In response to criticism from Michael Monti

Monti's: The good ol' days

I have finally discovered why I received a comment in response to something Michael Monti, owner of Monti's La Casa Vieja on Mill Ave., had written in reaction to my piece "What do empty promises look like?". Thankfully, I was emailed the link to Monti's blog, "100 South Mill Avenue", by a reader and was finally able to take a look at his criticism of my article. Needless to say, he wasn't much of a fan. In his article "If You Can't Say Something Nice...", Monti completely fails to address valid points made about his principles that were articulated clearly throughout my piece.

Some gems (Monti in italics, my response in bold):

Reasonable people can disagree.

Agreed.
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I have always been available to talk about Downtown Tempe issues and my restaurant for those who contact me and leave a name and number, or send an email. (*)There is room for civil discourse.

I didn't contact you through any of the options you listed, meaning you found me, I did not write the piece with the intention of you specifically reading it. Glad you found it, though. You chose to (not) address my article by disregarding my argument and instead attacking the anonymity of myself, the writer, dodging the criticism. I could be one of your workers, someone who works for the city, an "insider", or just another Tempe resident who is fed up with the developers and their bullshit, so anonymous it is and shall stay.

Well, since you went to the trouble of griping and then linking to my blog, it could've been just as easy to respond to the points raised, specifically you doing business with a developer that has forced the relocation or put out of business a number of shops at the Arches and other shops along University and Forrest Ave. You're dealing with a company that has ruined many lives of small business owners and their workers, and will continue to do this while their properties are constructed and the property value goes through the roof, and the waves of yuppies and wealthy money flaunters fill the condos one by one. Tempe's new future residents won't remember Monti's, or know who you are, or care. Sure, there will be new small businesses (boutiques, upscale eateries, and galleries) which you can happily defend from your role in Chain Reaction, as they service Tempe's new upscale clientèle, (and meet the "independent business" qualifier) and rest assured that Tempe's lower income and working class residents will only be working there, not buying anything.
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On the other hand, some people are angry. Born angry. Such people spew envy and spite so copiously that it completely undermines any scintilla of reason that could be gleaned from their argument. And, predictably, they hurl their venom from the safety of anonymity…and with plenty of juvenile profanity just for leavening. These people do not merit a response.

You claim I don't merit a response, but Michael, you sure gave me one hell of an angry response, what about my critique is so upsetting? That there's truth to it? Perhaps you feel bad about compromising your values?

If you wish to be amused by the stylings of a puerile mind, look here. In the end, who could take this seriously?

Um, you sure did.

Michael, I wish I had something nice to say about the development. I wish all the developers were here to offer something to Tempe's working poor, to raise the standard of living for the residents already here, or affordable housing in the new towers. I wish you hadn't sold out to 3W. I wish you could understand the scale of a personal attack, afterall, you just made millions (I'd say you earned it, but we both know that's not true) from a company that had the millions as a direct result of uprooting the same small business you should be defending from your position in AZ Chain Reaction. Greedy developers who shut down mom and pop shops are engaged in economic personal attacks all the time, funny it's me you feel needs to be called out for an attack.

Let me be straight with you, it's not that I have a personal axe to grind, hell, I've eaten at your restaurant (the sirloin steak sandwich is delicious), and I've had friends over the years that have worked at Monti's as well as business owner friends who have joined AZ Chain Reaction and have nothing but praise for it. It's not you. It's your decision.

What do empty promises look like?

Monti, Monti, Monti...what have you done?

MONTI'S: Everyone sells out?

Tony Wall's 3W Companies, one of the many developer scums prowling the streets of Tempe eyeing land for the next yuppie mega fortress, has made a supposed "genuine promise" that nothing will come of the historic Mill Ave. cornerstone, Monti's La Casa Vieja since it's land sale. That would make this the first instance a developer has ever been honest about their intentions, history being made folks! From the Republic:

Much like recently approved plans to preserve - but still develop - the Hayden Flour Mill, Wall said 3W Companies intends to create a mixed-used building that incorporates the restaurant, or at least the historic part of it.

The original house is at the north end of the building. The rest is additions tacked on over the years, and those likely will be demolished.

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The Monti's land was sold late last year after months of negotiations. Neither Wall, nor Monti would disclose a purchase price.

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Monti said he was dedicated to finding a developer who "would do it right."

"Over my dead body would this building be harmed," Monti said. "I needed to find people who understand the tradition and respect my family's contribution and honor the Hayden family heritage."

Monti said he believes he found that developer in Wall and 3W Companies. But the process will be slow. It's still too soon to tell when the actual redevelopment will start.

"It'll be years, not months," Wall said. "Though I wish it were sooner. We have a lot of work ahead of us."

In the meantime, Monti's will stay open "for the foreseeable future," according to Wall and Monti.

And while, it will close down during construction, Monti's plans to continue catering, and reopen the restaurant inside the new project.

3W Companies' is a partner on another major project in Tempe: University Square is a $500 million, city-block-size project on University Drive just east of Mill Avenue.

I don't know about you, but after reading this article it seems clear that preserving Monti's is the last thing on 3W's agenda! Wall makes it perfectly clear that he wants to get moving on destroying most of the Monti's building, and somehow incorporating it into another of his company's tributes to unjustly acquired wealth. Obviously, Wall and the assorted developers are scum due to sit in one of the circles of hell, but how far up her ass was this reporter's head? Oh, wait, it's the Arizona Republic's Katie Nelson, duh. The last thing to expect from her is one single critical thought questioning development here in Tempe. Hell, it would be no surprise to anyone if it is revealed she's been in their pocket all along.

Finally, Michael Monti, owner of La Casa Vieja, through inheritance, deserves the biggest "F U" out of all of these scoundrels, largely because he is the only one who has professed to having any actual principles. Developers are ruthless, it's their thing; most journalists are cowards, that's their thing; but Michael Monti should have been different. See, Monti is also one of the top dogs of Arizona Chain Reaction, a business organization that encourages Arizonans to "shop local" for the benefit of sales tax revenue that, in theory, will enhance the community, and also emphasize the unique character of independent business over the Wal-Mart style big box commerce. Well, mission accomplished, Monti! You've now done your part to further soil what's left of Mill Ave., and when I say what's left, I'm being generous. What's left of Mill Ave., is the last dangling turd, on the verge of dropping into the toilet bowl. Then a nice big flush, say goodbye to what was once an interesting place to live and enjoy the city, and you've done your part now by rolling out the red carpet to big money who will do whatever they can to destroy the best parts of what made Tempe the city it was.

It sure has been a nice long shit, so take your time whiping, Michael, it's worth millions.