Memorial Day Apathy
I picked up the May 21 issue of City Weekly with the intention of finding local Memorial Day activities focused on truly honoring our fallen servicemen. I paged through the paper three times to find a list of events, or even a reference to the true meaning of the holiday. There was not one reference to recognizing our servicemen, events or other listings.
Has Utah and City Weekly forgotten our fallen servicemen? The only reference I could find was a 20-percent off sale at Black Diamond. Even the merchants don't care.
There are articles on water usage in the spring ["A Sprinkle in Time," Opinion], a ThrillSeeker stunt run [Five Spot], "Cloud Control" [Straight Dope], Pierpont Avenue real-estate issues ["Growing Pains"], "Council Dreams," and Salt Lake County investigative issues ["Fast Bucks"]. Also, there were the usual movie reviews, art shows, musicians and music events, etc.
But, really, nothing about our fallen?
I understand City Weekly is a liberal-oriented periodical that plays to the progressive population in Utah. I am OK with that, as I do appreciate the range of views and expression of speech. How about coverage of Armed Forces Day at the Gallivan Center? I found that through a Google search.
Is there no time to write about our veterans, our currently enlisted men and women—and, especially, the people who paid the ultimate price so that we can go to music shows, movies, and great bar events?
The level of apathy towards our servicemen and servicewoman is appalling. The apathy is well represented by City Weekly.
Tom Nied
Murray
Two Women Asking the Right Questions
Regarding the April 23 City Weekly article "Gone But Not Forgotten" by Eric S. Peterson, it's great that you featured an article about The INN Between, a new hospice inpatient-care facility for the homeless, and its executive director, Kim Correa.
The idea for The INN Between came about when two very bright women were volunteering at a church food pantry and began to wonder about a place for the homeless who are dying. The two women asking the right questions were Deborah ("Deb") Thorpe, a nurse practitioner, and Margaret ("Meg") Brady, a retired U of U English professor/folklorist and longtime volunteer at the Huntsman Cancer Center.
These two women began the hard work of forming a committee and looking for funding. As a result, a board of directors was formed—now led by Thorpe, along with co-chair Alan Ainsworth, founder and director of the Fourth Street Clinic for 23 years, now retired from that position.
Peg Hunter, LCSW
Salt Lake City
Taxi Follies
For the past four years, I have been living most of the time in Southeast Asia. While there, I have traveled the region extensively. From India to the Philippines, and from China to Bali, the absolute worst part of travel there is dealing with taxi drivers at airports.
Imagine my surprise when, after 20 hours in the air, I returned to Salt Lake City to discover that it has followed the backward leadership of our Second World friends, and instead of metered cabs, or predetermined Uber fares, I get to "negotiate" the cost of my cab ride. I recently paid 30 percent more for a "cab" in Salt Lake City than I had previously. This figure is nearly 60 percent more than what my average Uber ride was before Mayor Ralph Becker punted on the issue at the airport and ran ride-sharing away. Salt Lake City's paralysis in the face of change tells folks like me that it is not nearly as progressive as Becker says it is.
Dan Hesse
Auburn, Wyo.
