SF Weekly Letters

Malking It
Worn-out pavement: I enjoyed reading Jennifer Maerz's article "The Noise Pop Network" [Let's Get Killed, 2/25]. Her critiques are right on. However, I was pretty surprised by her statement regarding Pavement: "Instead of Malkmus, for example, why not Pavement? ... I realize those are some big-ticket items, but generally reunions, one-off shows, and other once-in-a-lifetime performances would raise Noise Pop's cred substantially."

It just seems overly hopeful and a bit ignorant. I don't want to say it's never gonna happen, especially after Stephen Malkmus sang a couple of Pavement tunes at his show. But he has made it pretty clear that he has moved on. It seems Maerz is another Pavement fan who can't do just that. Of course everyone has an opinion: I feel his solo material is excellent. Getting in more noteworthy headliners is definitely something Noise Pop should be doing, but Malkmus' performance was not just another regular show. I am sure Maerz knows this set was a solo acoustic show. He was very much in his element and the crowd loved it. They were much more vocal and enthusiastic compared to the show last year at the Fillmore. It seemed to be a real treat for Pavement and solo Malkmus fans alike.

Andrew Lovato

San Francisco

Porn in the USA
And spankings for all: I find it really irritating how people act like sex is somehow abnormal ["Kink and Kids," Sucka Free City, Bonnie Ruberg, 2/18]. My wife and I have sex in the same house where my kids live. Millions of other Americans do the same thing. We simply make an effort to keep it out of sight of the kids.

The porn studio is a closed studio, and unless someone tells the kids [in the proposed neighboring youth center], they would have no idea what's in there. It's a nonissue unless you're an uptight busybody who wants to impose your own ideals on everyone else.

A. Cobb

berkeley

Reinventing the Ranger
Keep your hands where I can see them: It's not as if these guys are reinventing the wheel trying to start a new and separate parks police force ["Ranger Danger," Matt Smith, 2/11]. The S.F. Park Rangers have been here since day one. I think what Ranger Marcus Santiago is trying to do is maximize the rangers' capabilities and justify their existence. I mean, come on. There are about 15 Rangers responsible for all of San Francisco's parks — you will never run into one!

So continue with your illicit Golden Gate Park restroom stall activity.

Marv Steven

Web Comment

Soup Kitchen Not Just for Drug Addicts
Food for thought: I was really concerned about the one-sidedness of Peter Jamison's article ["Their Daily Bread," Feature, 2/4]. The way it was written, it sounds like only drug dealers and drug users use the soup kitchens in the Tenderloin. Nothing could be further from the truth, as there are many reasons folks use this service.

I, for one, am a senior on a low, fixed income who would not be able to make ends meet every month if not for the lunches I eat at St. Anthony's. Because they allow you to take food home in containers, I happily eat the same thing for lunch as well as dinner on those days. The food is always good and nutritious, and the worst meal I ever got there was still better than what Glide Memorial serves regularly. There are also many employed folks who eat at St. Anthony's — folks who just started a job, or low-wage-earners who are lucky enough to have the time to be able to make it there to eat lunch.

Stop trying to "clean up" the Tenderloin, and "clean up" your reporting by telling the whole story.

Terrrie Frye

san Francisco