Mailbag

Condo Content

To the Editor,

Regarding "Associated Trouble" (December 16): Tim Vanderpool's juxtaposition of words like "suburban" and "cul-de-sac" with Las Colinas Condominiums left me rolling on the floor gasping for breath.

As a 20-year owner and resident of one of the 250 tiny homes situated on our meager eight acres (no, that's not a typo), I can assure you we are a high-density urban development.

But seriously, contrary to the imaginings of the conspiracy theorists you quoted, Cadden Parfrey management company is the best thing that ever happened to Las Colinas. It's true that we had problems with one association manager, but Mike Cadden investigated and removed the manager. I guess he's being criticized for taking the time to gather actual facts before taking action. But it doesn't take an investigative reporter to dig up a few malcontents at any condominium, so you can't fire the manager every time someone complains.

In recent years we have chosen to elect many non-resident owners to our association board of directors, which I now think is a mistake. Their top priorities are rentability and street appeal, not pleasant day-to-day living conditions. But they have to stand for election every year, so responsibility for their tenure cannot be laid at the feet of Cadden Parfrey.

Mike Cadden is just a guy who has put a lot of honest sweat into building up a very well-run little company. Do you attack him because you're afraid of the real power brokers in our town?

-- Sandra K. Bidwell


Dating Tips

To the Editor,

I usually don't take the time to comment on the things in your paper, but I can't even begin to tell you how insulted I was by the November 24 "Relationstrips" cartoon by Stephanie Bailey. If she thinks that this is how women actually portray themselves on a first date, she doesn't have a clue! What a heck of a thing to put on your personal ad page. No wonder men want to play games and assume women that answer these ads are desperate. Please enlighten her ASAP!

-- W. Faber


LaRouche For President

To the Editor,

You want letters? Here's a letter: Jim Nintzel's "Run for President" kit (December 16) omitted the one guy who is neither stupid nor perverse. The LF Caliente bet sheet you featured, which includes 54 names, also left out Lyndon LaRouche. He is running as the third leading Democrat, has won FEC matching funds and was first to register in the New Hampshire primary. And wonder of wonders, he is running on a platform. He is calling for debt moratoria all around, is against the fluff, stock market, service, Internet economy and for good-paying, manufacturing jobs. He promotes scientific and technological progress, a word that has been expunged from the Democratic party lexicon.

You creeps are the Tucson alternative newsweekly, and still you pull down the curtain of censorship! Do you have the cojones to publish this letter?

-- Elisabet and Julian Grajewski


Hard Sell

To the Editor,

Regarding "More Keno at Kino" (The Skinny, December 16): It is my desire (as a payer of Pima County property taxes) that Kino Hospital be immediately closed and sold to whomever desires Kino's clientele. Why should the tax payers of Pima County support an indigent care system that serves as a revolving door for the mentally ill and a financial banquet for a bunch of physicians and administrators? Obviously, Pima County can't "juggle the books" anymore! Somebody must pay! For more jails, more cops, hospital deficits -- all the big ticket items currently underfunded. If we are all not careful, in three or four years Tucson will have the county taxes many of us ran from in the Northeast!

-- Norman W. Hoey


Saluting Carmona

To the Editor,

Rand Carlson's cartoon making fun of Dr. Richard Carmona ("Local Stocking Stuffers, December 16) is goofy to say the least.

Dr. Carmona should be praised for doing humanity a great service and he did that when he terminated a dangerous psychopathic criminal on the streets of Tucson.

May God bless him.

-- Albert Vetter


Seeing Colors

To the Editor,

I was disappointed after reading Margaret Regan and Tom Danehy's "Color Bind" (December 2), even though it realistically portrays Tucson's unfortunate past. But it gave the false impression that an African-American living in or new to Tucson would be surprised about its history. That is not the case.

Fortunately, the average person in Tucson is not harboring the cancer of racism in his heart. However, it is the institutions in Tucson which are holding on to the "traditions" of the past, specifically in the area of employment discrimination. Under the previous administration of Attorney General Grant Woods, housing discrimination complaints were turned away. Enforcement of the anti-discrimination provisions of employment law is rare when it comes to African-Americans. The absence of a zero tolerance position only encourages the conduct.

Tucson takes prides in its progressive attitudes, but it is a city in which institutionalized racism is pervasive and flourishing. If you are going to revisit Tucson's past, it is a disservice to your readers and to Tucson's future when you ignore the present conditions in a "race study."

-- R. Stiles


Where Credit's Due

We regret to have failed to properly credit the photo of Katherine Hallowell and Milton Papageorge performing in Invisible Theatre's production of Molly Sweeney (see listings for details) to Wayne Pearce in last week's issue.