This letter is in response to James Renner's article ("Super Pissed," June 25) about efforts to celebrate Superman here in Cleveland, where he was created.

It is nice to see a local reporter taking up a cause, and certainly Mr. Renner presented both sides of the story. Unfortunately, a few unverified statements resulted in inaccuracies and outright falsehoods that have now been perpetuated on the Internet.

A few calls to key people mentioned in the article would have revealed that:

• Dennis Barrie has not been hired by anyone to design a Superman museum, and in fact, a museum is not part of the committee's work.
• Much of the 501(c)3 work is being donated by a law firm.
• Terry Stewart - through contacts from his past career with Marvel Comics - arranged for a meeting with DC Comics in New York, which was important because anything Cleveland does to celebrate Superman must be done in cooperation with DC Comics, since they own the rights.

Right now, the committee is focused on hosting an annual celebration with the intention of growing it bigger in succeeding years.

A point that should be emphasized is that the committee planning the Superman celebrations held its meetings at the offices of Positively Cleveland (Cleveland's convention and visitors bureau), but Dennis Roche and Positively Cleveland are in no way driving this project. Several of us volunteered for a wide variety of tasks. Everyone who volunteered to work on this project is excited that Cleveland will finally celebrate its most famous native son, Superman. And while we may not have his superpowers, we take Superman's commitment to truth and justice very seriously.

We continue to be dedicated to making this a signature event for Cleveland, and to honoring our native sons, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, creators of Superman.

Dick Pace, Tracey Kirksey and Steve Presser
Cleveland

EVERYTHING'S BIGGER, EVEN THE SCAMS

Editor's note: The following letter was written in response to our June 25 review of The Unforeseen, a documentary about rampant development in and around Austin, Texas.

Hello up there. I am a transplanted Clevelander living outside of Austin, Tex-ass. Like many folks down here, we have been pushed out of the city by outrageously escalating housing costs. An older two-bedroom home can easily run $300,000. Condo skyscrapers and Wal-Marts are popping up everywhere and our property taxes are rising to pay for the incentives given to these corporations (our taxes on a $150,000 home are now $500/month).

People are moving here in droves. I read that the Republican/Christianists realized that air conditioning was the way to get folks to move down south where Republican/Christianist values are easily adopted. There's some truth to that; Austin is rapidly turning red.

Regarding the film, it is interesting to note that it is not playing anywhere down here. Sigh.

William Clements
Buda, Texas

FANTASY VS. GRAVITY

A wry chagrin flowed through Jara Anton's "I Can't Hear You, You're Naked" (July 1) with perverse humor. The learning experience was that the typical recreation center or gymnasium isn't necessarily populated with Venus and Adonis types. There may be instead creepy old men who ogle and lackluster ladies lounging about without a stitch.

Well, the word gymnasium - coming to us through Latin - originally connoted the naked athletics carried on in ancient Greece. Accustomed as we are to the Hollywood and Playboy ideals, we may be taken by surprise by the stark reality of saggy mammary glands and drooping glutei maximi. And hence disillusioned. The flab and paunch of middle-age males, decently ignored by Renaissance masters, are now exhibited unashamedly in public. The stuff of bourgeois burlesque.

Anatomical actuality, as we former art students may attest, is more likely found in private space than in some gentlemen's club. Commercial illusion often softens dour physical verity.

William Dauenhauer
Willowick

ANOTHER TREASURE LOST

At the risk of seeming too maudlin, it was with a tear in my eye that I read about the closing of The Bookstore on West 25th (June 25). It, along with its proprietor Mike O'Brien, will be sorely missed. In addition to his well-known bibliopegist talents, Mike is a fine human being. In between buying or selling books, Mike would let you vent your current angst or complain about your problems with the city. And although he never relished the unintended role of neighborhood shrink or ombudsman, he would lend you a sympathetic ear. Try doing this at Walden's or Borders and security will escort you out.

That was something of the Irish priest left in the guy. If Mike ran a candy store instead, he would give the neighborhood kids free samples. If he owned a bar, he'd put the neighborhood drunk on the tab.

It angers me that suburbanites will flock to a downtown sports event but couldn't patronize a near downtown local like The Bookstore on West 25th Street. I hope Mike will realize all the customers and friends who loved him.

Stanley Niemiec
Cleveland