November 19, 2017

Marty Kiar

Broward County Property Appraiser

115 S. Andrews Avenue

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301

RE: Some comments about your mini Op-Ed in today’s Suns Sentinel about the horror, the horror, of racist street names besmirching the pristine escutcheon of Broward County.

Mr. Kiar, 

Please note that I have not mentioned, nor will I mention, the name of Napoleon Broward who, whatever else he was or wasn’t, would not be heard humming “We Shall Overcome”. His name is on all the tax bills you send out, not to mention your paycheck.

First, and for the record, is Forrest Street named after the founder of the Ku Klux Klan, the social group that President Wilson invited to the White House to celebrate the premiere of “Birth of a Nation”? And yes, Wilson was a Democrat and in many ways the intellectual forebear of today’s modern American Liberals. Is it the same men’s scholarship and night riding club that Senator Hugo Black and later Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black that he was a proud member. And yes, he was a Democrat also. Is it the same KKK that Senator Robert Byrd, one time recruiter, robe inspector, and cross burner on his ascent to exalted Kleagle status, belonged to” And yes, he was a Democrat.

Wasn’t he the Senator who fulsomely eulogized as a modern-day Cicero by younger dumb Democrats? Yes, he was. Does anyone remember how Cicero cashed in his toga?

I don’t expect you to change Broward County to Willie Horton County, at least not until you get the official OK from the downtown boys. 

Here’s a name you can move on right away. Plantation.

The high school is nick-named the Colonels. Honest. The picture of a portly bearded courtly gentleman sitting on the porch with a few obeisant hounds at his feet waiting for the young field hands to walk by so he can pick one or two for the post-prandial entertainment is a bit more than today’s students shouldn’t have to see have to see when they enter or exit the school.

I expect you to do your duty before the Klan reclaims its heritage. Do it to spite Trump.

Kevin Smith