PRESTON GATES & ELLIS

TO THE EDITOR, I am writing to express my appreciation for Ben Jacklet’s
excellent article “Sweatshop ‘Til You Drop” [March 11] and to clarify a few of
the remarks attributed to me in the article.The impression was given that I believed
the Chamorro people in general had a “slave owner mentality” and that a sense
of “omnipotence” exists that has bred a system of “cynicism and degeneracy.” It
would be inaccurate and unfair to suggest that all of the Chamorro people have
displayed the attitudes and practices of the mostly male family elites to whom
my comments were directed.

I am only one of a number of people who have been assisting Kamal Hossain. None are more deserving of acknowledgment than two attorneys with the U.S. Department of Labor, Fay Von Rangle and Rochelle Klienberg-Goff, whose efforts led INS to allow Kamal to come to Seattle for medical treatment.

My response to Preston Gates’ defense for selling out their good name for the Commonwealth’s millions was grounded in a concern more substantive than it [being] “bullshit.” Preston Gates had no obligation to get into the lobbying business. To suggest, as Preston Gates has done, that legislative advocacy services enjoy a standing similar to the provision of legal representation before the courts or administrative bodies of law is disingenuous.

They seek to justify their greed by suggesting that they, like law firms that represent unpopular clients, are merely fulfilling their professional obligation. Attorneys taking heat for representing unpopular clients before our courts deserve our understanding, if not respect. Preston Gates is hiding behind a legitimate and honorable obligation attorneys must suffer in order to justify their lobbying business. By doing so they do a disservice to their peers and the public.

Phil Kaplan


DO THE POSTER BAN RIGHT

TO THE EDITOR, It is good to see the Free Speech Seattle organization
at work to free up the utility poles for postering art and political events
[“Reversing the Poster Ban,” Ben Jacklet, March 11].The city was right to take
action in the early ’90s. But a lack of defined knowledge on both sides of the
issue [resulted in no one] coming up with the right answer. So here we go again.
Let’s do it right this time. Remember, the right to new, “grass-roots market”
developing concepts is what is needed. The right to stick a flyer on any old
phone pole does not market an idea well. It is a much more complex game than
that.

Douglas Mays


EAT THE RICH

TO THE EDITOR, In reference to Jim Anderson’s review of Rover’s [“Eat The
Rich,” Chow, March 11], I am wondering why someone would review a restaurant
that is so obviously beyond his comprehension. Anderson seems most comfortable
reviewing what he knows: diners and cheap eats. He makes it painfully clear
that he is culinarily illiterate and can’t comprehend anything above McDonald’s.What
the fuck does belittling people who can afford a nice meal have to do with a
restaurant review? It was irresponsible and irrelevant, and as someone who works
in an upscale restaurant, insulting.

Harlee Morrow


EMPLOY THE FRENCH

TO THE EDITOR, As a food service professional, I am somewhat confused
by Jim Anderson. Not only does he seem to know nothing about cooking or eating,
his pseudo working-class politics are even fuzzier. Hey Jim, what’s your problem
with the French? That “little Frenchy joint” served a sea bass that “was nasty
and French”? Next time you feel like championing those poor little people who
are helplessly “putting up with shitty food and poor service,” bear in mind
that even the lowliest of burger joints have professional standards to uphold,
and some of them employ the French!

Kurt Slauson


ALTERNATIVE, NOT POWERLESS

TO THE EDITOR, When I saw your article “The 37 Least Powerful People
in Seattle” [Feb 18] I wanted to come down there and kick your ass. When I signed
the release form and gave permission to be interviewed, it was for an article
called “The 50 Most Alternative People in Seattle.” Do you guys have a habit
of shafting everyone you interview? I don’t think of myself as “powerless,”
and would never have granted the interview if I knew I was going to be treated
in such a fashion. I’d really like to sue you for slandering me, and show you
how “powerless” I am, but I am too busy, and frankly, don’t really care what
your un-newsworthy paper prints.

