Letters
Pros and cons on parks column
To the editor:
I’ll try not to gush over your article concerning the old courthouse park / condo squabble (Holbert, April 11-24). It was right on the money. You brought up a point that completely passed over my above-average ACT head. How does Mayor Sammy think we can really keep up the park based on our city’s current track record? The only other park you did not mention was the one out my way, Langan Park out west (I don’t do the WeMo, LoDa, YoDa, Emo, etc. jargon).
Langan Park was supposed to be the park to end all parks when it was created (hell, I don’t know when….early ‘70s? I’m too lazy to Google it). I would not let my dog, let alone my wife, swim in those toxic waters. And those crazy water birds! I thought there was going to be a massive goose killin’, or should I say “relocation” (did I offend anyone?). There is now a nice bike trail and art museum, but let’s finish that job before doing the Mardi Gras park.
One more thing while I’m on a roll…what’s up with Chastang’s vision of that condo? It looks too cheesy to even make it on Biloxi’s casino strip. I’m thinking Branson, Mo. or Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. is a much better fit. I would scrap the palm trees and the kidney-bean pool and go with a more traditional design better fitted to a city over 300 years old. Have I offended anybody yet? Anyone?
*Billy Curtright
Citizens Against Really Bad Architecture
Mobile, AL *
Mr. Holbert:
Could we turn your thinking process upside down and see if it’s wearing nice underwear? Here’s my point: You say we don’t need more parks in the city ‘till the city learns to take care of the parks it already has. Why don’t we ask if we need more buildings downtown when we have so many derelict buildings desperately needing renovation or demolition?
We could also wonder why government property should be handed over to private developers. If they’re going to furnish one developer with primo real estate, where do I sign up for mine? Oh wait, here’s another point: the property in question is county property, not city.
*Lillian Lewis
Mobile*
Speaking of blogs…
To the editor:
I enjoyed Kinnon Phillips’ Lagniappe article on blogging (Peeking into the Minds of Others – Blogging Catches On, March 28-April 10).
Of course this is too late for your story but I have a blog, “EmmettUpdate.” If you should ever write a similar piece on blogging or local Web sites, please consider my blog, http://emmettupdate.blogspot.com/, for inclusion in the story.
Thanks again for a good article.
Emmett Burnett
*What is she smoking? *
To the editor:
Ashley Toland’s recent article “Hudson ‘Reverse Robin Hood?” (March 28-April 10) is one of the most absurd things I have read in a long time (assuming she was not kidding). At least I got a few laughs out of it. (Thanks for the laughs, Ashley Doo). But I have to wonder what planet Toland lives on these days. It must be pretty far out if her remarks in this article are any measure. Since when is somebody a “reverse Robin Hood” when they are looking out for the poor, elderly and handicapped citizens in their community? (Using a question mark (?) in the article’s title doesn’t buy any slack for you Ashley Doo.)
Having followed the Senior Center issue since Hudson first announced her intentions of seeking the facility for District 6, and also having followed the city of Mobile’s use of CDBG Funds for years, I have to say that Hudson is right on the money with her position that District 6 qualifies for CDBG funding for the Senior Center. And as an elected city official, she certainly should have a voice in how CDBG money is allocated.
Toland calls it “darkness and bickering.” Whatever. But the reality is that Hudson is challenging the local age old status quo with regard to the distribution of CDBG funds and certain people in this city just don’t like that. Is it that some council members don’t want to share, after all these years of having the CDBG funds to themselves? Instead of backing up their talk with facts, they revert back to the age-old tactic of using class envy and name calling to try and divide us. I always know Fred Richardson, for instance, is short on facts, when he starts talking about those open ditches in Trinity Gardens again.
The fact is that District 6 does qualify for CDBG funds under the Limited Clientele criterion. To characterize District 6 as “rich” and not qualifying is a canard. And doing so is an injustice to the poor, elderly and handicapped people in District 6 that deserve to benefit from CDBG money, just as much as any other district in the city. Shame on the city council members that perpetuate the myth that District 6 does not qualify for CDBG funds. (And shame on Ashley Doo for going right along with this myth.)
I have to thank Reggie Copeland (and Ashley Doo) for perhaps the biggest laugh I got from this article.and that is Copeland’s rhetorical question quoted as, “Do you really think we’re going to build a $4 million dollar building and not furnish it?”
My answer would have been, “Why yes, it would not surprise me at all.” Nothing Copeland, Richardson or Johnson does or says surprises me after the aborted, obscene pay raise Copeland, Richardson and Johnson co-sponsored awhile back.
Sometimes I wonder…do the council members that are so dead set against District 6 receiving CDBG money hate the elderly and disabled, or just the elderly and disabled in District 6?
*Howard Jones
Mobile*
Definition for the hungry
To the Editor:
What exactly does “until” mean? I get the generalized definitions and half-hearted rhetoric, but “until”? When it comes to Food, Menus and Restaurant hours; “until” is never a good thing to hear.
I had a whirlwind day at work and only managed to eat a bag of pretzels, while hiding in the kitchenette pantry, before being discovered by a non-English-speaking Spanish man with a curious look on his face at the sight of my indiscretion. On the way home, I opted to go to the liquor store instead of the grocery store because, after all, grenadine is fat free.
I make my cocktail and settle in; figuring I would order a pizza after Sanjaya was voted off”American Idol.” I had earlier plotted my revenge if he stayed and thought with my weak stomach, I could carry out the task much easier with it empty. What happens? The phone rings. Two drunken friends and a cat convince me to go out drinking and watch the amateur strippers; I am sorry, “Homeless Performers” at Society Lounge.
