SF Weekly Letters

Real Student Life 101
Addicts are people, too: Thanks to Trey Bundy for not portraying Steve and Rex as just some loser junkies, but as two people with other things going on, and their addiction as one of the many things they deal with day to day, like any other person with problems ["Higher Education," Feature, 9/17]. I enjoyed the fact that Bundy explained what they like to talk about and do with their time, what they study and what interests them, what got them to where they are, and where they want to go.

I often feel that most people who don't do heroin view everyone who does as just some idiots spending all day happily high and not caring about anything else. This is obviously not true; it is quite the contrary, and I am always happy to see something in the media that shows the public the other side (whatever that may be) of an opiate addict's life. Because they do have lives, and they are part of our regular society: teachers, students, co-workers, friends, family, store clerks, etc. Many are actually well-educated people who work hard not to be a menace to society while trying to deal with and control their addiction.

I'm glad Bundy was able to show these boys as individuals and not allow their addictions to be their personalities.

Allison R.

San Francisco

The high cost of education: I've known homeless students who weren't drug addicts — it costs that much to go to college now. I've also known plenty of students with drug and alcohol problems who keep getting to class and doing their best, one way or another. In a way, I can relate to the latter. I suffered from a non-drug-related condition through college, and every day was a fight. But I made it. As a matter of fact, it was school that kept me surviving.

We all have our problems; some just have them more severely than most. As long as Steve and Rex keep trying and aren't interfering with the education of others, let them stay. Hopefully, being able to find the strength to get through college will help them get past the drugs.

Douglas Clovin

Web Comment

Crime (and Art) Doesn't Pay
Dirty laundry: I'd love to see if there's any before-and-after statistic on what effect RAT stings have on crime. Sounds like Ashley Harrell couldn't find any ["RAT Entrap," News, 9/17].   

Last October, I moved from Buffalo to an apartment a block from 16th and Mission streets. I was used to some rough stuff in that poor city, but less frequently than here. I'm not afraid to live here, just a bit cautious.

My upstairs neighbor keeps walking in on people from the outside having sex in our laundry room. We've no idea how they get in, but now there are signs up to be more careful about locked doors. Nevertheless, we haven't had a working laundry machine for several weeks because some outside person smashed it apart with a fire extinguisher to get the coins. 

At the intersection of 16th and Mission, someone left graffiti that says, "Sanctuary city for the rich." I do freelance art, and I'm barely making rent, so I find that meaningful. However, I can't afford to get robbed. If I find more people trespassing in our laundry room, I might hold the door shut until the cops come. 

Hey, maybe we could leave the front gate open and have a sting in there (kidding.)

Patrick Lake

San Francisco

Where can one find these "packs" of "people"?: This article is pure nonsense! Ashley Harrell failed to mention all the people who walked by the officer and did not take the money. The criminals took the money and the honest citizens did not.

I have seen packs of these "people" rob innocent civilians throughout the city. They belong in jail.

JohnELaw 948

Web Comment