There’s Another Side to Cruising Ordinance

I hope your slice-of-life vignette on the impact of new cruising ordinances for the Sunset Strip (“Restless Id of L.A. Can’t Be Tamed by Authority,” July 17) was from naivete rather than misplaced bias. The romanticized nod to “This is L.A.” tosses off any exploration of valid reasons for the ordinance.

There are many neighborhood complaints on file at the city of West Hollywood that would make any homeowner in this city cry, “Not in my backyard.” And where was the mention of safety when emergency vehicles cannot even navigate the corridor for access to the hills or streets below Sunset? Topics such as taxpayers’ rights and public safety don’t make sexy scenarios, but they should be part of balanced reporting.

--STEPHEN SPURGEON

West Hollywood

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I remember driving down Hollywood Boulevard on weekend evenings years ago. What were we doing there? This one night, we looked in the next lane and saw Lauren Bacall. What was she doing there? I don’t think any of us got tickets that night unless it was to Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

This kind of thing has been going on for years. The authorities may get people to move to a new location for a while, but I am afraid that they are fighting a losing battle if they think they are going to stamp out cruising citywide.

We were staying overnight in a motel in a city north of Los Angeles. There was a fast-food restaurant across the street. Cars would drive through the parking lot of the restaurant and make a circle back past the same location. Cars would wait for someone to leave the line and then take their place. They may not be doing that anymore, but I bet it is going on somewhere else in that little town.

Psychiatrists would probably have an explanation for this behavior. If I had the money to go to one psychiatrist after another, I would probably cruise around until I found a doctor that would tell me that he does the same thing. Since I’m cheap, and I am not looking for an explanation, I think I’ll just keep on doing what I’m doing. Besides, if you don’t want bears, don’t leave a pot of honey outside your door.

--ROBERT H. WILLIAMS

Monterey Park