Columns

Letters to the Editor

EDITOR: I was reading your article on the gay Boy Scout leaders ["Tying the Boy Scouts in Knots," Dan Savage, July 20], and all I can say is that's disgusting! Why the hell do you fags have to be in everything? Can't parents have at least one safe place to send their kids without worrying about some horny homo groping their kids in their tents? Why is it so fucking hard for you people to understand that a lot of people still don't like homos and don't want their kids around them?? Can't there be at least one organization that's homo-free?

Gays are the cause of the spreading of many diseases in [the U.S.] and many other countries, and you fucking hypocrites know it! You can sit around with your gay buddies and talk about how "enlightened" you are and how "close-minded" everybody else is, but remember that there will always be people who hate gays and who will fight tooth and nail and sacrifice our lives if need be to keep our kids away from your filth.

Keep up the good work on the monorail, but please, please, please quit trying to shove your gay bullshit down our throats.

C. Bower, via e-mail

TO THE EDITOR: I've just read Dan Savage's recent article, "Tying the Boy Scouts in Knots" [July 20]. He mentions the Girl Scouts and 4-H as possibilities of youth development organizations that do not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. Another group for him to consider for his son is Camp Fire Boys and Girls, which also does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing Dan and his partner at the all-volunteer meetings in three or four years.

Claire Petersky, Bellevue

DEAR EDITOR: I am a tenant in the Broadway Market, and after reading your defense of an article that was misleading and biased, I'm writing to tell you some things your reporter failed to research ["Broadway Bust," Allie Holly- Gottlieb, July 6]. First of all, the article attacks Madison Marquette as a homogenizer of neighborhoods, yet the writer mentions how successful Southcenter is. Do we want a Southcenter on Broadway? Absolutely not. While downtown seems to be leading the new "boom" of Seattle, it's a boom that can happen without me. Downtown Seattle looks like any other big city, while Capitol Hill maintains its original flavor of small businesses and friendly, easygoing people.

The author implies that the Market is a mall missing out on the new boom. Well, I guess Factoria Mall, Redmond Town Center, and the SuperMall--all have much more empty space--are falling into ruins. The author mentions that once-optimistic business owners are now disappointed with the new management. Hardly any owners I know of were interviewed. I, for one, am thrilled at the new management of the mall. I am proud to be located in a mall that cares more about bringing in unique businesses that will complement the area instead of another chain store that belongs in Southcenter.

Which brings us to the empty spaces. The author implied that Garden Botanika, Sam Goody, and Greetings all went out of business due to the Broadway Market. If she had done her research, or bothered talking to anyone, or read a business magazine, she would know that ALL Garden Botanikas closed because that company went bankrupt. Sam Goody closed over 400 stores in the last two years. The owner of Greetings also owns Domus furniture at Westlake and Bellevue Square, and decided to focus on the main end of his business. As for the cute remark about Virgin Megastore saying "no thanks" to the Market, Virgin Megastore said "no thanks" to Seattle. In the retail world, Seattle is still viewed as a coffee-swilling, plaid-wearing city where chain stores fail. We will never get a Hard Rock Cafe. Planet Hollywood bombed. Wolfgang Puck had to close his first restaurant in Seattle.

While The Stranger had fun dissing the Market, you don't seem to mind taking our advertising dollars, or using us as a place to disperse your free papers.

Lisa Chang, owner of Rockin' Betty's

EDITORS: In "The Miseducation of Paul Allen" [July 20], State Senator Rosemary McAuliffe describes the "shortcomings" of Initiative 729. Her complaints are nonsensical:

(1) "Charter schools are not accountable to local school boards." No, they're accountable to parents, who will be able to pull their children out of schools they don't like. This is a good thing. (2) "Charter schools reduce the funding for our existing public schools." Yes, and the funding follows students to schools that work. This is a good thing. (3) "Charter schools lack the ability to serve all children." Sure, but where charter schools have been implemented, public schools have had to improve to keep their students. This is a good thing. Finally, she states, "If the laws create barriers to quality education for our children, then the laws should be fixed or changed." I couldn't have put it better myself. That's why I'll be voting for I-729.

Joel Grus, Libertarian for U.S. Congress, 7th District

EDITORS: Dan Savage and the other Stranger writers on the monorail are peddling hypocritical bullshit ["Build It," July 13]. They argue that we have to pursue the monorail because the voters approved I-41. At the same time, they have no difficulty attacking Sound Transit and light rail, despite voter approval of that project a year before the passage of I-41. Savage is particularly fond of extolling the virtues of Chicago's "L," [but he] doesn't mention the rest of the Chicago transit system. There are substantial street-level and subway portions, as well as heavy commuter rail and an extensive bus system. It looks strangely similar to the proposals for the complete Sound Transit system. If one part of Chicago's transit system is a great model for Seattle, why isn't the rest of it?

As for Josh Feit's characterization of light rail as "awkward," what silliness is this ["Light Rail Is a Bad Idea," July 13]? Feit never bothers to define what he means by "awkward." Maybe he's talking about car design, which would be beyond silly. Feit also claims that there are significant problems with street-level tracks. He and the other writers clearly have never actually been on a working trolley system. They're very common in European cities. Amsterdam has an excellent system that works very well and without much interference from other vehicles.

Stephen Graham, Seattle

DEAR EDITOR: Congratulations on your continued coverage of the monorail situation ["Build It," July 13]! While the modern media has admirably created a world in which corporate and governmental wrongdoings are regularly brought into the light of day, it has also created a world in which no positive action ever comes of this reporting, since the perpetrators of such wrongs can simply lie low for a few days until the fickle media loses interest completely. By continuing your relentless coverage of the monorail situation, you're surely planting the fear in the hearts of Schell and Pageler that maybe, just this once, public outrage over an attempt to bury a popular initiative won't blow over within a week or two.

C. Loe, via e-mail

DEAR EDITOR: Speaking as a Seattle progressive, I must disagree with Josh Feit and Amy Jenniges' criticisms of City Council Member Nick Licata's effectiveness ["Licata Loses Again," July 13]. When Licata introduces good legislation like a repeal of the car impound law, which he knows is going to lose, it furthers Seattle's progressive agenda. How? First, the issue receives the media attention that is necessary to secure broader public support. Second, it energizes and mobilizes the activist community. Third, we find out exactly where council members stand on progressive issues. (I'm sure Heidi Wills would have preferred to have cast her pro-Sidran vote privately, but Licata's insistence on a public vote prevented this. Now we all know the truth about Heidi.) Fourth, next election we'll know we are just one or two votes away from certain victories, which will help motivate us to get another progressive or two in office. Imagine how effective Licata could be then!

Of course, Licata can't always get people like Jan Drago and Margaret Pageler to vote for progressive legislation--did you think he was Superman? But he has won important victories and extracted major concessions from an entrenched conservative majority.

Kris Weber, Seattle