Cheerleaders need not apply

Re “L.A.’s Play for NFL Raises Concerns,” May 19

Thanks for calling attention to what sounds like the very strong possibility of L.A. being the latest U.S. city to be seduced by the carpetbaggers who are National Football League owners.

These men have an uncanny ability to seduce local politicians into selling their city’s soul so NFL owners can continue to line their collective pockets with billions of dollars in profit. To think that well over $100 million in tax breaks will benefit billionaire owners and millionaire football players instead of areas such as, gee, I don’t know, schools, police, road improvements?

Oh well, another fine example of this country’s lost priorities. Fund the rich and famous while the infrastructure of society continues to crumble. Wonder if the Greeks and Romans have any points of wisdom on such behavior.

VAN EARL WRIGHT

Manhattan Beach

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I am outraged that the City Council found the money for $25 million in “improvements” to help the NFL land a team at the Coliseum. The council has said that it didn’t have the money to pay for Cahuenga Peak, which may be developed by an out-of-state speculator. This is parkland that is used by many and would continue to be used by generations to come. I’m sure many other Angelenos can think of other worthy projects that have gone begging because the council has no money for them.

Our infrastructure is crumbling to Third World levels, we have homeless people with nowhere to go, we don’t have enough police, our children go to crowded and substandard schools -- but, by God, we’re going to have an NFL team.

KRIS SULLIVAN

Los Angeles

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As a longtime USC season ticket holder, I need to ask: What about us? I have seen NFL teams come and go, but the one constant tenant at the Coliseum has been the Trojans. USC President Steven B. Sample is correct. Without a guaranteed package for Trojan use of the Coliseum, the NFL better learn to spell Anaheim.

DAVID STRAUSS

Arcadia

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Regarding the NFL in L.A. Don’t need it, don’t want it. Maybe you should read Wednesday’s Steve Lopez column (“Coliseum Deal? NFL Means ‘Not for Lopez’ ”). He gets it right.

Maybe The Times should try a readers’ poll on the NFL in L.A. You might be surprised.

DAVID STRAUSS

Arcadia