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Correction
Metro Pulse incorrectly printed the annual budget of Knox Area Rescue Ministries in "A Homeless Mecca?" published Sept. 18. KARM's annual income is $5.4 million and its assets (as of June 30, 2002) are $10 million, according to Guidestar.org. Monroe Free's salary was $110,000 that year. The error is Metro Pulse's, not source Bill Pittman's.

Help Needed

After reading the article, "Homeless Mecca?" I felt compelled to voice my opinion. Although I'm a newcomer to Knoxville (six months) I've noticed the large number of homeless. And, after speaking with several of them, I found there is indeed lots of migration from less tolerant cities/states. If that flyer really exists, the one line, "Vagrancy laws not enforced" is enough to lure them here. Ms. Smith stated "None of the churches replied to her letter." I can understand why. Sure, the Bible teaches us to feed the hungry, clothe and shelter the needy. But this is not the total problem. As you stated, some are mentally ill, some on drugs, and some alcoholics. First, their individual needs should be assessed and solutions found so that they are able to take care of themselves. Help them get off alcohol and drugs, get them into mental facilities, etc. I think Ginny Weatherstone, of VMC, has the answer to the problem: "If you are homeless with no interest in changing, you can come in, but you won't be as comfortable." There are jobs in Knoxville. I was able to obtain employment within two days after I moved to Knoxville. And, I am not a college graduate with degrees. It's ironic, Knoxville has more Career Centers and employment opportunities than most Tennessee cities, yet there are so many more unemployed/homeless people, here. What is this saying to our children?

Sylvia Cook
Knoxville

Property of UT

I hope the soldier who painted the water tower in Iraq paid fees to the Collegiate Licensing Corp.

They will collect their royalty on collegiate logo-emblazoned items.

J.P. Kenney
Alabaster, AL

Go Away

[Regarding] the article on the homeless..., Knoxville is a Mecca for bums. This has to change or our city will slide even farther into the sewer. We do not want these people in Knoxville. Most of the homeless do not have the desire to be productive citizens. They leach off of hard-working people and bleeding-heart homeless "activists." How is it my responsibility to take care of lazy, drug-addicts and alcoholics who refuse to work? Let them rot in the streets, for most of them it is a CHOICE; they choose to not work, they choose to use drugs and alcohol. I bust my ass all week at work and I should feel sorry for these people? The homeless featured in the article seemed like the type you would like to help out. Some scumbag wanting to shank the guy that knocked his eye out with a crutch under a bridge. These are the types of people I want in Knoxville. The article pities the homeless by saying that their property is trashed by city workers. [Their] situation is exacerbated even more by evil government workers throwing out their junk. I am sure these bums were about to climb their way out of poverty until their collection of tin cans, bag of crack, and dead cat were trashed. The article discusses that cities have a "meanness" scale for their treatment of the homeless. Well, Knoxville better get a lot meaner. Try walking downtown in Memphis during the day. The homeless are everywhere and they all ask for money. I do not want this to happen to Knoxville. We have already allowed the homeless to overrun the area around Broadway and Central Ave. Kill them, jail them, drive them out of town; we need to stop the flow of scum into our city.

Daniel Smith
Knoxville

Littering Bugs

Moving to Rutledge from San Diego was a huge change, one I embraced and enjoy. Everything is so beautiful here, except for the filthy trash that seems to be discarded anywhere and everywhere. Yesterday I was driving my 14-year-old daughter and two of her friends home when one of the girls handed the other one some trash and instructed her to throw it out my car window, which she did. I was baffled.

Littering seems so acceptable here, and it seems to me that this disgusting habit is being passed to the children. In California, you see some littering as well, but I remember my daughter getting taught in school about how wrong it is. I think the schools around here should consider teaching "Littering Awareness." East Tennessee is one of the most beautiful places I have been to in the world. I say to all you Litter Bugs, STOP trashing this gorgeous land.

Carol Leath
Rutledge, TN