Low Road
My way or the highway: Regarding the 2005 Editorial Board of the American Institute of Architects’ letter to the editor (February 10): General Motors set up a bus company and ran the trolley lines out of business.
Congress spent money building highways because that’s what members of Congress do — spend money hoping that they can steer more of it to their districts than elsewhere. The people did not say “take away our rail and build highways”; big business and Washington policymakers working hand in hand did that for them.
Name Withheld by Request
P.S.: Since no one signed the letter from the 2005 Editorial Board, if you print this, please sign me as Bicycle Riding Greenpeace Sierra Club supporter.
Chemical Reaction
Pollution solution: I am a supervisor in the truck paint shop in Claycomo. I just finished Kendrick Blackwood’s “Paint Fumes” (February 24), and I appreciate his perspective, but tell both sides.
Ford is trying to restructure itself and stay a viable company that provides thousands of good-paying jobs to its employees. The Kansas City shop is far from world-class, but the new Dearborn plant actually has grass growing on the roof. If they get the bugs worked out, maybe they will move the 5,600 jobs in Kansas City to Michigan. Blackwood’s math is very good; the Ford plant puts out twice as many toxins as the Fairfax General Motors plant, due to the fact that we produce twice as many vehicles that are much larger. Ford was not mandated to produce a hybrid but took the initiative to try and reduce pollution while giving its stockholders a return on their investment.
Jim Edwards
Lake Waukomis, Missouri
Air supply: I am writing in response to Kendrick Blackwood’s recent article about the Ford Escape Hybrid and the chemical ethylbenzene.
I can’t seem to figure out the point of this article. First he talks about how much of this chemical is being discharged at the Ford plant. Then he shows evidence that the chemical is really not that bad. Is it not a positive improvement to build the world’s first hybrid SUV? Did you like it better before the hybrid? Of course you didn’t! The hybrid that we build will benefit the world in a much bigger way than the elimination of ethylbenzene ever would.
Also, the fact that the BMW plant puts out only 1.5 percent of the chemical compared to us is misleading. I’m sure that, since they use a water-based paint, they do produce a significantly lower amount of ethylbenzene, but how many BMWs does this plant produce in a given year? BMWs are very expensive, and I am sure that they do not build a fraction of what we do. I know that I have a biased opinion, but I have to stand up for what is right here.
Joe Cartwright
Lawson, Missouri
Roach Clipped
Potted meet: I am writing in regard to Jen Chen’s Night Ranger article about Grinders titled “Tater Hots” (February 24). A statement made by “Mike” contains incorrect information; I need to set the record straight.
I want to say that Mike is not my boyfriend, but that’s not that point. The main point is that I did NOT smoke pot that night. Yes, Mike held a roach up to my mouth, and yes, it fell in my drink, but I did not want it! Mike was not clear in stating that the “they” smoking pot was him and his friends.
This is not really Chen’s fault; I mainly blame Mike for being an idiot and telling a reporter about smoking pot. I just really needed to clear my reputation. I am not a pothead!
Megan Kasten
Kansas City, Missouri
Mixed Fruit
Song birds: Over the last few months, I have started to lose interest in the Pitch. While the features are great, the music sections have started to flounder.
I have become even more dismayed with the music critics, especially when it comes to the reviews featured in the February 17 Hear and Now. How can a writer go from loving a band one year to criticizing it the next year for the same things you once glorified it for? When it comes to Hot Fruit, Megan Kasten is not the sole member of the band, which also includes an awesome bass player in Lacey Ellington and one of the best drummers in the area, Rachel Meyers. All three members are equal participants in the band, and all sing on various songs for a collective effort. I find it amusing that Andrew Miller would single out Ms. Kasten.
Next time, I would appreciate if the music writers could get their facts straight about who they are reviewing and write a worthwhile critique that didn’t sound like gibberish. Wasn’t one No Doubt enough? This is the reason for the band to have three singers and no lead singer. Perhaps Miller is just a washed-up old writer who is jealous of any hot girls with musical talent whom everyone else in this city seems to adore.
Lynne Hermansen
Olathe
