Readers Write (Oct. 20): Nicollet Mall reconstruction, crime and sentencing, Edina police incident, lawn signs, Bob Dylan's prize, cats vs. the media

The loss of the popcorn wagon is yet another shortsighted choice for Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis ("Pop goes a popular Nicollet Mall fixture," Oct. 19). From the story: " 'We wanted to redesign the mall with pedestrians as a priority and to make it as open [and] flexible as possible in the redesign,' Elwood said. 'A popcorn wagon is a pretty permanent structure.' " (And so are the restored and new sculptures to attract pedestrians.)

To clarify, Don Elwood is the city's director of transportation, engineering and design. Downtown Council President Steve Cramer's group is leading the project. City Council Member Jacob Frey seems to be noticing that something is amiss.

Elwood's quote is laughable. I look out the window of the high-rise where I work and watch the ribbon of concrete being poured to accommodate buses. As usual, there are the requisite sidewalks on the space that remains. This is not prioritizing pedestrians. There is nothing pedestrian-friendly about a 35,000-pound bus in motion. This is capitulating to Metro Transit.

For two years, the buses will have found alternate routes during construction. To return them is simply lack of will or vision. Afterward, the only difference for Nicollet Mall will be a $50 million wardrobe change. And no popcorn.

I also noted, as an Oct. 18 letter writer did, the light sentence given to Susan Ann Russo for causing a death by driving while texting, compared with the harsh one given to Jodie Burchard-Risch for deliberately assaulting Asma Jama with a beer mug. On further consideration, however, the comparison is flawed, and the key difference is intent. Russo's sentence for causing a death by texting while driving still seems too light when compared, perhaps more appropriately, with the harsh ones typically handed out for causing death by driving while drunk. But the sentence given to Burchard-Risch for her deliberate and targeted attack seems about right compared with the sentences that should have been given for similar hate crimes of the Jim Crow era, North and South.

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The violence last October at a Coon Rapids Applebee's restaurant was indeed tragic ("Woman pleads guilty in beer mug attack," Oct. 16). It is a sad state of affairs when the perpetrator, Burchard-Risch, seemingly happily admits in court that she assaulted Jama because of Jama's race and because Jama wasn't speaking English. This is disturbing, to say the least. Why do we jump to conclusions, make assumptions about others and treat one event as a sign that an entire group of people harbor ill will? Unfortunately, this seems to be the human condition, or the base excuse for dissing everyone.

If we could only see how the other feels and know that with all of our differences, and all of our flaws, we are all, in fact, human.

It was interesting to read "Edina apologizes for white cop's treatment of black man" (Oct. 19). The Edina City Council apologized for what the mayor says was standard procedure, and no effort was made to change the procedure, so it will happen again, but possibility without a video. We found out that any disciplinary action against the officer would be determined by the city manager and police chief, neither of whom are elected officials.

Is this part of the reason we do not trust the police? It is probably true that most officers do not behave this way, but in conjunction with other examples it tends to makes us concerned about any police action.

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I actually commend Edina police Lt. Tim Olson for his self-control when dealing with Larnie Thomas last week.

What is there for Edina to apologize for? You treat the police officers with respect, and you will get respect. The video doesn't show the start of the altercation, but I find Thomas to be in the wrong. No way would I ever act that way toward a peace officer, even if I felt blameless. However, the vocal minority showed up at Edina City Council chambers to complain, while the majority of law-abiding citizens remains silent.

I have another explanation for what an Oct. 19 letter writer deemed a lack of enthusiasm for any of the presidential candidates, based on a lack of lawn signs. I am a strong Hillary Clinton supporter, yet I have chosen not to have a sign in our yard. I am well-aware of the incendiary views of many of Donald Trump's supporters toward Clinton supporters. In the occasion that Clinton wins, I do not in any way want to be targeted for my support.

Am I overreacting, as my husband suggests that I am? True, I am not proud of my excessive cautionary stance, but we have children in our home and I am not willing to take any chances. I am exceedingly sad that it has come to this, and this election cannot end soon enough for me.

Though I have been a huge Bob Dylan fan for more than 40 years and would not begrudge him his Nobel Prize, I would just as soon seen the "Bard of Madison, Minn."— the great poet and writer Robert Bly — get this award. His poetry, his translations of other great poets, and his influence in the men's movement are also very noteworthy and should not go unrecognized.

An example of the biased media: "Another black mark against cats" (Oct. 19).

This article blames feral cats for everything from extinguishing monk seals to road rage (it questions the last, but an unfounded statement is how urban myths start). All this just in time to give the same types who yell "Lock her up!" (and worse) at Donald Trump's rallies an excuse to celebrate Halloween by killing cats.

Anyone with a mouse problem might be grateful for the predatory side of cat nature.

As for armies of feral cats, irresponsible cat owners are to blame for abandoning pets when they tire of them. I would say also to spay or neuter your cat, but are we aiming to make domestic cats extinct?

To top it all off, the headline was an old and ugly cliché associating "black" with bad. Shame on you.