m GROUP CONSIDERS REFERENDUM TO CUT PROPERTY TAX m MIAMI FELON-ASSOCIATION RULE MAY CHANGE

METRO&STATE B ~he .Hiinmi Hcrnlb FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2007 I EDITOR: MANNY GARCIA magarcia@M1amiHerald.com I 305-376-3638 F"

MIAMI-DADE COURTS

Dishonesty Arza guilty, gets probation

is sanitized in a world of spin

0 ne hopes there's a little something extra in the pay envelopes this week for

whatever flacks represent Jimmy Carte~ and Clinton Portis. Surely, the spm doctors have earned it.

_Talce Portis, a Washington Red­s~ ~back, for example. In an mtemew Saturday, he defended Michael Vick, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback under investigation for dog fights at a home he owns. Portis, 26, said he didn't see what the fuss was. "I don't know ifhe was fighting dogs or not But It's his property; it's his dogs. If that's what he wants to do, do it."

Just hours later, Portis issued a statement sa,mg in part he wished to malce it clear he does not "con­done dog lighting in any manner."

Former President Carter, mean­time, was uked in an interview with the Arlamsas Democrat-Ga­zette to rate the administrations of Richard M. Nixon and George W. Bush. He said, "I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administra­tion has been the worst in history."

Carter would hardly be the only person to hold that view, but apparently he had second thoughts about violating the unwritten rule that says one president never speaks ill of another. Days later, he claimed on the Today show that his remarks were "maybe careless or misinterpreted."

Of course, that raises the qu­l;ion. how do you misinterpret "'wont fn bistoryP" For that matter,

~ot!;~fr~&OQI, dogs. to "I do not ..• condone dot fighting In any manner?"

I guess there's a reason I didn't end up a publicist. See, if I repre­sented Carter or Portis, my instinct would have been to issue a state­ment on their behalf that read, "In a recent interview, I accidentally said exactly what I meant and rd like to take it back because I didn't anticipate the controversy and I don't need the headache,"

INSULTING THE PUBLIC Maybe we never were the

straight-talking nation of myth and self image, but if that day ever did exist, it's long gone. Damage con­trol in the modem era requires the ability to insult the public's intelli­gence with the dewy-eyed earnest­ness of a 6-year-old girl and the brazen shamelessneu o{ a home remodeling contractor.

Think Michael Richards spew­ing the N-word all over a comedy club stage, then imuting, urm not a racist." Mel Gibson cursing the Jews, then swearing, urm not an anti-Semite." Former Florida state R.ep. Ralph Arza pleading guilty to witness tampering after leaving profane telephone messages for another legillator and then saJing alcobol made him do It. Florida U.S. R.ep. Mark Poley, ducking Into rehab after being caught aending lewd maups to teenage bofL Actor Isalab Wuhillgtoa of Grwy's Anatomy going Into COWIR1lng after lying about u,lng a slur apinlt a gay caatmate.

The oae thing they all have In common with one aaather and with Carter 111d Portis ii the lnabll· ltytotlb~Cor•• ownmeu, the pnference Cor lhlft.

lagitto~;~ MJmiblW..

=~~ ticilniftlir~ PAl(I I

• Former state Rap. Ralph Arza was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty, but he said he never threatened anyone.

call? You know what, I did," Arza contritely told the media after the hearing.

The calls were made on Oct. 21 and 22, just days after Barreiro accused Arza of using a racial epi·

BY SUSANNAH A. NESMITH thet to describe Miami-Dade snesm1th,1MiamiHerald com Schools Superintendent Rudy

Former state Rep. Ralph Arza Crew, who is black. pleaded guilty Thursday to two Arza denied using the N-word misdemeanor counts of tampering to describe Crew. But he did use it with a witness and was sentenced in one of the two voicemails, refer-to 18 months of probation. ring to Barreiro.

