Letters

Coming Into the Country
While reading Harrison Fletcher's wonderful account of Morey Davolt's life ("Country Cooking," May 14), I found myself so nostalgic over his memories, I almost felt like I'd lived in his era along with him. Or maybe just wish I had? Great writing! Thanks.

Bill Rupy
Loveland

Where There's Smoke, There's Ire
Regarding Eric Dexheimer's "The Bong Goodbye," in the May 14 issue:
At what point does the war on drugs stop being a self-parody? If I lived in Alamosa, I would be pissed off at the criminal waste of public resources used to process this petty offense.

James Frazier
via the Internet

Judge Not, Lest ...
I have read nothing but sarcasm and backbiting about Judge David Ramirez (Off Limits, May 7). If he has a disability, he's eligible for a disability--why is this a problem? The Denver police do it all the time. Granted, some mistakes are made dealing with this many people on a daily basis, but who doesn't make a mistake once or twice? Judge Ramirez's ability to understand kids is a gift not all people have. He has the respect of me and my family for giving my son a chance. I've also seen Judge Ramirez at Little League games checking on some of those he has helped. This is a caring individual, and I say God bless and good luck.

Daniel Martinez Sr.
Denver

Anne Furthermore
Thanks to T.R. Witcher for his profile of Anne Sulton, "Say It Loud," in the May 7 issue. I find it interesting that the local media vilified this woman without apparently learning anything about her. Witcher more than made up for that lapse. Thanks again for an interesting article.

Hannah Walters
Denver

I never said Gil Webb's mistreatment by Denver police officers following his arrest was based on Gil's race. I will give Dennis Cribari and Patty Steffes-DeHerrera each $500 if they can show where I so said. Furthermore, I have no recollection of ever having any contact, verbal or otherwise, with Patty Steffes-DeHerrera. I do recall seeing her walk over to and hug Gil's parents while they were sitting in the courtroom during his trial.

Anne T. Sulton
Englewood

Not Up His Alley
Tony Perez-Giese put such an interesting slant on his story about the homeless gentlemen ("The Bum's Rush," May 7) that I felt compelled to respond. I didn't understand the origins of Perez-Giese's oozing sympathy for two homeless men who clearly committed several crimes. These men were drinking in public, threw a beer bottle at a person in a truck and then kicked that same truck as it sped away. In addition, the fact that one of the defendants was in this country illegally and committing crimes did not seem to bother the author in the least. Neither defendant accepted the generous plea bargain offered by the Denver DA's office.

As was pointed out in the article, successful completion of that plea bargain would have required commitment to finding and holding jobs and accepting responsibility for their actions. It also would have seriously hampered an individual's ability to sit in an alley all day long and drink. I find it hard to believe that either defendant truly believed that his actions did not constitute a crime. Even so, ignorance of the law is no excuse: Just ask Michael Fay.

Brian Brainerd was portrayed in the article as an out-of-control vigilante. However, as far as I know, there is no crime in driving through an alley, taking a picture or bringing that picture to the attention of the police to apprehend the suspects. It sounds as though Brainerd is just trying to enjoy living in a pleasant neighborhood. He probably has worked hard to afford to live there. I wonder how the author would react if homeless people spent their day lounging on his front lawn, drinking.

Understanding and helping the homeless is a very legitimate concern that needs more attention and more action by the government. In addition, there are many compelling stories of blatant discrimination against the homeless, illegal aliens and members of the Hispanic community. This was not one of them! The true victim in this case is Brainerd, the person whose truck is seriously damaged and whose insurance premiums will rise if he claims damages. Perhaps Hard Copy or the National Enquirer could use a journalist with Perez-Giese's flair for the dramatic.

Marc D. Freiberger
Denver

Where does Brainerd get the idea that the alley is his? He actually says "my alley." I hate to break it to him, but it is not his alley, and these men were doing nothing wrong. They were not endangering him in any way. Brainerd appears to be more paparazzi than photojournalist; he was the one harassing innocent people.

Narda Byczek
via the Internet

Securities Blanket
As a former president, chief operating officer and boardmember of Hanifen Imhoff, I feel compelled to respond to Stuart Steers's April 30 article, "Incident on 17th Street," regarding recent lawsuits against Hanifen Imhoff and its senior managers.

For six of my 23 years in the securities business (1985-1991) I worked for Hanifen Imhoff, most of that time reporting directly to Walt Imhoff. I can assure you he is a man of integrity, honesty and compassion who was more concerned about the firm's employees than any other senior manager I've worked for in or out of the industry.