Cities of Hope

Re “Retailers See Gold in Poor Areas,” May 12: This article proves the readiness of inner-city shoppers. Now, bring the stores that will have the most impact on lives: Bring bookstores to the inner city. Bring the biggest and best bookstores. Bring Borders, Barnes & Noble, Brentano’s, Bookstar and any others that truly believe in the power of their product. They will thrive in this vital, untapped market. And as inner-city neighborhoods become print-rich environments, remarkably, test scores will rise in “failing” inner-city schools.

All this without more tests and threats and tears. Let loose the magic of books and the power of capitalism and watch alchemy in South-Central Los Angeles.

Jilleen Sargent

Los Angeles