Good Job, Guys
To The Editors:
I feel like this past issue was really CL at its best (Best of Charlotte 2001 and Terror’s Aftermath, September 5). I found it comforting to hear voices of sanity and reason amongst the madness of Bloodthirsty America. Thank you for revealing truths that are otherwise buried or disguised. You’ve got some incredibly insightful writers on your staff.
Amy Sutton
Charlotte
Security? What Security?
To The Editors:
Your recent article on security at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center (Showdown at McCrory Corral by Tara Servatius, September 26) apparently led to some added security measures but clearly not enough! I am an employee at CMGC, and as of today (Thursday, Sept. 27), all purses, backpacks, briefcases, etc. are being searched in the lobby. However, I easily squeezed past two rent-a-cops with a backpack stuffed to the limit (one guard was checking another person’s bag — the other stared at the reporter nearby, who was conducting an interview about the stepped-up security). We’re now being told that as of tomorrow, all employees should enter through the basement, so that only visitors will enter through the lobby and be searched.
The Barton guards here are a real joke. Earlier this week, one stood by the elevator bellowing that anyone without a badge needed to check in with the front desk. He didn’t actually look to see who did and did not have a badge — he just hollered at the crowd. Meanwhile, at least two non-employees squeezed onto the elevator with us. Usually, the guards don’t say anything at all — to anyone. And sometimes, they are nowhere to be found! This usually happens around lunchtime. They must get very hungry standing around all day. We received an e-mail about a week ago that said anyone entering the CMGC parking deck from the visitor entrance would be ID’d. I have only parked there once since then and I was not ID’ed or even stopped.
I’m looking forward to a follow-up article on this! Thanks for your coverage so far!
Name Withheld By Request
I’m Not bin Laden
To The Editors:
This letter is in response to Tara Servatius’ column (Showdown At McCrory Corral, September 26) ). She hit the nail right on the head. I work in the Government Center. While Tara was able to fumble around the lobby hauling boxes of weapons without nary a passing glance from our crack security team, I can’t even seem to venture outside once an hour for a smoke without being questioned. You would think that after seeing my face eight times a day for the last two weeks, security would recognize the fact that I actually work here, either that or I’m a very incompetent terrorist. Maybe it’s the fact I’m male, and although very American, dark-skinned with a grey flecked mustache/goatee. I have signed in on the roster (a flimsy attempt to record all who visit the Government Center) under 10 different aliases in the past two weeks, and no one seems to know the difference. I actually signed in as our most sought after terrorist earlier this week. Wonder if anyone knew he was here. It’s funny that the day after your article appeared, the crack security team is now stationed right inside the revolving door, with an actual podium (for leaning purposes I suppose), and new and improved security measures will be in place by Friday, September 28. I assume that means coffee and doughnuts for security. Truly a waste of taxpayers’ dollars.
Name Withheld By Request
Tara Will Destroy You!
To The Editors:
I have picked up my last Creative Loafing and will tell all my friends to stay away from your (so called) newspaper. Your bastardization (Tara Servatius’ word — not mine) of news presentation is an affront to any educated adult in this community.
The fact that Citizen Servatius has been given ink by you does not abrogate your responsibility to edit her shrill anti-government diatribes and occasional twisting of patriotism into jingoism.
A newspaper should guide and educate its readers and not descend into this type of yellow journalism unless you are ready to suffer the loss of readership that I’m positive is heading your way.
Citizen Servatius is anything but. She is a rabid demigod who does not deserve the ink that you waste on her words. Free Press? Free Speech? She would destroy you in a minute if she had the power. Goodbye.
Gary Anderson
Charlotte
Editor’s Reply: We can only assume that Mr. Anderson meant that Tara Servatius is a demagogue, not a demigod, although Ms. Servatius disagrees with our interpretation.
CHA Does A Lot of Good
To The Editors:
Re: CL stories about the Charlotte Housing Authority by Tara Servatius: I was a resident of CHA for five years and I have nothing negative to say about any of the programs. I was able to attend college for four years during my stay there. (CHA president) Harrison Shannon is a fair and decent man. It is very easy to stand on the outside and judge without knowing details. The CHA has helped many families for many years here in Charlotte. I ask you Tara, if any of the residents were homeless or if their income was so low that they could not afford decent housing, would you assist them? You are trying to destroy something that you don’t even know about. How many people have you helped with your article? How many have you hurt? How many homeless women and children have you taken in or assisted? I know first hand what is going on with the CHA because I was in the program. You cannot speak on something unless you have experienced it. Have you ever had to live in public housing? Have you started a program to help any of the residents become more self-sufficient? Tell me Tara, what have you contributed, except rumors? You see, sometimes people are homeless by choice. There are many resources available to help those that want help. If I was not living in subsidized housing for those five years, with my two children, limited education at the time, I would not have been able to attend college. You have set out to destroy Harrison Shannon, but be careful, the stone rolls both ways. If you need facts, ask the people that live or have lived in CHA. Educate yourself on the facts.
