Bravo to Dan Savage for calling Gary Locke on his pathetic leadership as governor on issues important to gays and lesbians, including HIV/AIDS funding ["Locke Suckers," June 1]. I offer one correction, however: Locke proposed cutting HIV-prevention funding for TWO budget years--not one--and after attending the AIDS Walk as a candidate for governor, he refused each and every invitation to attend various Northwest AIDS Foundation events in the following years, despite ongoing requests. Sadly, one is left to assume that Locke's appearance at Oscar AID this year was likely motivated more toward shaking down some big donors for his re-election campaign than any passion to end the AIDS pandemic or secure equality for queers.

Steven B. Johnson, Former Director of Public Policy and Communications, Northwest AIDS Foundation; former Vice-Chair of the Governor's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS

DEAR EDITOR: I am responding to Josh Feit's article on the Renters' Rights Summit sponsored by City Council Member Judy Nicastro ["Hey, Renters!" June 1]. Nicastro deserves the applause of every struggling individual and family in this municipality who fork over increasing portions of their income each month to a landlord. The rental scene in this city has never been so bad. Nicastro's call to address some aspects of this critical problem is truly decent and admirable.

It is, however, unfortunate that Feit chose to take a cheap and utterly undeserved shot at John Fox, the dedicated coordinator of the Seattle Displacement Coalition. Fox and many others in this city have engaged for over 20 years in a frustrating and often thankless task of confronting an indifferent city government in alliance with developers, bankers, and landlords. As the problems of homelessness and housing affordability have gotten progressively worse, Fox and a small cadre of advocates, like the Tenants' Union, have often provided the only support available to poor people caught in unequal battles with well-financed opponents. It is people like John Fox who have kept this vital issue in the public eye, and who have won a few important victories. He deserves praise for his efforts, and not a wisecrack from Feit.

Joe Martin, Seattle

STRANGER: Kudos for that article on renters' rights ["Hey Renters!" Josh Feit, June 1]. It's nice to know we've got some clever options with which to combat those voracious little daytime-drama-award-winning landlords who've been holding their dotted lines and forced disclosures over our heads since we had the misfortune of signing on with their ratty brigade of dissatisfied tenants. Keep the civil ammo coming!!!!

Adam, via e-mail

DEAR STRANGER: Thanks for delivering the article by Josh Feit ["Hey Renters!" June 1]. It's nice to know that the battle still continues. I was forced financially from my Capitol Hill home more than a year ago (my rent went up $50 every month for a year) for repair reasons. Of course, [my landlords] never stopped my bathtub from backing up or the roof from leaking. I still wanted to live in the area that I considered my home, but couldn't afford it. $1,000 for a studio? Yikes! Now I have a tight apartment on the Eastside that feels more like a house. I've got a garage, parking spot, and a two-bedroom apartment with laundry. And all that for only $860 a month. Oh well, at least I can still visit!

"Jickie," via e-mail

JULES MAES HAS CLOSED?!? No!! ["A Real Reason to Drink," Traci Vogel, June 1.] Though I now live in Los Angeles, I periodically check in with The Stranger online to [see] what's going on in Seattle. Jules Maes was, hands down, my favorite bar in the city. I am truly saddened to hear of its demise, though it comes as no surprise, given the rampant gentrification and "dot-commodifying" of the fair Emerald City. Where will it stop? Who's next--Vito's? The OK Hotel?

Jules Maes was a legitimate piece of city history. Just the bar itself--the intricate carving of it, the quality of the wood, the back mirror--was reason enough to drive south of the Kingdome (oh yeah, that's gone too) and get a nice pour of whiskey or a cold, cheap beer. Seattle is destroying itself. If it were possible to replace the Olympics or Mt. Rainier with some condos or a massive Chihuly sculpture, I'm sure it would be done. Despite my grief over the closing of Jules Maes, it reaffirms why I left. And even though I now find myself in the vast shithole that is Los Angeles, it really doesn't pretend to be anything different--unlike our shortsighted cousin up north.

Chris Tharp, Los Angeles

TO ANYONE LIVING IN SEATTLE: Sure, Seattle has its problems, but try and find a city that doesn't ["'Tis Pity She's a Whore," Evan Sult, May 18]. I was born and raised here, and I'm sick of people bitching about every little thing. Be happy that we live in a beautiful part of the world, in a country that isn't run by a dictator. It's better than Iraq, Bosnia, and plenty of other places; so if you don't like it, you can move the fuck out. Be grateful for what you have instead of complaining about it.

"Bubba," Seattle

EDITORS: I appreciated Art Chantry's recent lament for the city formerly known as Seattle ["'Tis Pity She's a Whore," Evan Sult, May 18]. I, too, have considered seeking out new worlds, boldly going... and whatnot. But I recently realized that I've already arrived in a strange and foreign land; a pile of rubble populated by all [kinds of] of ill-mannered, cannibalistic, whore-ish bivalves. And I never even had to leave my couch.

Deran Ludd, Capitol Hill

DEAR EDITOR: I'm writing this letter in response to "Waves in a Fish Bowl," by Phil Campbell [May 25]. I believe that Phil was misguided in focusing on negativity instead of the points of unity expressed in the May 19 Unification Meeting. The Youth Undoing Institutional Racism group asked Ron Chisom, Executive Director of the New Orleans-based People's Institute for Survival and Beyond (and community organizer for 25 years) to facilitate this meeting so he could encourage more effective organizing around the issues impacting communities of color.

The meeting was a success, and I am saddened--but not surprised--that Phil Campbell chose not to report that fact. The People's Coalition for Justice does disagree with city hall determining whom they will negotiate with in relation to non-white communities. We believe [that in order to] create a sustainable movement for social change, we must move from the current paradigm and begin to organize around the principles of leadership development, direct accountability to the community, integrity, and a common vision for the future. The People's Coalition for Justice is on the path to building a true grassroots movement in this city, which is what Campbell's story should have been about, instead of sensationalizing differences he clearly does not understand.

This is about justice. In closing, The Stranger should consider sending an informed and connected person of color to cover stories about communities of color in the future. You wouldn't send a sports reporter to cover an arts or music story would you?

Dustin Washington, Cross Cultural Youth Leadership Development Director, People's Coalition for Justice, Seattle

PHIL CAMPBELL RESPONDS: Dustin Washington invited me, a white reporter, to a "unity meeting." Washington and Rev. Robert Jeffrey had complained to me that Seattle's black leaders were not acting responsibly. I had the impression that the meeting was called to address these problems. Yet the gathering displayed clear elements of disunity. (One out-of-town speaker blasted leaders with "bloated egos.") Washington stressed all along that the meeting was not simply about unity,but would address "integrity and accountability" issues as well. Many in the African American community have taken up the cause to fight for greater police accountability. This internal strife may be a fight "within the family," as one person put it to me, but it is a fight that could affect the entire city. That's why it's newsworthy.