LETTERS

Thank you for your article about prostitution in Las Vegas (As We See It, July 27). When prostitution is mainstreamed as a job, then services for those hurt the most by prostitution disappear. And women themselves are swept under the rug, as you point out. The sex industry brings billions of dollars into Las Vegas—why would anyone want to talk about how it also causes damage to so many women?

Jody Williams, a survivor, deserves public honor, not to mention a salary, for the work she is doing on behalf of women seeking to escape prostitution in Las Vegas. For years, Williams has educated public and private agencies in Las Vegas about prostitution. When she could not find anyone else to help women in dire circumstances, Williams functioned as an unpaid ambassador and unpaid case manager for women escaping prostitution—those people that few in Las Vegas want to really know about or support. She is a hero to many of us. She deserves a medal from the mayor, not eviction notices.

Do you want to stop illegal prostitution in Las Vegas? Arrest the johns.

The following arrived in response to Aaron Thompson's July 27 story about the departure (for Portland) of scenester and promoter Dan Akins:

As much as I respect Dan Akins for what he has done for the Las Vegas electronic-music scene, I would not necessarily say that he was the scene's savior. Also, the scene was not dying; like many things in Las Vegas it just merely evolved.

I have known Dan for many years, as far back as 1997, when we attended the community college together. Back in those days I was entrenched in what was Vegas' "golden age" of electronic music. The heady days of Chad Craig's Cande Factore rave parties and of course the granddaddy of them all, Club Utopia. The days when Shue and Big "E" had Dimensional Dance on KUNV, and God knows Las Vegas' own Scott Kirkland and Ken Jordan from the Crystal Method, dating as far back as 1989 when they ran KUNV.

Though I have a lot of respect for Dan, there was a lot going on way before him. There are a lot of individuals that deserve some attention and credit. Edgar Reyes is the only one, of everyone mentioned in your article, who goes way back to the golden age. Though I will give Dan some credit in attempting to resuscitate the classic Las Vegas indie art group Laservida with Blank Canvas. Though Laservida will never be matched in the history of art in Las Vegas.

I am a little disappointed that First Friday was dissed, but that seems to be an easy target these days, even for the ever-idealistic Dan ...

I do wish Dan and Dana Godspeed on their journey to Portland.

Loved the story on the derby women (cover story, August 3), except that the cover and other photos would have been better in color. That, and a nearly full-page photo of each of the women.

Having never seen the appeal of the excruciatingly thin females that the modeling industry prefers, I have never lusted after any of them either. For me about the hottest any woman can be is exemplified by Serena Williams.

I actually got a chance to invite several of the derby women to my comedy show. Did you ever drop by?

The following arrived in response to the August 3 Weekly playlist, about songs that mention other artists:

1. KMFDM: "Sucks"

We don't like Michael Jackson, we hate Depeche Mode/We don't care for Madonna or Kylie Minogue

2. Soulfly: "No"

No bullshit/No slaveship/No muthaf--kin' Hootie and the Blowfish

3. The Who: "The Seeker"

I asked Bobby Dylan/I asked the Beatles/I asked Timothy Leary/But he couldn't help me either

4. The Rolling Stones: "Star, Star"

Ali McGraw got mad with you for givin' head to Steve McQueen/You and me we made a pretty pair, falling through the silver screen/I am up for anything, I don't know when to draw the line/I made bets that you gonna get John Wayne before he dies

Editor's note:
Technically, No. 4 doesn't count, as the artists mentioned aren't musical artists—although John Wayne did sing in The Man From Utah.

I'm a fan of the magazine. I've looked at it mostly for the concerts and the classifieds. I think reading this magazine helped with Vegas, and a little keeps me reading stuff. I love to be caught by something interesting, and I love music.

Keep rocking, Las Vegas Weekly.