Dander Up

Dander Up
Too many cooks: If you get angry reading this story [D.J. Wilson, "Tombstone Blues," November 6], be thankful that home rule passed in Missouri. I just hope the city of St. Louis can figure out that we have too many aldermen. The city of St. Louis is a wonderful place to live. I just hope that one day we think of the entire city as a wonderful place. If "you people" from Clayton and Ladue want to lend a hand, I hope you do -- and I hope you get a wonderful return on your investment!
Steve Peterson
St. Louis

Seven deadly sins: Your article "Tombstone Blues," although very informative, was a blatant description of the sloth, greed and apathy evident among many St. Louis officials and citizens alike. There are scores of honest, hardworking St. Louisans [who] will spend their entire lives struggling to maintain [their property] and ultimately fail to do so. People who don't care enough and allow their neighborhoods to become dilapidated and completely rundown do not deserve handouts. Irene Smith is not only typical and pompous, she has the audacity to ask donors for more when nothing was truly deserved to begin with. Unfortunately, we have a bad habit of rewarding this type of [behavior] among our politicians, not just locally but nationwide. The additional problems they help to perpetuate are beyond the scope of this comment. Irrespective of the donor's motives, free rehabilitations and offerings should be perceived as gifts and not threats.
Brian
via the Internet

Grave-rockin' decline:As a former North Side kid myself (20th Street and Fairgrounds Park area), I am appalled by the overwhelming rot that has come to devastate North City and North County. One of the blocks I lived on as a kid does not have one building left standing, and the neighborhood looks like Germany after World War II ended. Crime goes unimpeded [and] unchecked. The last [North County] neighborhood I lived in was controlled by gangs, not by government. Florissant, an area of beautiful homes, now has become the site of pawnshops and furniture-rental emporiums that are, along with check-cashing instant-loan shops, the heralds of a neighborhood in decline. I'm sure the persistent whirring sound I hear from there is the late Mayor Jim Eagan spinning in his grave.
Michael Randant
St. Louis

Single Strike
More than a dating service: This is in response to Jeannette Batz's article "The Reluctant Archbishop" [November 13]. I applaud her for attempting to present both sides of how Archbishop Justin Rigali is doing his job, but it is skewed more toward the negative side. And while we're on negatives, the article fails to mention one area where the archdiocese is failing to do its job: singles ministry. As a convert who left the Southern Baptist [Church] eight years ago, I had hoped that the Catholic Church would do a better job than the Southern Baptists in ministry to single (as in "never-married") young adults. The Southern Baptists did a very poor job in the singles-ministry department. The archdiocese doesn't do a much better job; there aren't enough spiritual-oriented groups for single young adults; too many groups for single Catholics are social-centered, and their events are largely attended by men seeking a wife rather than a closer relationship with God. If there's one area Archbishop Rigali must do a better job [in], it's ministry to the single young adults of the archdiocese, whether they're Catholic by birth or conversion.
Eric Bueneman
Hazelwood

Throne Time
Too much information:At first I compared the losing of the last HoJo's to the demolition of the first White Castle [Wm. Stage, "HoJo Mojo," November 6]. Then I remembered my last meal at HoJo's and realized what a horrible place it was, and I'm glad that dump is finally gone. I never had a worse case of the "screamin' meemies" in all my life. I blasted for three days straight after one of their cheeseburgers and almost passed out while on the throne. I say, "Good riddance!"
Joe Povis
Manchester

Hard Numbers
Dumb and dumber: You are an idiot [Mike Seely, "Detroit Wheel," November 6]. "Breakout statistics"? A leading wide-out that has 384 yards and two touchdowns is not a standard and wouldn't even be the third go-to in the Rams' offense. Do some math -- $39,000 per yard and $7.5 million per touchdown.
Chris Larson
Fairview Heights, Illinois

Missive from a stats-meister: I would like to respond to your recent article [about] Az Hakim. If you are a true follower of football, you will note that each year teams keep and lose players of all talent levels. While I would agree Az was an exciting player at times, his loss in no way equates to the [importance] you place on his [absence]. Look at the stats. [The Rams have three players listed among the National Football Conference's top ten receivers as of November 13: (1) Marshall Faulk; (6) Torry Holt; and (9) Isaac Bruce.] No Hakim. The Rams have one player among the NFC's top-ten kickoff returners: (9) Terrence Wilkins. No Hakim. Team standings: Rams, 4-5, 194 total points; Lions, 3-6, 172 total points. I believe it is easier to be a playmaker on a team that has little competition at your spot. [Although] you believe Az Hakim makes such a difference, he has not elevated the Lions to the [level of] Super Bowl contender. I agree the Rams may not reach this year's playoffs and [Hakim's absence] might be a small factor, but don't forget that the Rams also [failed to advance] in 2000-01 [because of a play involving Hakim]. Lost fumble on a final drive. And that's the way I will remember him.
Gene Moore
St. Peters