Protesters, proponents of Cuban consulate in Miami Beach spar outside City Hall

Protesters, proponents of Cuban consulate in Miami Beach spar outside
City Hall

Cuban exiles, many from Southwest Miami-Dade, said idea of consulate in
the Beach was "disrespectful" to exile community
A few dozen Cuban supporters of Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine came out
to defend him
Two groups shouted at each other around noon Thursday at City Hall
jflechas@miamiherald.com
BY JOEY FLECHAS
jflechas@miamiherald.com

Where the city of Miami refuses to host a Cuban consulate in the future
as relations between the U.S. and the communist island nation continue
to thaw, Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine's openness to the idea has
stirred up debate.

The notion that the Beach could welcome a consulate ignited controversy,
sparking a shouting matching between a few dozen critics and supporters
of rapprochement outside Miami Beach City Hall on Thursday. Although any
consulate is a long way away, with the U.S. and Cuba sorting out several
other priorities first, the mere suggestion created a debate that had
people on both sides calling each other "cowards."

U.S. CENSUS FIGURES SHOW THAT OF THE 90,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MIAMI
BEACH, ABOUT 20 PERCENT ARE CUBAN.

"Put it somewhere else. Not here," said Magaly Alfonso, a 72-year-old
resident of Southwest Miami-Dade who came to the U.S. from Cuba about 50
years ago. Standing across the street from City Hall among protesters
waving Cuban flags and calling Levine a "traitor," she held a sign that
said, in Spanish, "Don't travel to Cuba. Don't help the tyrant [Raúl]
Castro."

On the other side of the street and the issue, a few dozen people
clapped their hands and chanted, "Levine, el pueblo está contigo (the
people are with you)."

"Miami Beach is open to progress," said Eddie Sierra, a 40-year-old son
of exiles and Miami Beach resident.

Thursday's demonstration came a few weeks after Levine and City
Commissioner Ricky Arriola traveled to Havana in a trip that coincided
with President Barack Obama's historic visit and meeting with Cuban
leader Raúl Castro. Levine and Arriola went as part of a
Levine-sponsored trip for Tufts University graduate students. During
their stay, the pair met with officials in the Cuban Foreign Relations
Ministry and told them they would welcome a consulate in the Beach.

MIAMI BEACH LEADERS TELL CUBAN GOVERNMENT THEY'D WELCOME CONSULATE

Cuban officials "expressed to us the fact that they know that they're
not welcome in the city of Miami," Levine told reporters after returning
to the U.S. "My opinion, and Commissioner Arriola's independent opinion,
is that we would like to see the consulate welcomed in Miami Beach in
the future, if that were to come about."

On Thursday, Levine insisted he is personally open to the conversation
about a consulate on the barrier island because he feels that South
Florida, home to the largest Cuban exile community in the world, should
follow the federal government's approach to relations with Cuba.

"The U.S. government is moving forward with a policy of engagement with
the Cuban people," he said. "We would hope the people of South Florida
would move forward in the same spirit."

WE FEEL THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL CUBANS.

Eddie Sierra, son of Cuban immigrants who supports rapprochement and a
consulate in the Beach

William Fernandez, an 80-year-old resident of Southwest Dade who said he
was a political prisoner for several years in Cuba during the 1970s,
said he opposes anything, including a consulate in Miami-Dade, that
could benefit the Cuban government.

"I do not accept anything that benefits the Castro regime," he said.

Arriola, son of Cuban exiles who emigrated in 1960, said he is sensitive
to the emotions stirred by the concept. But he insists that a consulate
has to be placed in Miami-Dade for the convenience of the large Cuban
population, and says Miami Beach could be an appropriate location if no
one else wants it.

"We might be willing to entertain this, but it is premature," he told
the Miami Herald. "But to preemptively say no? That's wrong."

The stance by Levine and Arriola marks a stark contrast from that of
other Miami-Dade leaders who have already said no. Miami Mayor Tomás
Regalado has strongly opposed the presence of the Cuban government in
the city, saying it would create an unwelcome political flashpoint and
pose a security risk. He even threatened a federal lawsuit if it were to
move forward. Miami-Dade County commissioners passed a resolution in
January urging the U.S. government to look elsewhere.

IT'S DISRESPECTFUL TO THE CUBAN PEOPLE.

Magaly Alfonso, who came to the U.S. from Cuba about 50 years ago and
opposes a consulate in Miami Beach

And opinions even appear to vary among the Beach's elected officials.
Commissioner Michael Grieco placed a resolution on next week's City
Commission agenda that reaffirms past resolutions decrying the Cuban
government and urging the Obama administration to keep any Cuban
consulate away from Miami-Dade — and specifically out of Miami Beach.

Before Thursday's protest, the commissioner said he didn't think it
would create a debate.

"It's on the consent agenda," he said Wednesday. "I don't expect much
conversation."

Meanwhile, the Beach's citizen Hispanic Affairs Committee plans to hold
an open community dialogue at City Hall at 6 p.m. Monday.

"The Cuban-exile community has been an important part of Miami Beach's
success and identity. As such, the opinions of the Cuban community
should be considered and respected when forming an official position on
such a sensitive matter," said Alex Fernandez, chairman of the
committee. "We cannot forget and we must empathize with the exile
community which lost everything while fleeing Castro's dictatorial rule."

Joey Flechas: 305-376-3602, @joeflech

Source: Protesters, proponents of Cuban consulate in Miami Beach spar
outside City Hall | Miami Herald -
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article70585702.html