He also agreed not to run for He insisted Thursday that he oftice for 18 months - meaning he never intended to threaten Bar­won't be eligible for state office reiro when he left the messages. again until 2010 because of the fil. "What I said I was guilty of ing deadlines. today was that I made a call I

Arza said be regretted the basis shouldn't have made," he said. "I of the charges, expletive-laced didn't threaten anyone." messages he left on the volcemail He said he was "frustrated with of fellow state Rep. Gus Barreiro of a colleague." Miami Beach. Arza's cousin Paulino Barben

"Did I malce a harassing phone also pleaded guilty to witness tam:

SATELLITE AND STREET-LEVEL PHOTOS ARE COMBINED TO HELP IMAGINE A CUBA OF tHE FUTURE

BY ENRIQUE FERNANDEZ efernandez@MlamlHerald.com

Havana Today In Images, a Miami Dade College photo exhibit that opens today at the Tower Theater In Little Havana, raises aew though uncertain hopes among Cuban exiles for the reclamation of their property in a post-Cutro CubL

The exhibit, which wu organized by a Florida International University-based NASA office In collaboration with MDC, matches satellite

:1:!e~f~v==~~ ! ~~'::.~f;: building-by-building, ~ TO HEAR street-level photog- ~ raphy. NAPIITAU DAVID

A link on the pro- RISIE ject's webalte (http:/ /no-more.com) clicb to an affidavit that can be ftled, with suppoF.t~ docu­mentation, claimlag owner~p of the

~L~~Ject wlll,ventually

::!tr~~==rt~=d "Whether this .. COlllldered proper evi­

dence depends on who would be process· lag then appllcatlom," uy1 Tania Mu­trapa, who rum a Miami conaultlag pnctlce oa property reclamation In CUba CwwwJDMtnpecoDIUltam),

'1Ual10PIIOl'GS,21

J MIAMIHERALD.COM CLICK ON • TODAY'SEXTRAS TO READ THE

PLEA AGREEMENT

pering and was sentenced to two years of probation and one week­end in jail. Barben also made calls to Barreiro and in one threatened to "crack your head open."

At least one of Barbon's calls was made from Arza's phone, and the men admitted they were together when the calls were made, according to court records.

Arza was smiling and cheerful at the hearing, a stark contrast to his last media appearance, a press conference at which he announced he was stepping down. At th.at event in front of Hialeah City Hall, Arza bitterly lashed out at anyone who considered hi.ol a racist.

'TURN TO ARZA, 2B

AlEIIAFOODll/FOITHENWIINIRAlD

REGRm: Former state Rep. Ralph Arza takes the oath Thursday in court.

EDUCATION

Despite mistakes, FCATnot

IYlaVISIIAII AND TAMA dllUZ1IIIMiA ~ MiamiHerald.com

Parents hate it. Students dread it. Teachers live and die by it.

Like it or not, high-stakes testing will remain a way of life in Florida - and across the nation.

The blunder caused by human error In last year's FCAT third­grade reading test - which was discovered only this week - and a history of other errors nationwide are not enough to persuade state leaders to toss the enms.

"O{ course it's something we have to deal with," acting Educa­tion Commissioner Jeanine Blom­berg said. "I think frequently of the medical analogy: If you get high

•TIJRNTOFCAT,ZII

GOT A PROBLEM? BY EVAN BENN

Swamped neighborhood get attention

Every time it ralna, Frank Ame­dia and his San Marco Island nelghbon find themselves up a creek without a paddle.

A decrepit drainage system causes pools of floodwater to cover streets and front yards along Venetian Way, just east of the causeway's toll booth.

The water stays stagnant for days. In the heat, mosquitoes breed. At night, rats emerge.

MWe were fortunate to catch a few In our trapl on our porch last night," A.media said Monday. It wu the day after thunderstorms dumped five Inches In some coastal parts of Miami-Dade. Ame­dla's Miami neighborhood was tlooded with two feet of rainwater.

