Matt Saldana’s interview of Dante Strobino of Raleigh F.I.S.T., on his return from Cuba (Q&A, Oct. 24), could have included a few other points.
Although we in the United States are told that Cuba holds political prisoners, in fact these people have volunteered to live a communal life while they engage in probing self-examination during weekly visits from the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution. They may return to their homes at any time.
Those who have left Cuba have done so at Fidel Castro’s request, to spread the news of the effects of the American embargo. Cubans will soon purchase new cars from Japan, just like we do.
Lastly, Che was really a nice guy, a man of great restraint, slow to anger.
Your editorial decision to print this interview will surely enhance the reputation of your publication for objective reporting.
Thomas Steger
Durham
Don’t trash my office
Maybe three years of working in the solid waste field has made me overly sensitive, but something about Bob Geary’s description of my workplace as “a weedy parking lot” really irked me (“Remaking Raleigh,” Oct. 31). Sure, real Raleigh old-timers may remember the sliver of land between Peace Street and Capital Boulevard as the former Devereaux Meadows stadium, but most people driving by probably have no idea what really goes on here.
If they stopped, they might see that this lot is a place where more than 200 city employees park before beginning work each day. A place where city-owned vehicles are repaired to ensure timely garbage collection and road repair. A place where citizens can purchase compost bins and rain barrels to practice conservation where it matters mostat home.
I can barely envision Raleigh in 2030, but I imagine the city’s employees will go on providing these essential functions long after our trash trucks and police cars make way to a supposedly more sustainable vision of condos and office towers.
Bianca M. Howard
Cary
