Letters

Book Reviews
Move it:When the Pitch is muckraking about Turkey Creek (Joe Miller's "Dishonorable Discharge," May 3), the paper is the champion of the underdog. When C.J. Janovy analyzes the Kansas City Library ("Book Ends," June 14), she ridicules two people, whom she calls "Scrawny Stud and Slipper Girl." Is Janovy the watchdog monitoring the corporate, governmental, cultural and societal exploitation of the disenfranchised? Or is the Pitch, despite its anti-suburban stance, a paper infused with the insidious moral and cultural snobbery of bourgeois yuppiedom?

The public library system must adjust to serve the needs of its "public" patron base. Apparently, a lot of people without their own PCs (private computers) enjoy using PCs (public computers). They also heavily rent videos and other types of literary "pop culture," such as fiction bestsellers. While Janovy might be able to go to Linda Hall Library and use the Journal of Farm Economics or obtain the U.S. House Reports on Navy Yards from other government documents depositories, I understand why the library will downsize a part of its collection based on quantifiable evidence of diminished use and evidence of regionally redundant services.

As a professional researcher and a father of a four-year-old, I look forward to a Missouri Valley Collection with a secure archival reading room and a revamped and expanded children's library. I hope they design it along bilingual-friendly lines. Furthermore, all library patrons -- including ones who wear Vasque mountain hiking books, loafers from Jack Henry or flip-flops from a close-out bin -- should be welcome.
Patrick Sumner
Kansas City, Missouri

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Trash of the Titans
Lights out downtown:Thank you for C.J. Janovy's candid article about the Civic Council and downtown ("Future Schlock," June 7). As a longtime shop owner in the area (American Formal & Bridal, 14th and Main), it was refreshing to see her hammer them, as they deserve.

These power brokers have spent countless millions supporting the likes of Stan Durwood of AMC Theatres and other power brokers, only to fall flat on their faces. It would be interesting to know how much money the city and the Civic Council have spent on consultants for downtown over the years. If only they took their tax-break money and beautified the streets by planting trees, putting out benches, trash cans, ornamental lighting, or hiring night security patrolman, the impact would be far more widespread.

Never have these Robin Hood-lums offered to help the small businesses that have been loyal to downtown through tax breaks of our own. Other cities have done this. If the city is serious, we need to establish a 1 percent for downtown tax on all building projects, just like there is for art.

The AMC team accused my dad, who has devoted his life to keeping his business downtown, of being "anti-development" and "anti-downtown." We'd love to be a part of a revitalization plan, but they didn't want any of the downtown shops to stay. The Power & Light District just wanted our well-placed property.

I hope Janovy will continue to expose these veiled power brokers who meet secretively for the supposed good of downtown for what they are: out for their own good, not for the good of downtown.
Daryl Penner
Kansas City, Missouri

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God and Man
His will be done:We do not know all the troubles that one has in life, but making some strong strides to change people and change their direction is something for which I commend Saundra McFadden-Weaver (Allie Johnson's "Divine Debauchery," June 7).

God saw her plight and he made a way for it to be lifted, with knowledge of sexual harassment and sexual abuse. You would think that it would be hidden, but I am glad Minister McFadden-Weaver chooses to bring it to the forefront.

The only problem I question is: Were these other ministers called or chosen?

Keep writing and keep making our eyes come open.
Margaret Moore
Gladstone

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Divine intervention:I don't understand the Pitch's featuring an article like "Divine Debauchery," which chronicles the horrors of sexual abuse, while at the same time advertising exactly the same kind of debauchery. Was the point to give the church a black eye?
Doug Burford
Mission

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Don't Touch that Dial
Pledging his love:I need to set the record straight on Deb Hipp's inaccurate portrayal of me ("Fly in the Soup," May 30).

I did not have an icy tone at the KKFI board meeting. I was being assertive. What Ms. Hipp failed to mention was that observers were constantly interrupting the meeting with snide remarks.

I was in a good mood not because I had a plateful of pizza, but because our Spring 2001 Pledge Drive was going very well. Ms. Hipp is a thin woman. Was this an attempt in showing her disdain of people who are overweight? She gives the readers the impression I was unable or wouldn't answer her questions. Excuse me for picking up a station policy manual to show her the rules and regulations.

I was not a vice president of a labor union. I was an executive vice president. I may not have had a manager position at the phone company, but I managed the affairs of Southwestern Bell and AT&T telephone operators who belonged to the Communication Workers of America. When I met with company management, I was equal to them. Yes it's true; I don't have a college degree. My question is: Since when is being a working class stiff a bad thing? This sounds pretty elitist coming from a supposedly progressive magazine.