Downtown L.A. Arena

* I was both amused and saddened by the statement made by Los Angeles Kings co-owner Edward P. Roski (Sept. 6) regarding the proposed downtown arena. Roski said that submitting the project to the voters “would virtually assure that no arena could be built in Los Angeles” because of the delays such a process would entail.

Now I may be missing something here, but isn’t that exactly what that “process” is supposed to do? After all, we’re talking about a very large expenditure that will generate little or no benefit for the vast majority of Angelenos, and that decision should not be left in the hands of City Council members anxious to build a shrine to themselves, aided and abetted by some labor bullies. Put it on the ballot!

H.L. BRADBURY

Granada Hills

* Other than providing a “shot in the arm” for the beleaguered downtown community, why does it make sense to locate the arena in downtown L.A.? First, downtown is the most central location in the L.A. Basin--and the most accessible by the entire population. Second, downtown is the cultural center of Los Angeles with the greatest concentration of museums and performing arts venues. It’s quite possibly the most potent economic stimulus downtown could experience, especially given its after-hours impact.

In light of recent concessions on the part of the owners, this project provides the least downside (none) and greatest upside of any modern sports arena built in the U.S.

STEPHAN D. SMITH

Los Angeles