LETTERS

In regard to Richard Abowitz's December 8, 2005, article ("Newton Nixes Union Demands") on Wayne Newton and the Musicians Union of Las Vegas, Local 369, AFM, please allow me to address, serially, some erroneous remarks made by Mr. Newton.

1) There was no "mean spiritedness." Attempts prior to the show's opening to reach his counsel by ours through letters and phone calls, were insultingly ignored for over a week. Our letter was addressed to and delivered to his music director, not delivered to WN's wife as he states. The letter requested a standard contract since there was no successor collective bargaining agreement (CBA). It was accompanied by a standard Local 369 contract, and was dated December 1, 2005, not November 23rd. Signing this would have allowed his regular union musicians to remain on the job for at least the week of the opening, during which the challenges could have been addressed.

2) The rehearsal pay received was below regular scale and short two hours pay. 3) As for "good faith," we showed it in 11 months of bargaining, making many concessions, only to be ultimately rejected. 4) Our musicians would have been all too glad to show up Thanksgiving night, but they also had a right to an ordinary casual employment contract, at the least! 5) His quoting of "We got him where we want him ..." remark did not come from us. 6) As far as his maximums; the H&W was short by pennies the daily premium per musician; strangely parsimonious. His wage- scale performance maximum was $11 less per show than our regular scale. What maximums then are these?

7) He admits crossing AFM picket lines in 1989 after staying out only two weeks. Where was the fortitude to remain loyal and steadfast for months—as did Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Diana Ross, Burt Bachrach, Dionne Warwick, Sammy Davis Jr., Kay Starr, Robert Goulet, Anne Murray, Jack Jones, and many other stars who didn't betray us? Note: In 1989 there was a push to use recorded music; jobs themselves were at stake, not just wages and benefits. 8) As per the caliber of his present non-union band for which he claims there is no difference, just ask his fans.

Very truly,

To Whom It May Concern,

As an avid reader of the Weekly I wanted to share with you and your readers a holiday greeting. I felt you might find it interesting (with) all the hype that abounds as it relates to King Kong. This holiday card [Editor's Note: featuring a nice picture of a happy gorilla] shows just one of many, many my wife and I shot while we were traveling in Rwanda in May 2005.

Respectfully,

Kudos on an excellent article ("Alien Nation", December 8). It was very touching and brought to the front a lot of very complicated issues. Perhaps most important of all is the human aspect. Having been raised with the belief that work not only empowers a person but also honors him, I feel for those people whose only desire is the most basic one: to work. I was born in Argentina and came to this country "through the front door ... and through the proper channels..." because my father was an entertainer. Most people are not that lucky. The illegal immigration issue is not only prevalent to the Mexican immigrant community but also to the countless other ethnicities who come to America for a better life. I have known English, French, Russian and of course Canadian people who have entered into this country with the intent of never leaving. I feel, though, that Mexicans get the brunt of the anger on this issue simply because they look different. I will argue that with anyone. I am in the business of shows and image so trust me when I say if hot Swedish people were crossing the border we would make it a National Crusade to help them. Whatever the case, Mexico and its problems are not going to go away. The question is: What does our treatment of other people say about us.

What is right to deny a person and what is in good conscience wrong? For my part, if my hospital bill is a little bit larger because we have to treat someone less fortunate, so be it. But I suspect that the guy (legal, America-born male) who I inadvertently rear-ended at less than 5 mph last month is claiming neck injuries and along with his attorneys fleecing the medical system—that is a much bigger problem to the economic burden on our country than Pedro trying to get a job landscaping your house in the middle of 120-degree summer weather.

(Regarding "Alien Nation" December 8): Why didn't you interview any of those who are in prison, for robbery, assault, drug- pushing, rape and MURDER of American citizens?

From this article we would think they are all just poor, migrant workers. They are not.

(Regarding "Alien Nation", December 8)

Please save the tears.

Where did you get that photo of those people? Looks like they are the poster boys for a mafia hit.

Anyway, please save the tears that these people are poor. In a few years these people are going to be making over a $1,000 a week and paying no taxes if they don't have Social Security numbers. Or all they do is put about six dependents and "married" in their W2 forms and they get all their money. If they got Social Security numbers, they still get all their money back if they make under $40,000 through income credit.

So what contributions do they make? All the money goes to Mexico and the rest of Latin America. Also, what about all the criminals, gangs, killers, drug dealers, etc.? Those are illegal aliens. Those people are hard-working, all right.

Still, don't blame everything on the illegals. There is still a bunch of lazy American gringos that also receive food stamps and all the government benefits. Why work when the government takes care of you? That includes white people and black people and a few Latinos.

People wouldn't come if jobs and drug consumption weren't so widespread.

Thank you,

Wow. That was an unforgettable story ("Alien Nation" December 8), and some very good writing.

I am 65 years old and have nothing better to do with my time now than to read free magazines, but when I read Joshua Longobardy's story I felt like I should've paid something for it. What a steal! I think I have read three stories by him now. I hope that he keeps writing. What a talent! Wow.

Sincerely,

The boxer who portrays Mason Dixon in the next Rocky film is not named Antonio Tarvis, as the story in last week's issue read. The boxer/actor in question is named Antonio Tarver.