Dr. Jacques M. P. Wilson:
sion, Ladies and Gentlemen,
tired professor and educator
family, as a teenager. I
graduated from it; attended
bachelor's degree there, an
doctorate from the Universit
ed man, a warrant officer ar
Army and the United States 7
in World War II and in Korea
battle stars, medals, citati
dues, and believe me, that
country is beyond question.
as a representative of my
happy years working in Lat.
since 1941, and I have visit
the past 45 years. I am a
have served national leader:
over the past 25 years. On
Florida Peace Coalition in
Friendship, opposing aid tc
America. For exercising my
assembly, I was harassed, t<
photographed repeatedly by
Administration to assemble
.-0 anA af- f-hA Qa111P i'
Zr. Mayor and members of the Commis -
I am Dr. Jacques M. P. Wilson, a re -
I moved to Miami in 1934, with my
attended Miami -Edison High School,
the University of Miami, received a
3 later a master's. I also hold a
r of Texas, at Austin. As an enlist-
d a commissioned officer in both the
it Force for over 15 years, I fought
, for which I garnered a fist full of
ons and campaign ribbons. I paid my
my patriotism, and my loyalty to my
As a professional academician, and
.ountry, I have spent many long and
n America. I have known Cuba well
sd that country many times over, over
Latin Americanist by profession, and
south of the border as a consultant
March 22nd, I joined with the South
giving witness before the Torch of
the Contra mercenaries in Central
right to free speech and freedom of
.rgeted with eggs and other missiles,
a mob granted a permit by this City
it almost the identical site, as our
mA_ Hisnanin radio stations. as is
their wants, had incited the mob to a fever pitch of hysteria,
against the "Communistas". That same night, someone threw a con-
crete block through the windows of my car at my home. I brought
the blocks with me, but I didn't want to inflame the matter fur-
ther. I can't imagine ever parting with that. It is a memento
that I will cherish deeply. I can't prove the cowards who did
this were the same individuals as those who were at the demon-
stration. A Harvard lawyer would agree, the evidence was circum-
stantial, but to me the message is clear - rank intimidation -
$127 worth of intimidation. Mayor Suarezstatement about the
South Florida Peace Coalition, and I quote it is printed in the
Press: "Unfortunately, they have the right to be on the other
side of the street. I am sure you've all looked clearly to see
who was on that side, Senators and Representatives included, and
surely, some members of Marxist's groups." This Freudian slip,
using the word "unfortunately", tells it all, Mr. Mayor. The U.
S. Constitution gives the same rights to all, center, left, or
right. What is even more appalling, is that it took you from
March 22nd to April 4th (13 days) to clarify your stand on free
speech and to affirm that you really upheld the First Amendment
rights as 'Constitution for all'. Ronnie Reagan's teflon mantle
fits you poorly, Mr. Mayor. And this afternoon, I heard this Com-
mission follow the recommendation of Commissioner Carollo to im-
ply that there may be unregistered foreign agents in this commu-
nity, and by implication, any group which does not share his pol-
itical philosophy. We are rushing forward into the future, look-
ing through a rear-view mirror, ladies and gentlemen. Now Miami
has McCartyism revisited, because you will seeing pointing fin-
gers at one or the other "ese es un Communista, investigate him!,
"ese es agente de Castro, investigate him", "este es agente de
Khadafy, investigate him". Ladies and gentlemen, I didn't come
here to agitate anything; I came here to bring you some sober re -
id 1 April 10, 1986
flections. Miami doesn't need late 20th century carpet bagging.
We neither need any of the ideologies from south of the border,
whether they be Batiste -like, or Somoza-like, or whoever they
are, as interpretations of freedom of speech and freedom of the
press, and democracy. I have lived through those down there. I
know what they are like, and we don't need that here. Miami does
not need an infusion of mob rule, abetted by some of our elected
leaders as occurred on March 22nd. I will go one step further.
Miami does not need incipient Fascism, because that looks to me
just the same as it does, whether it is in Caracas, or Panama, or
Guayaquil, or wherever. We do need mature leadership, and I've
come here to exhort that from you, ladies and gentlemen, guaran-
teeing that all segments of this community grow and prosper
equally. We, the citizenry, have an obligation to remain vigi-
lant, that you, our servants - I repeat, our servants, do this
for us, because as you know, "el camaron que se duerme, se to
lleva la corriente". I will go one more, in 1936, probably before
many of you were born, Sinclair Lewis wrote a book. It was
called, It Can't -Happen Here. I have a cold shudder this after-
noon, that maybe it is happening here. Thank you.
