Honor Bradley and Respect Los Angeles’ History Too

Re “Public Will Get Say in Bid to Name Street After Bradley,” June 28: Former Mayor Tom Bradley likely was a great councilman for L.A.’s 10th District, but he was a much more significant mayor and statewide leader. When I think of Bradley, I also think of Reps. Ed Roybal and George Brown -- three musketeers who struggled to realize the promises of the New Deal, despite the opposition of Wall Street and Spring Street. They were survivors who came out of the Depression; they knew how to make do when they had to, but they looked to make a better world for all.

When I think of Bradley, I also think of Mayor Sam Yorty, LAPD police chiefs Ed Davis and Daryl Gates, Govs. George Deukmejian and Ronald Reagan and lesser lights of the right with whom Bradley had to contend.

I think we should name Broadway, both south and north, after Bradley. He helped keep Lincoln Heights from being bulldozed, kept the LAPD out of the immigration business, stood up for nuclear disarmament, affirmative action and much more.

Rosalio Munoz

Lincoln Heights

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“Council Deadlocks on Renaming Crenshaw Blvd.” (June 26) demonstrates how history is rewritten or, in this case, buried. When the City Council and the L.A. County supervisors, in their wisdom, changed the name of Brooklyn Avenue to Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, they obliterated the Jewish and Eastern European history of Boyle Heights, an area that was a model of diversity. If our City Council members want to pay tribute to Bradley, they should govern as honorably as he did.

Toni Martinez-Burgoyne

Pasadena

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As Bradley is associated with the 1984 Olympics, I would suggest renaming the portion of 39th Street that runs through Exposition Park Bradley Boulevard.

Susan M. Prichard

Wilmington