Sorry Theo, but I'm afraid you don't differ from me. You say you think it's possible that a very few tourists might come to Long Beach to see the architecture. I agree. In it's entirety I wrote that “I believe the average tourist coming to Long Beach is NOT coming to Long Beach to 'see great architecture.'” The “very few” tourists you mention is the opposite of the “average tourist” I mention, i.e. we are in agreement.

And since when does disliking what I think of as bad architecture (the Main Library and City Hall) mean that I don't like or support good architecture?! This logic is confounding to me. I think it means the exact opposite to what you are implying. i.e. I vigorously support good, even great architecture. Bring it on.

Is there a great supporter than me of good architecture and interesting neighborhoods than me? Heck, I've spent the last two days sending e-mails to the Salvation Army trying to get them to install a double row of trees along PCH at the Kroc Center, and more trees in their parking lot.

And since people seem to care, yes, I'm a librarian, and the people need to be served as well as the assets, i.e. the books. I think the Main Library fails in that regard. Who can even find the front door? Seriously, could you get more unwelcoming than either City Hall or the Library? Phew.

Okay, now let's discuss other buildings. And if anyone can't think of any, what's with the vacant lot at the corner of 4th & Cherry? It's been there for years. If no one's doing anything with it, can't the city buy it and turn it into a dog park?

Speaking of ugly buildings, is there a way to put a moratorium on ugly strip malls? They're still going up everywhere! Those are the real eyesores.

Dave, how much time have you actually spent in the library? Because it doesn't feel yucky because of its lack of windows at all. It feels cozy, although in an institutional way.

Have you ever said “Hi!” to any of the homeless? Because I have, I've even stopped and talked with them. They really aren't so bad…they are people just like you and I. Alot of them even read books!

Dave, the last thing i would want to see our city do is design with the interest of mainstream “safe” America in mind. Let's leave that for cities in Orange County such as Irvine who already do a great job of it.

Long Beach does have a great history of architecture and that should be celebrated, even if those examples come from the brutalist era and cause people to love it or hate it. The iibrary is functional and so is city hall. It's the area around it including lincoln park that aren't and could use a smart design intervention. The park on top of the library could be an incredible asset but instead most people don't even know it exists.

All the other projects mentioned definitely suck balls. I just hope the people responsible for directing the faux art deco look are gone from the city and if not please let us all know who they are so that we can chase them out of the city with pitchforks.

Allow me to introduce another future blunder to those that aren't familiar with it. It's under development in the downtown and it's name is West Gateway. But instead of faux art deco it's faux modern and looks like a build your own apt complex kit you can buy at walmart for your kids.

Sure they'd rather see “good architecture” than “bad,” but there is a reason that Thomas Kincade and cute cat websites are so popular, so I don't really trust the artistic judgment of any random group of tourists. ;-)

Oh and most of the people I have talked to want to have a “main library” of at least equal size and function as the present main library. But most librarians and library users don't care about that particular building, but rather about the services it provides.

There is an opportunity to start over, expand and improve Lincoln Park, create an approachable center of government, a Library that inspires, and pay for it at least in part through private development that would also help give life to our civic center.