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Letters to the Editor
Thomas Whittemore cartoon |
To the Editor:
Whittemore's pig-ture ("Pigs on Parade," April 25 issue) is worth a thousand words. Indeed, Mayor Paul Schell brought home lots of bacon (without paying for it), and now Mayor Nickels has to cook in Schell's bacon fat. We shall see, in the next four years, if Nickels can manage to make a silk purse out of one of those pigs' ears he may have to cut in the budget.
Thanks for the great laugh.
Patricia Stambor
"Monson's" Mural Update
To the Editor:
No mystery to the mural on Fremont Avenue.
The Polk Directory from 1916 reads as follows:
"Groceteria Stores Inc. Walter A. Monson Pres. Alvin O. Monson Sec-Treas.
A store where you help yourself as in a cafeteria.
No clerks, no delivery, buy and sell for cash
Main office 814 Western Avenue
No 1--509 Pine, No 2--1314 E 45th, No 3--Pike Place Market sections 53-54, No 4--5419 Ballard Avenue, No 5--7111 Woodlawn Avenue, No 6--85 Pike.
'Help yourself grocery stores as in a cafeteria'"
By 1922 there were 25 locations placing them in nearly every neighborhood in Seattle. There was even as store in Kirkland though the exact address isn't given.
The location at 4201 Fremont Avenue appears in the 1924 and 1925 Polk Directories.
In 1925 and 1926 John L. Makeever is listed as Vice Pres and Jessie M. Stewart as Sec-Treas.
In 1927 only the 85 Pike location is listed. This was the last year the Polk Directory had a listing for Monson's Groceteria.
The real mystery is what happened to the chain. Did it go bankrupt? Did it get bought out and change names?
I think the current property owners should preserve this sign. From the records it appears that Monson's Groceteria was one of the first modem grocery store chains in Seattle. It is historically significant and Fremont would do well to try to preserve as much of its past as possible or next thing you know it will be gone.
Allan Phillips,
Vice-Chair, Georgetown Community Council
Monorail Worked in Britain
To the Editor
Why do so many people especially politicians, try to equate monorail with Disneyland and theme parks? The system was used for many years in British mining to transport men and materials, including heavy machinery, to the coal face when other forms of transport found conditions to be impassable. It was a cheap and easy to erect the system and proved to be a sturdy and invaluable method of transportation in very restricted areas. Track rails were not required so constant dinting (floor excavation) was not needed. It also allowed for space for other disciplines to work in the roadway in which it was installed. Maybe, someone who is not blinded either by perceived bias toward so-called traditional methods or by lack of knowledge of the potential of monorail will give the system a chance to prove itself as part of municipal integrated transport plans.
Noel Bradley
Howdenburn, Scotland
(via e-mail)
PETA Slams Circus Without Cause
Dear Editor:
Kudos to Julie Reinhardt's article on Barnum in your March 28 issue. She gave a fine report on the show being produced by Blanchet High School.
I feel compelled to make comments regarding her bit on PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] who are constantly knocking down the circus as being cruel to their animals.
First, every circus is required to obey all local, state, and federal animal welfare laws. Inspections are performed on a regular basis. The statement made by uninformed people that cruel methods are used to train them is, as a consequence, totally false. A trainer working with animals would not only risk his livelihood, but also his life if he abused his animals, as they are very capable of inflicting injury. Many circuses have veterinarians who travel with the show during their season.
Secondly, PETA has over the years falsely stated that they have documentation showing how these animals are "tortured." Again I say why in heaven's name would a trainer risk losing his animals by cruelty? This is how he/she makes a living and they certainly would not wish harm to their animals. Go to any circus that has animals and see how loving care is given to them all; and also see the close relationship between the animal and the trainer. This is especially true with those men and women who work with tigers and lions. Many times you will see both the animal and trainer face to face, so to speak, in a loving friendship.
Thirdly, I have been attending circuses for many years and have yet to see any abuse to animals. Recently Mark Gebel, a trainer with Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey circus, was called to court by PETA on charges he was harming his elephants and causing skin damage. The courts decided in favor of Gebel saying that there was no damage to the elephants that they could see.
Fourth, our circus animals are far better cared for than those poor animals that are in the wild. Little by little we are closing in on their habitat and forcing them into extinction. In the past year at least two species of tigers have become extinct because of this and poaching of their skins and bodies for "medicinal" purposes.
Lastly, PETA believes that no animal should be killed--including cows, pigs, sheep, etc. Isn't this going a little too far? Do they mean no meat to be eaten, no shoes to wear, no clothes to be worn? Come on, PETA. Get real!
James S. Poage
What the Mayor's saying about City Light...
To the Editor
The other night at a community meeting in Maple Leaf, Mayor Nickels responded to a question about City Light bills. He said "Seattle City Light took out [borrowed] $600 million in notes last year to cover its electricity costs. It's electricity we consumed, so we're going to have to keep our rates up for the next couple of years."
It's energy we consumed?! Not according to the Municipal League report that determined Seattle City Light lost $438 million in its energy purchases and sales in 2001. City Light bought high-priced electricity it didn't need--and then sold it a heavy loss after prices had declined.
I wish the Mayor would be more honest with the people he was elected to represent. Why does he want to sweep the mistakes of City Light under the rug?
Thomas A. Heller
Strategies for Sustainability
To the editor:
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world" -Anne Frank, Holocaust diarist (1929-1945)
Beyond saving a particular species, stopping urban sprawl, buying hybrid cars and not SUVs, reusing and recycling, and keeping foods from becoming genetically modified (all of which are good efforts) we need to engage in a global shift in our thinking. Picture Wile E. Coyote chasing the Roadrunner off a cliff--we're still running, and just realized there's no ground below our feet.
The global shift that needs to occur is immense, but at the same time relatively simple. There's very little time for us to act before the human population doubles again from 6.2 to 12 billion (40 years or so). For the sake of the other species on the planet and our own future generations, this shift needs to happen now.
My sense is that the shift will require several things. First, a switch by the entire human population to a vegan diet. Next, the reintroduction and use of hemp worldwide for textiles, building materials, fuel, clothing and other uses. Also important is a complete halt in the U.S. and other industrialized countries of any further suburban sprawl. Last, we need an acceptance and promotion of family planning on all levels, something like the practice in Holland: medically accurate sex education and easy availability and widespread use of contraception.
I am hopeful that the world's people are ready for this change. We only have one chance to live a full, exciting and peaceful life--this is it!
Earth Day is every day!
Albert Kaufman
Canada's Woes Will Affect Visitors
To the Editor,
The reason that I am writing this letter to you is that I would like to advise your readership not to plan any trips to British Columbia Canada this summer or to get sick in that province because of the massive upheaval that this Canadian Province faces.
If you are unfortunate to come to this province of BC you will experience massive labour disruptions that will affect your camping and leisure activities in all the communities that you might go to in this Canadian province. If you do have a medical emergency in this province expect many of the hospitals to be closed in many of the communities that you might go to and, if you are lucky to find a hospital emergency room open, expect many long delays in getting medical care. Expect medical care less than standard by the nurses and doctors due to there being few of them on duty at the emergency wards. You will expect hours and hours upon medical delays in many of the emergency wards and if you are lucky [enough] to be hospitalized you will probably be put out in the hallway until a bed becomes available for you.
If you are into camping in this province, well you are out of luck as well, you will find many of the campsites closed and if you find one open and if you want to have that good old campfire you will have to pay for the firewood.
If you come to this province you will find labour chaos that will affect your travel plans. You should this summer totally avoid the Province Of B.C. in your travels.
Ken White
Vancouver,B.C.
via e-mail
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