Saturday, June 2, 2007
I was disappointed that you would allow a news feature to run containing rude editorial comments about the fair city of Albuquerque. Sridhar Pappu's profile of fired U.S. attorney David Iglesias [Style, May 22] need not have included disparaging remarks about Albuquerque -- a "dusty, desolate collection of adobe homes and Vietnamese restaurants" -- to report recent developments in Mr. Iglesias's quest for justice.
I moved to Albuquerque from supposedly desirable Northern California two years ago and have not been sorry. My neighborhood is lovely, with mature tall trees and excellent neighbors who care for one another. One brought me a pie the other day for no reason. This never happened in California.
Albuquerque has an involved and active mayor, and New Mexico has an excellent governor. Albuquerque is not desolate or dusty, as witnessed by the 800,000 people who choose to live in the area.
The city would seem to be made up of Vietnamese restaurants, in Pappu's words, only if one was unobservant, ignorant and elitist. In fact, the city is made up of tremendous culture, wonderful people, beautiful buildings, and gorgeous mountains, trails and rivers.
-- Samantha Starr
Albuquerque
·
I take umbrage at the description of my adopted city by Sridhar Pappu. The reporter painted a distorted view. David Iglesias was photographed running on paths near his home in High Desert, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Albuquerque. Nestled at the base of the Sandia Mountains, many of the homes there cost well over a million dollars.
Most are Pueblo in style but finished in stucco, not adobe. Adobe construction is very labor-intensive and would have raised building costs even more.
As for the "unbearable" altitude, 6,000 feet is quite delightful unless you are an Eastern reporter, I suspect. The writer must have fantastic hearing to be aware of "grumbling mountain lions and feasting coyotes."
The article may do Albuquerque a favor by dissuading many more Easterners from moving out here to retire. We who love our desert paradise may then keep it for ourselves.
-- Woody Duncan
Albuquerque
·
The May 26 Metro article "Falwell's Sons Step Out of His Shadow" called Lynchburg, Va., "a homey city of 65,000 that some locals wryly describe as a 'nice place to live but you wouldn't want to visit.' "
Having operated a bed-and-breakfast in Lynchburg for the past six years, we speak with guests from around the world; we hear that Lynchburg is a wonderful place to visit. Visitors comment on how Lynchburg is a friendly community with great restaurants and a variety of attractions in town and nearby involving shopping, recreation and history, such as the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford and the Appomattox surrender grounds.
The Lynchburg economic base receives much of its strength from its diversity. Besides Liberty University, there are four colleges: Sweet Briar College, Randolph College, Central Virginia Community College and Lynchburg College. Centra Health, two hospitals and a large contingent of excellent physicians serve a metropolitan statistical area of more than 200,000 people. The region is home to the Areva and BWX nuclear technology companies, Banker Steel Co., C.B. Fleet pharmaceuticals, Barr Labs, Genworth Financial, Griffin Pipe Products Co. and Southern Air -- to mention a few.
The jest, a twist on how New York is described, was more cute than accurate.
-- Marilyn and Lynn Brooks
Lynchburg
View all comments that have been posted about this article.