Swept away by L.A. River ideas

Re “L.A. will take its river to a new level,” Feb. 2

For a proposed $2 billion? The chances are it will double before completion. This money would be better spent on repairing some of the worst roads in the country. To make matters worse, officials plan on building 6,200 residential units in Canoga Park and 4,665 units near Chinatown. We suffer now from gridlock throughout the city and bumper-to-bumper traffic on freeways; more housing will only compound this problem.

Will it take an 8.5 earthquake to bring our officials to their senses?

ANDREW GERO

La Crescenta

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You know what would make much of the Los Angeles River more beautiful? A commuter light-rail line built on pylons above the riverbed. Think of the millions spent on the rail right-of-ways for the Long Beach Freeway and the Blue Line, when the river was there all the time.

JACK BAILEY

Studio City

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The article caused me to consider alternative uses for the river. High on my list would be solving the problem of homelessness in Los Angeles. Why not combine this with L.A. River revitalization by building facilities to house the homeless, who could then become the parks’ caretakers?

CHARLES HATHAWAY

Marina del Rey