Mailbox

Editor: I read Joseph Byrd’s recent column with mixed feelings (“Table Talk,” Oct. 8). While I enjoyed hearing about Byrd’s adventures with (and obvious affection for) his new ducks, several of his comments bothered me. When Byrd used the terms “radical” and “militant,” it was unclear to me whether he was referring to PETA specifically, […]

Editor: Responding last week to your “Growing Pains” cover (Oct. 1), Joshua Kinch sounded more like a pompous Republican or plutocrat rather than his usual justice-seeking Democrat or independent. “The key to affordable housing is your car key,” Kinch wrote. “Drive to a town where your talents, skills, and financial picture allow you to buy […]

Editor, Thanks for the excellent article (“Growing Pain”, Oct. 1, 2009). The City of Arcata needs to authorize the annexation. I used to live in the Westwood Garden Apartments, which adjoins the proposed Creek Side development site. I can’t tell you how many nights we had to call the police because the transients who “live” […]

Editor: The North Coast Journal did a good job last week of explaining the Creek Side developer’s complaints as to why his project failed to get off the ground ("Growing Pain," Oct. 1). It should be noted, however, that the developer’s failure is about much more than getting tangled up in the complicated politics of […]

Editor: In your Sept. 24 article on Segways at the Arcata Marsh, Jon O’Connor of North Coast Adventure Centers (NCAC) stated, "I wish they’d talk to me," about those objecting to his planned Segway tours. Funny, that’s the same sentiment that Friends of the Arcata Marsh (FOAM) Board members — of which I am President […]

Editor: I’m encouraged! After reading Alan Sanborn’s cogent and incisive argument for health care reform we can believe in (Sept. 17), I began to recuperate from my "Will we have a public option?"-induced miasma. Alan gave me hope we could keep alive the movement toward single-payer health care. Now I’m sure we can! With the […]

Editor: In your business credibility is everything, for without it, no one would believe anything you print. Considering the tenure of Bob Doran, and the obvious experience gained due to his tenure, I believe that I and other readers of the Journal are due an explanation from the offender himself. (See “To Our Readers, An […]

Editor: I have always liked Estelle Fennell and admired her work as a journalist, but I can’t let her letter to the editor of Sept. 3 stand as the last word. She wrote in response to Richard Engel’s North Coast Journal letter of Aug. 20: "… our river ecosystems are in fact dying of a […]

Editor: I enjoyed the Journal’s presentation of several varying views of President Obama’s health care reform package (“Reform!?,” Sept. 17). Kudos! However, I have issues with a few of the points brought up by Ron Ross in his article, “Many Questions, Few Answers.” While I agree Pres. Obama is all over the place right now […]

Editor: Modesty is becoming in this age of hype and megahype, but false modesty is almost as bad as the chutzpah that it contrasts with. Your choice of Kevin Hoover for best reporter, when your own Hank Sims stands at least 10 feet taller than Kevin, is an example (“Best of Humboldt,” Sept. 10). While […]

Editor: Following the media and having some historical knowledge of the flu pandemic, I have some concerns about the unknowns of the coming flu. I was relieved to hear in your article that the death rate for H1N1 was not higher than the regular flu (“The Coming Flu,” Aug. 27). What I have never been […]

Editor: Thanks, Bob Doran, for covering the health care meeting in Fortuna and greetings from the socialist stronghold of Arcata, where we have public roads, a fire department, public water, a library, a police department, where people use Medi-Cal and Medicare, collect government pensions, student aid, unemployment insurance, social security (which even has the dreaded […]