He and other San Marco Ialand homeowners are worried about what will happen once the wet sea-

•1111N TO PIIOII.IN, a

2B I FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2007 METRO & ST ATE THE MIAMI HERALD

MlamiHerald.com/Metro 1

MIAMI-DADE COURTS

Arza is sentenced to probation 'ARZA, FROM 18

He repeated that message Thursday but said he was just happy to have the episode behind him. While he waited to complete his probation paperwork, Arza sat in the courtroom chatting with his attorneys, Je((rey Weiner and Mycki Ratzan, and his cousin, Hugo Arza.

Miami-Dade State Attor­ney Katherine Fern,ndez Rundle hailed the plea agree­ment as a "strong sentence.''

mines that's warranted. Wit­nesses told investigators that on the night of the calls, he had been drinking while out to dinner and at a party at his mother's house.

must perform 100 hours of Involved because I care too

community service. mu~~·:ald he's working as a

Assistant State Attorney Michael Von Zamft told the court that Barreiro had agreed to the conditions of the plea.

'SERIOUS CONCERNS' "The series of phone calls

made to Rep. Barreiro were intended to raise serious con­cerns - and they did - forc­ing him to relocate his family for safety sake," she said in a prepared statement.

As part of the plea, Arza agreed to be evaluated for alcoholism and to seek treat­ment If the evaluation deter·

CUBA: PAST AND FUTURE

Senior Judge David Tobin agreed to withold adjudica­tion, meaning Arza won't have a conviction on his record If he complies with the requirements of his pro· batlon.

Among those conditions: he must pay $1,500 in investi­gative costs and attend anger management classes. He also

COMMUNITY SERVICE Asked what type of com­

munity service he planned to do, Arza said, "I'm a pretty good football coach. l can do whatever l want.''

And he said he planned to continue "serving the com· munity" but declined to give specifics.

"I know how to run cam· palgns, I know how to mo!e within the system," he sa1d. "I will continue to be

consultant and plan• to c?n· tinue working on education issues, his hallmark as I state representative.

'DOING BUSINESS' "I'm representing different

people on different ~atters, doing business," he sa1d.

Prosecutors dropped two felony charges of tamp.ering with a witness and retaliating against a witness in exchange for his plea.

Maps, photos reveal Havana of today 'PHOTOS, FROMII

"I have not beard of these claim mechanisms being used in other countries," says Mastrapa, whose doctoral thesis at the University of Miami examined post-Com­munist property claims in the Czech Republic and Nicara­gua and the lessons they could have for Cuba.

Still, she says, "owners can see bow their building is being used, if there's a sign for a restaurant, for example, or what shape it's in. Then they can decide if they want to try to reclaim it.

"A lot of people outside Cuba don't even know if their property still exists because of hurricanes, deterioration of buildings and lack of main­tenance," Mastrapa says.

The project's creator and director, Naphtali David Rishe, says it bas "no politi­cal message." Rishe beads FIU's High Performance Database Research Center and NASA Regional Applica­tions Center, also at FIU.

.111111 Y-,ii/lUIII IIIIWD STAI'!'

HERITAGE WORTH PRESERVING: On his balcony in Miami Beach, Naphtali Rishe holds a photo of Teatro Garcia Lorca in Havana. The latter is a branch of

the agency that loob for non-governmental uses for NASA technology, "Like Ve!- on both sides of the Plorida the future of Havana that cro, """ Rlsbe, unfutening Straits: the reconstruction of hopes to guide Cubans, such a strap oa bl, sandal at Havana; CUban Americans and others his Miami Beadl o!fic:e. ''In Cuba there is a lot of to eventually rebuild the

Rishe, who says be bas had information on the destruc- badly dilapidated city. "no contact with entities in tion of. the city," says archi- The street-level photos of the Havana government," tect Nicola Qµintana, who Havana Today in Imaps will bad the street-lenl p'hotos along witk the ~an o( PIU's constitute "a hiltorical ~ taken on the lily by Cuban An:bitectun Schoo~ Juan ter of what buildings looked' Americans 'Visiting the Island Antoni Bueno, heads the like, because many are on family visit visa. They Havana and its LimcbCCIJlff doomed to '1iiappear," Q!ain­used innocuous-looking project. "But dill photo- tana 18)'1, high-definition cameras and graphic protect is 'f'ery In his oceamront office, devices that identify the important at the el of. Rime calls !IP OD. hliJa~op

