NO SYMPATHY FOR A DEVIL
There is no doubt that prosecutors in Kern County took the action they did because of who Mr. Scott is and not just what he did [“No Escape for an O.G.,” January 30–February 5]. Mr. Scott is a convicted murderer and an admitted drug dealer. He boasts of being part of the group who began the L.A. riots. He uses his gang affiliation to get the media’s attention. Despite being unable to adequately support the children he already has, he continues to procreate with apparent abandon. His wife had reported being the victim of spousal abuse on his part, and witnesses supported her initial statement. Not surprisingly, she recanted, as most domestic-violence victims do. During that event he was reported to have been in possession of a firearm, a sure prison term for an ex-con.
These behaviors represent all the things that have been ruining South-Central L.A. for the last 30 years — gangs, murder, drugs, recidivist criminal behavior, irresponsible parenting, firearms violations, and domestic crimes against women. All these things are on Mr. Scott’s résumé. By so blatantly fawning over him, your reporter forgot this bigger picture. Mr. Scott is a predator and an opportunist.
Now Scott whines and acts as if his murder conviction and past lifestyle should not be taken into account! Do he, and your reporter, forget the scores of people with damaged lives he has left in his wake? He has demonstrated a high likelihood of victimizing others in the future.
Scott broke the law in Kern County. The prosecutor lawfully and reasonably used his discretion to maximize the prosecution against Scott. That’s the way it goes if you’re an ex-con! Congratulations to Kern County for doing what it can to dissuade him from wanting to live in their county!
Wherever he ends up, Scott would be well-served to try and completely obey the law. He should expect no less than the most aggressive prosecution when he violates it again.
—Steve Endom Hermosa Beach
FINKE OFF, ACADEMY
Having left good old L.A. for the Central Coast — beautiful but ugh at the same time — I miss L.A. Weekly. Your writing brought it all back to me. I freakin’ love your Oscar picks [Deadline Hollywood, “The Dwarf Got Dissed,” January 30–February 5] and nonpicks, and the rational reasons that you give for your choices. The Academy sucks, but your writing is stellar and right on the money.
—Alisa McGeorge Arroyo Grande
I don’t question any of the facts in Nikki Finke’s article about the Oscars, but they’re delivered in a spew of hatred such as I’ve seldom encountered in an article on Hollywood. If Finke really despises business Hollywood as much as her columns in general seem to indicate — this one in particular — why is she writing about it? If she had any hope for its rehabilitation, I’d expect her vituperation to be sweetened with at least a dash of patience. Otherwise, what’s the point?
—Gene Bivins Silver Lake
A MOTHER’S LAMENT
I am the mother of Terrell Sherrills. I want to thank you for the article that you wrote pertaining to my child [“Murdered Dreams,” January 23–29]. There is so much I would like to share. There is so much I know I need to express, but the words are all scrambled up. I’m searching for the good in all this tragedy. It wasn’t just my loss or his father’s or his sisters’ and only brother’s; it’s society’s loss. That’s why I feel my silence doesn’t go unheard. Thank you once again for hearing my silence.
—Lanoah Staten West Monroe, Louisiana
DISORGANIZED DEMOCRATS
Rarely have I read someone so clearly articulate the systemic problems of the Democratic Party and its factionalized supporters [Dissonance: “Left Out,” January 30–February 5]. By nattering on at each other about beside-the-point issues such as who believed there were weapons of mass destruction or why their rivals did or did not support the war, Democrats are once again missing the opportunity to simply hold Bush accountable as commander in chief for the entire Iraq debacle. Democrats need to forget the minutiae and simply ask the American people to decide if they like the way the war is playing out, and if they don’t, please vote for the Democrat whose ideas they like best. All this infighting has loser stink all over it, and nobody wants to vote for a loser.
—Tony Blass Winnetka
TOO FAST FOR JUSTICE
Jeffrey Anderson’s article “Fast Justice” [January 30–February 5] was an exercise in spin and ignorance. Commissioner Kelly’s statement went on to say, “We have not spoken with the officer yet and an investigation has to be conducted.” The second half of the statement was conveniently left out of Anderson’s article.
The investigation will probably show that the officer had an involuntary discharge and never meant to fire. Involuntary discharges are an ugly part of police work, but they do occur. An ugly act of the media is their attempts to turn use-of-force incidents into racial incidents. When an officer has an involuntary discharge and accidentally shoots a member of his own race or another cop, the media show no interest.
