LETTERS


				Fight For Library To The Editor, I read with interest your article on Pat West’s budget item of closing down Main Library. He was quoted in the article as saying he was “reaching out to the Friends of the Library ... to help us look for options for a satellite location.” This is not true. The Friends of the Library are totally united against this sudden proposal to close Main. Main is the headquarters of all library facilities and can’t be duplicated anywhere else. We have an auditorium that allows large audiences for our endowment Forum and other speakers that no other branch has. We have a state-of-the-art handicapped center admired and duplicated by other library systems. We have the hugely successful Friends Book Store. There is the Miller Room, with rare books. The usage of this library hasn’t been surpassed in any branch. It’s the headquarters, the mother ship, and even to consider closing it makes us angry and suspicious of any excuse for this. We have met today, and far from “looking for options for a satellite location” we are united in opposition. It didn’t matter for years that Main had some problems of mold and a leaky roof. So now what is the sudden need to close this treasure, which is only 30 years old? Has some developer offered enticing dollars for the site? Is downtown Long Beach going to become all hotels and condos? We love Main Library, and will fight to see that it stays. Libraries are not that big of an item in the enormous city budget, but become the easy target to attack when the budget gets out of hand. Please, library lovers and users write or e-mail or call your councilperson in protest. Carol Collins Long Beach Due Diligence To The Editor, Regarding the Aug. 7 editorial, “Middle Ground Possible in Main Library Debate.” To call a grass-roots community organization such as Friends of the Long Beach Public Library “vociferous, knee jerk and defiant” sends a slap in the face to those such as Upton Sinclair and others of history who encourage apathetic, overworked, over-stimulated citizenry to take one more moment out of their already full day to speak out, stand up and step forward. Yes, the condition of the main library is well known. However, as you stated, the approach to closure could have been handled better by (City Manager) Pat West and Mayor (Bob) Foster. Having said this, I find it curious and very disingenuous not to announce the location of a new site should the main library close, Unless there is a hidden agenda regarding not opening a main library in the future, why not name the location that has been identified for this purpose? The intangible benefits of the library system have historically been underrated. One of the most valuable and currently vanishing is as a place of silence where the imagination can grow. This happens when a student, senior, businessperson, family or homeless person enters therein. Clearly due diligence was not undertaken on this issue. Patricia Benoit Long Beach Revenue Sources To The Editor, Let me see, $1.2 billion for a school bond, $571 million for a city infrastructure bond, 15% additional for my water and sewer assessment and the county of LA is threatening to add 1/2 cent to the sales tax. It seem like we just passed two Long Beach City College large bond assessments. Where does it end? And all of this is paid for by the home and property owners! The city not only needs to tighten their spending belts, it is necessary to infuse some income from new sources. Our city needs the Home Depot project on Studebaker Road, we need the Seaport Marina Hotel commercial and residential project, we need the LNG terminal at the Port of Long Beach, and we need to build an airport terminal. These projects bring in needed dollars to the city! Another significant income source would be to allow removal of the outdated little two-bedroom bungalow houses in Belmont Shore, Belmont Heights and Alamitos Heights and build homes that have garages to get cars off of the street. These homes will encourage new families to the area, and provide a significant increase in property tax. Wake up Long Beach, this is survival. These bonds circumvent the intent of the 1978 Proposition 13. This is an increase in property tax no matter what it is called. Let’s look for new sources of needed revenue. Harold Matstad Belmont Shore Clogging Drains To The Editor, Regarding the July 31 article, “Grease Backup Blamed for Sewage Spill:” This is one more compelling reason for everyone to take the advice of nutritional experts to limit or eliminate all fat dense foodstuff — all meat products and vegetable oils. Fatty foods are harmful to the environment and to our health. The RAVE Diet tells the story well. So does Colin Campbell, Ph.D. Nutrition, in “The China Study,” Caldwell Esselstyn, M.D., in “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease,” John McDougall, M.D., in a number of books on the McDougall Plan. and Furhman, M.D., in “Eat to Live and