Although I enjoyed the interview with Nell Scovell, I take issue with a statement she made in which she seemed to equate affirmative action with the lowering of standards. I believe she said, “. . . part of my hope is that [talk show executives] will reach out a little more and I’m not talking affirmative action – they shouldn’t lower their standards. . .”

I believe this statement perpetuates the myth that affirmative action involves preferential selection of unqualitifed candidates from under-represented populations when, in fact, the point of the policy is to encourage, when possible, the selection of a qualified candidate from an under-represented population. I think this statement undermined Covell’s ultimate point about the need for more diversity in TV writing staffs.

Connie McKoy

I could not disagree more with your guest. I went to high school in Kansas City, my parents and sister still live there, as do many of my friends from high school, college and law school.

Kotkin seems to think Kansas City wants light rail and urban shops because other cities have them, and some residents want to impress their out of town friends. Perhaps there is a generational reason for this view, but as someone in my early-thirties I think his view ignores the desire of residents to bring their city in line with modern life.

Many of the things Kotkin praises about Kansas City are the things that have driven so many of us away from Kansas City. The sprawling suburbs he seems to like are simply maddening to a lot of us who value convenience over a yard to mow.

I’m sure people do move there for a house with a picket fence, but I suspect that more do so because of work and economic factors. The latter don’t necessarily wish to abandon their urban habits (such as taking a train to work instead of driving in traffic for two hours each day). Younger Kansas Citians also visit their friends elsewhere and appreciate some of the conveniences available in other cities.

I would argue that if Kansas City today has more hybrid cars than pick-up trucks, it’s because work is different, priorities are different, and the older population who formed the Kansas City Kotkin romanticizes is being replaced by younger, more tech-savvy residents who appreciate the conveniences of city life.

I know I am not alone in welcoming the modernization of Kansas City, it makes my visits more enjoyable, and, from what friends and family tell me, their lives as well.

Nell Scovell’s statement about affirmative action stopped me in my tracks. Affirmative action has nothing to do with “lowering standards” or hiring unqualified job candidates. Affirmative action means that when there are two equally qualified candidates, factors such as race, gender, age, etc. may be considered in hiring decisions. Robin should have called Scovell on that comment!

Not to belabor the point, but while I am pleased that listeners took exception to Nell Scovell’s Affrimative Action remark, I feel her response to the e-mail that was read and to my phone call that was played was, in fact, a classic of deflection. I heard nothing to suggest she had thought about her take on Affirmative Action, only the standard baloney that she regretted what she had said and wished she had said something else.