Letters: Echo Park lotus lament
Re “Theft saves a treasure,” Column One, June 6
When I read about horticulturist Randy McDonald’s surreptitious clipping from the lotus bed at Echo Park Lake years ago, I had hoped for a better ending. Finding out he charged the city $30,000 for plants grown from the city-owned ones he stole wilted my enthusiasm.
Based on his description of how he got these plants in the first place, it’s clear he knew he was doing something wrong.
To profit off this deed for eight years and then tell city officials to “stop bickering around” and “buy it from me” to replenish the lake is appalling.
McDonald should have offered the plants to the city free of charge as penance.
James Tobey
Los Angeles
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