WHO SHUT DOWN THE MILKY WAY?

TO THE EDITOR: Re: "Under the Glass: Liquor Agents Under Investigation" [Ben Jacklet, April 22]. While it is true that when Ben Jacklet called me (in the middle of a very busy lunch), I told him to write whatever he was going to write, I can honestly say that I had no part in the closing of the Milky Way night club.If I had known that "employees had been shooting guns in the club's basement," I might have had some interest in the subject. For the record, my involvement with the Milky Way (at the request of WSLCB agent Mike Murphy) was to train their employees in the TIPS program, so they could satisfy the state's requirement for Alcohol Server Training.

As for the Saveway, the previous owners implemented the voluntary "good neighbor agreement," and from that moment on, I had no issue with them. The current owners (also Korean, by the way) have been just great, and I enjoy taking my business to their store. I wish more of my neighbors would shop there.

I am a bit disappointed in Ben, because I know he can research and write with much more care than the article demonstrates. Issues surrounding the seemingly incestuous fact of the WSLCB licensing, regulating, and collecting revenue have been under discussion for years. Innuendo about various agents and their behavior has also been going on for as long as I can remember, and certainly long before I became a licensee.

Tina Bueche
Dutch Ned's

Ben Jacklet responds: My story pointed out that Bueche actively tried to shut down the Saveway Market, and later paid a liquor agent $2,000 to do some upholstery work. I didn't intend to imply that Bueche had a role in closing the Milky Way; the "she" in that passage refers to Brenda Peters, the liquor agent who did the upholstery work for Bueche.

 

INCEST IS BEST

TO THE EDITOR:
After reading your annual Drinking Issue [Big Shot: Our Salute to Hard Liquor, April 22], I came to the realization that you print an incestuous rag. Wm. Steven Humphrey's girlfriend, who writes three articles, works one day a week at a place where her friend works, who writes an article. Another friend tends bar down the street, and writes an article. You can hardly assume that you have come close to our bar culture in Seattle.You rated the Frontier Room as having a strong drink--yes, it's strong for a thimble full o' booze with a splash of mixer. My piss would be strong in that thimble. However, what gets you drunk is a strong drink that results from quantity and size. In this case, strength and size matter. Next year, try asking the other 99% of workers in the industry their opinions--without the journalistic conflict of interest you proudly print in your rag.

BUBA
Bartender

 

WE GOT NO ARTEESTS

TO THE EDITOR: I'm writing to complain about your format. You always put a gray shading in the I, Anonymous box, and that makes it hard to scan in and OCR that column for widespread distribution. Also, your paper contains no decent graphics images which could be scanned in and copyright-infringed. What's the matter? Ain't you got no ARTEESTS loafing around there? In a year of reading your rag, I haven't found a single graphics image worth stealing.It's all a bunch of lame junk.

Scott Neil

 

DOESN'T GET MORE LOCAL

TO THE EDITOR: In your April 29 online issue of The Stranger, you mention the Space Needle's official designation as a Seattle Landmark [David Schmader, Last Days]. The author then goes on to say that the Needle is "tall, pointy, and useless" (sounds a lot like me, actually), and also refers to the structure as "unfortunate."Well, I have bad news for you. Locals do love the Needle. I'm about as local as it gets. I was born here in 1964 to a family of seven kids. I took a poll among them and we all decidedly love our Needle to pieces. It was unanimous. We're all natives, and our combined experience in Seattle, adoring the Needle, totals 326 years.

So oops on you. The Needle is a great landmark because (a) nothing else as tall or taller can be constructed anywhere near the Needle (makes it seem taller, doncha know) and (b) it works perfectly for giving directions to newcomers like yourself, and (c) it's the coolest building on the West Coast. What would you rather [have] in its place? Another office tower, perhaps?

For such a diverse mag, and one that screams tolerance and acceptance of all things different and unusual, you've gone completely in the wrong direction. I like to use the phrase "180 out," since you're exactly 180 degrees out of agreement with everyone else in Seattle. Double oops.

Be prepared to be buried in mail like this from other Needle lovers across the state. (Triple oops.) You'll get the hang of this town someday. Ask me for pointers on what's what and where anytime!

Ken Barrett

 

WHERE THE DRUGS ARE

TO THE EDITOR: The "Drug Deal at the Capitol" [Trisha Ready, April 15] article grabbed my attention and raised some red flags. I find it fascinating that legislators in our state are receiving political contributions from the very drug companies that make billions of dollars each year, pushing the latest version of mind-altering psychiatric drugs on an unsuspecting public.Your article correctly pointed out some concerns about how safe the new medications really are. A recent report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (cited by John Horgan in The New York Times) confirms that the newer anti-depressant drugs are no better than the old ones! Yet this is what is being promoted as a panacea for our homeless, via HB 1574.

I'm glad you exposed the most recent example of "drug dealing" in our area; the most alarming news, however, is that the transaction is happening in the hallowed halls of our Capitol building--not on the streets.

Leonard Williams

 

MUSIC IS MUSIC

TO THE EDITOR: I like to consider myself a fan of electronic music. I have been since the early '80s, listening to electronic pioneers like Chris and Cosey and Severed Heads; but when I read Courtney Reimer's Dance Spotlight [April 8], I just had to voice my opinion.Your viewpoint is narrow-minded and elitist. You say you're thrilled electronic music is receiving the recognition it deserves, yet in the same breath you bitch about it being played in commercials, and on the radio, and being embraced by the mainstream. Make up your mind! Electronic music is no good if it's played on the radio? It's not worth listening to unless it's on some obscure label from a European city with an unpronounceable name? Puuuhhleeese! Whatever happened to liking music simply because it's good?

If the production is slick, the beats fat, and you want to move your ass to it, who cares if it's Cher, Madonna, or last year's hit? Music is music, good is good. Lose the attitude and enjoy. The next time you need someone to write an article on electronic music, choose someone who can write about the merits of the genre instead of someone who is involved in the superficial, self-absorbed world of "DJ culture."

J. Daniel Scott

 

EX-GAY MEN! Editor's Note: In the April 29 issue of The Stranger, we ran a guide to Seattle for ex-gays and lesbians attending the "Love Won Out" conference at Calvary Fellowship in Mountlake Terrace. Dan Savage and David Schmader's piece included an ad for a fictional gay hustler named Martin. We got a voice mail number for Martin, and recorded an outgoing message. Dozens of men called and left messages. Here are a few of the messages left for Martin, with names and phone numbers altered to protect the guilty.

Hello, Martin... uh, this is Tim. Um, I saw your ad, and thought I'd call you and see if you'd like to make a deal. I'd like to do a lot of things to you, and maybe have you do some things to me. I'm 6'1", in good shape, with a really smooth body. Maybe we can try and talk sometime, or maybe more? My number is 555-0000. Give me a call. See ya.

• • •

My name is Phillip, and I'm interested in talking to you, Martin. You can leave a message on my voice pager. That number is 555-0000.

• • •

Hey, this is Joe, and ever since I've been ex-gay, I've felt so empty inside. Your 9-1/2 inches would fill me up with that old-time religion I need. Call me, Martin. God bless.

• • •

Hi, Martin, this is Jeff. Um, I am at the Holiday Inn downtown, in room... uh, XXX. The number here, um, is 555-0000. I'm, um, really interested. Call me, please. Okay?

 

PRISONERS BID FAREWELL TO EVERETT

TO THE EDITOR: Everett True is leaving? Good riddance! That Seattle-bashing bastard doesn't know shit from shine-ola. That's my two cents worth, take it or leave it.


Doug #98-4819
King County Correctional Facility