Little Joe’s
* I read that Little Joe’s, a place that grew up with L.A., is going to close its doors for the last time soon (Oct. 8). The reason? The owners want to remodel, and to do that the building needs to be retrofitted. I think this is a perfect example of bureaucracy gone wrong!
C’mon, L.A.--how many earthquakes over the years has the building survived? It’s a landmark, with a rich and lively history. If it is declared unsafe (which I doubt), what will the city do? Tear it down and create another eyesore--a parking lot?
The mentality (or lack of it) of the City Council never ceases to amaze me. Were did this attitude of “it’s old, tear it down” come from?
As one of Little Joe’s patrons said, why can’t it be exempted from existing laws? That would cost the taxpayer nothing and would save the owners $800,000. What is the going rate for a parking lot? What will be the cost of losing another piece of our past?
JAMES M. VANCE
Long Beach
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