Letters

Mutiny on the Bounty

Showing they’re badasses: I expected that the Houston Press would probably give HPD a reaming for engaging in as much undisciplined lawlessness as the “bounty hunters” of Keith Plocek’s article [“The Thin Gray Line,” March 24]. Thank God our police officers care about the “minutia” of the law.

The profilees get what amounts to a wink and a nod, a veritable thumbs-up, portrayed as if they were the stars in their own cop-buddy movie. While licensed private investigators serve a valuable need within the criminal justice system, the antics that this pair engage in demonstrate why there’s been such a backlash against private bail enforcement. The fact that Sammie Valero is waiting for enough time to pass before applying to become a cop because of a criminal conviction speaks volumes.

They pose for their “badass” cover photo in the tradition of the blazing guns and badges genre, and show just why “bounty hunters” get such a bad rap.

Plocek would have us feel sorry for this couple of loose cannons who, impatient to make a quick profit, exceed the bounds of their legal authority and end up getting arrested in Mexico. I can’t say I have much sympathy. Peace officers garner thousands of hours of training, consult legal authorities, operate within legal constraints and are subject to numerous layers of oversight and review — these two want to cry ignorance of the law as they bumble their way into jail.

Plocek probably could have connected with a few other bail enforcement professionals before he wrote his article. But clearly, foresight, accuracy and professional integrity are things that the Press, like the subjects of this article, is uninterested in.

As for your subtitle, you can add a few other things that differentiate cops from this pair of cracker-jacks: training, professionalism, intelligence and integrity, for starters.

Zack Becker
Houston

Differences of opinion: I read the tickler on the cover of the March 24 issue with dismay: “There’s not much difference between a bounty hunter and a cop…”

Give me a break! There’s not much difference between a criminal and a cop.

Ward Larkin
Houston

Watch What You Eat

Sludge dangers: Bravo for Josh Harkinson’s excellent, well-researched feature “Wretched Excess” [March 31] on the sewage-sludge issue. Exposing the health issues linked to this questionable EPA-promoted program is extremely important. Not only does sewage sludge impinge on the lives of unsuspecting neighbors who have it forced upon them by neighboring farms, but every American may feel the impact of sludge through the food chain.

Researchers say crops are subject to uptake of persistent pollutants deposited in soils “fertilized” with sewage sludge, while animals fed hay or crops “fertilized” with sludge take in the persistent pollutants, which may end up in meat and dairy products.

There is not a shred of credible scientific evidence to prove sewage sludge is safe for the public health. In fact, the science for the EPA’s sludge rule never passed its initial peer review. However, there are a number of peer-reviewed scientific articles that link sewage-sludge exposure to illness and even death.

These articles are supported by a growing body of anecdotal evidence linking sludge exposure to health problems, including fatalities. The EPA and the $11.6 billion-a-year sludge industry choose to ignore this overwhelming evidence and continue to force their product on an unwilling population.

Barbara L. Rubin
Waterford, Virginia

Re-warding Research

Learn the local lore: To the “Warded Off” letter writer [Letters, March 17]: Do your homework! You call the Houston wards “archaic political artifacts that only old, old, old people can relate to today” (ungrammatically). Try telling that to current residents (of any age) within the wards.

As one of those old, old, old people, I can still remember as a young whippersnapper being told to “look it up” in reference to designations of the wards. It was (and is) expected that if we lacked information, we could dang well ferret it out for ourselves — no spoon-fed ease offered.

Just one question: When does your visitor visa to Texas expire? If you were a resident, you would be eager to learn the lore and language of the land.

There’s a saying — “all hat and no cattle” — which in sociological terms is applicable to poseurs.

If you haven’t found your local library, call them. Maybe they can direct you through the complexities of geography.

Rory Hawty
Houston

Sam’s Meat

And a flaming dish: An outstanding story on my friend Sam Segari’s restaurant [“My Favorite Restaurant,” by Robb Walsh, March 24]. Just a couple of points of clarification. Sam serves an outstanding rib eye to his friends, plus, as good a pork chop, veal chop and rack of lamb as you will find anywhere.

And most important, the beautiful and talented Angela is not a brunette. Her radiant auburn tresses fairly flame in the sunlight. Of course, we regulars will keep this to ourselves.

Harold Gunn
Houston