Disease-Proof Your Children,” adds the nutritional and clinical health details. Mary Papavasilou Long Beach It’s Harassment To The Editor, Regarding the Aug. 7 letter “Police Priority:” Friday evening, Aug. 1, which I like to refer to as that “August Night,” was a very busy night for the East Division Police Dept. Very busy indeed! Residents and tourists alike, whether in their car or strolling down Second Street, were handed citations by the cops like they were gift certificates. But these gift certificates were not given so as to “Stroll & Savor the Shore,” but to intimidate. Some of these people will end up spending their money elsewhere, and I can’t blame them. Why are we being over-policed — the ubiquitous, ever-present cop! Is this all a result of complaints by residents and homeowners here in the Shore? I have heard that the new leadership at the residents association has been complaining to the police about very important issues like skate boarders, etc. Why is nothing done about excessive noise on Second Street? It’s the magnitude of the noise pollution! Bikers cruise or race down Second with their loud pipes with impunity. I am concerned about the future of the beach community. Over policing will eventually have a profound negative effect. It’s the casual lifestyle that has attracted me and thousands of others. Cool it. Let us live in peace. Ralph Lepre Belmont Shore Stop Jaywalkers To The Editor, For too long a time now, I’ve noticed that pedestrians who can’t seem to wait for the “Walk” sign habitually ignore the “Walk/Don’t Walk” signals on Second Street in Belmont Shore. From the sound of the letter from Mike Smith in last week’s issue, the Long Beach Police Department has finally noticed this problem, which is hazardous to both those on foot and in their cars. As for Mr. Smith’s outrage at having been ticketed for jaywalking, well, sir, if you obey the law, the problem cures itself. Jim Roberts, Sr. Long Beach Law’s The Law To The Editor, In rebuttal to the letter of Mike Smith “Police Priority?” on Aug. 7: The gradual flaunting of the ordinances, rules and laws have their beginning in precisely Mr. Smith’s attitude towards any rule or law of the city, state or country. When he now points a finger at the police, he should remind himself that three fingers are pointed at him. The bigger fish he accuses the police to be ignoring had their beginning in jaywalking or similar minor infractions of the law. It led them to the conclusion that these ordinances, rules and laws had really no meaning since there were no consequences for ignoring or breaking them. That’s why we have bicyclists ignoring the signs on Bluff Park, the “do not litter” signs all along the beach or the graffiti cretins, defacing any and all property throughout the city. They all began small and have advanced to greater and more damaging law breaking, costing us all a fortune to keep them segregated in special housing called prisons. Franz O. Gerich Carroll Park Bicycle Laws To The Editor, As a frequent visitor to Second Street, I am all in favor of having skateboarders and bikers obey the posted signs. It is for the safety of all of us. How about an information campaign for cyclists and motorists? Most of the people I encounter are unaware that people on bicycles are subject to the provisions in the California Vehicle Code. I have found that a good rule of thumb is, if you aren’t allowed to do it in your car, it is undoubtedly illegal to be doing it on your bike. In most places, it is illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk, yet Long Beach police do not enforce this. Riding a bike on Ocean Boulevard is a very common practice. This is made more dangerous at night when the bike does not have the lights required by law. Ignorance of the law is dangerous for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists. For the police to not cite offending motorists and cyclists is adding fuel to the fire. Summer brings more people on bikes. Higher gas prices appear to have driven more people to pedal power. Let’s respect one another and the California Vehicle Code. In closing, years ago I saw a very apt bumper sticker: “Same rules, same rights, same road.” Dennis Greenwood Bluff Park Sidewalk Sanitation To The Editor, Our lovely beach town is sprinkled with sidewalk cafes, which we enjoy frequently. While having a lovely evening meal on an August Saturday, we observed how dirty the sidewalks are. Small children and bare feet, as well as those of us dining, are exposed to dirt and germs. I could only think of all manner of infections one could get from these sidewalks. What happened to the steam cleaners who used to keep them clean? Is it the water police or funding cuts that are exposing us all to bugs and crud? As we try to keep Belmont Shore upscale, we leave spills, germs, butts and assorted other things to assault us. Lynn, Wayne Hanson *Belmont Shore* *Editor’s Note: The schedule for sidewalk steam cleaning paid for by the business improvement district has not, to our knowledge, changed.