BICYCLE CLUB
First Street residents’ resistance to having their neighborhood become a bicycle boulevard makes no sense to me [Russ Roca’s “Bicycle Bully-Vard," Jan. 16]. Traffic calming and bike boulevards only increase property values, right? And since when are bicycle riders considered the “bad element?” Did they think it was for “bikers” a la the Hell’s Angels? I really hope that the city continues with this idea but not just on First Street. There should be bike-friendly lanes going east, west, north and south, every few blocks or so. First Street, Fourth Street, Tenth Street . . .
DAVE
Alamitos Bay

I am a First Street resident and I think this is an awesome idea! Making Long Beach bike-friendly is not only good for the environment but it’s also smart economically. Taking cars off the road should always be praised!
FAITH
Via thedistrictweekly.com

Nice job making the residents look like such ridiculous idiots. I laughed. Unfortunately it’s all too true, people just don’t know what they want. Good luck with the fight for First Street, and thanks for being an inspiration to others. I don’t own a bike yet, but you make me want to.
LAMEESE
Via thedistrictweekly.com

LIFE STORY
Rebecca Schoenkopf, you’re a moron [“Pinch, Pinch, Pinch,” Jan. 16]. Men write autobiographies all the time, so why can’t women? It’s also “unbecoming” for someone with no talent to talk about art. Are you a failed artist getting back at the world? When men write about their fathers it’s mythic, when women write about their mothers it’s self-indulgent, or whiny. Why can’t art be personal? Since when did autobiography have to be hardcore? What’s wrong with a woman writing a personal story that doesn’t involve rape? Do women have to get raped for it to be of interest?
PETER HOLMES
Via thedistrictweekly.com

LEAST OF ALL
Fabulous story! [Daniel de Boom’s “Her World Is Nuts,” Jan. 23]. Just shows how even the homeless have their unselfish causes (raising a positive awareness of squirrels and opossums) as do those of us more fortunate.
ADAM
Via thedistrictweekly.com

What a breath of fresh air this story was. I have tried for many months to organize warm clothing drives for the homeless near my apartment (that “live” in Lincoln Park/downtown). I have been met with a great amount of roadblocks and, most unbelievably, the common thought exists that too much is being done for the homeless already. I admit, I became a bit disenchanted with not having enough to give, that is, until I read Daniel’s article. The second I closed my issue of The District I walked to the park with a friend with the few blankets and sweatshirts I had collected the last month or so. I suppose there will never be enough to give, but I wanted to thank The District and Daniel de Boom for this story of awareness and love. The hearts of the people I have met in Lincoln Park are among the most beautiful I have ever encountered and I would not be the same without knowing them. Thank you, thank you, thank you for helping me re-discover my inspiration.
SARA
Via thedistrictweekly.com

RIVER(BED) OF DEATH
Joshua Peralta’s article “Concrete Jungle” [Jan. 9] was an interesting look at part of our LA history mixing the lazy days of summers past (when playing in the riverbed was a day of escapist adventure for the local kids) with the health and environmental threat of our current lazy days of waste.
GRETCHEN
Via thedistrictweekly.com