INCOMPLETION
A football stadium and/or a casino is the last thing I want to look at as I stare across the water [Dave Wielenga’s “Fumblerooski,” Nov. 21]. What exactly will this stadium do the rest of the year when it isn’t hosting football games? Please don’t say “host mega concerts” because we already have a problem bringing talent to this city. Why? Because LA. is too close. If you think a football stadium will be the smoke and mirrors this city needs to make people forget about all its issues, you’re sorely mistaken.
GUNTHER
Long Beach

Hey, Detroit has football and casinos and they’re doing swell! By the way, Dave Wielenga, the Detroit Lions play in the city of Detroit, just across the street from the Tigers.
SELFISH CAUSES
Via thedistrictweekly.com

WIELENGA RESPONDS Ooops! I was wrong about the Lions situation—I said they played in Pontiac, Michigan, not Detroit—wrong by, like, five years! That’s how long it’s been since the Lions moved from the Silverdome to Ford Field. My apologies.

HARD TO SWALLOW
Your latest issue was the best. I laughed out loud. But the article in “Help!” was appalling [Nov. 21]. Having served four years in the Marines—meritoriously promoted—even being appointed to Presidential Support Staff—honorably discharged as a Sergeant at the age of 22—I am disgusted at the utter disrespect. Hey, who deserves to get drunk more than someone who had to endure all of that hardship? Shame on you.
JAMES J. BROWN, III
Via thedistrictweekly.com

PORT INSECURITY
Thank you for the well-researched article on the port [Rachel Powers’ “How They’ll Blow Up The Port of Long Beach,” Nov. 21]. Just a few observations: first, it’s Sponge Bob on fire, not Elmo as stated on the Contents page. Also, the subsidence in the port area is quite substantial, having dropped a full 29 feet just north of the power plant on Terminal Island, but the harbor requires dredging anyway!
KUNDRY BRUCKNER
Via thedistrictweekly.com

FROM THE WEB
From Dave Wielenga’s Online exclusive “Murphy’s Law,” about the Long Beach City Council considering limiting citizen’s comments to three minutes.

This latest effort by the mayor to silence free speech by the public is very scary. The council will do well to remember that what is being done to the public’s rights can also happen to you. I have witnessed several instances in which Mayor Foster has attempted to curb a councilmember’s time and comments. Be very careful what you vote for—you may be next!
ANN CANTRELL
Via thedistrictweekly.com

Putting restrictions on repeated trips to the podium would streamline council meetings and encourage more people to come down and put their two cents in. Everyone who’s gone to a city council meeting with a legitimate beef has been held hostage by the same three or four people blathering on for hours, albeit in three minute chunks. Every person in Long Beach should have the right to speak out at council, but three minutes per person per meeting is enough.
MOOJU D. KATT
Via thedistrictweekly.com

Public comments from Long Beach residents, however inconvenient it might be to councilmembers, should not be restricted. If we don’t stop this now, we may learn a few months from now that even more restrictions will be placed on public comment—maybe to only one minute once a week.
ERIC BRADLEY
Via thedistrictweekly.com

I just wonder how far we will this city go? As an old-time activist I remember when each councilperson spoke on behalf of the entire city, there were no nine districts. Then in the interest of more responsive government we broke up the city and inherited a titular head, the mayor. There and then we citizens lost our impact, for if you cannot please your councilmember, there is very little chance you can appeal to the rest of the council, because they for the most part will defer to the councilmember from that district. Now we have to rely once again on our councilmember, where did open government go?
PAT TOWNER
Via thedistrictweekly.com