Elaine M. Mayes
Dallas, NC
CHA Lost Focus
To The Editors:
Thanks so much for Tara Servatius’ work in exposing the CHA mess. She is a talented journalist. I have been involved with the homeless and working poor in Charlotte for the last five years and I can tell you that the CHA is just one (maybe the worst) of many organizations that have lost focus on why they are here. Just further proof that once a good idea or cause becomes institutionalized, its sole purpose becomes its own continued survival. Keep up the great work.
Danny Trapp
Charlotte
Housing Authority Bugs Me
To The Editors:
I read your articles about the Charlotte Housing Authority. You have guts. Most people are afraid of exposing negligence and incompetence of these mis-leaders. If you really want to get mad, go out in the projects and see how people live with roaches crawling across them and their small children while they sleep.
I am the only person to ever clean up the roach problem at CHA and keep it in good shape. When I left the CHA in March 1979, you would not find a roach in one in 100 apartments. Several years ago I thought perhaps the CHA would like to get their roach problem under control again. Imagine my surprise when they were unwilling to even talk with me about their roach problem.
First I wrote a letter to them explaining my original success with CHA. No response. Then I called Mr. Sowell who informed me that he just had too many meetings to attend to give me an appointment. I suggested that we discuss it over lunch. Mr. Sowell informed me that it was getting to be good weather and that he would be on the golf course during lunchtime. I then talked with Harrison Shannon, who said he was concerned about the roach problem and would instruct Harry Byrd to contact me. Though Mr. Byrd did not call me, I did finally get an appointment with Mr. Sowell. His attitude was that the roach problem was all the fault of the residents and he really didn’t care to improve things.
During the times I called CHA offices to try and reach Mr. Byrd, Mr. Shannon or Mr. Sowell, I noticed a strange coincidence. If it was nice weather I was told they were in a meeting and that no one knew where or when they would return. If it was bad weather you could usually find all three in their offices. Considering Mr. Sowell’s comments, I would like to know where they play golf.
I called to get permission to speak at a city council meeting. I was asked what I wanted to speak about. I told them. A short time later I received a call from Mr. Stanley Watkins who asked me not to speak at the meeting but meet with Mr. Shannon. A meeting was arranged that day. When I met with them, they admitted that all along they had been lying and had not had any intention of addressing the roach problem, especially with me. They said Mr. Sowell said I had disrespected him though he couldn’t or wouldn’t say how. However, in view of what I was about to show the city council, he would reconsider. He lied. I later received a letter from Mr. Shannon that they intended to continue things as they were. They did, however, get the pest control company to start an immediate massive treatment program to keep from being exposed and things were better for awhile. Now check them out.
I have compassion for [CHA’s clients]. Many are there through no fault of their own. When you talk to a mother who tells you about getting up in the middle of the night and finds a roach eating the sleep out of the corner of her child’s eye, or an elderly lady who keeps a very clean house but cries because she can’t keep roaches from crawling all over her apartment, how can anyone not feel compassion? The leadership at the CHA, for all their talk, has shown by their actions that they really don’t care.
CHA programs have reduced the number of apartments available to those in need. Yet they claim to serve these people. With friends like CHA leaders, the poor don’t need any enemies. Again, keep up the good work.
Jay Barnett
Charlotte
A Review To Forget
To The Editors:
Even though every musician knows the old maxim about not giving too much credence to the words of a critic, I found it difficult to remember that bit of wisdom as I read some of the sharply negative comments in Perry Tannenbaum’s review A Ninth to Remember (CL, September 26). The review struck me as completely divorced from the reality of a stellar performance by the Charlotte Symphony
Orchestra. Nonetheless, I’ll refrain from dwelling on those points and simply remind myself that you only represent one man’s opinion. However, Mr. Tannenbaum, I will take you to task for particularly glaring, factual mistake: the Charlotte Symphony is blessed with an extraordinary oboe section which has been led for the last 20 years by its principal, Hollis Ulaky. Why then, after all the time you’ve spent listening to and writing about the orchestra, would you make the mistake of guessing that the solid brace of oboe solos in the Scherzo were played by someone other than the principal player responsible for them — Ms. Ulaky? And if you couldn’t see who was playing why didn’t you go to the trouble to find out who performed the solos you so admired? Aside from being a critic, you’re also a reporter and it is your responsibility to report accurately, not guess.
Jeff Ferdon
Charlotte
Where Is That Place?
To The Editors:
Creative Loafing is a great asset to those who have just moved to Charlotte. I have just moved here and I don’t know where anything is so I have one small request. Could you get a street address for the clubs and bars hosting live music? That way it’s easier to look them up and get directions on line.
Richard Blount
Charlotte
Editor’s Reply: The music venues’ addresses and phone numbers are accessible by clicking on the Music Venues link within the Vibes section in our online edition. Sorry, but we don’t have room to add the list to the print edition of the paper.
This article appears in Oct 6-12, 2001.
