May 16, 2002 Columns » Letters

Letters from the week of May 16, 2002
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Artistic License 

Letters from the week of May 16, 2002

A pretty picture: My compliments on C.J. Janovy's informative article and a great lead ("Art of the Deal," May 9). There's a good T-shirt slogan in that first paragraph somewhere, hee hee hee.

Her point is well made, however. I hope Mayor Barnes and members of the redevelopment group read her article and take it to heart. Downtown redevelopment will miss the mark if it doesn't include a generous complement of arts and culture. There's a significant cadre of music and arts enthusiasts out there interested in these kinds of activities in Kansas City, and their patronage will be necessary to a strong and stable downtown economy.

People who are interested in the redevelopment issue might contact RevUp KC, a group of young professionals that is spearheading a call for more cultural and small business development downtown. You can contact them at revupkc@hotmail.com.
Robin Urmanic
Kansas City, Kansas

I enjoyed C.J. Janovy's article. I share her view on the need for more attention on art in Kansas City. I attended the art openings the first Friday of this month and was very excited by what I saw -- not only by the art, but by the people outside walking. When people are downtown, they are in their cars, or what I like to call "personal social isolation chambers of destruction." I am from Seattle, where the downtown is filled with people and action! KC is dead; if there were more people, the art and commerce would bring itself, and that is fact! The downfall of this once-great city was when the insurance and petrol companies bought up the transit system. I do know that there is a plan in action to try and rebuild it, but people are not going to ride the bus when they can take the car. The people of Kansas City need a reason to take the bus -- possibly advertising a deal on the cost of bus fare to the art openings, theater, plays, comedy clubs.

And regarding Mark Kind's May 2 Kansas City Strip: Kansas City, Kansas, is dead, and an Indian casino would help to bring it to life. Again, though, the answer is transit. Sure, people could drive and would drive to the casino, but if the city created a promotion to ride the bus to the casino, it would bring people. Fact: People bring money, money brings business, business, in return, brings people and money.
Alicia Scott
Higginsville

Working Women
A man's place: Regarding Geri Dreiling's article "Nasty Boys" (May 9): I'm a white male in my forties. I work both a full-time and a part-time job. I've had my share of abuse and injustice on the job. Men, especially those in blue-collar occupations, die at a substantially higher rate due to workplace accidents, disease and violence than do women. Of course, the media never gets on their soapbox about this!

J. Ernest Talley is an ignorant redneck who struck it lucky. The axiom is that management usually hires and retains individuals who reflect their attitudes and values. It should come as no surprise how midlevel managers conducted themselves at Rent-a-Center. All the lawsuits, feel-good legislation, politically correct rhetoric and sensitivity training in the world won't change this.

Many people in our culture, especially contemporary women, have an entitlement mentality. They feel they're owed something. Their battle cry is "liberation," but they refuse to accept the reality of how hard and unfair life and the workplace can be.
David Youmans
Merriam

A Place at the Table
Living by bread alone: Regarding T.R. Witcher's "Nothing for Dinner" (May 2): I live in the Jazz District apartments that are part of the redevelopment plan being directed by Al Fleming and the Jazz District Redevelopment Corporation. The apartments are fully occupied and managed with the greatest of care. I am very happy with my apartment and honored to be living in this historic district. It's a beautiful area of which all of Kansas City should be proud. Witcher's article was extremely disconcerting. I suggest that he make a thorough inspection of the entire community and talk to people who don't have a gripe to air before the next Pitch is published to get a more balanced view of the area and the progress that's being made.

Allow me to interject a famous and true quote, "Man cannot live by bread alone." Why use that quote? It's necessary to understand that we must first prepare a place for the food to be served so that it will be enjoyed by all. I would like to see permanent shopkeepers; however, I am willing to be patient until the commercial areas are occupied with owners who are financially stable.

I agree with him that it will take the whole community working together to make the area a success. Yet, do not forget how long it took other areas like the Plaza, Westport and the City Market to become a viable part of the community. I can only assume that as a fair and impartial journalist and/or publication, you wrote similar articles about their past and current struggles as well.

It would be wonderful if instead of expending so much energy criticizing the district, he would focus on the tremendous progress that has been made in only four short years.
Ronnie Medlock
Kansas City, Missouri

High Notes
Hell yeah: The Pitch's recognition and appreciation of Descension has always been received with great honor by all of us demons in the band, and we would like to thank you for having us again this year at your music awards show. Though it seemed a bit rushed and maybe less organized, it was still fun and an honor to have been chosen by not only you guys at the Pitch but by our peers in the local scene.

Season to Risk really touched our hearts with what they said about us, as have other bands in the area. From Big Jeter to Ruskabank to Tanka Ray to Sister Mary Rotten Crotch -- we all support you as well, and are humbled by your friendship. Thanks again, Kansas City. See ya next year -- and for those who still don't believe ... beware! We get you when you sleep!
Astoroth Occultus
Kansas City, Missouri

Acceptor Gadjit: It was just after our epochal show in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, that word arrived via special courier of our being awarded two trophies by the people of Kansas City and Lawrence and the music awards show's organizers at the Pitch. We would like to most humbly accept and thank you all for these two honors. Would that we could have been there to shake the hand of Tech N9ne, hobnob with Parlay and toast with the Misery Boys, but alas -- we were running our collective jammy deep into the sweetmeats of southern Ontario.

Please thank the Last of the V8s for most nobly dedicating their own award to us in our absence. How sporting.
Love always,
The Gadjits
Kansas City, Missouri

Correction: Last week's Stage column reversed the names of the lighting and sound designers in the Unicorn's production of Proof. Jeffrey Cady is the lighting designer and David Kiehl is the sound designer.

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