Illustrations by Giacomo Gambineri 7The Thread
‘‘Jackass’’ is something I knew existed
but never really knew what it was — show?
movie? YouTube channel? — and I have
never in my life heard of Wee Man. I
didn’t know he existed before I read this
piece. The opening paragraph is such
excellent writing that it drew me in and
kept my attention for the whole article.
Weaver’s writing allowed Acuña’s fun-
loving, open personality to shine through
and us to enjoy it. Even now that I know
what ‘‘Jackass’’ is and is not, I don’t think
I’ll be rushing off to watch any of it. But if
I ever had the opportunity to meet Acuña,
I’d welcome it!
Kelly, Maryland
This was a pleasure to read. I’m not sure
why, but one of the images in my head
that struck me most was Wee Man help-
ing strangers fi nd a table at In-N-Out.
That photo of him fl ying through the air
with his board in one hand makes him
look invincible.
Kev D.
Connecting ‘‘Jackass’’ to ‘‘Rick Steves’
Europe’’ just made my whole damn day.
Of course Caity Weaver did that!
Shanna, Spokane, Wash.
My 7-month-old daughter has achondro-
plasia, so it’s wonderful to see a positive,
talented role model with the same skel-
etal dysplasia. Say what you want about
‘‘Jackass,’’ but Wee Man’s achondroplasia
was never a crude joke. It’s wonderful
that I can one day talk to my daughter
required. We were not smart enough back
then to predict what buildings would look
like in 40 years, and we are not now. I
would suggest every fi ve years, just to
throw out a number — certainly a more
prudent interval than 40.
One of my young friends died in the
collapse of Champlain Towers South for
completely preventable reasons. All of the
‘‘business friendly’’ regulation and willful
ignorance helped lead to his death.
David, Gainesville, Fla.I lived near Champlain Towers for many
years, in a much older building. There
are hundreds of buildings in the Miami
area as old or older. The reality is that
the cost of maintenance in these older
buildings is unaff ordable to all but the
richest residents, so they defer it nearly
100 percent of the time.
Senior residents nearly always con-
clude that they will not be alive to enjoy
the improvements, so why do them?
Younger residents conclude that they will
probably move to stand- alone houses,
so why do them? And then no one does
them, and the buildings deteriorate. The
reality is that the repairs won’t be done
in most cases. And the building industry
will oppose every single ordinance that
increases the cost of ownership.
A result? Wishful thinking that this
collapse was a fl uke and won’t ever hap-
pen again. Not in the hundreds of aging
and deteriorating buildings. Not on
Miami’s beaches. Don’t like those odds?
Don’t move to an old beach building.
Can’t aff ord the new ones? Don’t move to
the beach, period. Nothing will change;
this is Florida.
Manny, MiamiSend your thoughts to [email protected].‘It’s sheer hubris
that 40 years
is when the
fi rst structural
inspections are
required.’Readers respond to the 1.30.2022 issue.
RE: WEE MAN
Caity Weaver profi led Jason Acuña, the star
of MTV’s ‘‘Jackass.’’
On the Cover
Photograph by
Andrew Moore, with
drone assistance
from Jake Buttersabout Acuña and point out how to live
her best life.
Mark, Turlock, Calif.RE: FLORIDA TOWERS
Matthew Shaer wrote about the issues
exposed in the aftermath of the condomini-
um collapse in Surfside, Fla.The condo association is a kind of meta-
phor for our current malaise and inability
to plan (sacrifi ce) for the future. There is
obviously a vital need here to check struc-
tures — especially those built on swamps
— and repair them (see the bridge collapse
in Pittsburgh). But all this rubs up against
‘‘my freedom’’; a rejection of science of
any form (a.k.a. engineers); no sense of
responsibility, especially if it costs any-
thing (no new taxes or fees); and fi nally
a political structure so beholden to the
wealthy (including retirees who move to
avoid estate taxes) that reform is in eff ect
impossible. Thus we descend into the cul-
de-sac of winning arguments rather than
solving problems and moving forward.
David, New YorkI live here in Florida full time, and it’s
hard not to see the Legislature as an
extension of a developers’ association.
It just refuses to pass bills that would
result in frequent inspections and appro-
priate funding for repairs for this class
of building. The permitting process is
determined locally. Most areas do not
require a second opinion on the design
before construction starts. And the mix
of sand, wind, saltwater and rising ocean
temperatures will require more mainte-
nance in the future rather than less.
It’s sheer hubris that 40 years is
when the fi rst structural inspections are