Won't be burned again
I was stopping by a friend's place to say hi. While I was waiting on the porch, I glanced down to find the newest edition of Metro Times sitting in his recycling bin (a better place for it than in the incinerator) with the cover story staring me in the face. This afternoon, I picked up a copy and checked out Curt Guyette's story on the incinerator ("The big burn," Metro Times, April 2).
This thing is such a waste in so many ways. I can say that, even driving at freeway speeds down I-94 or I-75, you can smell the overwhelming stench of the beast. For Detroit to be paying so much money to keep this machine in operation is just ludicrous. I doubt a lot of people even realize they're getting scammed by this archaic and flawed system of dealing with trash, since the mainstream Detroit TV stations can't get their thumbs out of their asses long enough to talk about anything but Kwame's stupid scandal. What about the scandal they don't know about that's staring them in their face and being pumped into their lungs every day.
From what I read, I wouldn't put it past Deputy Mayor Anthony Adams to silence the efforts of many to shut the incinerator down just for a worthless payout. I sincerely hope that the Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Authority does the right thing and starts up a recycling program in Detroit — starting with the steel from that incinerator! —Carl Marschner, Melvindale
Primary offering
Thanks to Jack Lessenberry for the astute article cutting through the fog to reveal what was going on in the Democratic primary ("Our disgraceful Dems," Metro Times, April 9). If all you said is true, then it is a farce of messianic proportions. What's alarming is that it could get bigger as the convention gets nearer, and as Sen. Clinton will attempt to get "extra credit" with super-delegates, and make all the Michigan votes count for her.
At the base of the matter is this: Because of the Democratic Party leadership's bungling, they disenfranchised voters on a grand scale. When looking at the Democratic turnout in Michigan vs. Ohio, I believe that no polling station harassment scheme that excludes gunfire as a tactic could have done more widespread damage than this series of errors.
My ideal scenario would be this: the top Michigan Democratic Party leadership apologizes (or "shows regret") to the national committee for the compounded mistakes that have resulted, promises to put the Michigan primary back in the schedule where they're supposed to have it in future, and runs a new firehouse poll for 2008. That would be tax dollars well spent, on a measure that would let Michigan voter cast ballots in a free and fair election. —Edward McCall, Ann Arbor
Hope sinks
Hope for the city of Detroit? ("Hope for Detroit," Metro Times, March 26). Larry, I think not. The citizens of Detroit know; hell, after Monday, March 24, the citizens of the whole country know there is no hope left for the Motor City. Detroit shows up on the FBI's list as the deadliest city in the nation, and the mighty police force of Detroit ranks least efficient in the nation, according to the Bureau of Criminal Justice. Blow after blow falls, but the city still stands ... well, at least the casinos still do, for now.
People are leaving the city by the thousands, leaving behind their homes because of bankruptcy; the city's almighty hero, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who put his private parts before the city, is being prosecuted for multiple offenses, still he remains in office and speaks aloud, "I am the Boss".
The only thing left is Hockeytown, the Tigers, the Pistons and the casinos. So, Mr. Gabriel, I ask you what hope do you still have? —Mohamed A. Ayoub, Dearborn Heights
LETTER PERFECT
