Letters to the Editor

YEP, “OSTRACIZED” SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT

RE: “Two Prominent Members of the Oregon Cannabis Community May Have Ties to White Power Groups” [Blogtown, Dec 6], Josh Jardine’s post about how Bethany Sherman and Matthew L. Combs of OG Analytical were revealed to be members of a hate group. In a statement, Sherman whined that “if you have ‘white pride’ it automatically makes you a Nazi, and you are ostracized, attacked, and lynched by your community.” Jardine wrote, “Maybe don’t use the language ‘lynched by your community’ when defending your white supremacy.”

If you are white and believe you are a victim of discrimination, then you actually have a much simpler problem: You’re likely just an asshole.

Bobby Turkualino

HOUSING SHAKE-UP

RE: “In Shake-Up, Ted Wheeler Announces the Departure of Directors of Housing, Diversity” [Blogtown, Dec 7], News Editor Dirk VanderHart’s story about how Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office announced the departure of Housing Director Kurt Creager. Creager’s departure appears to be forced.

This is outrageous. Creager was brought in to jumpstart the city’s belated response to the housing crisis. That’s exactly what he did. Clearly, Ted Wheeler doesn’t give a crap about housing low-income Portlanders.

Euphonius

MAD RESPECT FOR BILLY JOEL

RE: “Billy Joel Is Rock’s Tragic Antagonist” [Music, Dec 6]. “Billy Joel is one of the most successful and accomplished songwriters of all time. He’s also unanimously loathed by pop critics,” wrote Morgan Troper, who argued Joel is “disdained reflexively and unfairly, thanks to decades of subliminal rockist propaganda.”

Billy Joel is about as “rock” as Liberace.

musicismyreligion

Keep in mind that Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen have mad respect for Billy Joel. And his album The Stranger is considered a masterpiece among the Sōtō Zen set. His music stands the test of time, and you really had to be there to appreciate why it’s great.

crowsarecool

ENTITLED ASSES

RE: “Good Morning, News” [Blogtown, Dec 11], in which Editor-in-Chief Wm. Steven Humphrey wrote that Portland’s Tim Boyle—the CEO of Columbia Sportswear—is threatening to move the company unless Mayor Ted Wheeler does something about the homeless problem. “Note to Tim,” wrote Humphrey. “Maybe instead of using your money to buy off politicians, you could get off your entitled ass to actually do something yourself about the homeless problem? Portland isn’t on this earth for the sole purpose of making you money, dum-dum. To everyone else: STOP BUYING COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR.”

Speak for yourself, Steven Humphrey. I couldn’t disagree more. Speaking of entitled asses, I know the Mercury is in Southwest, not far from homeless ground zero, but are you penning these opinion pieces from the office or the confines of your suave overpriced apartment away from the crime and tweaked-out street walkers? [HAAAAAA-HAAAAAA-HAAAAAA!!! Oops… sorry to interrupt. —Steve] Tim Boyle is putting media attention on a problem business leaders have been talking about for years. As a tenant in Northwest Portland, I couldn’t be happier—but of course, just like the rest of the news outlets in this city, the Mercury doesn’t cover the vast multitude of rape and sexual harassment, car break-ins, robbery, violent attacks, and filth that exists in Northwest and Southwest Portland. How do you answer for that, Mr. Editor-in-Chief? Instead of putting a business leader on blast for trying to affect change, how about you arrange a meeting with the Portland Business Alliance and find out how downtown businesses are feeling/coping, and then report that in the paper you edit?

Anonymous

This week’s letter of the week—and two tickets to the Laurelhurst Theater—goes to Bobby Turkualino. Enjoy the movie, Bobby! Also, thank you for not getting into a fight about Billy Joel. Also, thank you even more for not attempting to defend the classist CEO of a company that had $2.38 billion in sales in 2016—yet who’s terrified that someone sitting on a public sidewalk is going to destroy his business.