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B.I.G. Assumptions

As I read Nelson Saldua's article on the unfortunate passing of Biggie Smalls "Notorious B.I.G." (Thursday, March 13) I was surprised to see so many assumptions made regarding a story which invites a lot of speculation to begin with. While I feel true sorrow for Biggie Smalls and Tupac, to state that "the hip-hop community has lost two of its biggest stars, a loss which leaves hip-hop with an uncertain future" is nothing but an exaggeration.

True, their album sales were quite high, yet neither of these men were taking rap music beyond where it already is. No disrespect intended to the fellow MCs nor their fans, but the hip-hop community will continue to go on just fine. By this, another assumption made in Saldua's article must be cleared. The rap industry is just that ­ a business industry which revolves around charts, albums and sales. The hip-hop community, although linked to the industry, is about people. They are not the same thing and blurring them only creates more confusion in understanding what they represent. The hip-hop community includes artists, fans and anyone who in some way lives within this culture. People who are associated with rap music through videos, CDs and the rest of the media alone are not part of this community.

Saldua overemphasizes the East Coast/West Coast scenario as well. The truth is we do not know who killed either Tupac or Biggie Smalls, and to feed on assumptions leads us nowhere. Christopher Wallace did have a past which involved selling drugs, but to call him a gang member when he was making millions of dollars is ridiculous. Gangs are a high-risk operation whose business can lead to great profit but always with some price. Often it is a lifestyle chosen by people who have nothing to lose. F or someone of Wallace's status to be risking his life like this when he was getting paid for pressing records makes no sense. You do reap what you sow, and the past can come back to haunt you, but making this a connection with his death is purely speculative.

Javier Vijil

Alumnus

B.A. history and B.A. Latin American studies

Yes for Village Center

I feel compelled to voice my support for the Village Center Westwood project. This project represents a major step forward for the Village which, as we all know, is facing serious trouble.

It troubles me to see such groups as Laura Lake's so-called Friends of Westwood stirring up such controversy and ill-feeling toward the project. They complain about traffic and height limitations and strict adherence to the Westwood specific plan. But are they proposing any real solutions for the revitalization of Westwood? None that I've heard. So, it's obvious that the heart of their agenda is preventing development in Westwood Village. Who are they speaking for? Certainly not the merchants and business owners, who depend on foot traffic and the overall vitality of Westwood for their livelihood.

Ms. Lake's followers do not understand what is really at stake here. What kind of message do we send as a community if we constantly rail against new development? It is unlikely that new businesses will look at Westwood for new development of any kind if they continue to hear nothing but negative public outcry. I hate to think of the outcome if Village Center Westwood fails.

The key to revitalizing Westwood is new business. Village Center Westwood will bring in high quality retail, dining, and entertainment establishments, providing a draw for local residents who have been migrating to Third Street Promenade, Century City, and Old Town Pasadena for the atmosphere that Westwood once had. To me it's a mystery that Friends of Westwood chooses to ignore the benefits that this project will bring to our neighborhood.

Todd Erickson

Los Angeles

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