Letters

Reading Nelson’s review — beginning with the title of his article — one may
get the impression that the High Desert Test Sites embody some new thinking
about the relationship between the desert and art. But this is hardly the case.
Just ask the several hundred working artists and musicians, many of them longtime
residents, constantly engaged in an imaginative reshaping of self and environment
that is unique to the Mojave Desert.

I am a firm believer in the transformative power of both art and the desert.
An artist myself, I came to participate in that alchemical process of light,
heat, space, wind and human curiosity. I’m glad that Zittel and company have
the means to introduce others to this magic. But let’s not fall into the tired
colonial consciousness that asserts that “nothing was really there until we
arrived to ‘discover’ it.” And let’s not add Joshua Tree to the already long
list of fragile creative hot spots that were dumbed down and gentrified by an
influx of weekend money from the supposedly sophisticated “big city.”

Chalk this up to sour grapes or parochialism, if you like, but I’ve been around
long enough to witness the demise of communities giving birth to a juicy culture,
and I love this place.

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about the high-desert art scene
can begin their search with the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council at www.morongobasinarts.com.
An open studio tour is scheduled for this fall.

—Catherine Svehla
Joshua Tree

REST EASY, EDDIE

I just read in your paper that Eddie Little died a couple
of days ago. I’m not sure what to say. I only own about 10 books, but two of
them are his! I’m just sorry he didn’t make it a little longer. I didn’t know
him, don’t know if I would’ve liked him, but I know I’ll miss him! Rest easy,
Eddie . . . rest easy.

—Markus Pacal
Venice

WHO’S NOT SUPPORTING WHOM?

Regarding Harold Meyerson’s column “Which
Black L.A.?” [Powerlines, May 16–22], Mr. Meyerson shows a great lack of
understanding in relation to black people. Black Americans are not “liberals”;
they are a people concerned about these things in American society that adversely
affect themselves and others because of the social history of America. Past
coalitions were formed because of what the times demanded. The times are different
now, and black Los Angelenos find themselves fighting for their daily bread
in a city that appears less and less concerned about what happens with and to
them — except at election time!

What ever happened to those members of the janitors’ union who were displaced
by Latino immigrants? Were any of them or any other blacks invited to rejoin
that union after 2000? Were black elected officials asked to help in the re-establishment
of that union? Did Antonio Villaraigosa offer to assist blacks in L.A. in the
desegregation of the food and beverage industry in this city, which is shockingly
Caucasian and Latino? In every other major city in this country, this industry
tends to employ people of all ethnicities. New York City and Atlanta stand out
in this regard. Yet here in “ethnically diverse” L.A. it is not the case. Not
to mention the large numbers of illegal immigrants openly living and working
here while black Americans have the highest unemployment rates of any ethnic
sector of Los Angeles.

Black Los Angelenos voted for Jim Hahn because his father did right by them
and they hoped he would do the same. In the May 20 runoff election between Deron
Williams and Martin Ludlow, the voters of that district cast their votes with
this same mindset. Like everyone else in this city, they made their decision
based on the needs of today. When looking at those black neighborhoods which
were devastated in the riots following the Simi Valley verdict and seeing that
they remain devastated all these years later, who is “not supporting” whom?
Are L.A. liberals incapable of supporting more than one set of dark-skinned
people at a time? Or is it like the janitors’ union: Black has been replaced
by brown this season. Which color will be “in” for the next election season,
red or yellow?

—Micah Penn
Los Angeles

P.S. Erin Aubry Kaplan’s article on the election was an excellent and insightful
piece.

WHO IS THIS

BEN QUI-NONSENSE?

I have been an avid L.A. Weekly reader for over
a decade; in fact, the first page I look for is Lalo’s cartoon. I have been
reading your music section these past few weeks and found the writer(s) a bit
biased and bitter, but after the article on Tha Row
[“The Undeath of West Coast Flow,” May 9–15], I had to write to you. First,
author Ben Quiñones must have been paid nicely by Suge Knight, ‰ because that’s
the only way Tha Row can get any good press. I have heard Crooked Eye
and he can’t freestyle for ISH!!! Don’t push crap on your readers. Hip-hop/rap
is about what “integrity” the streets have for some of us. After all, it is
entertainment. Now, if you don’t know, 50 Cent was dissed in your paper two
weeks in a row. Who is Ben Qui-nonsense to rip on a) 50 Cent, who has
recently gone platinum, who Ben refers to as “Loose Change”; b) the “white rapper,”
as Ben refers to Eminem, who has become a leading force in hip-hop music; and
c) Dr. Dre, who anything he touches goes at least platinum. Who is this
Ben? Does he bring in readers like those guys rake in the dough?

—Frank Ordonez
Pasadena

WILDLY INACCURATE? AHEM . . .

Regarding Jennifer Hodges’ letter on my Considerable
Town article [Letters,
May 23–29]: Not only did I identify myself to the entire party as “Johnny
Angel, an L.A. Weekly reporter covering this event,” I also re-introduced
myself to Ms. Hodges after the Kerry phone call and asked her if she minded
answering a few questions. I also asked her to write down her exact title, which
is still in my notebook and appeared verbatim in the original copy.

And the quotes?

In her words, she said that KPFK deliberately acted as a gadfly “even when
we’re wrong” because no one else would, and that their audience was (in her
words) “aging hippies that don’t realize that politics has changed.”

Some “news anchor/writer” — anyone who doesn’t know that what they say will
be reprinted by an identified reporter without the original vocal timbre or
nuance knows nothing of the written word.

—Johnny Angel
Los Angeles

WINNING WORDS

(AND PICTURES)

Work by L.A. Weekly writers, designers and photographers
is vying for honors in two contests — one local, the other national. This month
the Los Angeles Press Club announced the finalists in its annual contest, among
whom are several L.A. Weekly staff members and contributors. Max S. Gerber
was nominated for Best Photo Essay for “The
Scientists Among Us” (November 1, 2002); Howard Blume and Dennis Dockstader’s
“Degrees
of Deceit” (July 19, 2002) for Best Investigative/Series; Kateri Butler
for Best Headline; Ella Taylor for Best Reviews and Criticism; and Erin Aubry
Kaplan for Best Columnist. In addition, the “Go
Food Summer Restaurant Guide” (July 19, 2002), edited by Deborah Vankin,
was nominated for Best Special Section. Winners will be announced on June 21.

The L.A. Weekly is also up for three awards in the annual Association
for Alternative Newspapers contest. John Powers was nominated for Best Arts
Criticism; Bill Smith for Best Cover Design; and, again, Max S. Gerber for Best
Photo Essay. Winners will be announced at the AAN convention in early June.