Mayor Suarez: The fact that you made your statement in total and
absolute freedom is proof that freedom of expression is doing
quite well in Miami, and as far as my own involvement, sir, my
conscience is quite clear. I hope yours is as clear as mine.
Thank you, in any event.
Mr. Carollo: Not only that, Mr. Mayor, but I think if anything,
we have also proven that individuals can come before this body to
insult us, call us Facists, insult the majority of the people
that live and pay taxes in this City and call them all kinds of
names, freely, without anyone interfering with their right to do
SO. I will say, and also exercising my First Amendment right of
my freedom of speech, that I just can't help but to be surprised
how someone that is attacking members of this Commission and a
majority of this community for not supposedly letting them exer-
cise their freedom of speech in another occasion, which is not
the fact, can, at the same time, be so much in support of coun-
tries in systems, that do not have any freedom of speech whatso-
ever. You know, I see attacks on Somoza. I see attacks on
Batista that were made here, but, you -know, I just find it kind
of ironic, that I didn't hear the same statements made about Fi-
del Castro, about Daniel Ortega, about Mr. Khadafy I, personal-
ly feel, and I am proud to say it, that I think Mr. Fidel Castro
and Mr. Daniel Ortega, Mr. Yasser Arrafat, and Mr. Khadafy, which
are all one, and are at the tail - the head being the Soviet
Union, are all a bunch of terrorists and murderers. I wonder if
he could say the same for them, and I give you the opportunity to
again exercise your freedom of speech, and say the same publicly,
if you believe that - that they are murderers and terrorists.
For that matter, if you do not want to, you can say anything else
that you would like, under your First Amendment rights, and you
have that opportunity, sir.
Dr. Wilson: Commissioner Carollo, I appreciate the opportunity.
I did not come here to debate. I came here to make a prepared
statement, and I had requested five minutes of time for the pur-
pose of doing so, and I did so. Because I made the statement I
did does not mean that I hold a brief for Fidel Castro, or for
Daniel Ortega, or for any of the other powers of the Soviet bloc.
I was criticizing not the international politics of the situa-
tion, I was criticizing the domestic politics here, where indi-
viduals were being harassed for practicing something which they
... and harassed, as I was personally, harassed for practicing
the right which they are guaranteed to practice regardless of
what they believe. I fought to guarantee people the opportunity
to practice those rights, and those rights were denied me on
March 22nd.
Mr. Carollo: There are many people that fought for that right,
sir, and many that are still dying and fighting for it in many
parts of the world so that we here can exercise that First Amend-
ld
2 April 10, 1986
ment right that we all have, while many others do not have it any
more, because there are people still here in this country that
are blind to governments like Khadafy's, governments like Daniel
Ortega's, and governments like Fidel Castro's, but I think you
made my point, that you do not want to, sir, agree with the
statement that I made of calling Fidel Castro, Daniel Ortega,
Khadafy, and Yasser Arrafat, terrorists and murderers.
Mr. Dawkins: Why is that here today, we have been concerned with
}
everyone's rights but the Blacks in South Africa. Do they not
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too have their rights denied to them?
Mr. Carollo: One additional observation that I think needs to be
made - there have been allegations that people could not exercise
their freedom of speech in that demonstration three weeks ago;
but on the contrary, more than ever people were able to exercise
their freedom of speech, and more than ever, the groups that were
demonstrating were able to exercise, and be successful in exer-
cising their point of view. The point here is no longer, even
though there are some that are being mislead at this, the ques-
tion of freedom of speech. You can't tell me that certain indi-
viduals, like Andres Gomez, that travels to Cuba constantly pro-
moting Fidel Castro, is concerned with freedom of speech, when
there is no freedom of speech in Cuba, whom he serves. I would
find it very sarcastic, if this individual could be concerned
x!
about our freedom of speech. Mr. Ray Fauntroy - how can Mr. Ray
Fauntroy complain about freedom of speech now, and say that ev-
eryone has a right to exercise their right, when he wanted others
that didn't agree with his point of view, and didn't agree with
mine, for that matter, because I made a motion condemning and
finding the Clan repugnant, he wanted the City not to give them a
permit for exercising their freedom of speech. The point here,
is not freedom of speech, anymore ladies and gentlemen. The
point here is, there are some individuals, a small group, that
wants to, and purposely are trying to disrupt this community, and
to pit one group against the other, and this is what we cannot
let happen in this community; we cannot have civil disturbances
M
in this community; we cannot have violence in this community, and
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we all have to respect each other's rights and abide b the law
P g Y
of this land - all the laws, not just some laws that might fit
some in different occasions.
»b1.
