Public sack

Regarding Kristian Gravenor's "De-unbeautify Montreal" column [Kristian Perspective, Sept. 9]: Gravenor's degrading, bourgeois attitude is highly inappropriate in a publication that takes pride in calling itself alternative. What, exactly, is "deviant" about holding down a low-paying, crappy job because you might not have the education, skills or opportunities to secure a position hacking out a consistently mundane column in a weekly newspaper? I've spoken to the Publisac delivery people in my neighbourhood; many are recent immigrants and none exhibited deviant behaviour.

Furthermore, if Gravenor is so concerned about our environment, he may have mentioned that the excessive amount of paper in Publisacs is a horrible waste of trees. However, referring to them as Satanic in a sloppy stab at humour merely exemplifies his lack of that particular skill and offers no solutions except to put people out of work.

Evidently, Mr. Gravenor is overpaid. If he earned what he's worth as a journalist, he'd be one of the shit-box driving, dorky coupon clippers he describes.

» Peter Fedun

Flood on the tracks

Regarding your recent story about Pointe St. Charles residents irritated by noisy trains in their neighbourhood ["Trainsquabbling," Aug. 26]: I thought I would tell you that in July there was an article in La Presse in which they talked about repair works being done in the Anjou borough during the night. They ran water music to cover the noise, and many people slept even better than normally.

Just in case it could be of any help.

» Andrée Thouin

Sardonic limits

Irony has its limits and that hipster's sardonic tone affected in your "People" column is best not used for serious matters. Chris Barry's reference to "some nutty fun palace called Auschwitz" ["People," Sept. 16] was so inappropriate that it should never have been written, let alone made it to print. You owe your readers an apology.

» David Schulze

Defending WASP culture

As one of those stupid Americans Pierre-Étienne Paradis referred to in his blistering diatribe last week [Letters, Sept. 16], I ask, who died and made him PM? First of all, South Park is a damn cartoon, and though they sing some ridiculous song called "Blame Canada," remember again: it is a cartoon.

It seems Mr. Paradis has the same big chip on his shoulder against Americans that MP Carolyn Parrish and others have. Are you going to tell me that people in la belle province don't have a few good laughs at the expense of Americans? Do we rant about it? Not really.

Also, since I live in NYC, aka "The Melting Pot" of the U.S., I can safely say that being home to a multitude of ethnicities doesn't make a place politically correct or even more appealing. I have never had a problem living within my own WASP culture, just as I am sure you are cozy in your francophone coccoon. Quebec City is a nice place, and yes, I love the Upper Town. I do not need to stand amongst other Third World cultures to enjoy myself, which is probably why I like spending time there.

» Jonathan Whitney, New York City

Survival Guide corrections

Errors in your otherwise excellent Student Survival Guide [Sept. 2] could prove costly to your readers.

The introduction of your Tenants' Rights section outlines new rules stating that "if a landlord files at the Régie (rental board) to recover unpaid rent or evict a tenant for non-payment, the tenant must contest this claim at the Régie within 10 days," otherwise, "a clerk can make a decision based solely on the landlord's sworn statement and the documents in their file." It also says that tenants "can avoid eviction by paying the rent (they) owe before the Régie's decision ‘becomes enforceable,' instead of ‘before judgement,'" and that "by and large, tenants now have one month from the date of judgement to pay up."

This is incorrect. The proposed changes to the law were never enacted. Louise Harel, the Parti Québécois minister responsible for housing, introduced Bill 26 in the summer of 2001. Hearings were held at the National Assembly in the fall, but the bill was allowed to die on the order paper.

So nothing has changed. A landlord can still give between three and six months' notice of a rent increase for a 12-month lease. A tenant who is more than three weeks late in paying the rent can avoid eviction by paying the rent due before or even at the hearing.

Furthermore, Comité d'action de Parc Extension (CAPE) moved its office from 7745 Champagneau to 419 St-Roch in July 2002. I know because I used to work there.

» Brian Curnock, Coordinator, West Island Tenant Information

Concordia's Queer Union, which offers support and information for LGBTTQQ students and also runs social events and groups, is located at 2020 MacKay, room P-102. Contact: http://queerunion.tripod.com or 848-2424 ext. 7414.

The Dragonroot Centre for Gender Advocacy is located in the basement of 2110 MacKay. Contact: 848-2424 ext. 7431 (info) or ext. 7880 (counselling).

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