The Whole picture

Re: Jack Lessenberry's recent column about Whole Foods ("The Whole truth," May 16), that was great! I was vice president of real estate and construction for Farmer Jack (and two other A&P divisions) for some time. We never turned a dime of profit at our Jefferson Avenue store, but felt an obligation to the city where we started.

I know a number of the independent grocers in the city, including one fellow I count as a close friend. His commitment to service and value is remarkable!

It's a travesty that these independents get such little support.

Whole Foods shouldn't count their profits yet. I'd remind them of a recent operator who failed near the Bonstelle, and the charcuterie that failed in the same area.

Though my wife and I moved to Winston-Salem, N.C., two months ago to be near our daughter, I read you every day. I was born in the D, went to Wayne State and University of Detroit Law, and we continue our membership at Historic Trinity downtown. My blood type is DTW.

Thank you for all you do to improve Detroit, and Michigan. —Arthur R. Kainz, Kernersville, N.C. 

Dear Dave Bing

I am sick to my very soul of the crazy crime that is taking place in the city of Detroit. You name the crime and it is taking place on some street in our city. Plus they are even coming up with new crimes. The bad guys know that the good people of this city do not have a police department that they can call on for help. Our police stations close before most of the shops in our city. There is no need for me to even list the type of crimes that are going wild — you read and hear about them every day, all day long, on every TV and radio station.

But what really upsets me about all of this madness is that our so-called mayor has not stepped forward on any of this. This guy wants to pick areas in Detroit to give better city service than others. But we all pay taxes to the city for equal city service. How many people need to be beaten, robbed, killed or carjacked in this city of madness before we stand together and overrun his office? The people of Detroit are waiting for their leader to come forward with an answer. But first we have to get a leader. 

Bing, we the people of Detroit would like to see you walk or ride the streets of Detroit (without your bodyguards) as we do — looking over our shoulder every step of the way.

If you put Bing in a car by himself and told him to drive to some areas of the city that has been hit by crime, most likely he couldn't find his way there — even with a GPS system.

If you truly love and care about Detroit, stand up and speak out in some form. The bad guys are taking over while the mayor does really nothing. The control was lost a long time ago. Have you tried to call a policemen for help? Lots of luck with that one. —O.T. McClain II, Detroit

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