Letters

King’s motives repositioned

To the editor:

I thank you for sending me parts one and two of the two-part series on Attorney General Troy King. I believe your articles were overall well done and informative.

I note on pages 2 and 3 that I am quoted fairly significantly. Since speaking with you in mid-August, I have had a chance, however, to develop and learn more information concerning who are the main ones inspiring both Troy King and Governor Riley to pursue gaming interests, including the White Hall operation and its mayor, John Jackson.

Based on information received, I now believe the main inspiration against my clients Mayor Jackson and White Hall has come from the Mississippi band of Choctaw Indians, through strong connections with Governor Riley, and via Riley to Troy King.

After obtaining additional information, I do not believe that Milton McGregor is the one causing any problems for White Hall and its mayor. As you may recall, I was accurately quoted on page 3 of your article as saying, “I’m not saying McGregor put King up to anything,” McPhillips stated, “I just think King’s trying to curry favor.”

Thus, although I never said Milton McGregor was directly causing White Hall’s problems, to the extent that my comments may have inferred or suggested otherwise, I hereby correct the same with the above and respectfully suggest that you publish this clarification.

Julian McPhillips

White Hall

Cruise terminal lacks panache

Hey Sharman:

I always look forward to reading your column in Lagniappe!

My husband and I took the four-day cruise on the Holiday Sept. 6, and we enjoyed it immensely. I have to agree with you about the marketing of Mobile to Carnival cruisers.

I love Mobile, and I wish the cruisers somehow could spend some time in Mobile and get to know our lovely city better before or after their cruise. I talked to many people on the ship, and I also got the impression that most spent very little time actually seeing Mobile.

Unfortunately, arriving and departing the cruise terminal is kind of like a flight layover at an airport: you never really see the city, you just see the airport on the way to somewhere else.

• Joy McGough*

Save our fish

To the editor:

Overfishing is depleting our Gulf of important fish species. Now, I know some people will be saying, “There they go again, those damn environmentalists, trying to keep us from doing anything.” Not so, I think people have the wrong idea about us entirely! We don’t want to stop the fishing in the Gulf, quite the opposite. We want to ensure there will be fishing in the Gulf now and far into the future.

To do this, we have to make the fishing industry sustainable. Sustainable – that means not using something up until it’s all gone and never coming back. It means using our resources wisely so we will have them for our grandchildren’s grandchildren.

“But the problem isn’t really that big…” Yes it is. Won’t we be so sorry when we realize this too late? According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in 2002 about 60 percent of the commercially important stocks in U.S. ocean territory were “overfished.” Every year, commercial fishing fleets throw overboard millions of pounds of “non-commercially valuable” marine life known as bycatch. This wastefulness is a real problem that needs to be dealt with.

Are we going to stand by and let this continue? I’m not. Please visit oceanlegacy.org to sign an online petition, or contact me if you want to get involved: lulufee@hotmail.com

Leslie McDonald

Mobile

Bicyclists need protection

To the editor:

We appreciate your recent column “Making Cycling Safer,” but things are much worse than the writer indicated. There’s a definite mindset that cyclists (and pedestrians, for that matter) are just in the way and it’s their own fault when injured and the fact is law enforcement seems to usually agree.

Time and time again we hear the mantra of “no charges filed.” In fact, young drivers especially often play a cruel game of chicken, swooshing by cyclist just to scare them – what fun!

The rumor mill says that’s what may have really occurred on Labor Day when two cyclists were killed as well as when Larry McDuff was run over in Fairhope a couple of years earlier. Tragically though, you may not be aware that his wife (Ann) was also run over shortly before as well (on Hwy. 181 in Fairhope by another teenager; no charges filed of course).

Government has to change its mindset, finally start enforcing traffic laws, protect cyclists and pedestrians, fully prosecute drivers who commit vehicular manslaughter and, most of all, stop blaming the victims! Otherwise the carnage will just continue.

James Watkins

Fairhope

More input on Winn Dixie

To the editor:

I live around the corner from Winn Dixie, and also long for the day it is renovated. A month or so ago (after the Wal-Mart announced their new store) I was told by an employee that although the renovation had been scheduled to start, it was being delayed again – because of the new Wal-Mart. I have also been told that the Food World will be closing next year. So, we will have even fewer choices for shopping! And, since I do not and will not shop at Wal-Mart, I won’t be able to make those last minute runs to the grocery!

Although I do have some complaints with the Winn Dixie, I think they have shown improvements in the last year. Maybe they will continue to improve, even without the renovations.

Too bad we can’t get a Publix in the neighborhood!

Julie Hoagland

Mobile

To the editor:

I am in total agreement with you on this topic! I hate having to go to the Wal-Mart simply because the folks at Winn Dixie don’t care about investing in the neighborhood grocery they currently operate…and yes, the produce at this particular store is the ABSOLUTE worst!

MDB

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