Adios, John
We're sad to say this is John Sugg's last week at the Planet. He's moving to our sister publication, Creative Loafing Atlanta, where he will soon be ripping into the Southern power structure with his signature combination of eloquence and pugnaciousness. His work will still appear in our pages from time to time, but if you'd like to watch the fur fly in Atlanta on a regular basis, you can access his work at http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com. We wish him and his family well and send our condolences to Atlanta's greedy power brokers. Here's just a small sampling of the many letters we received about his departure.
Flew in from Massachusetts and heard a loud POP! upon landing. I thought it might have been an engine misfire, but now I realize it was the sound of hundreds of champagne corks at numerous chambers of commerce.
I'm really sorry to hear that you're leaving. I valued your work and your willingness to give visionaries like my friend Jan Roberts a platform. Naturally, I don't begrudge you the opportunity to explore new territory or to better yourself and family; it's just that every time a strong, outspoken challenger to the status quo quits the area, the smirk on the faces of the power elite grows all the wider.
If you have any say at all in the choice of your successor, please leave us with someone who'll dine out regularly on sacred cow, someone who'll give us some well-deserved laughs, who'll keep the mainstream media a little more honest and the influence peddlers a little more wary. In the interim, I wish you all the best, you bastard.
Burt Kempner
Via e-mail
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I write to you with a heavy heart after just learning about your anticipated departure from our (fair) city. I have enjoyed reading your columns for a long time, now. I can tell you that on more than one occasion I had intended to write to you after being particularly saddened/alarmed/amused, etc. after reading your column. Just figured you'd always be around, you know? In fact, the first and only time I ever talked to you was when you called WMNF during their mini-marathon. It was the highlight of my night. You will be sorely missed. Hopefully, I will be able to access Creative Loafing on the Web and can therefore continue to enjoy reading about what moves and inspires you most, though, regrettably, it will not be quite as meaningful.
Marie Giardina
Via e-mail
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I would like to personally thank you for all the articles you have written. I am deeply sorry that you are moving to Atlanta. It will be their gain. As for journalism — the one thing we can pick up in Tampa, will end with your leaving. The Tampa Trib has never printed matters like it is due to their advertising requirements and revenue expectations.
David A. Guido
Via e-mail
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I have enjoyed the many times that I have read your articles in the Weekly Planet. It never ceases to amaze me that so many people let themselves be hoodwinked. We live in a world of a continuously more educated society where most people lack simple horse sense.
William H. H. Hoedt
Via e-mail
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Before I get mushy, I demand you answer the following question: Who's going to keep the Trib honest? You probably made a helluva impact with the seeds you planted in alternative views to the mainstream archaic thinkers in the Tampa Bay area. Rattling the cages, challenging the 19th century mentality and educating the public take courage, and so we will miss the insights and incites.
Don Tabone
Via e-mail
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In the spirit of Sam Adams and Ben Johnson — never stop your acerbic and very pointed prose. Thanks for the ride.
Marilyn Smith
Via e-mail
Dude, You can't be serious. Atlanta is the only other semi-Southern town, besides Tampa that I'm not fond of. Who's gonna be the Paraclete of Tampa's ugly little (sometimes big) secrets? Who's gonna be Tampa Bay's Diogenes? Hell, Hotlanta doesn't need a progressive! You know your pirate ancestors will haunt you.
John White Jr.
Tampa
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I'm sorry you are leaving the Tampa Bay area. We will miss your clear truth telling! I am continually amazed at how the Times gets away with their BS. They are really pushing for the port and airport property. They will hide behind the educational institution-USF to hide their naked lust for the waterfront land. I wonder why the feds and FDOT haven't investigated the use of the fed and state funds, respectively. The city's strategy of neglecting this asset and allowing it to go to ruin buttresses their argument later for selling it cheap. What a travesty. Just where will they put Albert Whitted Waste Water plant? The Challenge area? Have a safe and happy journey! Thanks for caring about what is really going on in our community!
Kathleen Ford
Via e-mail
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You've been a helluva troublemaker. Good work.
Rich Gonzalez
Via e-mail
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I have enjoyed your hard-hitting, direct writing style.
An important note about the effort to get the Olympics here: Many of the people and businesses in Orlando/Kissimmee are opposed to staging the Games. Funny, I haven't read that anywhere! Hotel rooms in Orange/Osceola have high occupancy rates; instead of gaining anything, they will be alienating their regular tourist trade with the chaos that would ensue. The locals who fight I-4 congestion on even a normal workday have equal antipathy to the Olympic madness. Further, Orlando gains nothing from the Games. There will be no Olympic Stadium or other facilities built in that area. They are, however, expected to furnish several existing venues that will make the Florida games even remotely viable.
Anyway, I will miss your columns. Good luck.
Jim Bleyer
Via e-mail
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You are talented, persistent and fly. I hope the Planet will be able to find someone to fill your shoes. I've particularly appreciated your strong opposition to Raymond James Stadium and your strong defense of Mazen Al-Najjar. Here's wishing you success in the next chapter of your journalistic career.
Bill Rose
Tampa
This article appears in Aug 16-22, 2001.