I agreed having washed clothes only the night before and actually possessing something to wear. On the way through midtown I remembered reading in an article in this very paper that “Mama’s” was staying open late and even serving Eggs Benedict to the wee hours of the morn. Well, actually it said they are serving this “until.” I did my part to keep the homeless in Wild Turkey, drank more, sang “Islands in the Stream” at Gabriel’s for karaoke and decided it was time to eat.
I have always been drawn to anything with “Mom” or “Mama” in the name for some odd reason. I guess it could be the fact that I competed with siblings and alcohol for my own mama’s attention. A place you can go and get a sort of home-cooked meal from what I imagine is a little old soulful lady cooking in the back, for only a small fee. I’m in! Plus I love the fat face on the sign! It’s like they are warning you right up front that this food will not be good for your waist. I digress.
I walk all the way to “straight street” (aka Dauphin) and what do I find? My “until” and my little Mama’s “until” are two different “untils.” Now it was not like I just missed her and her loving food and homespun attention I was sure she would spend on me this very night. I had missed her by hours. Chairs were put up floors were mopped and they were even dry by this point.
Now, even this Mama won’t pay attention to me, even for money? So I did what any other drunken person would do that was in bad need of some grub. I went to Denny’s! Denny’s loves me and they are always open! I know they’ve had their past, but they are like that dysfunctional aunt that will always take you in when you “Mama” had a little too much to drink and set the house on fire trying to light Money Incense, or something like that.
So my question is… When is until? I do not think I can take this rejection at my age from my pseudo Mama. If I was there, was “until” over?
*Lucian Manning Jr.
Mobile*
Thanks from on high
To the editor:
Fantastic article on Spring Hill in Lagniappe Magazine (Egan, April 11 – 24), it’s nice to be portrayed in a positive light with facts to back up the real estate information. What a great venue to dispel some of the negative impressions people have of our community.
I think not being from Mobile originally, allowed (Egan) to see Spring Hill more objectively than most of us who have lived here for much of our lives. We tend to be a little too forgiving of our shortcomings. The people from Mobile have prejudices about Spring Hill good and bad, but Spring Hill looks completely different from a visitor’s eyes, it’s time for all of us to take a second look.
Residents are familiar with all the wonderful history that makes it a charming area to live, this is part of the allure, but this is written about over and over in articles about our area. Thank you for a little bit of a different angle and for your objectivity. Thank you for the great publicity for our newly formed organization, I think we are off to a good start!
*Linda St. John
President
The Village of Spring Hill, Inc.*
New resident likes what he finds
To the editor:
Thanks for founding such a great publication. As a recent transferee from New Orleans, where I lived for 11 years, I appreciate a paper similar to “The Gambit” I used to read over there. Not only is it a great source for useful information, but provides any reader with “the pulse” of the city.
Interestingly enough, I received some rice and loaf of bread from what I believe was either the Chamber of Commerce or maybe from the city of Mobile itself. A copy of your publication in that welcome package would have made a nice addition I believe.
Thanks again and good luck!
*Nick Walker
Mobile*
Editor’s note: We’d also recommend the welcome committee throw in some sausage so the new residents can have something of substance with their rice and bread.
Gill net saga continues
To the editor:
I read the letters from others concerning the proposed gill net ban. I was especially interested in Bob Shipp’s letter. Dr. Shipp’s concern is with the depletion of Spanish mackerel and mullet. It seems that Dr. Shipp believes that increased catches mean that there are fewer fish. Let see….the last time I checked, more fish being caught meant there were more fish there to be caught. Do you see it that way?
Dr. Shipp claims four steps in his scientific method. Observe, gather data, develop a hypothesis, and test the hypothesis. He wants to test his theory on the commercial fishermen. Put them out of business and see what happens. His theory has already been tested in Florida. The Spanish mackerel and mullet stocks are no greater there than they were before the extreme limits were placed on gill netters.
This sounds like a very costly experiment. It costs men their jobs, their investments, their heritage. Some are fifth and six generations of commercial fishermen. It will also cost the taxpayer, who will foot the bill for the so-called “buy-out program.” How insulting! How would like to be told, “You can’t be an editor anymore. Go find something else to do. Oh, and here’s a few bucks to give you a start.”
His theory on “localized depletion” of the migratory Spanish mackerel is unfounded. Spanish mackerel return south to warmer waters during winter. How does that fit into the potential for localized depletion, especially since the stocks are at full strength the following year. Gulf stocks do, indeed, continue to replenish the local population. Did he say there had been a “ten-fold increase in commercial Spanish landings in the last few years?” Where did that number come from? Out of his own head, that’s where. It certainly doesn’t come from the National Marine Fisheries landings report. http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st1/commercial/index.html
Why don’t Dr. Shipp and the CCA come right out and say it? They want the Gulf for recreational fishing only and that’s the rest of the story. Wait a minute….they do want commercial fishermen to catch seafood that is dirty and difficult to catch….like oysters, shrimp, and crabs, because they certainly don’t want to get their hands dirty doing any of that.
*Patricia Zirlott
Fowl River*
Dear Mr. Holbert:
Your article “Damn the Torpedoes” (March14-27) was right on the mark. It’s great to see an impartial view that states, “Let’s see the data.”
*Stephen Szedlmayer
Professor
Marine Fish Lab
Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures
Auburn University
Fairhope, AL*
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