The Man Who Wrote Too Much

Who is Harvey Slavin? Why is he so angry? And why can't he stop sending scathing letters to the editor?

A A A Comments By Emma Trelles Thursday, Jan 11 2001

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Slavin laughs and hops out of the car. He hurries inside because he also wants to catch the basketball game on TV. Flung over the back seat is a workout towel, and a suit jacket hangs from a handle in the back; the rest of his car is spotless, without a pad, pen, or angry word in sight.

"You know how people always try to find the good? I don't think that way. I think that people are happy when others suffer, and they don't wish them well. Basically people are nasty, and they have to overcome it," offers Slavin.

Joshua Prezant

No 'rithmetic here, just readin' and writin'

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On the winding drive back to his A1A apartment, he mentions a letter he sent to New Times Broward•Palm Beachabout the paper's election coverage ("One Man, One Vote," Bob Norman, November 30, 2000). In the letter, which he quotes, he derided the paper for reporting "stale news" and suggested the writer take a peek at The New York Timesto learn how it's done. Slavin recalls how, at the end, he conceded that the article was written much better than most of Jen Karetnick's reviews and suggested that Norman give Karetnick a writing lesson or two.

When asked if he really thinks she needs it, Slavin hesitates for a second. Then he offers up his small curve of a smile. "Nah. I just wanted to take a shot."