Courting controversy
Regarding your recent coverage of the Wurlitzer Building ("Falling down," March 7), why did Judge Robert Colombo Jr. not find Paul D. Curtis in contempt of court for failing to repair the building as ordered by the court, specifically ordered by Judge Colombo?
What is preventing the city of Detroit from having ownership revert to the city and selling the building to anyone who will pay back taxes and secure and stabilize the building from further deterioration? There seem to be options open to the city of Detroit, though none are being seriously pursued.
In the meantime, another gem of architecture is being allowed to decay and become a hazard to the safety and welfare of the citizens of Detroit and those who chose to visit the city.
What can be done? —Alexander Gomah, Lathrup Village
Passed without notice
Please disregard this letter if I have missed something (it certainly wouldn't be the first time), a fantastic cover story, a spectacular eight-page article with eloquent tributes from contemporaries ... but it has now been a month since the passing of Michael Davis, and I have not seen one word in your (insert expletive here) rag — er, publication — to mark his passing or pay respects to this legendary musician and stellar human being. Michael Davis' musical contribution spanned the globe, and he was one of the people who made us proud of our musical heritage. You need to rectify this pronto. (Although, frankly, to wait a month without even a mention is already terrible. What were you thinking?) —Cristina Marth, Royal Oak
Editor's note: Brett Callwood's obituary of Michael Davis appeared online, on our Music Blahg, on March 8, with eulogies from Davis' friends and fellow musicians, including Wayne Kramer, Ted Nugent, Scott Morgan, Niagara, Dick Wagner, Johnny "Bee" Badanjek and more.
POST MORTEM
Re: Larry Gabriel's "Drug War's dangerous side effects" (March 20), DJS posted:
If the cops are intentionally "spinning" the people they stop, using scare tactics to convince them, all while knowing they are unable to effectively protect them, then they should be prosecuted for criminal endangerment! It's their fault these people were injured or murdered, and they need to be held accountable, period!
And MaineGeezer posted:
And the police wonder why people don't respect them anymore. Do you think it's maybe because their actions make them worthier of contempt than respect? In some ways, it's not even the fault of the police. They have to enforce the drug laws, no matter how counterproductive they may privately believe the laws to be. One would think, however, that they could do so without deliberately putting people at risk. It doesn't make any difference in the nation's drug problem, anyway, except to increase the body count.
