MARCHING ORDER
It’s clear to me that the current occupants of the 6th District council office are making excuses for their inability to effectively organize and raise the funds necessary to sustain the Long Beach MLK Jr. Parade and Celebration at a level that the community expects [Theo Douglas’ “A Day in the Life,” Nov. 28]. The fact is, despite Mr. Andrews’ many years of residency in the central area, he’s never been involved in any aspect of the King Parade throughout its 19 year history, except as a spectator. Moreover, Andrews doesn’t have much of a record of community involvement in anything outside of his employment obligations, from which he also has benefited. Dee Andrews and his staff are understandably out of touch and clueless about organizing such a large scale community event. If Dee Andrews can’t handle the pressures of leadership, he should step aside. Excuses are the tools of the incompetent.
AL AUSTIN
Long Beach

You have made a major error here. The ministers led the parade in ’07, ’06, and every year before that. I don’t know where you got your information, but I attend every year. I ran against Mrs. Richardson for the US Congress, so I’m not coming to her defense here. But you are just plain incorrect on this point. They were there. I saw them. I handed them fliers detailing Dr. King’s opposition to war.
DANIEL BREZENOFF
Long Beach

THEO DOUGLAS RESPONDS Mr. Brezenoff is partially correct. The Long Beach Ministers Alliance has indeed marched in the Martin Luther King Jr. parade every year since the parade began, according to Alliance President Dr. Rev. Garon Harden. But according to Harden, the Alliance doesn’t typically head up the parade; they march in third place, behind flagbearers and a marching band. That’s where you would have seen them this past January.

BLOW UP
These types of articles kill me [Rachel Powers’ “How They’ll Blow Up the Port of Long Beach,” Nov. 21]. They’re like how-to lists for the terrorists. Please document our weaknesses, take pictures, describe how to attack, and publish it for the world to see. There are better ways to delineate areas of concern.
KEN
Via thedistrictweekly.com

HOME FRIED
I was one of the Los Angeles Housing Department employees who participated in the Jimmy Carter Work Project for Habitat for Humanity in San Pedro [Steve Lowery’s “Vector Control,” Nov. 28]. The Daily Breeze’s article about the project, about city employees getting paid to volunteer, was just another example of the Breeze’s “Sky is falling!” reporting. These houses were the LAHD-sponsored homes. I also worked at the site on my day off and this was not my first Habitat for Humanity project. If the Breeze reporter had actually talked to us, this would not have been a very interesting story. My first introduction to Habitat for Humanity was at a holiday event last year when our department invited this worthy organization to solicit our participation, as “volunteers.” My department invited employee participation in the Jimmy Carter project because LAHD SPONSORED THESE HOMES, WE ARE THE DEPARTMENT CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THIS ANNUAL PROJECT ALWAYS ATTRACTS A TON OF CORPORATE/GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION, ETC, ETC. I love the fact that our department is continually seeking creative solutions to attract, foster and participate in solving the issue of affordable housing in this crazy environment.
AYDIN AKBARUT
Via thedistrictweekly.com

DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS
In Ellen Griley’s “Outta My Head,” [Nov. 28] we incorrectly stated The Spot’s web address. The website for The Spot salon is www.thespotistheplace.com.