Offended by Column

Dear Editor,
    Re: "Playback: Lights Out for Jovita's" [Music, June 29]: The recent news regarding members of Jovita's staff being involved in the sale of heroin is just that … news. Your attempt at covering that story as a respected news outlet, in a column that focuses on our local Austin music scene, however, fell very short and left me quite offended.
    It's hard to say what offended me more though. Was it your blatant attempt to sound hip by confessing to mistreating and disrespecting a venue and its staff? Confessing to smashing up an instrument on their stage, ignoring the sound woman, then parading out to the parking lot to celebrate performing only four songs by breaking bottles by a South Austin creek – where many children play everyday – is rude and unprofessional. Maybe it was the racist tone of your description of owner, Mayo Pardo. I never knew of his past convictions until last week, but I do know he is a recovering cancer survivor who had difficulty standing for long periods of time, which is why he slouched and spoke slow. Or perhaps, what was really offensive was yet another confession: of how you managed to beat him and Split Lip Rayfield out of a cover charge by forging a handstamp to get into a sold-out show despite being busted by the owner for trying to sneak in once before.
    It's all pretty ugly actually. It makes me sad to know that someone who the Chronicle has trusted to write about our local scene would not only knowingly act in this manner, but would then go on to brush off such acts with snide, backhanded commentary instead of using the opportunity to actually write something meaningful and relevant about this story.
    Like many, I was shocked when I heard the news. I am an Austin musician who had a very different experience at Jovita's than you, and yes, apparently many other musicians and diners. You see, Jovita's served as a home to my band, Nakia & His Southern Cousins, for about a year or so. I had my annual birthday parties there. We never had any problems with being paid. Chef Cesar always cooked us outstanding food served by a waitstaff who always took care of us with a smile, and the sound woman, Laura, did the best she could with what they had. Mayo and his family treated me, my band, and our fans and friends just like family. When the news broke last week, I watched as my Facebook feed filled up with heroin and Mexican food slang mixed together in attempts to be cute and witty and I did my best to hold my tongue. Your entry in this week's "Playback" would have fit perfectly alongside that snarky, high school humor but sadly, it somehow ended up in The Austin Chronicle instead. I can only hope that the people who read your column last week know that your flippant behavior is not a representation of Austin and its musical community as a whole.