Letters are posted as we receive them during the week, and before they are printed in the paper, so check back frequently to see new letters. If you'd like to send a letter to the editor, use this postmarks submission form, or email your letter directly to mail@austinchronicle.com. Thanks for your patience.

Dear Editor,
    What did we do wrong? We being your loyal readers. Please tell me, what is it we did wrong to have a Wal-Mart ad unleashed upon us? Or, another way to put this: Are you stark-raving mad? It’s not funny. I never complained about Louis Black's editorial page, the "Fashion" scene, "TV Eye," or blatant sexual ads. Right or wrong, I never complained. But ... this ... Wal-Mart ... ad ... is ... going ... too ... far. Please don’t ever do it again. We have an administration in Washington dismantling our democracy. That's enough. Don't make us have to put up with Wal-Mart ads in the Chronicle as well. There's a limit to how much really bad stuff we can handle.
    And I don't want to even think about how this might affect your coverage of Wal-Marzilla taking over our neighborhoods.

Dear Editor,
    No one should be surprised … but still I am surprised by the lack of decorum and respect for our democratic process displayed by Gov. Perry's office by issuing the following response to a judge ruling against his fast-tracking efforts to permit more coal plants in Texas: "No one should be surprised that a single liberal Austin judge would rule against Gov. Perry and his efforts to increase energy capacity in Texas."
    The response to the response should be: No one should be surprised – in the age of Bush – that a conservative governor's office would think it was acceptable and in the public's interest to politicize a nonpolitical issue like air quality, trivialize a judge's decision by implying it is unsupported by others and ideologically driven, and glorify one harmful course of action, turning a deaf ear to alternatives.

Dear Editor,
    Over the past few months, as AISD has announced or considered closing/repurposing a number of local campuses, I have often found myself thinking “I miss Rachel Proctor May!” Her in-depth coverage and analysis of AISD issues for the Chronicle was always impressive and informative. Since she left the Chronicle to join Council Member Brewster McCracken’s staff, the Chronicle has not had an on-staff education reporter, and I haven’t seen the same level or quality of coverage of local education issues. I was so pleased to open up last week’s issue to find a well-researched and thought-provoking piece by Rachel’s husband, Michael May, [“Left Behind,” News, Feb. 16] and an additional editorial piece by Michael King about the proposed closing of Webb Middle School [“Point Austin,” News, Feb. 16].
    Michael King suggested that local school leaders need to be prepared to take positions against state and federal policies that they don’t feel are in the best interest of our children. I would suggest that the entire Austin community needs to do the same. Thank you for keeping us informed on the issues so that we can do that – please keep it up!

Dear Editor,
    Austin music legend George Kinney has a new CD out, and your paper is refusing to review it? Additionally, it's with the Golden Dawn and represents their follow-up release to the legendary Power Plant LP put out on the International Artists label? What's wrong with your paper?

   [Music Editor Raoul Hernandez replies: The first step to getting an album reviewed in the Chronicle is sending us one. We don't guarantee it'll get written up once it's been sent in, but we do listen to every local release we recieve. So, all you would-be reviewees, our address: Austin Chronicle, 4000 N. I-35, Austin, TX 78751.]

Dear Editor,
    It’s been decades since the Legislature has adequately funded our state parks. Even still, dedicated state employees (yes, they do exist!) of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have soldiered on, managing Texas’ parks and historic sites amazingly well.
    But now, if Texas Historical Commission Chairman John “Skeletor” Nau gets his way, he will take control of historic sites, despite the fact that THC lacks the infrastructure, staffing, and skills to manage and operate these landmarks of our heritage. Unfortunately, Nau has bought enough influence at the Capitol to make this happen: After taking the governor on a trip to the Bahamas, Nau and his Silver Eagle Distributing Company gave a few hundred grand to well-placed elected officials (including Perry, Dewhurst, and Craddick).
    And voilà! Speaker Craddick directs the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission chairman to secretly begin negotiating transfer of historic sites to THC. In January, Nau meets with Perry, and the next week the governor directs TPWD to provide a list of historic sites and their budgets to Nau.
    Texas’ historic sites belong to the people of Texas. They are too valuable, too important to us, our ancestors and our children and grandchildren, to become pawns in such a power play. This is a classic tale of vanity and influence attempting to overpower common sense. THC should indeed keep its important roles, regulating historic archeology and preserving Texas history. But we already have an institution with the staff, skills, and infrastructure to manage and operate historic sites – Texas Parks and Wildlife. TPWD should be properly funded and allowed to do its job, not robbed of properties it has managed and protected for decades.

Dear Editor,
    It seems strange when looking through the Chronicle and seeing all the anti-Wal-Mart updates and then seeing a full-page advertisement for the new Wal-Mart on 620. I remember a while back when that proposed development was fumigating some people out in North Austin, and you made a short report on that. I think it is great that your paper keeps us updated on the anti-developments, but I don't think it's nice to slap it in our faces later when defeated by the man with the money in his hand. I support you in getting your ad money from somewhere else.

   [Editor's note: We keep a pretty strict barrier between our editorial and advertising sides. We never tell editors they can't run something because it would piss off an advertiser. And while we'll sell ads to just about anyone (as long as what they're doing isn't illegal or fraudulent), we don't necessarily endorse their business, and we reserve the right to write whatever we want to about them. If Wal-Mart wants to help finance our editorial coverage of them, our response is, thank you very much.]

