Mailbag

Opium Addict Article 'Irresponsible'

I do not know what you were thinking when you published this article ("Confessions of an eBay Opium Addict," April 7), but to me, this was the epitome of irresponsibility. I don't deny that this is an interesting and important story and that the article did discuss the pain of withdrawal from narcotics and their negative effects on the author's life. However, it also clearly set forth the exact details of how to get opium poppies from the Internet and how to prepare them for ingestion.

Publishing an article which explains how to get and use cheap narcotics is crazy. If you think that addicts are going to be deterred by the author's bad experiences, you do not understand the addiction process. Maybe you should publish an article on how to prepare and use methamphetamines next week. Shame on you, Tucson Weekly!

Lynn Eichling

Two Points: 1) Drug Issue Needs Perspective, Civility; 2) Up Yours!

As someone who has lost several friends to heroin addiction and/or the social matrix that creates it, I was offended by this story. The tone of the crazed beatnik has been used so many times and is nothing but an advertisement of the very "problem" it rails against.

It's evident that the author has way deeper problems that manifest themselves as an addiction. This is true of almost all drug abusers, yet it is just the "war on drugs" as usual, with the insulting "just say no" mentality. There is no civility, no calm, no detachment, no perspective on this issue due to an inordinate fear of nature ... which is precisely the point: Nature won't be controlled. Plants will survive, even if they are outlawed! Poppy seeds aren't the only painkillers sold on line.

Your article is nothing more than an irresponsible puff piece aggrandizing a marginal lifestyle brought about by hysterical, narrow-minded bigots, of which you are quickly joining the ranks. Next time you hear of someone who died of an overdose, you can consider yourselves at least somewhat responsible. Up yours,

Duane Larson

Coincidence in Placement Was Offensive

I would like to point out something that the Tucson Weekly failed to notice: While James DiGiovanna is indeed entitled to his own opinions when critiquing a movie, is unfair and outrageous to put his views of a movie that portrays Hitler ("Humanizing Horror," April 14) next to an ad pullout for a festival honoring Israel's 57th anniversary. This is immoral and tasteless. The sheer lack of noticing such an error is ridiculous and unprofessional.

As a Jew myself, I would never review such a movie and try to compel it in an artistic sense. However, I do not have an issue with the movie review in question. My complaint is the amount of money the Jewish Community Center spent to have an advertisement promoting a peaceful event for all of Tucson to celebrate, only to have someone place the ad next to the mentioned movie review. I feel this is a spit on my people as a whole.

Marc Scape Lind

TUSD Revisions Proper, Not Patronage

To suggest that the job of revising TUSD's policies was created as patronage is ridiculous at best ("Partner Benefits," April 7).

I am a senior at Sahuaro High who has experienced first-hand the effects of antiquated and unclear policy and worked personally with Norma Johnson in the revision process. The article says some policies are nearly 20 years old. The policy on which I worked with Ms. Johnson was last revised in 1971. My experience with TUSD's policy-makers was a positive and productive one, and I'm proud to have worked with Ms. Johnson to accomplish change.

TUSD isn't all intrigue and ulterior motives. Sometimes, genuinely good things happen.

Kendall Gerdes, Sahuaro High School

Priorities of TPD, Napolitano Are Truly Out of Whack

I think that it's absolutely sick that the governor would award a grant toward policing jaywalking in Tucson ("Getting Crosswise," The Range, April 7), ignoring the fact that Tucson has the highest property crime rate in the country.

Last week, I peered out my office window near Sixth Street and Highland Avenue and watched a motorcycle officer circle the corner over and over again, looking not for people breaking into cars or people stealing bikes, but looking for jaywalkers. Two co-workers of mine were given $150 tickets on the same day crossing Sixth Street, one at about 7 a.m., and the other at about 5 a.m., when traffic is always truly snarling.

In the past few months, I can recall several pedestrian deaths on Grant Road and First Avenue. Anyone who has been down these streets knows that it would be a huge risk to cross them. Grant Road is poorly lit and has a higher-than-normal speed limit, when you consider the amount of development and traffic. Yes, something needs to be done about this, but I see it as being either simple safety improvements or enforcement of the current speed limits, not the ticketing of jaywalkers trying to cross Fourth Avenue against the light.

Meanwhile, as the tickets were being pelted at the hard-working people in the downtown area, four cars were broken into one night in my apartment complex's gated and fenced lot downtown. It was good to know that TPD was out doing its job that night, ridding the city of the terrible scourge of jaywalking when the last thing we want is more people coming downtown. Good work, guys.

Colin Gremillion

Coverage of Tyrone Johnson Case Was Sorely Needed

Chris Limberis deserves an award for investigative journalism in his coverage of the tragic death of Tyrone Johnson ("Death Settlement," April 14). I have counted four articles by Limberis on this case over the past year. The rest of the media have virtually ignored the story during this same time period.

I have followed this case with more interest than most--my next-door neighbor has family ties to the Johnsons. But this is a case that should concern all. If the rights of an African American in Tucson can be trampled, then everyone's rights are in jeopardy as well.

Tyrone Johnson was unjustly arrested, brutalized by police and then given second-class treatment by emergency medical personnel. Mr. Johnson's family sought justice from the courts, but the judge stacked the deck in favor of the city and ambulance company, resulting in a hung jury. Clearly, the color of justice in Tucson didn't favor Tyrone Johnson's skin color.

Limberis' most recent article details how the city of Tucson finally settled with the Johnson family for $70,000. This was after the city spent $277,000 to defend the Johnson case. Too bad that all that money couldn't have gone into the trust fund for Johnson's daughter. To add insult to injury, Tyrone Johnson was demonized by the city's big-bucks lawyers. But Tyrone Johnson was no demon.

Richard Boren

Thanks, Loft, for Addressing Concerns

I wish to thank both the Loft Cinema and you for the response to my recent Mailbag letter regarding disabled access to the upstairs theater ("The 'Weekly' and the Loft Need to Be More Handicap-Friendly," March 31). I was glad to see this week that The Loft's ads and listings in the printed Weekly now refer people to a number to call for information as to the accessibility of the films they wish to see.

I am pleased to know about the Loft's efforts and plans towards eventually becoming ADA compliant. I look forward to seeing them come to fruition sometime in the future. Thank you again, and I applaud your response and good-faith efforts.

Miriam Lippel Blum