This letter serves as a formal complaint about Laura Putre's article "Front Door Blues" [September 20]. The first thing that puzzles me is the fact that Laura met with me on four or more occasions, and during these interviews, she always took notes.
I do not understand how she could have misquoted my job title. In the article, she stated that I am a state transportation supervisor and a structural engineer by trade. I told Laura on numerous occasions, "My job title is Project Inspector II, which includes the inspection of highways and bridges."
I strongly feel Ms. Putre deceived me when I initially agreed to an interview. This article is filled with half-truths and unsubstantiated information. Did anyone take the time to verify Miss Lewis's allegations about Forest City Enterprises' intentions to raze Hough for a golf course?
The article says nothing positive about me or my political platform. All of the people that Ms. Putre interviewed were quoted out of context. In the last paragraph, Ms. Putre refers to important people as "well-placed cows." This is very insulting and reflects poor journalistic judgment.
Elwood E. Clark
Cleveland
No apologies for squished toes:
Had I known the tenor of your Edge article [September 27], I would have spoken for myself. I foolishly thought the piece was going to be about a union drive at the Free Times, not an unbelievably hateful attack on me.
Leaving the anonymous personal attacks aside, in response to the characterizations of my management style, I will say this: Three previous editors had been chewed up and spit out in less than a year. For the past two years that I've been editor, I've had one goal in mind: getting this paper on solid editorial ground. By any measure, that's been achieved. If I stepped on some toes in the process, well, I just can't apologize for that. I have a job to do, and if I were doing anything less than improving this paper every single week, then I would be letting the entire staff down, not just a few disgruntled former employees.
Because of the relatively new editorial team that's in place, this paper has never been better. The people who were unable to participate in this process have hopefully gotten whatever they needed to off their chests and can move on with their lives.
Lisa Chamberlain
Editor,
Cleveland Free Times
A restaurant victimized by Parma's mistake:
The City of Intrigue is right ["Parma: City of Intrigue," September 27]. According to Webster's, the definition of intrigue is to "cheat" and "trick." This is exactly what the City of Parma has done to the owners of the Clay Oven. They issued a liquor license to the owners and then suddenly revoked it, saying they had made a "mistake." Given the fact that the owner moved his fine Indian restaurant to its current location based on the ability to sell liquor and invested time, money, and sweat equity, only to have his rug pulled out from under him, I'd say the City of Cheat/Trick is an understatement.
I'm just a customer who frequented this restaurant when it was in Fairview Park and followed it to Parma because of the excellence of the Indian food. It hurts that all I hear are jokes about the lack of cultural life on the West Side. Most of the best theaters, art establishments, movies, and restaurants are on the East Side. Please, Parma, reconsider or compromise. Don't contribute to the failure of another small businessman working so hard to be successful. It was your "mistake," and the wrong people are paying the price.
Karen K. Bates
Strongsville
"Judgment Day" was too harsh:
I read your article about Merle Gordon with dismay ["Judgment Day," September 27]. You clearly have no sense of who Merle Gordon is. She is a woman of character and strength. You confused thoughtfulness with shyness and modesty with timidity. Make no mistake: Merle Gordon is a staunch champion of the community. I am always struck by her deep conviction to help people and her thoughtfulness in problem resolution. She is no-nonsense. She tackles issues that are not glamorous but are deeply important. Next time, please tell the whole story.
Ben Greenberg
Cleveland Heights