* On Paradise To The Editor, A wonderful aspect of our neighborhoods remains the charm and uniqueness that each special area offers. Driving from Junipero on through the Shore and leaving Naples are five miles of mainly low-rise, attractive character homes and businesses — it’s a dream! Leaving Naples, we are struck with a gorgeous view of boals and water glistening from the sun. And by California standards, the drive ain’t too crowded either. In fact, no other Southern California community provides our unique combination of light, low-rise and water. Now with Ratkovlch and Kemp on board for development at PCH and Second Street, we will drive over the Naples bridge only to see a huge 12-story eyesore devaluing our priceless community. And they have the gall to refer to our gold as antiquated development. Ratkovich, et.aL, take it home to LA. Cynthia Thompson Belmont Shore Truth On Bags To The Editor, After reading Michel Davidson’s letter in your Aug. 7 edition, I felt a need to reply. I think he misread my letter on reusable bags. I think they are a great idea and use them often. I also wish that more stores would use them. They are great advertising for merchants. All around Long Beach, people are walking around with bags advertising your company. I think that merchants are getting a pretty good bang for their buck. The con is this they are plastic bags, however when a retailer’s bag slogan reads “Paper or Plastic — Neither,” that is a con and very misleading. These bags don’t even carry a recycling number on them — that number that appears on all recyclable plastics inside the triangle made of arrows. It should be there for recycling companies and consumers so they know what type of plastic it is. It’s not really about the benefits of the bags. It’s about being up front with consumers. Jerry Kulhavy Downtown School Reality To The Editor, The superintendent of Long Beach Unified School District (Chris Steinhauser) has told the employees, (and announced it the paper), that with this big budget crunch, nobody would be laid off or lose their jobs. (Moving or shuffling around until things got better, but absolutely — no one would lose their jobs.) Apparently he speaks with a “Forked Tongue,” because there were layoffs, and people did lose their jobs. Some teachers still haven’t been reassigned yet, and a school was closed. One school (Butler) lost its elementary grades. Those students were sent to the local elementary schools. Recreation staff was laid off, no more community worker, one counselor and one vice principal were reassigned. That budget crunch caused a lot of people to lose their jobs, or get reassigned. All 12-month staff was cut to 10 months, (that means less work, and less pay). With very short notice. Yet they continue to build schools, and ask for more money to repair schools. People are leaving the area and state, seeking jobs and cheaper housing. So, who will he put into these new schools? Attendance dropped before school ended (in all the schools). Where is he going to get these kids to fill up the schools, and the new ones being built? Will he reach across the border line, and have them bused in? Yet, in all the public events he’s been at smiling, saying, “everything’s doing fine, and I’m proud to say improving.” What island does he live on? Does he think we don’t know, and can’t see the truth? I wish he’d be more honest, and tell the truth! Genevieve Brown Long Beach Animal Control To The Editor, I go to Animal Control a lot. I’m the rabbit-rodent volunteer, and have been one for 16 years. I have never seen so many people dump their pets as I have seen recently. It really brings tears to my eyes. I cry for the animals that the owners don’t cry over. What is wrong with all these people? Every time, I go to animal control, I see lines and lines of people dumping their dogs, cats, rabbits, etc. Do you know how hard it is to keep my mouth shut and not scream at these people? Today, for example, cats and kittens are being brought in in large taped up boxes, pretending they are not theirs. Give me a break. If you can dump your beloved pet, please have the guts to admit it. They are yours, and not a pet you found in the street. I watched a lady bring her two dogs. She was dragging one little dog with the leash. The dog was terrified. And let’s don’t forget the three rabbits dumped. Mom and Dad, the mom is probably pregnant again, and a baby. Another lady said, “I don’t want the cat anymore. It is high maintenance.” I’m sorry, but you all make me sick. I’m really sick of people and how they treat their pets like a piece of garbage to throw away. One more thing. The wildlife was here before we were. So quit feeling sorry for yourself. If you don’t want wildlife hanging around, keep the dog and cat food in the house. Not outside. And spay and neuter your dogs, cats and rabbits. Judy Griffith Long Beach