Columns

Letters to the Editor

"HI, THIS IS VANESSA LEE and I have a correction. I did not say that! Josh Feit quotes me ["Rebels with a Complex," Dec 7] as saying, 'Corporations are doing whatever it is they do to our food. I don't know what impact that's having, but talk to me in 20 years.' Unfortunately I didn't record our conversation, and apparently neither did Josh. But I remember it more like this: I said that 'part of the problem with genetically modified food is that we have no way of knowing what its long-term effects are. There hasn't been enough time for that kind of testing, and corporations and government institutions refuse to serve the public interest by waiting. Instead, they have forced these products on us without our knowledge.' I'd also like to say a word in defense of the Lesbian Avengers, the women Josh ridicules for showing their tits. They did an excellent job as peacekeepers, keeping protesters safe from police. That's one reason [why] they go topless. It's very difficult for police to attack half-naked women (in public, anyway). And the political messages on their bodies were effective. Why else did the local papers run pictures of them the next day? That said, I do appreciate Josh acknowledging that a couple thousand people came out to stand for a complex and urgent cause. We'll be fighting on every front--and not just on November 30--for a fundamental shift to a system that works for humanity and sustainability rather than corporate profit."

Vanessa Lee, via voice mail

JOSH FEIT RESPONDS: Actually, what you said was "Look at genetically altered food. In the pursuit of profit, corporations are doing whatever it is they do to our food. I don't know what impact that's having, but talk to me in 20 years when I'm trying to have kids." I cut out your "when I'm trying to have kids" line, but I thought the quote made sense regardless--i.e., you are concerned about the effect that genetically altered food is having on your long-term health.

Also, if you think the local media zoomed in on women's bare chests because there were political slogans written on them, then you don't have as sharp of an understanding of the news media as I thought when we first talked. And despite the bare-chested women, the police did manhandle the crowd.

"HI, I WANTED to make a comment about... Josh Feit's [article] on the N30 celebration. I really appreciate him talking to the politically aware young people, and posing the possibility that N30 could be an annual holiday here. But the beginning of this article... seems like part of a larger, really condescending attitude toward people who want to take to the streets. N30 was supposed to be a celebration, a party. And at a party, sometimes people dance and drink beer and hump light poles and take their shirts off. Those bare-breasted women? It should be said that they were organizers and peacekeepers, and without them things wouldn't have gone as smoothly as they did. Also, all those women had messages written on their bodies--and if Josh saw them, then [their messages were heard]. These people really are out doing good things and fighting global capitalism, but they also want to have fun! If Josh thinks that people shouldn't have a good time while being politically active, well, then you would have less people being politically active. And I think that would suck."

Cindy Goodman, Seattle, via voice mail

JOSH FEIT RESPONDS: Yes, yes, I know N30 was a "celebration." Sheesh, with every N30 organizer using that word over and over-- as if an advertising focus group told them to stick to a positive theme--it was impossible to miss. Well guess what? People who want to challenge structures like the WTO and the IMF need to be involved in more than a "celebration": They need to be focused and serious, and they need to be taken seriously. Writing political slogans on naked breasts and doing bad dances to bad drumming doesn't threaten corporate power. Serious protesters and protests do. That's why I gave protesters the mike, and ridiculed the boobs.

DEAR PHIL CAMPBELL: I don't think your article mentioned the RACE of the 13-year-old who put a bullet hole in Dimmitt Middle School's cafeteria ["Judging Juvenile Justice," Dec 7]. Do you think that if the boy were white, he might be treated more leniently than if he were not? I am not advocating the so-called "tough on crime" stance of lock 'em up and throw away the key, but hey, the white kids do [seem to] get a better break in most courts. The defense attorney's clever strategy reeks of private practice, something that most upper-middle-class parents can afford for their little miscreant. Just goes to prove that there is justice for a price! Good writing, Phil... I'll keep reading!

Linda Peavy, Mobile, Alabama

PHIL CAMPBELL RESPONDS: I didn't mention the boy's race, but he is white. As for his economic status, his parents used a public defender because they could not afford a private attorney.

DEAR EDITOR: I would like to call your attention to a factual error in the Dec 7 issue of The Stranger. In "Bungled Bargain," the reporter [Allie Holly-Gottlieb] states in the first paragraph that Mayor Paul Schell's proposed budget for homelessness in 2001 was .2 percent less than the prior year. Please be advised that Mayor Schell's proposed budget actually increased funding for homeless and related programs by almost $3 million. The budget for 2000 was $9.8 million, and the mayor proposed increasing it to $12.6 million in 2001 and to more than $13 million in 2002. Therefore, the increase between 2000 and 2001 is 28.5 percent, and 33 percent between 2000 and 2002. Thank you for your attention.

Joan Walters, Budget Director, City of Seattle

ALLIE HOLLY-GOTTLIEB RESPONDS: According to the figures provided by the city, Mayor Schell proposed shrinking the budget for housing poor people--as we reported-- by .2 percent. Here's the math: The 2000 city budget for housing the poor was $33 million, or 1.6 percent of the overall budget. By comparison, Schell's proposed 2001 budget put $34.6 million into housing the poor, which came to 1.4 percent of the overall budget. The difference is a decrease of .2 percent.

CHARLES MUDEDE: Nice article, and thanks for being pretty fair ["Gimme a Beat!" Dec 14]. The only point I'd dispute is Sunday being a poor night for the show. As you [wrote], our rap show's been on Sunday nights at KCMU since the mid-'80s. Until the last couple of years, it's traditionally been one of the most popular shows on KCMU. The rap show's done really well for KCMU on Sunday nights until [just] recently. As I wrote before, I'm hopeful the show will rebound soon. I'd love to be able to consider it for more airtime, but not at the expense of shows that KCMU's listeners apparently enjoy more right now.

Don Yates, KCMU Program Director

DEAR STRANGER EDITORS: I would like to address a [misinterpretation] by Allie Holly-Gottlieb in her "Landlord's Little Helpers" a rticle [Dec 14]. As I explained to Holly-Gottlieb, I have found a grand total of ONE dead person in five-and-a-half years of building management in Belltown. It's not a "matter of course" to find dead people. I did, however, say that [finding dead people] was to be expected sometime, given [the odds], and other building managers do encounter the occasional death. I also told her repeatedly that this is not a bad profession to be in on the whole: All jobs have static and stress, but at least I'm selling people something they truly need, not crap like cell-phone airtime plans or jewelry they don't need.

However, I would like to thank Holly-Gottlieb and The Stranger for your continuing diligence with investigating and educating us on what is a very complex and critical issue: housing.

Brian Zaugg, Belltown

HEY STRANGER: Another wonderful addition to the Pike/Pine corridor that was not mentioned in either Kathleen Wilson's article ["Paradise Lost," Nov 30] or Linda's letter [Letters to the Editor, Dec 7] is the Aurafice Internet and Coffee Bar. We're there, in between the "world's cleanest, fanciest pawn shop" and Rudy's Barbershop, in case you haven't noticed. We are independently owned and have just signed a five-year lease. Thanks for talking to us about the changing of the corridor, and thanks for your support.

Paige Kayner, owner, Aurafice Internet and Coffee Bar

DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS: In "Science Lesson" [Dec 14], Phil Campbell reported that would-be union organizer Kevin Weyer had quit his job at the Pacific Science Center. This is not true. Weyer is still employed there.