Something Seems Inconsistent : Thumbs Up for Poker Club

I’m writing as a homeowner in the east end of West Hollywood to support the Steve Michael proposal of a poker club in the east end as a way of sparking redevelopment of this part of the city. After two years as a city and three council campaigns, this is the first major proposal addressing itself to east end concerns. We are the forgotten stepsister of West Hollywood.

Our end of the city is slowly decaying and I am worried about what will happen when the Hollywood Boulevard transients start looking for a new home. As I understand Michael’s proposal, it is for a new building with parking and green space for the community. It would help lure away entertainment business from the overdeveloped strip to our area. I support the proposal.

I do not find the arguments against it compelling. The idea of redevelopment is to get rid of some of the tacky thrift stores and sex businesses, so it is no surprise that the owners of such are opposed to the proposal. The other arguments, like crime, are not valid--as the experience of Commerce and Gardena and the state lottery show. Rather, these arguments seem to reflect a vestigial Puritanism about gambling and possibly paternalism about how people spend their money.

ROBERT K. DAVIS

West Hollywood