Cuban Situation
Fall Term 1961
Grand Jury Dade County
Florida
In
The Circuit Court of The Eleventh Judicial Circuit of
Florida in And For The County of Dade
Fall Term A.. D. 1962
Final Report of The Grand
Jury
Filed May 14, 1963
Cuban
Situation the Fall Term 1961 Grand Jury
CIRCUIT JUDGE PRESIDING
John J. Kehoe
OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE GRAND JURY
Edgar Charles Jones, Foreman
Walter I. Stevenson, Vice Foreman
F. J. Fisher, Clerk
William E. Carpenter, Asst. Clerk
William Baraket, Treasurer
William F. Blaylock
Kenneth B. Burritt
Clyne C. Chambers
Milan D. Chapman
O. W. Collins
Clodia Cooper
Edwin S. Crooks
Philip A. Davis
Robert W. Fremont
Herbert S. Gimbel
Joseph R. Martin
Ida W. Meltzer
Joan G. Partin
George J. Poulos
Ray E. Redman
James S. Rosser
Gertrude L. Tallman
Inous J. Vickers
*********
State Attorney
Richard E. Gerstein
Assistant State Attorneys
John C. Wynn
Seymour Gelber
George Eadie Orr
Roy Lee Jones
***********
Clerk of the Circuit Court
E. B. Leatherman
***********
Administrative Assistant
Eleanor M. Robinson
***********
Official Court Reporter
Jack W. Mallicoat
***********
Bailiff
W. Rufus Holzbaur
Page 12
CUBAN
SITUATION
The Fall Term 1961 Grand Jury made a thorough investigation
of the
impact of the Cuban refugees on Dade County. At that
time, the
Jury stated:
"The Grand Jury is impressed with the total program and the
efforts extended among Federal, state and local agencies."
We have since been informed by Congressmen Dante Fascell and
Claude
Pepper of the many thousands of Cubans who have arrived in
Dade County
and of these more than 50,000 have resettled in other
communities. The Federal Government has expended 70
million
dollars in behalf of the refugees and the next budget calls
for an 80
million dollar expenditure. The influx of large
numbers of people
and great amounts of money has obviously influenced our
economic and
social structure. The 100,000 Cubans who now reside
here have
aided our economy by the use of Federal funds, as well as
their own,
but have increased our unemployment problem by replacing
many Dade
Countians in the labor market. The labor displacement
has
occurred particularly among the lower income wage earners
and in some
instances this has been a factor in the increase of crime.
We look back over the two years elapsed period and find that
relocation
is still the major problem despite the fact that today we
are
resettling refugees at a greater rate than they are entering
the
country. According to an announcement by the Director
of the
Refugee Program, more than twice the number have been
resettled than
have arrived since February 1, 1963. There still
remain many
thousands in Cuba waiting to leave and we must be prepared
to
accommodate them through a resettlement program when
conditions permit
their departure. The problem as to the manner in which
exile
groups will be permitted
Page 13
to combat Castroism has caused considerable difference of
opinion on a
national level. Miami, as a cold war outpost, has thus
had this
added tension to overcome.
Money contributed by the Federal Government for public
school
education, vocational training, medical aid and outright
dole has
alleviated what could have been a severe financial strain on
the
community. We recommend that the Florida Delegation in
Congress
continue their efforts to enlist further federal
participation.
In retrospect, we again quote the 1961 Fall Term Grand Jury
report:
"Citizens and communities throughout America can show the
world the
respect and admiration held for those who is our own
hemisphere have
suffered temporary loss to communism."
The Cuban emigration has caused some friction in our
community.
This is a small price to pay in the overall conflict against
a common
foe. We must adjust ourselves to the situation and
affirmatively
seek ways to resolve our mutual problems. We have a
right to
expect our visitors to obey our laws and conform to our
customs and we
have a responsibility to lighten the load they have so
adequately
borne.
End of Page
Copyright
1998-2014 Cuban Information Archives. All Rights
Reserved.
