Proposed Arena, Coliseum

Re “For Taxpayers, the Devil Is in the Arena Details,” by Bill Boyarsky, Aug. 11: There is a simple solution to protect the city taxpayers in the Kings/Lakers arena financing. Incorporate into the documents that create the bond issue a requirement that if either team should leave before the bonds are fully paid off, said team must pay off its share of the bond principal then outstanding on the day it leaves town.

ALAN MILLER

San Diego

* Remember Mayor Richard Riordan’s first campaign. We have to make Los Angeles friendly to business. It took a little more than four years but we now have a definition of what that meant. Let’s give millionaire sports owners the keys to the city treasury.

This arena deal should be made public before any vote. This city did not stop functioning when the Rams and the Raiders left, and it will not stop functioning if we refuse to make millionaires richer.

STANLEY LAMPERT

Los Angeles

* I have been reading with great interest the issue regarding the $70-million proposal to construct an arena to house the Lakers and Kings and the subsequent concern as to how the city is going to make the $6.8-million interest payments. I believe I have the solution to this problem.

After Foothill Development wins the lawsuit against the city and forces the city to buy back the land intended for a golf course in Big Tujunga Wash (Aug. 1), the city can then turn around and implement an “adopt a spineflower” program, where people can pay to have a spineflower named after them. Please reserve the spineflower growing beside the fender of the ’73 Chevy for me.

JOHN MILLER

West Hills

* Let’s take another look at the Coliseum issue. Why would the NFL want to do business again with an entity (the Coliseum Commission) that has a terrible history in dealing with tenants? Why would it want to work with an entity that had successfully sued it for millions?

The commission should sell the Coliseum and the Sports Arena to private developers who will take the financial risks to improve the properties. They can also reap the profits based on that risk. The income generated by the sale would provide the necessary funds for any public improvements required. The site would generate property taxes. The commission would have finally accomplished something constructive and eliminate itself in the process. We would have a modern stadium with an NFL team.

STUART WEISS

Los Angeles

* Imagine that a member of the Los Angeles City Council was building a new home. Suppose that when the contractor brought the construction contract for signature, he refused to allow the council member to read it. Instead, he assured him or her that everything in the contract was as requested, and he or she must trust him.

Does anyone believe that any council member would sign such a document, if it was his or her own money involved? Anyone knows that when politicians keep secrets, the taxpayers are about to get the shaft.

ROBERT PAUL COLE

Bellflower