Mayor Suarez: Commissioner Kennedy?
iv'hi+
Mrs. Kennedy: Sir, I believe in free speech absolutely. I de-
3
plore what happened on March 22nd. If you want to parade with
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the Klu Klux Klan in Liberty City, I would let you. If you want-
ed to express support for Khadafy in Miami Beach, I think the
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Constitution grants you that right, but I would never join you.
174 f'
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I would never offend my Black brothers and sisters, or I would
never go... knowing the suffering and the pain that the Jews have
4
endured. I just wouldn't do it, but I am glad that you are here
today, because I want the citizens of this community to be able
s,>
to exercise another right and express their views in a secret
ballot. It is for this reason that I would like to ask the City
Attorney to draft a ballot question, asking the citizens of Miami
1
whether they agree with President Reagan s foreign policies in
{..
Central America, and please do not tell me that this is a Cuban
issue, and that we are only interested in foreign policy. The
City of Ann Arbor just did it this past week, and also, Seattle
did it last year. I think that Miamians have the right to ex-
press their views on this subject.
Mr. Carollo: Commissioner Kennedy, I personally won't have any
problems in seeing that placed on the ballot, but I just wonder
right now if maybe the time to discuss that again would be at an-
other time, instead of at a time that there are individuals that
are purposely trying to inflame more the sentiment of this com-
munity in many ways...
Mrs. Kennedy: Okay, I don't have any problem with that.
ld 3 April 10, 1986
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Mr. Carollot ... and that would be the only concern that I would
have, but I certainly would not have any problems with that. if
I could make one additional observation. To show you just how
much these approximately 150 people or so, that were in the mi-
nority, demonstrating three Saturdays ago were able to exercise
their freedom of speech - the permit that was given to them was a
permit for two hours. They were there exercising their freedom
of speech for two and one-half hours. The problem is, ladies and
gentlemen, and those in law enforcement that have certain infor-
mation can deny this if this is not true, but this was told to me
by someone in law enforcement, in a position of responsibility.
There apparently was a small, very small group of subversive ele-
ments that purposely were looking for someone to either be
killed, or hurt seriously that day, and they were very upset and
disappointed that that did not happen, and when the demonstration
was over and these people exercised their First Amendment rights,
they were asked, at the direction of the Police Department, to go
around the back of the fence that was there, to make sure that
there would not be any possibility of people - one group, or an-
other, to bump into each other, whatsoever. Mr. Jack Lieberman,
as I was told by our Police Department, refused. He did not want
the people to go that route, apparently, because he wanted, pur-
posely, for people to have a physical confrontation with one an-
other, and he insisted that they had to walk through the front,
where they would bump with other people that had opposing views,
while some, within his own group, were shooting as many birds,
and saying as many profanities, as anyone that was in the extreme
of the other side. Now, I think that what everyone in this com-
munity r has to do, no mattewhat their point of view is, whether
you are for or against the issue involved, whatever issues might
come up in the future, to respect one another, but don't let out-
siders, special individuals, that are constantly traveling to Ha-
vana, to Managua, meeting with top government officials in those
countries, and particularly, intelligence officials of those
countries, come here and using who knows whose money, to try to
set our City apart, and disrupt our community here. That is what
we cannot let happen. This is why I urge all the peace loving
citizens of this community, not to participate, or get involved
in any of these future demonstrations that are being planned, in-
cluding the one this Saturday under the pretense of freedom of
speech, and another one that is being planned for May 17th, and
if I am going to be accused of being a Nazi, and all of us here
are going to be accused of being Nazis, accused of McCarthism,
because we have asked this afternoon for the Federal laws to be
enforced, inasfar as foreign agents having to register, then so
be it, but it
surprises me, just because we have asked the Feder-
al government to enforce the existing laws the Federal government
has, and if there are those who are in violation of it, to be
prosecuted, how someone can be upset at that? It seems to mre
they want certain laws to be applied, but not others.
ld 4 April 10, 1986
CITY OF MIAMI. FLORIDA
4
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANCIUM
` TO. ALBERT RUDER DATE: March 31, 1986 FILE:
Man ement Serv,i,qn�.- Administrator SUBJECT:
FROM: MiA%: j rRA P �~ REFERENCES:
ENCLOSURES:
The Minutes of Planning & Zoning Meeting of November 26, 1985,
the Minutes of the Regular and Planning and Zoning Meeting of
December 19, 1985, the Regular Minutes of the Regular Meeting
of January 9, 1986 and Planning & Zoning Minutes of the Meeting
of January 23, 1986 have been completed.
Please place their approval in the agenda of the City Commission
Meeting of April 10, 1986.
MH-er