New Link Between Raiders and Readers

James Flanigan’s “Raiders’ Departure Has an Old-Fashioned Ring to It” (June 25) was an extremely interesting article and offered great insight into why companies and even cities are willing to invest in professional sports. The close, however, was a bit disappointing.

Business ingenuity indeed can and would devise new financing for schools and libraries if in fact schools and libraries were owned and controlled in a manner in which investment with a hope for return on that investment was possible. What should be done is to get government at all levels out of those areas where it does not belong and leave it to perform the function intended when originally established--that is, to protect its citizens’ lives and properties.

If libraries and schools were allowed to function as profit-making enterprises without the interference and intrusion of government, new financing would be available. Such new financing would even solve problems for the inner-city poor, who are often referred to as the fundamental reason for government’s being in the business of providing education and libraries. If such were done, we would not have to depend on the generosity of sports millionaires to endow a few libraries or schools.

BILLY A. ROBBINS

Los Angeles

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If the economic impact of a baseball team (which is open for business 81 days a year) is overstated by many multiples, isn’t it reasonable to assume that the impact of a football team (open for business eight days a year) is even more exaggerated?

After the earthquake, the bozos on the Coliseum Commission spent $100 million of taxpayers’ money to placate [Raiders owner] Al Davis--without ever getting anything in writing from Davis indicating that he would stay. Maybe, just maybe, taxpayers would have been better served if their $100 million had been spent helping businesses that operate 365 days a year.

GEORGE KISEDA

Los Angeles