Thumbs Down To the Editor, Stacey Richter's film reviews have a habit of condescending to the reader, trying to impress us with witty questions, in-jokes, stating the obvious, and showing us how many films she's seen. She also shows how much she doesn't know. She talks about how Lone Star has "shoddy production values," with 20 minutes out-of-sync, and director John Sayles is unworthy of his acclaim. The constant ripping of Sayles is unnecessary: a sync problem is in the individual film print, not every one. One reel of 35mm film is up to 20 minutes long and film labs are not perfect. The Loft Cinema got a new print by the second week of its run. Do you really think a multi-million dollar feature would just be released nationwide out-of-sync? Maybe Richter should do some real research before writing so pompous. --John Hamilton Food Fight To the Editor, Regarding Margaret Regan's "A House Divided" (Tucson Weekly, October 3): I have read with great interest the debate regarding Janos Wilder's attempt to keep his award-winning restaurant in its current location. I want to deeply express my opinion that the TMA board has made the right decision, unanimously, in choosing not to renew his lease. Janos is, I believe, a for-profit venture. This establishment deserves no more consideration than any other for-profit venture that has lost, or cannot renew, its lease (a lease which, I might add, is at below market rates). There are numerous developers in Tucson who will be falling all over themselves to attract a restaurant of such upscale being into their developments, most likely with generous incentives and built-in allowances. In the meantime, the museum, which owns the property, is able to expand its exhibition space, which will provide accessibility to that historic building in far greater numbers than the rarefied clientele Janos could boast; and create less wear and tear on the physical structure to boot. I also quite firmly believe that Janos Wilder deserves no relocation consideration from the City of Tucson as his furniture, fixtures, equipment and leasehold improvements have, most likely, been fully depreciated. While I agree that Tucson owes thanks to Janos Wilder for his pioneering efforts in urban re-gentrification, a simple letter of recognition from the City which he could display in his new establishment should suffice. If Janos' unparalleled reputation for award-winning food is deserved, then his kudos should not be affected by location. In short, the museum's proposed use for these historic buildings is the highest and best use for the real estate and Janos' big-plate, small-food, big-price reputation will not be diminished. --Robert F. Faegre To the Editor, Margaret Regan's "A House Divided" (Tucson Weekly, October 3) is balanced, in-depth, and one of the best pieces I've read in your paper. It's quite obvious that the real culprit in all this is Tucson Museum of Art director Robert Yassin and his rigid, no-compromise attitude toward plans to expand and improve the museum at the expense of Janos, a four-star, internationally known restaurant. Janos Wilder took a big risk in 1983 when he established his eatery in the blighted downtown. It paid off. Now Yassin wants him out and will listen to no compromise proposals offered by Wilder or the City of Tucson. And there have been many. Even the most contentious of adversaries can come to the table and talk. But not Mr. Yassin. His plans, it would seem, are ordained from heaven and cast in concrete. One wonders where the museum board has been throughout this controversy. It appears we have a case of the tail wagging the dog. The director seems to control the board rather than the other way around. Adding insult to injury, Mr. Yassin would replace a world-renowned restaurant with brown bag lunches. Did I read that correctly? Amazing. And then there's his observation that "Art is not background for a restaurant." Any forward-thinking art director will get his art out there where the public can see it. And that includes restaurant walls. In the final analysis, it is the City of Tucson that owns the buildings in question, and while they have allowed the museum board to control them and their use, they could just as easily rescind this control. All it takes is four votes. Regan's concise article makes it clear where the people of Tucson will no doubt come down on this issue. Janos must stay. --Patrick McCune To the Editor, Janos Wilder has no class ("A House Divided," Tucson Weekly, October 3). He should have been out of the Museum's space when he knew his lease was up. Instead, he whines and looks for the City Council to help him out. Get a life, Wilder, and find a place of your own. You can afford it. The City Council should keep their noses out of this. This is one reason that Tucson remains so provincial and will not grow up. Do I want to keep Janos at a cost of $900,000, to keep him happy. Hell, no! The museum belongs to the public and my taxes pay for it. --Sara L. Brenans Temple Of Boom To the Editor, Jeff Smith's "Spare The Rod...And Gun Club (Tucson Weekly, September 19) could have been headlined "Lousy Neighbors Should Have More Rights." It's hard to believe he's taking sides with the Tucson Rod and Gun Club and Tucson Tallow in their disputes over noise and odor pollution. Smith's "first come, first serve" logic suggests that any property owner has a right to make the lives of others miserable as long as they were first. In other words, as the first settler in an area, you should have a right to play your stereo as loud as you like--forever. Anyone developing neighboring property should accept your "first come" right to make noise. When Tucson Tallow bought its property, did they really secure the right to stink up the surrounding land in perpetuity? Every not-so-desirable property owner should support Smith's point of view. By developing first, you get the right to engage in offensive practices as long as you like. New neighbors can learn to live with odors, noises, lights or whatever. For the developers who thought Jeff was in the other camp, here's new hope. This kind of thinking could land him a Minerec board seat. --Mark Evers We Want Letters! Thrilled by our brilliant insights? Sick of our mean-spirited attacks? 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