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.
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