Love Letters/Hate Mail

Which Way Are We Going?

Dear Editor:

(In response to "News Updates" in the July 22-28 issue of Urban Tulsa Weekly)

Wow! Isn't it interesting how there is nonstop hype about downtown. You think this has anything to do with investors banking on the payoff when they bring the crowds to downtown at expense and without any regard to how this might affect the rest of the city.

Has anyone else noticed how we now have the homeless living in the Brookside area? Thank God "the powers that be" are cleaning up downtown for their own financial interests at the expense of our neighborhoods where we are raising our families. There is something terribly wrong with this picture. There was no push for Amtrak through Tulsa, even though this would have been a great addition as well as wonderful for connections to other cities rather than flying. Surprise though because there are now plans in the works to have a rail system downtown. Who is driving this car because I know a lot of people that don't like the direction it is going? Private interests rather than the good of the whole.

-L. Fulps

Not the Best Effort

Dear Editor:

(In response to "Absolute Best of Tulsa 2010" in the July 15-21 issue of Urban Tulsa Weekly)

I have enjoyed reading Urban Tulsa Weekly for some time, but I have to say I was sorely disappointed in your statement that "You're So Tulsa If You ... Hate South Tulsa but still, unfortunately have to shop out there."

HATE South Tulsa? Really? Do you even realize how petty and narrow minded that sounds?

I have lived in Tulsa for 45 years. My house is in South Tulsa because, although I find older homes to be charming, I don't want "old house" problems!

I suggest that if you were to concentrate on expanding your readership and quit insulting others who don't happen to live within your borders, you might actually encourage folks to patronize some of the businesses that pay good advertising dollars to be in your magazine. If my business was outside your beloved area, and I'd paid to advertise in Urban Tulsa Weekly, I'd be furious!

-Glenna Hailey

[Editor's Note: Breathe deeply, keep pumping gas into the car and keep in mind that these are reader's comments and reflect the views of the people with whom you share the Metro. Our advertisers pay for valued readers like you, dearie.]

Dear Editor:

We get it. The annual "Absolute Best of Tulsa" issue is Urban Tulsa's yearly love letter to its advertisers. But, it is an unbearable read. Now I know where high-school yearbook committee members find work. Next year, go all out and draw a heart around each winner's advertisement.

-Andy Mays

[Editor's Note: As much as we'd love to take credit for pulling all of the winners and the comments from a hat, we can't. Absolute Best of Tulsa is completely -- from top to bottom -- about the readers and their thoughts. Talk to some of your buddies. Campaign. Maybe you'll win next year for your sterling prose!]

Full Disclosure

Dear Editor:

Hey, what is with all the radio silence with Joesf Glaude? You guys got no clue who he is or what? Not that I do not love UTW but I always see the same musicians again and again and again, and I never see ANYTHING about Joesf Glaude! Yeah, he is a fave of mine cause he's awesome. You know this cause he is in the ABoT awards. (I voted!) He is like the most talented musician in Oklahoma. He just did two new CDs, and no reviews from you? A classical CD and a Jazz CD with Seany -- love him too.

I would just like to see you guys recognize this guy. He deserves it.

Hope I did not piss you off.

-Lydia Mohr

(Editor's Note: Naughty, naughty you! You haven't been reading us since you were a kid. We are the ones who discovered Joesf and brought him to the forefront of the original local scene. We have given him ample love over the years. Indeed, last year, he was voted by the readers as our city's "Absolute Best Instrumentalist" and "Absolute Best Jazz," and this year, we most recently wrote about his nomination for "Absolute Best Song of the Year." What more can you ask?)

Hip, Hip Hooray

Dear Editor:

Thank you for leaving Cory Cheney's cage door open thus allowing him to escape back into the wild! Cinema reviewers Joshua Blevins Peck and Joe O'Shansky have enhanced the paper's overall presence by extracting the jejune verbiage and staggeringly imposing "presence of personality" from the movie reviews, allowing more focus on the actual material being reviewed than the "narrative voice" of the column.

The Urban Tulsa Weekly film review column has become a swan dive into a hidden oasis, and the quality has not suffered since the liberation of the long-suffering Mr. Cheney ...

Many thanks -- sincere, heartfelt thanks -- to the Urban Tulsa Weekly for bringing Mr.'s Peck and O'Shansky onboard!

-Bren Collins

[Editor's Note: We're happy to keep the film rolling. And as far as we know, Mr. Cheney is still armed with a pen and at large, so be on the lookout!]