I'm a careless, fast reader, so as soon as I read Lisa McDonald's post, I
called up the Oar Folkjokeopus Record Store at 25th and Lyndale, so I could complain
about these record company stickers on the light fixtures. I spoke to the owner, Mark
Trehus, who told me his store had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with these stickers. He
doesn't even stock the record (it's not their kind of music)--although the record
company had sent him a promotional copy, which he provided to Lisa McDonald, so she
could track down the company.
Trehus says he's totally against graffitti---he's a business owner, so he
hates it too. But he takes a more nuanced position on flyers/stickers advertising
local bands and performances. Says in his neighborhood, it adds to the culture. It's
part of city life. (In my neighorhood, the stickers/flyers/etc. on light poles all
seem to be about Natural Remedies, Weight Loss, private schools and Psychic Fairs,
whine, whine. Frankly, I'd prefer the bands.)
Agree or disagree, but in my brief conversation, this guy clearly doesn't seem
to be a defender of graffitti. Having heard both sides, it certainly sounds like he
and Lisa McDonald had what the diplomats call "a frank exchange of views."
Then I went back and read Lisa's post. She didn't say his company had anything
to do with these stickers. But I post this just in case any other careless, fast
readers jumped to my original conclusion. Oar Folkjokeopus seems like an innocent
bystander.
Lynnell Mickelsen
Linden Hills, Ward 13
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