A Question of Wrong A Question of Wrong ...

Are you out of your minds? Did you really print an article reporting that I left my position as head of the Municipal Art Society because of some "revelations" about soliciting donations ("Rack Attack," 7/30)? Why did no one there ask me about this? Or ask MAS? Why wouldn't you check carefully your suspicions that might damage the reputation of a fine civic organization?or of an active, civic person like me?

There was not anything wrong done at MAS, not on street furniture or any other matter, not by me or anyone else. MAS is not only an effective civic advocate, it is a notoriously upright place, for goodness, sake. Certainly no one has ever suggested before that there were any "revelations" associated with my leaving there. How weird.

I left the MAS presidency?admittedly a great job?because I was given the opportunity to take charge of the Times Square BID in time to plan and then run the Times Square 2000 Millennium New Year's Eve event?still the very biggest, grandest thing I've ever gotten the chance to do for a salary. I would never otherwise have left MAS, which I found and still find thoroughly wonderful. Nor was I ever asked or encouraged to leave. Just the opposite; I keep up my membership on the MAS Board and am co-chair of the Planning Committee there, and have served on the Nominating, Development and Awards committees. It is one of the proudest associations of my life.

You guys are nuts. And at least one of you is a lousy reporter.

Brendan Sexton, Manhattan

And Disagree We Do

New York Press has every right to disagree with our position on the recent newsrack regulations that were passed by the City Council and signed into law by Mayor Bloomberg, but New York Press has no right to print an article without first checking all relevant facts ("Rack Attack," 7/30). The failure of your reporter Matt Taibbi to first check with us has resulted in a slanderous attack on our organization and on an innocent individual, Brendan Sexton.

Your article claimed that we served on the city's design advisory board for the original request for proposals for the street furniture bill that was promulgated by Deputy Mayor Fran Reiter six years ago. We were never asked to sit on that design board. And anyway, it never met.

The article claims that we solicited a $20,000 donation from JCDecaux. It also says that we discussed such a donation with Adshel, whose parent company is Clear Channel. This information is based on a totally inaccurate article that was written by Wayne Barrett in the Village Voice six years ago. At the time of the last RFP for a coordinated street furniture franchise, we planned to do an exhibit here, at the Urban Center Galleries. We called together all potential vendors, along with a representative of the deputy mayor's office and asked if they would donate some examples of street furniture and if they would help to support our exhibit. It became clear that all the vendors felt that their positions would be compromised and none of the vendors wanted to take a chance on giving us any money, for fear that the city would look unfavorably upon this. We withdrew the request and went on to have a much smaller exhibit. There was never a hint of impropriety.

The article goes on to claim that MAS president Brendan Sexton was forced to step down as a result of the revelations in the Village Voice article. This is obviously a conclusion that was reached by Matt Taibbi after reading the incorrect Wayne Barrett article. Mr. Sexton left the MAS because he had been offered the very attractive job of president of the Times Square Business Improvement District.

As to our connection to "pedmount" companies because Elizabeth Berger sits on our Board of Directors and Brendan Sexton is still on the board: Both Ms. Berger and Mr. Sexton are esteemed members of our board and none of their outside activities ever influence the actions taken by the MAS. We have many instances where board members are working on projects that we oppose or support. Ms. Berger and Mr. Sexton have always exercised the utmost discretion in voicing their outside professional interests and acting accordingly. At any rate, Mr. Sexton has no, and never has had, any business connection to Ms. Berger, or any of the companies in the street furniture business.

Kent Barwick, President, The Municipal Art Society, Manhattan

Matt Taibbi replies: The nonexistent "revelations" about MAS and Sexton were revealing enough that then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani was moved to make a public comment about them at the time. On April 8, 1997, Giuliani told reporters that he believed that "a serious issue" had been raised by reports that MAS had solicited donations from companies in the running for the street furniture contract. Giuliani summed up the substance of the matter best, saying that MAS had approached "the companies that are involved in the bidding process and asked them to donate to the Municipal Art Society." According to Sexton, who says he quit in order to prepare the Times Square millennium event, it is merely a coincidence that he stepped down from the MAS post at that time. We're willing to grant him that.

As for Sexton's contention that "no one" has ever suggested that there were any "revelations" associated with his resignation: Both Douglas Feiden of the Daily News and Wayne Barrett of the Village Voice will be interested to learn that they qualify as "no one." Either that, or Mr. Sexton simply misinterpreted the Daily News headline over the story about his resignation that ran on April 9, 1997: "Head Rolls Over Kiosk Contract."

