Tomorrow there will be a most interesting meeting of the City Commission during which the issue of whether to allow The Palace to hold "female impersonation" shows on their own terrace. This city has a history--in the making for the past ten years--of trying to regulate everything, everywhere. How many plants you can have outside your business, or a neon light in the window, or the mat at your door; they all need over-paid city employees, eager to justify their jobs, to constantly roam the streets. It all reminds me of one commissioner--typical of this town--, Nancy Leibman, an over-zealous Jewish grandmother who somehow got on the commission (it doesn't take much, mind you). She set out to place her stamp on everything from food displays by restaurants to making their umbrellas match; she didn't last long (although we did enlist her help in blocking a more dangerous woman, Congresswoman Elaine Bloom from winning as mayor).

There was the memorable movement to stop street performers, especially the Disco Dolly (a taxi driver who moonlighted in his platform shoes on Lincoln Rd. demonstrating to delighted tourists his spectacular dancing ability). For the life of me, I couldn't find anything wrong here, or with the mime, or the moving statues; it seems like an inherent right to sing or dance within reason and in a dress, if so desired. Needless to say, Disco Dolly won his lawsuit and on a good day you might catch him dancing to Grace Jones.

For years, the Commission has tried to put out the fire of South Beach even though SoBe is the tail that wags not only the dog of Mid Beach and the tragic poor sister of North Beach, but the entire, bloody county. Allowing drag shows on property you own and pay exorbitant taxes on is a right, not a gift (like the rainbow flag, just so recently "allowed"). It should be a very interesting meeting (and rather colorful, if I know this town).

Riley, his legal mind ever grinding, asked today, "Who do you think will represent them?"

The obvious answer: F. Lee FernanDcute, Esq. "If the dress isn't IT, you gotta refit."