PARK AND WRITHE
I think a park at the Armory is a great idea [Dave Wielenga’s “The Battle for Armory Park,” Jan. 9]. [Long Beach Chief Traffic Engineer] Dave Roseman [who has nixed the park’s construction] sounds like a goof with low self esteem and something to prove. He’s like the bouncer at the club who won’t let you in because you remind him of that guy in high school who stole his girlfriend. Fire this guy and put somebody in place that will sign off on it. I’ve driven through this intersection plenty of times and I can’t see traffic being worse with this change.
GUNTHER
Via thedistrictweekly.com

With all due respect to Brian Ulaszewski, is this the best place to spend $1 million for a park? As a local resident with three kids, I would never take my kids to a park on Seventh Street that subjects them to toxic vehicle fumes. I think we can find a more family-friendly place to put a park. Is Brian just looking for an improved entrance to the city so the “Gateway” project will be a financial success for his firm?
JIMBO
Via thedistrictweekly.com

I live around the corner from the Armory and I would love to see a park there. If anything it may bring some of those toxic vehicle fumes down. I would much rather inhale fumes as I walk my dog on some “green” then when I walk it on the sidewalk looking at cement and buildings with bars a block away.
SBM
Via thedistrictweekly.com

This is another example of city staff making policy. Please, this is the job that we elected the City Council to do. I thought that the era of James Hankla was past. Thank you [City Manager] Pat West for insisting that Dave Roseman make this park happen. Brian originally brought this idea forward before Pat West worked in Long Beach and I suspect that at that time someone on staff did not want to commit funds to this Central Long Beach project. Now we have a city manager who understands his role as an implementer, not a policy maker, and I feel that this park and many other quality of life projects in  Central Long Beach will become realities.
SEBASTIAN
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TOTAL BAZ
I agree wholeheartedly with your review of Sweeney Todd [Dan Savage’s “Not While I’m Around,” Dec. 9]. For what it got right, Sweeney left me empty not only for what it got wrong, but all its missed opportunities. Frankly, a musical this brilliant deserved a better rendering. For the man who remade Willy Wonka (sacrilege!), I find it ironic, and am hopeful that someday someone will remake Tim Burton’s Todd and give the work the proper spark it desires. My wife and I thought Baz Luhrmann would have been a much, much better choice for this assignment. Pity.
CRAIG
Via thedistrictwekly.com

SECOND ST. BLUES
I can totally sympathize with the puking robot [Rebecca Schoenkopf’s “Ura Robot,” Dec. 19]. I’ve become more and more nauseous myself these days watching the quality of life in my neighborhood deteriorate. If we didn’t have enough problems in this city already, now we’ve got dump trucks lumbering down Second Street in Belmont Shore to facilitate new development in the downtown area. Since when is Second Street in Belmont Shore a truck route? With more pie-in-the-sky development plans for the downtown, I only see this problem getting worse.
GUITAR MAN
Via thedistrictweekly.com