Jon Strongbow

Editor’s Note: The release Jon Strongbow signed reads, “…the undersigned give
permission to use their image and story in an article… which will feature people
who are in some way marginalized or rendered powerless by circumstance/choice/economics,
etc.” The piece was never titled “The 50 Most Alternative People in Seattle.”


MORE ON CHICKEN SOUP BRIGADE

TO THE EDITOR, The issue at Chicken Soup Brigade is not resources [“Dine
Out Founder Pulls Out,” Dan Savage, March 4]. As the Director of Client Services
at CSB for eight years (I left in May of ’98), and the person primarily responsible
for developing the budgets and implementing the food, transportation, and chore
programs at CSB, I know better than most what it would take in resources to
provide services to an additional 50 to 100 new clients. I find it particularly
troubling that CSB believes they must raise an additional $60,000 for such a
small pilot program. Given the attrition of clients with the new medications
over the last few years, I know for a fact that CSB could absorb additional
new clients without additional funding. It’s not about resources and it never
has been. It’s about philosophy!CSB has become what so many of us in the ’80s
fought against and will continue to fight against: a bureaucratic system that
is top heavy and resistant to change. CSB has been talking for years about serving
lesbians, and that’s all it is–talk. If we had waited around for money or sat
there writing grants in the late ’80s [when men needed services], CSB would
not exist.

As a woman and a lesbian, I will not stand at the back door of the kitchen that I and other women helped build and beg for services. Money follows good work and CSB is too arrogant and lazy to get that. I’ll find someone else to feed my people or we’ll build a place where all will be fed. And we’ll do it long before you find that $60,000, Chicken Soup Brigade.

Linda Pippin
 Former Director of Client Services Chicken Soup Brigade

CHANGE CHICKEN SOUP

TO THE EDITOR, Kudos to Sarah Blake for standing up to Chicken Soup
Brigade. I’ve always wondered why CSB doesn’t include people with terminal diseases
as well as debilitating diseases. These people don’t have the same services
available from a volunteer organization that I know of. Thank you also to Dan
Savage and Chris Andrews for speaking out.This is a good chance for CSB to show
the rest of the country what a great volunteer organization can do. The program
is already working, they could start tomorrow. Even if they only have enough
resources to include a limited number of new clients, CSB would be well ahead
of any other organization. My next letter is to CSB explaining my reasons for
not donating money. When they change their ways, I will donate again.

Jo Ljungstrom


SARAH BLAKE LEADS THE WAY

TO THE EDITOR, In response to Dan Savage’s article “Dine Out Founder
Pulls Out,” I write in defense of Sarah Blake. Last night I sat at Simpatico
chatting with Sarah. She reported to me she had been getting calls from individuals
upset about her decision to pull out of Dine Out. [She’s been asked] how she
could be so insensitive.I offer these points in response. First off, Blake is
not denouncing CSB for providing services to people living with AIDS. It is
simply her prerogative to make a shift in where she directs her activist energy.
Blake has done her time in the fight against AIDS. For god’s sake, she co-founded
Dine Out! Can we thank her for her good work and allow her to be compassionate
about other relevant issues? The point here is not AIDS vs. breast cancer; the
point is that issues, crises, and movements change. There’s room to care about
both problems.

When Sarah and others initiated Dine Out it came from the great revolutionary spirit that ignites positive change. By offering a voice of dissent on Dine Out, and suggesting we begin to challenge who CSB serves, Blake is once again leading the way.

Laura Hanson


DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS: Recently The Stranger ran a letter from
the corporate headquarters of Tully’s coffee announcing their new partnership
with Safeco Field. This letter included a promotional offer of free coffee to
patrons visiting any Tully’s who announced “Take me out to Safeco Field!” We
neglected to mention that this special promotion ran for only one day, March
4th. We regret the error, and ask our readers to stop descending on Tully’s
and demanding free coffee.