Dear Editor,
    When the Intel frame is destroyed by the General Services Administration on Sunday, everyone loses. The city loses the chance to gain $60 million to $75 million in tax base in the form of a mixed-use residential building which could occupy the frame. The federal judges lose an opportunity to have their much-needed courthouse years sooner if it were built by the private sector and leased back (a proposal was on the table). In short, a win/win solution becomes a lose/lose expensive disaster, and the GSA loses credibility in addition to about a $5 million profit by selling the frame. (That offer had been made.)
    The main fact that everyone including the GSA seems to have missed is that the GSA actions directly defy a standing presidential order requiring the expenditure of federal money on a courthouse to be spent in an area which needs economic development. If there is any one spot in the U.S. right now that doesn’t need help from federal spending, it is the Southwest quadrant of downtown Austin.
    We should all be very proud of Mayor Wynn for standing up for what would have been best for everyone. Sen. Lloyd Doggett and the offices of all of our elected officials were very cooperative when asked for time to discuss alternatives.
    By contrast we should be sickened by the bureaucratic arrogance of the GSA, Scott Armey of Fort Worth in particular, as well as the incredible waste of opportunity that will result.

Dear Editor,
    Costs of Iraq. Not a problem. Charge it to the national Republican Party. If that won't cover it, then a per-capita tax on all George W. voters. Next, put them to work restoring lives and American prestige abroad.

Dear Editor,
    I was born in Austin on Theresa Street, lived in “the Josephine House” for four years when Clarksville was nothing more than my hood, and as we both grew I was proud to be a part of it. But that’s another story.
    Something’s been gnawing at me for a couple of days after reading your feature article on the history of the Clarksville area “Then and Nau” [Food, Feb. 16]. This bone I have been chewing on is a statement on p.50 where the author so eloquently noted that my Nonna, Josephine Viscardi, sold her properties. There were four properties involved in the sale, not two, protecting them from potential issues with my family or the developer who would have come in for their share of the double-digit profits. The Clarksville Neighborhood Association was wise enough to stop a request for additional parking – in the form of lots – along Waterston Avenue made by the new owners of the properties not long after Nonna died. The owners of Jeffrey’s pose inside this article almost like members of the family, and they should because they were treated like family. Got to that statement concerning my family's politics and all my feelings of pride over the article were history. As for my family and the comment made here about them, frankly I find it tasteless and won’t take up any more space with it because it doesn’t deserve any.
    Second bone. I see pictures of a lot of people in this bit, but where is Josephine? How was she not celebrated here, y'all? How? The Josephine House was a nice gesture, but the lack of mention beyond that rankles me. There was plenty of opportunity to celebrate her efforts to help the new businesses become what they are today. Her business acumen always took a backseat to higher rents, building maintenance, remodels, real estate deals, the works. My Nunnu died in 1972, and she stepped up to the plate, became head of the household, and flourished in business. She helped the new property owners of my heritage tremendously, and someone should have taken the time to say that, but no one did, so I am. Nonna was our family matriarch, our history without her none of us would be here today or be who we are today because she helped each one of us. I can’t even imagine the look on her face if she knew how forgotten she is by the people she helped even when the family didn’t agree with her.

Dear Editor,
    Hey there fellow townies! I have a lot of people to thank that took part in the Austin marathon on Sunday [Feb. 18] that made it happen. First I would like to thank all the helicopter pilots that made sure the route was set up properly. I got to see a real live helicopter hovering over my house at 8:30 in the morning and heard you flying over all night. It rocked! I would like to thank the city for posting fliers along the route (oh wait, they didn't do that through Hyde Park, my mistake). I would like to thank the gentleman that hurled on my entry sidewalk. I commend you for keeping on keeping on. I hope you made it all the way without having a heart attack. I want to thank the city for having trash trucks follow the end of the route without picking up any trash. With myself and neighbors picking up trash afterward, it was a wonderful community effort. There were some people I hadn't seen in years stooping up used energy packs and cups. We had a blast chatting and cleaning up our streets. And last but not least, all you wonderful runners! I am going to have at least a year's supply of to-go cups to send my friends shots of bourbon home with.

Dear Editor,
    We are a couple searching for three others to get a reservation at the hippest sushi bar in town, Uchi. Who do you have to know in this town to enjoy some raw fish?

Dear Editor,
    As a longtime Austinite, I have fond memories of Casiraghi's and other old Austin restaurants [“Then and Nau,” Food, Feb. 16]. Many thanks for Virginia Wood's researching Old West eateries, and especially for including the original menu.

Dear Editor,
    Goodness, the Ann Richards School has yet to even open its doors, and already the backlash has begun. (If girls are getting something, then boys must be losing out! Are we gonna let 'em get away with that?) If AISD Superintendent Pat Forgione can truly stomach the heartbreaking effects of a Webb Middle School diaspora by offering up a boys' school in its place, then let him bring forward the available research showing that single-sex education for boys has any positive effect on their schooling. Positive effect – not neutral. ("Forgione's BEST-Laid Plan for Closing Webb,” News, Feb. 16.)
    And while the TEA may argue that it's caring and responsible to tell Webb children and their parents that their school isn't good enough for them and so it must close, it's just more of the same, failing, punitive responses to the same problems. When will they ever learn?