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Change
the Channel
To
the Editor:
I
am writing to voice my great satisfaction in reading John
Rodat’s Clear Channel rant-piece [“Ugly Is the New Black,”
Myth America, July 15]. I was barely finished with my own
garbled grunting fit after scanning the previous page—an ad
for some of this summer’s SPAC shows. It blows my mind that
such a great venue isn’t better utilized. What do we get?
An ultrabland mishmash of Clear Channel favorites—easily digestible,
nonoffensive and outdated pap. Journey? Thin Lizzy? Carole
King? These acts peaked decades ago.
I’m glad someone else feels the way I do. We deserve more
and, as John says, it’s time to demand more.
Joe
Kelly
Albany
Flip,
Flop
To
the Editor:
It
was fascinating to read Ashley Hahn’s article regarding possible
contamination from the Norlite facility [“Toxic Avengers,”
Newsfront, July 22]. Even more fascinating was the inclusion
of Assemblyman Prentiss’ photograph, hands boldly placed on
hips, solidly primed for citizen action and voicing statements
decrying a “known environmental polluter . . . ride(ing) roughshod
over this neighborhood.”
Brave statements for this legislator. In spite of Gore Vidal’s
telling comments about the short memory span of U.S. citizens,
there are those of us who witnessed Mr. Prentiss’ ardent castigation
of the EPA at the agency’s recent hearings on the proposed
cleanup of GE’s PCB pollution in the Hudson River. My, my,
what a change, Assemblyman—If I didn’t know better, I would
swear this was an election year.
Robert
L. Henrickson
East Nassau
Without
Representation
To
the Editor:
Aaron
Mair is certainly tenacious [“Best Citizen Pit Bull,” Best
of the Capital Region 2004, July 22], but the more important
question is, “Is he right or wrong on redistricting?”
In reading about Mair’s efforts to build more “majority minority”
districts in the Albany County and city legislatures, I have
been surprised how rarely they are discussed within the context
of current debates over voter representation. Far from challenging
our unfair and corrupting system of “winner takes all” elections,
as proportional or weighted voting might, Mair’s proposals
would strengthen it, resulting in less- competitive races
and comfortably safe seats for one party or another.
Where I have been absolutely stunned, though, is in the fact
that no one, unless I blinked and missed it, has examined
Mair’s goals in light of the actual results of recent similar
efforts, especially in the South. In Southern states in the
’80s and ’90s, black activists and Republicans—like Mair and
their suburban Albany County cousins—united to design majority
minority districts, resulting in some jurisdictions that could
be counted on to elect black Democrats, and even more that
would reliably vote in Republicans. Of course, the GOP then
turned around and screamed that drawing majority minority
districts was racist, but hey, what’s a little hypocrisy when
there are a few more votes to be won and political opponents
to be hobbled.
What we now see in much of the country are legislative and
congressional districts that are so homogenous—politically,
ethnically or economically—that only one party can ever hope
to win a majority. Political minorities, even substantial
ones, are effectively disenfranchised. This is hardly new,
and while I condemn both the Democrats and the Republicans
as the twin parties of the ruling class, one must admit that
the Republicans have become the dominant twin—measured by
control of governorships, state legislatures, the presidency,
the Congress and the national agenda—in part by winning the
gerrymandering wars.
We must guard against diluting the voting strength of oppressed
communities and the working class, but overconcentration is
also dangerous. I feel like I’m in a time warp when I read
about Aaron Mair and redistricting. It’s as if black activists
and researchers have not questioned the decision of the Gary
Convention to focus on electing black officials, or the effects
of majority minority districts in a winner-take-all system,
or the deal with the devil that has helped hand the South
to the Republicans and the nation to the South. There are
better ways to empower the black community, to ensure more
equitable representation and to give voters—all voters—a real
choice, than helping to elect more hack politicians, black
and white, beholden to our economic masters.
Charles
K. Alexander II
Albany
Nyah
Nyah
To
the Editor:
In
your recent “Best Of” issue’s Media section, you passed over
a seemingly obvious category: Best Provincial Recast of The
Village Voice. Other than that omission, the list was
a pleasure to read, especially as my hometown of Coxsackie
was mentioned twice. In other words—zing received, zang back
atcha.
We three reporters of the City Desk work inhumanly hard to
provide our circulation of 35,000 with local news that is
more accurate, human and informed of context than our competitor(s);
it’s usually a thankless calling, so kudos and shout-outs,
even backhanded ones, are met with a degree of gratitude.
Shawn
Charniga
The
Record, Troy
Correction
In
the 2004 Best Of issue, it was reported that films from Albany
Public Library’s collection could be sent, per request, to
other libraries in the region. While it is possible to request
that titles be sent from other libraries to the APL, the same
is not true in reverse. APL films cannot be requested from
other libraries.
Metroland
welcomes typed, double-spaced letters (computer printouts
OK), addressed to the editor. Or you may e-mail them to: metroland@metroland.net.
Metroland reserves the right to edit letters for length; 300
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address and day and evening telephone numbers. We will not
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illegible, irresponsible or factually inaccurate.
Send
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or e-mail us at metroland@metroland.net.
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