K2K Forced Change
I was both intrigued and a bit saddened to read Scott McNutt's article, Quixotic K2K, in the June 5 issue. At its height, K2K was "crazy beautiful." The forum was rough around the edges, raw in the center, and in my opinion destined to be a victim of its own success. Regardless of the criticisms of the forum and its individual participants, then and now, it is tough to dispute its effectiveness as a place for public discourse at the times when it was needed and mattered most to the Downtown community. Buzz & Cherie Goss had a vision to increase public dialogue about downtown-related issues, and that vision was realized with K2K.
Though tumultuous at times, I look back fondly on the discussions and debates that took place among a tremendously concerned group of citizens. The energy generated by those debates could probably have supplemented TVA's electricity output. It was obvious very early on that K2K embodied few, if any, of the characteristics that local government officials typically desire in a model for public input. This is probably why some of them, when interviewed in McNutt's article, reflect back on their K2K experiences with little affection.
The real measure of the forum's success probably shouldn't be gauged by how difficult it was to participate in the debates and discussions, or if the posts grew more negative over time. Anybody who made an effort to learn of the variety of models for public input and their appropriate application in the local government decision making process would have recognized K2K's shortcomings immediately. Rather, I believe the forum's success should be measured by whether the local government's approach to collecting and processing public input was changed as a result of K2K's conception.
Matt Robenalt
Fort Collins, Col.
Council Left-Outs?
I couldn't help but notice the lack of coverage of some of the City Council candidates in the June 19 issue of Metro Pulse. Oddly enough, it was the two African Americans running and the young candidate (Nick Ciparro) who were not only left off the front cover photos, but were also woefully under-represented in the articles.
All three of them: Hubert Smith, Dewey Roberts III, and Nick Ciparro got only one paragraph of coverage compared to the six and 10 paragraphs for their opponents Bailey and Roddy respectively.
Now, I'd hate to call the Pulse biased or worse, racist, but I can't possibly be the only one that this oversight seemed flagrantly bad to, could I? And by the way, who is David Pope?
Come on Metro Pulse, let's raise the reporting standards a little higher and give equal air time to those braving the odds of age, money, race, and popularity to run for public office. You should have read your own "Color Conscious" column this week before going to print.
Ulla Reeves
Knoxville
Salvus All
In the June [12] Metro Pulse, Jack Neely mentioned not being able to locate the origin of "salvus." I've been reading a book called Chop Wood, Carry Water by Rich Fields. On page 183, I read that the word salvation "is derived from the Latin word salvus."
I believe there's a good reason for keeping this word for a street downtown, but since salvus is so obscure I suggest "salvacion." The Spanish speaking population is increasing rapidly in East Tennessee, and Anglos can more easily figure out what the word means.
After reading "Centers Blues" I think the next renamed street should be as close as possible to the convention center. Salvacion is needed there. There was a movie with Michael Keaton called The Money Pit. I think we could have the mother of all money pits downtown.
They could turn part of the place into a cineplex, another into a skateboard or roller blade hockey palace. Maybe a gambling casino run by Cherokees? That'll bring 'em in.
Ken Roberts
Heiskell
Hemlock Battle Not Lost
I'm writing in response to the "Go." section of "Eye on the Scene" in the June 19 issue of the Metro Pulse. The advice for Sunday reads as follows: "Sundays were made for hiking in the rain. Go enjoy the Eastern Hemlocks before they're all dead."
I know that you have already done a cover story on invasive insects this year (March 6), but I wanted to point out that we still have a very good chance of saving Eastern & Carolina hemlock in this region. I'm part of an outreach committee for the Save the Hemlocks Action Team, a group of federal, state, corporate and nonprofit entities, including UT, SAMAB, US Forest Service, US Wildlife & Fisheries, GSMNP, TVA, Friends of the Smokies, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nations, and others, who have joined to combat hemlock woolly adelgid in Southern Appalachia.
While the battle is not yet lost, it will be if we don't get the right information out there. This pest can be stopped, but we need the support of everyone—citizens, government, and the media.
We're glad to see the reference, but I hope you will call us or visit www.savethehemlocks.net to learn more about what can be done to save hemlocks and the ecosystems that depend on them.
Amy Jenkins
Knoxville
Is Sense Common?
Over the past few years I have heard of incredibly ludicrous lawsuits, in which the prosecutor has won. Because of this, I believe common sense ought to be used, rather than technicalities.
Also, how does money make up for "emotional damages?"
There should be a list of reasons pertaining to why a person can sue, with exceptions to be made. The judge should be able to reject a lawsuit if he sees it [as] ludicrous. Common sense is the way to settle a lawsuit.
Brian Hancock
Knoxville
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