Letters from the issue of Thursday, February 21, 2008

I mean, the stuff isn't really that good. I think it deserves a place in the music world, for sure, but damn, for the popularity hip-hop has gotten, something is kinda screwy.
Rob Sembrat, Tempe

Petty's legacy will endure: This in response to Niki D'Andrea's article on the Super Bowl halftime show. She is clearly mistaken when it comes to what makes a good halftime show. Tom Petty was an outstanding choice for it, and proved it with his great set.

We know this, for sure, because we were also part of the audience at the Super Bowl. Tom Petty keeps it honest and real.

Perhaps Niki should be reminded that the reason they don't have acts like Janet Jackson is the stupidity that comes with them. This also goes for any of the other [hip-hop] people she recommended. Petty's legacy will endure 20-plus years from now. Janet & Company's will not.
D. Smith, Tempe

And regarding local hip-hop: "Raising Terrazona" (Niki D'Andrea, January 10) was a good article from an outside point of view. In Arizona, just as well as everywhere else, there is a divide in entertainment.

Why everybody on arizonabeats.com had their panties in a bunch and was about to picket, I don't know. What I do know is that there are a lot of whiners who feel as if they should garner attention.

Pokafase asked Niki where his cover was. If you do great things, that alone will garner recognition. Poka had a machine behind him; he has had write-ups in numerous publications. Poka is a talented artist (deal or no deal); he's on the radio every week. I hope he does get a cover and a deal.

Karlie Hustle and her Round Table movement was big, and I wish her all the success in the world. But both Poka and Karlie are on the radio and can make shit happen larger than life for the Valley. But only if their execution is on-point.

There is more to this story than some race-driven, pseudo-political hip-hop bullshit activism. Back in the day, there were people making moves. Who comes to my mind is a white cat named Ztrip. Most of the people he [influenced] are doing big shit on the radio nowadays, or have moved on.

The problem is, it took 10 years to get to that point. Why hasn't Karlie played local cats' material on the radio? Why don't we have our own local radio show?

These station programmers are concerned with a bottom-line demographics, SoundScan and Billboard album sales. For progress to take place, these station directors need to involve themselves in this dialogue. Karlie and Poka could be instrumental in this.

This article sparked a fire. A few cats got upset; a few are mad they didn't get exposure.

Now to the white rapper thing: Eminem is in my top five, dead or alive. Nobody, I repeat nobody, mentioned in the article or on arizonabeats.com can go toe-to-toe with him.
Karilli Blaque, Phoenix

PRETTY "DIRTY"

Where's our side of the story?: When we heard that a reporter from New Times wanted to talk to us about our unionization effort at Milum Textile Services, we were grateful for the opportunity to tell our stories. We assumed the reporter, Ray Stern, would come with an open mind. Unfortunately, we were mistaken.

Our voices were silenced in the article titled "Dirty Tricks" (Ray Stern, January 24). We told Mr. Stern that we are working with Unite Here because we want to be safe at work, have health insurance for our families, and have dignity and respect at work. For us, not being given protective equipment or vaccinations when handling infected garments (as required by the law of the United States) is not "pure gold," as Mr. Stern claims about the meaning of OSHA's findings for the union. It was a risk to our health and safety.

When Milum retaliated against our efforts to organize by firing and disciplining our co-workers and threatening to cut our wages, we testified against the company and were vindicated by a judge for the National Labor Relations Board. After we testified, Milum continued to punish us, and is facing [further NLRB scrutiny].

We are angered and saddened that Mr. Stern has removed our stories from his article.
Eva Guzman, Luz Acosta, and Maria Delgado, Phoenix

Here's one from the reading-impaired: I'm writing in response to the lack of journalistic integrity displayed in "Dirty Tricks." It seems the last thing this writer desired is to be impartial. The way he attempts to blatantly impose his ill-concealed right-wing views is deplorable.

The title "Dirty Tricks" is a prime example. When did a rally or boycott become dirty?

It also accuses union supporters of trying to "force management into contracts." I wonder who was quoted saying that. Referring to the young union official as a "twentysomething" is obviously trying to make us think she is incompetent and immature.

And since when is asking the employer to provide safe, clean, average-paying work environment considered wrong?

Hispanics aren't against the company itself, as the article states, rather the work conditions they're given.