LETTERS

In the late-'80s and early-'90s Detroit nightclubs experienced the impact of the gangster rap culture. Though lucrative, the aggressive hip-hop scene brought violence to Detroit nightclubs forcing lease-holders to shut down. Dance clubs playing gangster rap at that time encountered gangland-like shootings within their balconies, generally a VIP section of a club.

A culture of techno, electronica and trance then emerged in the mid-'90s, drawing kids from many suburbs. The crowd control during that period was, for the most part, manageable.

Recently the gangster rap scene has come down on the Motor City again.

Nightclub patronage at venues sporting new hip-hop is dwindling. Much of it has to do with memories of another era of violence that accompanied that movement. No one wants to get killed on a Saturday night when they go out.

Not that I support censorship, but Sheriff Young has a point. The Strip does not want to deal with that "happiness."

Rap: the sheriff is wrong, says a candidate for sheriff

In response to Richard Abowitz's interview with Metro's "Entertainment Director," Bill Young, there are some points that should be made.

Mr. Young's condescending concern for public safety regarding which acts resorts or nightclubs choose to book is an insult to the fine men and women and their security directors who keep our visitors safe and secure 24 hours a day, seven day s a week. Does Mr. Young really believe that if these directors had any concerns about safety issues, they wouldn't bring those concerns to the executive suites?

Frightening our visitors with inflated rhetoric and false concern about "gangsta" rappers can only harm our vibrant tourism industry, and the hundreds of thousands of Cark County residents who earn their living working in it.

In August 2004, Mr. Young was willing to allow entertainer "Special K," as a special favor to Bruce Woodbury, to use Metro vehicles and personnel for a live shoot that included Metro "chasing" his tour bus as the introduction to his show here. Mr. Young's chief adjutant called me to "make it happen." I explained to him that it wasn't in Metro's best interest to associate our department with this entertainer. Mr. Young then withdrew his support, the permit was canceled and he jumped on this inane distraction as our county's "entertainment director."

The irony in Mr. Young's most recent efforts to deflect and diffuse attention from his own abysmal record as sheriff, is that Mr. Young seemingly has no problem sitting within spitting distance of these same "gangsta" artists when he attends ... boxing matches.

In the extremely rare instances of problems, both the resorts and Metro have always handled the matters professionally and with superior dedication and effort. I know this because I headed Metro's Special Events Unit, and that's why I rejected the Special K request. In his new role as "entertainment director," is Mr. Young saying that his own on-duty and off-duty officers, who support all major events in the county, aren't up to the task?

The facts speak for themselves.

Dear Sonja,

I'm sorry to see you go. I've always loved reading your column. Your writing style remains unparalleled even to this day, and I hope you'll always retain that flair which I and many other readers have come to love.

But I am glad that you are leaving for all the right reasons. You've got to do what's best for you. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise. I hope you'll drop us a column every now and then to let us know how you're doing.

You have my heartfelt appreciation for sharing your journey thus far and my prayers are with you in your quest for true love. It's out there. I absolutely believe it. It's difficult to find, but it is that way for one reason, and one reason only ... once you find it, or once it finds you, it is so much sweeter when you realize that all the hardships you've been through were truly worth getting to that one point and finding that one precious treasure, and you would not trade any of it for anything. Always remember this and you will never fail.

So on behalf of myself and all your other faithful readers out there,

We wish you luck ...

We wish you happiness ...

We wish you peace ...

And most of all, we wish you love!

Here's to you, Sonja!

It's about 1 o'clock in the morning here in California. I was about to head off to bed and before I did, a buddy sent me this link to Las Vegas Weekly. In my mind, I'm thinking another story about some radical incident, maybe a accident, I don't know ... I took a quick glance at the article (about drift racing, March 2, by Joshua Longobardy) and noticed right away that it was about drifting ... I get a vibe that it was another article introducing the sport of drifting to the U.S. Oh, man, I was wrong. I quickly noticed that it was totally different from any other articles I have ever read on the sport.

As I continued to read on, I can feel my mind putting images up as I can relate completely with this story. Long nights from wrenching on the car, prepping it and getting it ready for a track event, a competition or a practice day. Long drives to Northern or Southern California, waiting for the gates to open, the excitement rushing up your head as the day is about to start. Man, I can just feel it all over again ... It's been awhile since I have participated in a competition, as I'm trying to do better for this semester of college.

I like this article, and I think its the best one I have read so far. It puts the reader right on the spot, getting a feel of what it's like. The love, the addiction, the joy, the dedication, the feel, the heart—you name it, drifters pretty much have it for the sport. I was quite surprised you got everything dead-on, leading me to think maybe you are a fellow drifter yourself. I don't think anyone has ever done such thing, so accurate with a driver or a team in putting together a article such as this. Please keep up the great work, and I hope you continue to expand your interest and love for drifting.

Thanks for your time.