From One Desert to the Other

Dear Editor:

(In response to "Food, Food, Everywhere " in the Nov. 5-11 issue of Urban Tulsa Weekly)

I read this story and I think this man (Scott Smith, proprietor of the Blue Jackalope) has a great idea. Now I'm not business savvy by no means. I'm from Salt Lake City, Utah and I have never seen anything like Tulsa in my life. I have been here in Tulsa for 5 years, I like it but it is very sad the way stores are extinct in north & west Tulsa, among other things.

I always think, maybe I could open some kind of store or healthy fast food establishment to help the urban and rural sides of Tulsa, but I have no way of even going about it. I'm a disabled single mother who sees how hard it is. With me being from another state I'm sorry to say Tulsa and Oklahoma are in very sad shape when it come to caring about so many that make the state what it is. I have only one positive thing I can say I love about being here the culture, in my home state I couldn't get any of it, but that's another story.

I really wish I knew what I could do to help this sad and unfair issue. If anyone has a suggestion, my email is latricenixon@ymail.com. I would like feedback if any. Thank you.

- Staceylatrice

The Man Who Stares at Mutton

Dear Editor:

(In response to "Wanna Get Away" in the Oct. 28-Nov. 4 issue of Urban Tulsa Weekly)

Would someone please tell Katherine Kelly that goat is not mutton. Lamb is mutton. Just thought I could help.

-Russell Hardmeyer

Editor's Note: Actually, according to Dusty from goatmeats.com, sheep more than a year old can be called mutton. Many people don't refer to older goat meat as mutton, though. Oh, the facts we find.

Post Election: The Debate Continues

Dear Editor:

(In response to "Think Before You Vote" in the Nov. 5-11 issue of Urban Tulsa Weekly)

Mr. Kayser, you obviously need to get a life. Your obsession with Ms. Barnes and "sanctuary city" is bordering on insanity. But let's please get some facts straight. First, the resolution that Councilor Barnes voted against never was enacted. The mayor refused to sign it because it did not exempt people guilty of misdemeanors. And your burglars? They would have been deported regardless (provided they were caught) because people who were placed in jail already had their citizenship checked.

I watched the council meeting to which you refer. There were actually police officers present who asked the council to please not pass the resolution that they did not have the capability or desire to check the citizenship status of every person they pulled over for running a red light (which is what the resolution would have required).

In your "conversations" with rank & file police officers and firefighters, did they forget to mention that both the FOP and the firefighters had endorsed Maria Barnes?

Everyone SHOULD give serious consideration to this election, and consider who is best to lead the city. Who is better at giving citizens a voice in city hall? Who will work to strengthen neighborhoods, and encourage appropriate infill? Who will better respond to YOU and YOUR concerns? To base your vote upon Mr. Kayser's non-issue is just silly.

-Shelly

Dear Editor:

Why would you (Shelly) launch a personal attack against someone who offers their opinion? The article sounds to me like it was written by someone with pretty good inside knowledge.

If you disagree, then instead of personal attacks, why don't you send in a rebuttal. And sign the rebuttal with your full name, just as the former firefighter did. I'll bet that UTW would consider your opposing opinion if submitted. If you have public safety experience, tell us what it is. Or do you lack that inside knowledge. Do you only quote campaign talking points?

I actually see many errors in what you stated. I could point out many inaccuracies in what you stated, but I will only mention one that any reader of UTW could very easily verify for themselves.

You are correct that the firefighters union endorsed Barnes, but you are 100 percent wrong that the policemen's union endorsed Barnes. I called and checked when someone on the Tulsa World Web site made the same claim. Perhaps that was you.

The FOP is NOT ENDORSING Maria Barnes. Anyone making that statement should give verifiable proof. If you have no proof, then drop that outlandish claim.

They did not tell me the whole reason why they are not endorsing Barnes, but I think the readers of Mr. Kayser's article can guess why.

Send in your signed rebuttal letter if you want. Other than that, let's allow the voters to decide who they want.

I can tell you as an independent voter living in council district four, I will not be voting for Barnes.

-Throw_Randi_Out

Dear Editor:

As a fiscally conservative Democrat that is tired of "gotcha" politics, I'm voting for Maria Barnes. I, for one, want to see our police free to protect us against crime and given the tools to do so and not required to take actions simply for the political gain of some politician. (By the way, I agree that the FOP is supporting Maria. Look at the campaign contributions, which are publicly available.)

That's why I trust Maria, who will restore level-headed and open government to the City Council District 4 seat, not to mention respect for the law and for District 4 voters.

-Dilonus

Voice of Reason

Dear Editor:

(In response to "Love Letters/Hate Mail: Special Karaoke Edition" in the Nov. 5-11 issue of Urban Tulsa Weekly)

I just have to stand up for UTW because these people need to not take things so damn seriously! First of all, "Kitsch N Sync" is catchy and draws in readers' attention, which in turn gets YOU (whiners) business. I am pretty sure that MOST people who participate in karaoke sound terrible (whether they are drunk, think they sound awesome or all of the above), hence the word "kitsch".

I really don't think it's an insult to your business...more so to the people who are TRYING to sing.

Yes, karaoke is fun...especially when you've had a few too many...so of course you are going to sound like KITSCH! ;) People seriously crack me up...rantin' and ravin' about such minor things.

My philosophy: Don't take life (or in this case, titles in entertainment sections so seriously!

Keep up the good work UTW!

-Amy Bookout

No Fans of DHS

Dear Editor:

(In response to "Picking Up the Pace" in the Nov. 5-11 issue of Urban Tulsa Weekly)

As the step-mother-to-be of a pair of children currently in DHS custody, I have to say this program is terrifying for our family. Our caseworker constantly harasses and threatens both the children's father (who's parental rights are at risk of being terminated) and the foster family.

This push to get children 'permanently placed' denies parents their due process and tears families apart unnecessarily. I'm not saying everyone with children in DHS custody is a saint, but for these caseworkers and DHS judges to have an agenda that is something other than reunification with birth parents if they have demonstrated that they are capable parents is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.

-Miss_Priss

Dear Editor:

DHS took my son 8 years ago. Not even a month after the investigation I had my second child, and DHS had no concern for him at all and pretty much forced me to give up my rights to my oldest son, which fortunately my Grandmother adopted him.

I have since had another child and still no concern. I joined the Army and in the process of going back to court to get him back because my children deserve to grow up together!

-LMayfield