Letters
Urban Legends
Back to the future: Regarding C.J. Janovy’s “Future Schlock” (June 7): I have lived in downtown Kansas City on Quality Hill for almost three years now, so whenever I see an article in the Pitch on that subject, it catches my eye. I think all of the things the article mentions are good ideas, especially having the performing arts center. I am an aspiring artist (well, not living off of it yet), so it gives me a good reason to stay and put down some roots.
Here’s the flip side: Most articles I read talk about downtown like it’s completely void of life. There IS a “community” here downtown — granted, a very small one. I moved here from St. Louis and have lived in midtown twice, and I find downtown much of the city life that most people don’t know. I have a great view of the river and Kansas, and my rent is very reasonable. I take strolls in the neighborhood, even after dark, and usually don’t have to worry. It’s a very big city and small town at the same time. And I go anywhere I need to on the bus.
I want to see downtown grow and flourish, but at the same time I don’t want to see the people who have lived here for many years be left out or forced out by means of outrageous rent hikes (e.g., Seattle, San Francisco). KC is my new home, and I hope it to be for a long time to come.
Andrew J. Wolf
Kansas City, Missouri
Arena rocks! Just read C.J. Janovy’s article on downtown and was impressed. Kansas City has lacked the ability to implement ideas for the past twenty years, and we have suffered greatly.
Out of all the ideas the plan talks about, the one that I am a proponent of is the arena. I feel that a new arena would bring people to the core of downtown anywhere from 150 to 200 nights a year. It would instantly make it much more viable for restaurants and other stores to open knowing that things would actually be going on in that part of the city. My feeling is “build it and they will come.”
But I wonder: Are city leaders actually serious about an arena, or is this just a pipe dream like so many other so-called “visions”?
Our city leaders are more reactive than proactive, and I think the more people who call attention to the dump we have at Kemper, and the fact that a new arena would bring life back downtown, the better chance we have of getting action.
Name Withheld Upon Request
Shawnee
Faith Off
Blind men’s bluff: Regarding Deb Hipp’s article “Murder Uncovered” (June 7): I am sick of African-American leaders of our community telling us what we should have and how we need to be represented. At one point in time, there was an argument that blacks were represented only negatively in the media. It is not the media’s responsibility to make the police department do its job efficiently.
It is sickening that ministers rally the black community to get angered over issues that could have been prevented. I think that it is a gross abuse of the black community’s blind ability to follow ministers on any topic. I am sure that the police department will work this case like any other murder.
D’nisha Freeman
Kansas City, Missouri
The Bully Pulpit
Divine Miss M: Hopefully, Allie Johnson’s article “Divine Debauchery” (June 7) will cause a renewed interest in the Reverend Saundra McFadden-Weaver’s story. This story should be highlighted on 60 Minutes and/or one of the syndicated talk shows. For some reason (be it political or not wanting to have another church denomination in the news), this story has not been publicized. It is mind-boggling to me that the appeals court overturned the verdict with the evidence presented. Anyone closely related to the situation knows that the higher echelon knew of the sexual harassment taking place.
Johnson did an excellent job covering this story. As the board chairman and member of Community Fellowship Church of Jesus Christ, I commend her journalistic abilities.
June V. White
Raytown
Realty Bites
Housewarming grift: Thanks for running Kendrick Blackwood’s article “Built to Sue” (May 24). It seems as though Jeff Miller and other builders simply hit little bumps in their established process and are able to continue to do the same thing to unsuspecting families.
Our builder was investigated by the Kansas attorney general on behalf of several homeowners. He eventually was assessed a fine of several thousand dollars — not anywhere near the amount of damage he caused. We were so furious. It would have been better for the AG to do nothing because the outcome just taught that fraudulent practices in building are above the law. The AG does nearly nothing, and court battles are so incredibly expensive for the homebuyers that the builders learn that they are above the law.
It continues to amaze me that someone can walk out of a store with an item he has stolen, and he is prosecuted. A builder can scam thousands of dollars off of families, and nothing is done.
Again, thanks for Blackwood’s article. At least a few more people will enter the homebuying process with their guard up.
Mary Judy
Raymore
Film Stool
Simile when you say that: Can you get a handle (or a muzzle) on your movie reviewers? Sure, there’s an entire page to fill — at least there is until you sell some more ad space — but does that mean that they have to rant on and on, piling Pelion onto Ossa onto Simile? (How ’bout them classical references?)
Sure, Pearl Harbor (Robert Wilonsky’s “Bora! Bora! Bora!” May 31) was boring and dumb, but Pitch readers already knew that. Wilonsky doesn’t have to prove each week that he once took Film Studies 101. We get the idea — “if it ain’t British, it stinks.” Now lighten up!
Either review films as entertainment (they ain’t never been nothing else, folks) or just change the reviews to a listing of the title followed by one of two checked boxes — e.g., “British made … absolutely, incredibly wonderful” or “not British … absolute crap.”
Hank DauBresse
Kansas City, Missouri
Lethal Injection
Bad rap: In response to J.J. Hensley’s article “Lethal Approach” (May 24), I have to say that I feel robbed of the countless hours I’ve put into the “lethal duo.”
There were tracks mentioned that I’ve produced, as well as a picture of myself with no caption. As a DJ/producer, I’m tired of taking the back seat to the MCs — yes, even the ones in my crew. I think it’s safe to say that I’ve worked harder, in some aspects, than these two MCs when it comes to not only producing our music but also recording, mixing and mastering the songs. I just want my just props, as Approach and Mac Lethal are entitled to their props as lyricists.
Everyone who makes music eventually wants to bring home the bread by doing what he loves. When Mac told me of this article, I asked him to be fair with the credits since the Pitch was calling his house and not mine, and he replied, “Everyone wants me to frickin’ plug them and shout them out.” What the fuck?! I’m not Mac’s neighborhood homeboy wanting a shoutout. I’m his producer, his right-hand man. If he weren’t working with me, every show would have been a cappella. My point is: What’s the point of even creating music for people if we are just going to be written off and forgotten? I just want everyone to succeed in this music shit and each get his just dues. I thought the article was written well, but there were mentions of the song “Suicide Note” from the Moon Thinker album, and I do want credit for the production. Even if my beats were critiqued and shunned, at least it would have been fair, right?
Krisna Best
Kansas City, Missouri
