Long Beach Naval Station

Many thanks to Robert A. Jones for “History’s Last Chance in Long Beach” (Sept. 13), on the proposed disposition of the former Navy base in Long Beach. He made a comparison to what was done in San Francisco when the Presidio of the U.S. Army was deemed surplus and vacated. Constructive actions were taken to preserve the historic site.

Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill and the Long Beach Harbor Commission have been obsessed with having the Navy property’s structures demolished and the land asphalted over and made into a shipping terminal that they in turn would lease to the Chinese-government-owned China Ocean Shipping Co. Thank God Congress has recently killed the development project, citing the potential threat from China’s military.

The base property is a national treasure that should be preserved, not bulldozed into oblivion. The property and its development were paid for by us taxpayers, not by the city of Long Beach. It should be retained for use by the citizens.

RUSSELL E. GRAY

Diamond Bar

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Successful development of a new convention center, restaurants, theaters, the Aquarium of the Pacific and the thriving Queen Mary all seem to represent foolish city planning to Jones. Instead we should believe that a small set of naval buildings, isolated in an industrial area several miles from downtown Long Beach, could rival the Presidio, along San Francisco’s scenic drive.

San Diego representatives in Washington crying, “The Commies are coming!” and Los Angeles lawyers and columnists shedding Hollywood tears for lost history should not dissuade Long Beach from capitalizing on expanding trade with Asia. Port expansion could fuel the development of a first-rate tourist and convention town in Long Beach. San Diego doesn’t want the tourist competition, and Los Angeles would happily pocket any trade money left on the table, Chinese or not.

ALLEN K. SEWELL

Long Beach