MUD Slinging
Yes, that was our motive in exposing flaws on a major ballot issue -- spite:It seems you are playing devil's advocate just to oppose the Guardian ("Dead MUD Walking," Oct. 10). The public is not served by your self-serving article opposing the MUD. The public has taken a bath while PG&E's parent company and management have been enriched by our hardship. And the public certainly doesn't want our dear mayor or any future mayor to be in charge of our power and water. The current charter doesn't allow the public the authority over the utility district, and that is what we want. At least you could publish a balanced viewpoint and not use a crucial issue such as this to make your paper look better than your rival. Remember public service?
Judy Tergis
Glen Park
Dirty Money
He also has good penmanship: I appreciate your work on financial crimes ("Cleaning House," Matt Smith, Oct. 10, on the need to tighten money-laundering laws to fight terrorism). Your article was salient. I understand the proceeds of guns, drugs, various types of human slavery, government rip-offs, and tax-evasion dollars "grease" conventional economies, which results in a "third economy," following the petrochemical economy and the overt financial markets. Thanks, Matt. Good citizenship.
Grant Millin
Mill Valley
Don't Mention It
Sorry it took so long, but with so many lunatics it's hard to get to everyone: Thanks very much for the Dog Bites item on the sordid history of the organizers of [the recent] anti-war demonstration in S.F. ("War Is Bad. Or Good, Depending.," Oct. 10, on the International Action Center). It is about time somebody exposed these lunatics.
Name Withheld
Richmond
Rural Myths
First, the story took several weeks. Second, you've just described journalism: We were truly saddened to see the article by Jeremy Mullman ("Rural Cleansing," Oct. 3, on paranoia in the Northern California countryside). It is one of the most coyly arrogant, patronizing, and subjective articles I have seen regarding this area.
With over 70-plus consecutive years in the "Jefferson" region, our family is a relative newcomer compared to others. Educated with degrees ranging from systems analysis to Juris Doctor, we are not exceptional compared to others here, but rather the rule. Most here have chosen to live in an economically depressed area in exchange for the quality of life and the intimacy with nature. Most of the residents have invested far more time, effort, and finances to preserve the environment based upon their cumulative experience than all the revolving-door governmental policies and environmentalist rhetoric of the past.
To walk into an area and within a matter of days render a subjectively "objective" article is akin to us walking in front of your building and concluding the Weekly is an irresponsibly run organization and should have its staff evicted. Perhaps they can share quarters with the residents who have lost their homes here.
Name Withheld
Hornbrook, Calif.
A Musical Interlude
And if there's a better one in Canada or Latin America, we'd like to see it:I can't believe you did a freakin' Crawling With Tarts feature ("Globs and Monsters," Music, Oct. 3)! That's so damn cool. Your music section is unarguably the best in the country.
Ben Goldberg
Matador Records
Forest Hills, N.Y.
Praising Puni
Sorry, we've tried standing, but in our condition that's nearly impossible: I applaud Puni for telling the real stories about what happens on Muni buses. What I haven't seen you mock lately are the foul-smelling drunks that sit next to you on the bus because the seat next to you is the only one available. Please keep us laughing out loud, Puni Dan.
Maurice Rivers
Ingleside
Until this week: I really loved "Men Are From Muni, Women Are From BART" (Puni, Oct. 3). That was the best one you've ever done.
Karena Aslanian
Richmond District
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