Fantasy land

Dear editor:

In response to Eli Vegas’ letter in Thursday’s paper on Sept. 26: So you want our newspaper to stop reporting bad news? Does it make you sad?

Also, you threw out some percentages, with no real source to back them up. That basically Hot Springs has a 10% crime problem and that the other 90% is happy events and tourism.

Well, you got those numbers backward, Super Chief. Crime is the business in Hot Springs. Guess you should have done more research before moving here. We’ve been the number one most dangerous city and we’re on track to be in the top 10 again this year. We have been in the top 50 to top 25 in crime for the last 20-plus years in population and crime per capita. Arkansas on a whole has the third-highest tax rates in the country while being last or nearly last in everything that matters.

I mean, how simple are you to write a letter and tell the newspaper only to print happy stories? They would, if we had anything happy around here. Do you wake up in a Disney movie every morning and the animals sing and do your choirs? I’m just trying to get a grip on what fantasy land you live in.

You moved to a city that is betting an entire city on gambling. You moved to a city where it was reported today in another paper that our homeless population rivals major cities. And you moved to a city where drugs and violence are our main import/export.

But welcome to Hot Springs, nonetheless. I’m sure like most recent people I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with you will soon be looking to get the heck out of Dodge as soon as you can. I stay because I love popcorn and train wrecks … and Hot Springs has become the biggest train wreck of them all from top to bottom. Ron Swanson Hot Springs