Debate Over Proposed Arena Project

If you are wondering why business people are proceeding to build a new high-rise building in Glendale, but none are planned for downtown Los Angeles, read Bill Boyarsky’s Aug. 25 column!

There is no excuse for Boyarsky’s diatribe against Phil Anschutz and Ed Roski. We should be appreciative of their efforts to bring an arena to downtown Los Angeles. The fact that they are more business oriented than political is, to me, a plus (but apparently not to a political writer).

Also, Boyarsky would do well to revisit the Dodgers’ history. They won their vote by about 1%, as I recall. In other words, 49% of the people voted against Dodger Stadium. Today, probably 99.9% (including this writer) think that the Dodger Stadium is great.

The 1984 Olympics, though private, required the approval of the L.A. City Council. Its vote was 8 to 7. My guess is that probably most people feel that the 1984 Olympics were good for Los Angeles.

Recently, The Times did have a good editorial (Aug. 24) in favor of the arena, but it would help if it would do even more to enlighten the public about the benefits of the arena--it will clearly make downtown a more vibrant place, and won’t cost the taxpayers a cent.

JOHN C. ARGUE, Los Angeles

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Maybe you are correct to state that the deal got better (editorial, Aug. 24), but why should the taxpayers be asked to foot any part of this private venture?

I’m a sports nut, but haven’t been to a Laker or Kings game in so long I can’t remember. I refuse to pay the ridiculously high admission prices that are being charged.

Our economic system calls for taking risks in business. If The Times or any business wants to expand, you do so at your own risk. You don’t come to me or the taxpayers to subsidize your venture.

Let the developers take all the risks. I want my tax dollars used for the benefit of all of Los Angeles, not just a privileged few.

LEO WEILMANN, Woodland Hills

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Re “Arena Builders Ready to Offer Debt Guarantee,” Aug. 22: So Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, a key arena backer and leader on the Coliseum project, called Councilman Joel Wachs’ approach “myopic” and said it would have a “chilling effect” on future projects in the city because Wachs wants voters, who are going to pay a large part of this bill, to approve any professional sports project involving public financing.

Thank God for council members like Wachs.

“What it does is put a very foul odor in the air,” Ridley-Thomas said of Wachs’ approach.

The only foul odor is coming from Ridley-Thomas and those like him (wise elected officials) who would keep the public dumb and blind on all these projects which we are paying for. If any of the other council members have any wisdom, they should line up behind Wachs. We are lucky to have one man who has the courage to stand up for us voters.

GENE POE, Los Angeles