Happy Diaz Are Here Again

About time! The Mugster was overdue for a first-class ass whipping ("Cage Match," 7/30), which you administered with gusto. Thank you. Now, could that other asshole, Dennis Miller, be next?

César Díaz, Denia, Spain

Best Column Since 1918

MUGGER: I just read Matt Taibbi's recent article ("Cage Match," 7/30) and I have to agree: You're jinxing us! I didn't see the correlation till now. Pick another team; if I show this article around Boston, they'll duct tape your ass to the Green Monster as a sacrifice to the baseball gods (or, at least, do it for shits and giggles). Doesn't Baltimore's team stir any loyalty in you? If so, run with it! Love your articles and agree with you about Gray Davis; just stifle yourself when it comes to the Red Sox.

Gail Bentley, Manchester, NH

Are You Still Here?

Hey, losers. Matt Taibbi's broadside aimed at Russ Smith ("Cage Match," 7/30) would've been funny if Taibbi knew when to quit. Given Taibbi's tongue-in-cheek premise that Mugger is responsible for the continued jinx of the Red Sox, can we assume that Hillary Clinton can be held accountable for the decades-long failure of the Chicago Cubs? C'mon, losers! In the immortal words of Jim Rome, "Have a take, and do not suck!" Right now, you are 0 for 2, and you do suck! My guess is you'll chase this curveball in the dirt.

Tracy Meadows, Brenham, TX

What Is to Be Done?

I wanted to thank and commend you on an excellent piece hunting down an insidious story behind a seemingly banal administrative action ("Rack Attack," 7/30). I'm sure I'm not alone when I ask, in all seriousness, what if anything we can do about these kinds of government actions. If possible, I urge you always to suggest effective actions readers might take following such exposés. I'm afraid that this sort of government-action-under-cover-of-minor-administrative-change is a trend that threatens to (and already does) erode quality of life and basic freedoms throughout the country, but on such a minute scale as to go unnoticed until it's too late.

Mike Strassman, Brooklyn

Bush's Bouncy Balls

Why is it so hard to understand that, even though it is a crude image, some of us would like to see W hung by his balls ("The Mail," 7/23)? Like it wouldn't be fair punishment? It's amazing that Iraq has no WMDs and W is off the hook. He is also off the hook about environmental issues, the federal funding of giant corporations and the transfer of earmarked funds from the feds to the state not just for Head Start and Section Eight, but for the entire educational system. Now who is going to make sure that that money gets appropriated correctly? Maybe Matt Taibbi can do the research, get the correct titles and names of the government officials supposedly responsible, start a dialogue with them and hold them accountable. If we don't see the reality of the sad state we are in and take some action, then all of us, right, left and in-between, will continue to pay the price.

Micki Santo, Bronx

Maaking the Grade

Holy crap, I can't believe you let Tony Millionaire walk away ("Billboard," 7/23). I can't believe you were trying to get away with only paying him $50?and then you call him greedy. I hope you are getting Mr. Wiggles, Idiot Man and all the other offal masquerading as comics for free, because the authors of those abominations should be paying me to read their swill. Maakies was the only real comic you had, everything else is just a vanity production.

Even if you don't think Maakies was clever, funny or provoking, and even if you somehow find the sophomoric pandering of Mr. Wiggles humorous, Maakies was worth more than $50 just for the quality of the illustrations. Did you ever look at how many lines Tony Millionaire used in a typical Maakies strip?

Compare that to Mr. Wiggles, which looks like it was done on Etch-a-Sketch. Or Idiot Man, which looks like it was drawn by a 4th grader with a learning disability. Oh wait.

Jabairu Tork, Manhattan

Keep Hope Alive?

Jim Knipfel: I understand very well that it is fun to be irreverent, what with the Osbournes being as popular as they are, but what point are you making by insulting the work of Bob Hope? Bob Hope seems to me to have made many people happy ("Daily Billboard," 07/28). Did he offend you with his lack of irreverence? (Reverence, I suppose?) The fact that he lived a long time doesn't really justify wishing him to hell. And as for your opinion that he was "one of history's least funny individuals," I disagree. Bob Hope made many millions of people laugh, especially during this country's most difficult times. He is not funny to you, because your idea of funny is wishing someone to hell. Your idiom wears thin here, Jim. My idea of funny, however, is when your life's work is a half-assed "counterculture" novel that six people read and you die poor of liver failure at age 40?and you actually do go to hell.

Matt Carpenter, Manhattan

Once a Crip?

