Letters

Good job with DWI coverage

To the Editor:
I wish to personally extend my heartfelt thanks to the Herald for keeping the public informed and updated on all those who continue to work towards creating a positive change in addressing the many issues that relate to DWI (“DWI with children should be a felony” and “Drunk drivers feel the heat across county,” Aug. 27-Sept. 2).
This is a long, ongoing, deadly issue, one that continues to devastate, injure and destroy so many precious lives and families. These are strong issues that need to be met with equally strong and consistent solutions. Action and new legislation will hopefully come in time to uphold all that which is sacred to us.

To the Editor:
The magicians of the West End are at it again, pulling another magic trick out of their hats (“Promoting the West End” Aug 6-12). This time under the guise of beautifying West Beech Street, the newly-formed Historic West End Business Association, which is run by two bar-owners, is now recruiting fellow merchants to get on board so that they, the bar owners, can make more money off the backs of this residential community.
Why should taxpayers contribute to a trolley from the train station into the West End, bringing in tourists to spend money drinking at their West Beech Street establishments and then leave to urinate in our nearby yards. News flash: This is not South Beach in Miami, it is a residential neighborhood where Long Beach City Hall has closed its eyes to enforcing its codes and allows local bar owners to convert their premises into “night clubs” after 11 p.m.
It seems that this new association is trying to create an illusion by cleaning up and decorating the West End. In reality, it’s about making West Beech Street a more accessible and attractive drinking destination, with no regard for the people who live here. Retail merchants should be smarter than that and realize it’s about great restaurants and upscale boutique shops that will make West Beech Street a true tourist destination.
Larry Cerullo
Long Beach

Protestors are conspirators?

To the Editor:
Universal health care is no longer being pursued by the administration; it now seeks health care-insurance reform. Health care affects each and every one of us. It should come as no surprise that people are concerned. Yet some elected representatives seem amazed that anyone would dare disrupt their meetings. These are the same officials who used to love disruptive citizens when they were on the same side of the issue.
Citizens here have a right to protest anything, but people become more agitated when they are personally involved, and each of us has or will have medical needs. When the issue strikes home, the media should expect that more would get involved.
The media present anti-war protesters as noble and idealistic, despite the violence and damage they cause. Yet it is old folks at recent rallies and meetings who are greeted with suspicion, derided and insulted. Apparently, the media expect demonstrations from certain groups. When protesters have no masks, tattoos or body piercings, their motives become suspect: they’re racists, slaves to the GOP or the pharmaceutical industry. Buses carrying ACORN or SEIU members are overlooked. I never saw the media ask radicals how they came to be at a demonstration, but I have seen old ladies questioned if they were members of groups with ulterior motives.
Our president seemed to wear as a badge of honor that he was a community organizer for ACORN. However, when others organize, it becomes “un-American” to protest. The health care system represents a big segment of our entire economy, so it seems natural that average citizens might be concerned, upset or angry about changes. Their protesting should be no surprise, but the media react as if this must be driven by some racists or corporate conspirators. It is clear that there is
media bias.
Terence Kane
Long Beach