Trust Fund Folkies

As if Steven Seigel's nauseatingly obsequious lament for Al Perry was not enough to satisfy his hero worship for psuedo-underdogs, now his attempt to persuade people to see Sally Taylor (Soundbites, September 14) because she is somehow anti-corporate for not signing with a major label really takes it.

If Seigel knew anything about the music biz, he would know that any personal CD sales below 10,000 for one year is perceived as a mere blip by most A and R executives, and that by controlling her output Taylor ups the sperm count for maintaining artistic control when she does sign with a major (Ani DiFranco she is not).

This manipulative mode of ass kissing is typical of Seigel's provincial coverage, especially when one considers the species of the subject: trust-fund alternative-folk-rock wannabes who have never had to work a day in their life. Seigel really loves them, doesn't he?

--Robert Steigert

New Pueblo vs Portland

As a former Tucsonan of many years and a veteran resident of Portland, Ore., I wanted to add a few more facts left out of Susan Zakin's column "Pay or Play" (September 14).

Traffic in and around Portland is a nightmare. Parking fees in the city and gas prices in the state are the highest anywhere in America. Inner-city transportation via the MAX train has drawn national attention via the Wall Street Journal and is filled to capacity during rush hours. It takes two or three trains to get a seat and finally get home. Recently the city's transport authority celebrated the MAX train's 2-year anniversary on the west side of Portland. It brags that the train carried 16 million passengers in just 2 years. One can argue that light rail has not worked here, but then again, how would we get around at all if it weren't in the ground and running?

My recent visit back home to Tucson taught me you have no traffic problems (other than the traditional Speedway Cruise on Saturday night) compared to other cities, Portland included.

Environmentalists have growth by the throat. Builders in Portland must comply with gargantuan regulations just to put a project in the ground, yet they still manage.

One last thing: While Portland realty taxes have gone down as Zakin says, the tax rates are the highest in the area because of no state sales tax. Other than that, wonderful article

--Roger Fulton

To our readers,

Susan Zakin's September 14 column "Pay Or Play" incorrectly reported that if the Citizens Growth Management Initiative (Proposition 202) passes, any zoning change for greater density outside an urban growth boundary would require a three-fifths supermajority vote by citizens.

Actually, under Prop 202, a landowner or developer who wanted to increase density on less than 20 acres would need a four-fifths supermajority of elected officials. A density increase on more than 20 acres would require a simple majority vote by citizens. In effect, another growth boundary would have to be established.

Delfakis Desecration

The death of George Delfakis was a tragedy and Chris Limberis' "Greek Tragedy" (September 14) only served to further that cause by hurting the family and friends who knew and loved him.

I worked for George for years and became close friends with his daughter, Catherine. Upon her request I accessed the article through the Internet because we no longer live in Tucson. How could I tell her that the cover of the Weekly showed her father standing there without a shirt on holding a shotgun? It's one thing to paint a picture of man in a negative light, a man who is still alive, but Limberis has taken the expression "to kick a man when he is down" to new heights. The photograph is clearly trying to portray him as a raving madman when in fact it is just a picture of George on a really hot day spent deer hunting.

It's obvious the main source for the article was Andreas Delfakis, the owner of what was once a restaurant competing with George's Marathon. Sadly, the only comments from George's immediate family included in the article are very brief and in no way validate any of the statements made by Andreas.

Limberis managed to leave out so much of George's life, leading readers to believe he was a self-centered, abusive gambler. On the other hand, words to describe Andreas were so complimentary: "compact, good looking, talented and generous." To be honest with you, I really don't care what Andreas looks like.

George ran his restaurant with so much pride and with good reason. Marathon had a loyal following for over 25 years. Even Limberis himself used to frequent the restaurant, which has added insult to injury for the family.

It's unfortunate such an article had to be published at all, but the fact that it came out on the anniversary of the day George Delfakis was buried three months earlier should demonstrate to readers the total lack of respect Limberis and Andreas Delfakis have shown toward George and his family. Nice timing.

--Lara Greathed

To the Editor,

I was appalled by the lack of respect the Tucson Weekly has for the dead. I couldn't believe the audacity of Chris Limberis ("Greek Tragedy," September 14). Who, in his right mind, would go through so much trouble to expose the private life of a simple man who did nothing but work and achieve great success? Why couldn't you let him rest in peace? He barely passed away three months ago!

Who was this article about, anyway?

George Delfakis was the victim of this violent world we live in. It hurts me to see his name mentioned in the same sentence with this angry street woman who is responsible for his death.

How about giving him credit for putting together excellent Greek dishes, enjoyed by so many people, from all over, for 26 years? Or writing about how the restaurant became a landmark? His ex-wife's contribution to building this business over 20 years? How she can't reopen because the children want their inheritance and are selling the property to the highest bidder? Georgios Delfakis never intended to give his Marathon Restaurant to the University of Arizona.

I know, that was not what the article was all about. It was about how after so many efforts to build this legacy and keep it going for so long, there was nothing left but an empty, dark, desolate structure. How Andreas, his cousin, has succeeded because he now has a restaurant and George's Marathon is closed, his soul having departed to return to his beloved country.

I admired George for his tenacity and I respected that he remained loyal to his Greek heritage. His difficulty with assimilating the two cultures was a constant dilemma for him, and for that reason he was often misunderstood. We loved him for his wonderful qualities and his many talents. He will be greatly missed, but we will keep him in our hearts and our prayers forever.

--Gisele Delfakis

Third World/One World

I enjoyed Tim Vanderpool's "Trading Freedom" (September 21). It is an accurate article about the harsh reality that our sisters and brothers endure in Mexico, which happens to be a "Third World" nation.

Living in Tucson we can become blind to the fact of human suffering only one hour away from us. I hope people gain an understanding of what NAFTA and other trading policies imply to Mexico and other Third World countries. Such policies are manufactured by First World multinational corporations in search of slaves. These so-called trading agreements are a subtle form of imperialism in which First World nations impose their will upon various cultural groups in this world energized by money.

So next time anyone happens to feast their beady eyes on the news and sees marches, protests and demonstrations as happened in Seattle last year and as happened in Europe last month, stop and think. Do not assume they have nothing to do with you or are a lost, empty cause. Look at the shoes you are wearing. Look at the pants you possess. Think for a second, "Was this garment put together by an 8-year-old child in a sweat shop?"

--Cajeme "Crazy Jaguar" Serrano

If You Knew Sushi

I guess "Readers' Choice" translates as either "average American" or "corporate American," which may be the same thing. I wonder if any of the people who voted for best sushi ("Best of Tucson," September 28) actually eat sushi.

Sakura is not the best sushi by far, but if you want the most popular sushi place to pick up chicks, watch the NFL, dance and get drunk, then by all means go to Sakura.

If you want real sushi, go to any of the plethora of excellent sushi restaurants in Tucson that we are lucky to have, but stay away from the McDonald's of sushi called Sakura.

--Scot Burns