Is C.J. Sullivan serious ("New York City," 7/30)? Once his legal problems clear up, Cash the Crip will return to the group that he calls family. So, Cash goes back to dealing drugs and making life miserable for the neighborhood he decides to infect. He will never again have legal problems? Hopefully, this "strapping young man" sets up his business on your street corner.

Joe Mazza, Manhattan

The Cutest Kids Ever

I enjoyed your recent cartoon by Christopher X. Brodeur ("Billboard," 7/30).  That is one talented nine-year-old!  I swear, he's almost as good as that MUGGER Jr. Seriously, I can't wait to see what he's capable of when he's all grown up.

Liam McEneaney, Queens

Romanced

Just read the feature "When Love Comes to Town" (7/23) by Alexander Zaitchik. I found the article delightful, informative and fair. Thank you!

Kathy Holzapfel, Durham, NC

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Alexander Zaitchik was at some pains to use every stereotype he could dig up about women, romances and romance writers ("When Loves Comes to Town," 7/23). I especially admired his technique of debunking a stereotype, then using it himself. Zaitchik gets to have his cake and eat it too, both quoting writers' dislike for various stereotypes and presenting those stereotypes as fact. It surprises me that you would send a reporter with such obvious contempt for his subjects to report on a conference. It's 2003, not 1953. When you report on a predominantly female conference, it's generally considered rude to complain that the attendees smell like grandmas, to call the keynote speaker perky and to describe the typical attendee as an "ideal American Mother made flesh." The next time you send a reporter to a woman-oriented conference, why not send somebody who respects women?

Elizabeth Hanes Perry, San Carlos, CA

Love You Too, Mom

Alexander Zaitchik: This 40-year-old, Midwestern housewife, mother, middle-school math teacher, masters degree holder and romance lover says...fuck you!

Margaret M. Boggs, Lake Orion, MI

Get It? They're Movie Titles

Concerning the recall petition for California Governor Gray Davis ("MUGGER," 7/30), this potential special election brings to mind another former Republican Hollywood actor who changed careers and went on to become a successful governor?Ronald Reagan. Republicans in California are in the minority, with Democrats having far more registered voters along with control of the state legislature, statewide offices and Washington congressional delegation.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is the only potential GOP candidate who can reach out beyond the current, narrow, losing Republican base. He can attract first-time, new-immigrant, independent, Hispanic, Asian, African American and other middle-class voters to build a winning coalition. Only the Running Man can Terminate the out-of-control growth of government with accompanying budget deficits in California, by becoming governor. Should the recall effort be successful in reaching the ballot and the GOP secure its base behind one candidate, Arnold Schwarzenegger, California votes will be sure to say "Hasta la vista, Gray Davis!"

Larry Penner, Great Neck, New York

Kennedy's Secret Debt

MUGGER: The simple truth is that if it wasn't for Joseph McCarthy, John Kennedy would never have been president ("MUGGER," 7/23). Why? In 1952, when Congressman Kennedy ran for Senate, he faced formidable incumbent Henry Cabot Lodge. Sen. Lodge undoubtedly would have won if Sen. Joseph McCarthy had campaigned for him, for McCarthy was very popular with the Boston Irish, Kennedy's base; but if McCarthy told them to vote for Lodge, they would have done so. He didn't because McCarthy was very close to the Kennedy family. And John returned the favor. Unlike Pat Robertson's father, Willis, (who was a Senator from Virginia at the time), Kennedy didn't vote to censure McCarthy.

Gary Schwartz, Fort Lee

Coulter's America

MUGGER: Before you criticize the book and McCarthy ("MUGGER," 7/23), I suggest you read it and the proof that's in the pudding. From the sound of it, I don't think you have. I have almost always agreed with your ravings, but on this one you are wrong. Please take the time. It may open your eyes. Time clouds all things, and I, like Ann, remember an America that was very concerned with stopping communists and viewed the senator as a man on a mission. But then, I was the grandchild of a man who worked in a shipyard and the child of a man who toiled in a paper factory. Perhaps you need to read some real facts rather than the Orwellian history that we have been handed over the years. Having been there, I still remember, and my memories don't support what has been written over the years. All these years, I somehow was becoming convinced that perhaps what I remembered wasn't true; I was glad someone finally convinced me that my memories were not false ones and that I wasn't losing it. Just because McCarthy ranted and raved doesn't mean he was wrong. Back then, people didn't have image consultants; they just shouted out what they believed in. Considering your image, I would think you would appreciate that.

Constance Potts, Chester Springs, PA