!:!~Ji~,!1de andlati- detfm:e 2004, ~tana lllid !!:.1:if:v: ~ deteilo! One application ofRisbe'a his usociate• at PIU have aaifgat.e1 towaril ile

project will find eathusiasta been working on a vision of ~0111. of die ~•

EDUCATION

•FCAT, FllON •

blood pzeaure, you don't t.il the doctor to throw out the

IF YOU GO

Whlit:HaVllflil Today In /f'flllQff photo exhlbltfdn.

Whtfr.Todey throogfi June 3, 6-9 p;m Monday­Saturctay, 4•7 p.tn. Sonday

Wllefe:TOWel' Theater Gallery, 1508 SW Eighth St,Mleml

HOLIDAY EVENTS

~:t::."W1~~:i:r:~~~~· ~~~;i~~ cen~h~~1~: :telr

g~s~e~ri~~~H,8 ~~~1~:~s veterans. Inc~~ and forums In

:~l~~t~;~~~i;~ ~=~t;ts ca~v'fdee~s and learn about ;~=~~~1gf :~t;;tei: ::mo NW 22nd Ave .. Miami. 305-677-0366

Mo~!l. Memorial Parle :!'rv1ce: ceremony honoring

~~=d~:~~g tt;~~~~~~oa~o pays tribute to veterans w .o

f8~~ 1m.Ja~~ ~~~;~s. Park, 16500 NE 16th Ave., North Miami Beach.

l~li~~:~2::::.h &Heh: A

memorial for American soldiers killed In Iraq since 2003 ocean Drive between Seventh and Tenth streets 1n Miami Beach; 5 p.m., 305-519-4412 or

~lfy~~~l;~Toardans: Memorial Day B.reakfast honors fallen military heroes; 8.30 to 10:30 a.m., Florida Memorial University, 15800 NW 42nd Ave., Miami Gardens. 305-622-8035 or 3o5-662·BOOO. ext. 2262. HlalHh ceremony: Veterans will be remembered during the ceremony sponsored by the Hialeah Veterans Affairs Board; 10 a.m., Triangle Park, OkeechobH Road and Palm Avenue. Hialeah. 305-889-5701 Miami Beach Veterans ceremony: The city of Miami Beach and the American Legion honor the memory of the men and women who fought and died for freedom with a wreath-laying

t~::Poa~Ya~i°r:.~~Fc~~ker Is Legion Miami Beach Post BS vice commander, who spent 25 years with the U.S Coast

~aa:~·e~~~1!f~eC:o~~:,'/,~n front or the Miami Beach Police Headquarters, 1100 Washington Ave., Miami Beach: 10:30 a.m .. 305-534-5690. North Miami Beach Dey to R-ber: The city or North Miami Beach Parks and Recreation Department and the offices of the mayor and

~~7;~ ~~~~~n:~iu:.~. Honors all men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice and pays tribute to

=:==.=1~ the men and W<Jrnen In the Armed Forces today. Includes a gun volley ~ Dy the North Mlaml

march of colors over\ e

~-=~~~:~~Yi°rum and Pipe Band or Miami Participants include local clergy, city, county and state officials, veterans' posts end auxiliaries all branches of the Armed Forces. Miami-Olde County Police and Fire departments, Florida Highway Petrol, Junior ROTC units, youth groups, scout troops and community end civic: organization For more Information call Jackie Shabspura or Latesha

E 30S-9'48-2957 lanlca: All military are encouraged to

W911Fthllrunlforms for the SliMCe. RlfNlhmants will be

1011.m.,Flrst =h.609

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