Business My Way

Demon Laura: I am fortunate among those who have had their reputations gratuitously trashed by the Dallas Observer: I can rely on the city of Dallas Ethics Advisory Commission to pass fair judgment on the slanders of bar owner-cum-victim Robert Ramirez (“Code Breaker,” June 13). Will Rose Farley cover that story, or will my vindication be omitted as inconsistent with Farley’s demonization of Mayor Laura Miller?

David Spence

Dallas

Speak for yourself: In the article “Code Breaker,” the writer says: “Still, [David] Spence has used his position as a plan commissioner to, in his word, ‘elevate’ the debate among neighboring residents and business owners, whom he claims opposed Ramirez’s initial application to obtain a late-night alcohol permit from the…TABC.”

This makes it appear as though Mr. Spence was speaking on behalf of all the business owners in the district. This is simply not the case. We have no association, no elected officers, no one who can assume to speak with any authority for the business owners. There are a number of business owners who support Mr. [Robert] Ramirez. We have understood from the beginning what the business is intended to be and believe that the restaurant is indeed an ideal fit for the Bishop Arts District.

As for the comment that there are problems with Ms. [Amanda] Moreno’s perception in the neighborhood: I am aware that there have been some differences of opinion within the district, and I can only speak for myself, but three years ago there was a vacant, half-demolished set of buildings on the lot she owns. There is now a home for small start-up businesses. It may not be the style of building that others would have erected. And it may well be that the visions of the various building owners in the area differ, but the business owners themselves are just trying to follow a dream. The Bishop Arts District, because of its unique position in the North Oak Cliff area and because of its lower rent prices, has allowed all the merchants to make a start that they might not have been able to make elsewhere in the city. There is no reason that Mr. Ramirez should not be allowed to do the same.

Phillip Wheless

Co-owner, Bishop Arts Floral

Dallas

Busybody: I live in North Oak Cliff, not too far away from the Bishop Arts District, and my wife and I would love to see a couple of night clubs open in the area, as well as more restaurants that serve liquor. Unfortunately, with busybodies like [David] Spence, who is sticking his nose where it shouldn’t be in order to block the opening of certain kinds of businesses he thinks shouldn’t be there, we might only see the openings of new churches and coffee shops. We hope Robert Ramirez is successful in obtaining his TABC permit, because unlike Mr. Spence, we wouldn’t mind being able to take our friends down the street to a couple of nice night clubs instead of having to drive across town. We want to support and do business in our area, but with tyrannical puritans like the almighty Spence around, there may not be much business to support. Not all of us wish to conform to what your idea of the neighborhood should be, Davie.

Name withheld

Dallas

Priest Power Corrupts

An “old poof” speaks: I almost fell out of my seat on the train when I read your statement in the article “The Gay Priest Thing” (June 20) that “there is a distinction between homosexuals and gays.” As a gay man, I have no idea what distinction you are thinking of. I wondered, was I gay, homosexual or just an old poof? After some thought, I liked the idea of being an old poof. I wasn’t offended or wounded by the statement; I just thought it was very silly. The fat man sitting next to me on the train must of thought I was silly for laughing out loud.

Pedophilia is reprehensible. Any adult taking advantage of a child in that way should be removed from society for good. We shouldn’t just be looking at priests, however. We have all heard that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Let’s face it, religious people tend to think they are right and all other religions are wrong. Admit it, you know you do. Why, that guy that lives next door to you is going straight to hell, isn’t he? With that type of mentality and a title in front of your name, the likelihood of you doing something untoward is more than possible.

Instead of teaching our children to have blind childlike faith, maybe we should be teaching them what is right and wrong, how to think for themselves and how to protect themselves from sick people without scaring the hell out of them. I know, it’s easier said than done. And while we are at it, we should teach everyone in Dallas that rides the train whose body mass spills over into the next person’s seat–please stand up, your sweaty flesh pressed against me is making me sick. Damn breeders.

Name withheld

Dallas