Grand Ave. project and future of L.A.

Re “Grand Avenue project passes go,” Feb. 14

Once again, developers, masquerading as philanthropists concerned about downtown’s future, have monopolized the discussion and have convinced both the city and county governments to lease public land for private use in a for-profit venture while deferring the collection of an estimated $60 million in tax revenues. Talk about Monopoly -- when did Related Cos. replace Boardwalk as the most expensive investment on the board?

ANTHONY BALDERRAMA

Tujunga

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As a community stakeholder, I am excited about the possibility of development bubbling west and crossing the Harbor Freeway into Echo Park and historic Filipinotown. Filipinos are the largest Asian ethnic group in L.A., yet we struggle for visibility in the shadows of Chinatown, Little Tokyo and Koreatown. Although I applaud the developers, the City Council and the county supervisors for approving the Grand Avenue project, I hope that they continue to invite longtime community members who have invested in revitalizing these long-forgotten neighborhoods. There should always be space for people who care about the history and traditions in the development of a neighborhood.

VANESSA VELA LOVELACE

Los Angeles

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The Times writes that the proposed downtown development “marks the furthest-reaching effort by local leaders to turn downtown into a 24-hour district on par with areas of New York, Chicago, London and Paris.” You neglect to add, being the Chamber of Commerce organ you have always been, that Los Angeles lacks something that those cities have: mass transit that moves. L.A. might be more likely to mimic the other cities if it had actual people in the revitalized area.

RON DI COSTANZO

Santa Monica

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My question on the Grand Avenue project is: Why do we have to look like Manhattan, Chicago or other central cities? Let L.A. be L.A., and put the effort into upgrading transportation.

MICHAEL HALSTATER

Reseda