Leg Work
Over the hurdles: I’m the assistant boys’ and girls’ cross-country coach and head girls’ track coach at Truman High School. This letter is in response to Tony Ortega’s “Track Scars” (September 1), which stated: “Since [Tom Billington’s] firing, cross country and track at Truman have suffered a steep decline.”
In defense of our athletes, who went through the loss of their coaches and the hiring of me and Coach Steve Lucito, I would like to go on record in defense of these athletes. On October 14, 2005, our varsity girls won the conference cross-country championship, and the program, because of their hard work, is on the incline! Our desire has always been to support our athletes and their dedication. I realize this information means little to you, but we, as coaches, parents and administration, are very proud of Truman High School cross country and track.
As a coach who has worked with young people for 30 years, it is always about the kids and their desire to overcome any adversity and our job as coaches to support them. Your comment was not appropriate, because it was a negative remark about our kids and our programs without input from those who had to pick up the pieces after the dismissal of the two coaches.
Ron Kelley
Lee’s Summit
How Taxing
Minority report: According to David Martin’s “The Big Sell” (October 13), stadium rent and maintenance were the responsibility of the Chiefs and Royals. When the teams complained about this agreement, they should have provided hard numbers regarding their economic impact on Kansas City. I have attended several public meetings and asked for this information. I was given an “opinion.” If you ask taxpayers for money, we have every right to expect some financial accounting for what has been spent and how you intend to use the money you are asking for. I cannot get over the arrogance of this crew for going into these public meetings without this type of financial information.
It seems the best we can expect is some temporary construction employment and maybe some minimum-wage jobs. That will never be good enough considering what the players and the team owners stand to make. The fact is that if they benefit from the use of any tax money, it is illegal for them not to use minority contractors. So they aren’t “giving” us anything by using minority contractors and construction workers. According to federal law, they are supposed to do this anyway.
What we have here is a case of OPP: other people’s prosperity. Team owners use the stadiums to make a lot of money. It is unfortunate that KC taxpayers got caught up in this contract, but it is time to let it expire. It is also unfortunate that sports entertainment is being shopped as a priority. Instead, world-class schools and industry should be the hallmarks of Kansas City.
Imani Malaika
Kansas City, Missouri
Peace Out
His 50 Cent worth: Regarding Nadia Pflaum’s “Speak No Evil” (September 29): I would like to first say that as an African-American male in Kansas City, what I read floored me.
What are we trying to do, my fellow black men, shoot each other off the face of the planet? We’re succeeding. No other race (at least in Kansas City) murders each other at the rate we do. It makes me envious to see people of other races living peacefully among each other, enjoying life as God intended, yet, for reasons I may never understand, black men, in particular, find it easier to pull a gun trigger.
I’m sorry, black people, but we do have a problem. Not feeling safe to come through as an informant, that just doesn’t make sense to me. Rap music (yeah, I said it!) has certainly played a part in influencing inner-city violence. Get a clue! Do you really think 50 Cent is out robbing and shooting people? I certainly don’t listen to anything that glorifies drugs, violence and death, to say the least. Damn shame that some black people are so easily taken in by this crap.
As for myself, and many other black men and women here in Kansas City, I will uphold the law, live peacefully amongst my fellow human beings, and contribute to society in the best way I can.
Name withheld by request
Spin Zone
Out of phocus: It would be really fantastic if Andrew Miller would take the time to ensure that his facts are accurate before he publishes an article. For electronic music in this city, I would guess that about 90 percent of the time, he leaves important facts out of his stories.
The October 20 Spin Cycle is inaccurate. Michael (SVS) Thomas will not be showcasing his skills solo at this weekly event, Phocas True Tuesdays. He will be playing alongside Resident DJ True. In addition, he will be playing upstairs in the lounge at Balanca’s, not in the Pyro Room. The establishment is called Balanca’s & The Pyro Room. The Pyro Room is actually downstairs and is not open on Tuesdays.
Miller’s lack of attention to detail is glaringly obvious to all of us in the electronic-music scene in Kansas City, and equally annoying. Likely, it is most of the reason that the electronic-music scene in this city does not take the Pitch seriously. You really should consider having someone covering electronic music who actually knows something about it and takes the time to make sure that it is reported on accurately.
Name withheld by request
