I accepted an offer this week to be a member of the finance committee of Equality Florida, an organization battling constantly for the rights of everyone, gay or straight. Mr. Astor doesn't know it yet, but I accepted for him, too. How nice it will look on all the programs: "Mr. and Mrs. Astor of Palm Beach". Palm Beach? No, no; that's supposed to be South Beach. Oh, well; a little typo, that's all. So, we are teaming up with the unsinkable Thomas Barker to run the fund-raising here in Miami to fight the forces of evil throughout the state (and there is a whole lot of it). I figure we will all benefit if I can corral the social forces in our hands now rather than wring my hands in lament later.

On the political scene here, I was aghast to receive a fax from David Kelsey, the President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association, detailing efforts he has been fighting. If it were not so very real, it would be a comedy skit of some sort, but The Commission has actually taken under consideration the law to made DJ's and musicians (even those used in private homes) buy and "Occupational License" to work or perform. In addition, they considered limiting Lincoln Road businesses outside seats only in number to those they have inside; this is not just intrusive government, it is STUPID government (and you know my obsession with stupid people). You see, The City gets an exorbitant rent on the square footage of outdoor seating and, in a place like South Beach, no one wants to sit indoors except for the hottest of days; all the action is outside, people-watching, dog-watching, outfit-watching. David successfully sent these back to committee, but the lame-brain who brought these two issues up is an idiot, too, because the cut in City fees would be calamitous. Let's see...who is the commissioner who brought this up. A little birdie tells me it was none other that Simmy "The Slick" Cruz, Mattie Bower's well-funded-by-special-interests opponent for mayor. Simmy, didn't you take your pills that day? Who else are you going to ask to get a permit from: waiters, bartenders, perhaps the store workers on Lincoln Rd., too. Stupidity is a terrible thing to waste, Simon; why don't you join the Bush administration?