Broad expansion? LA's billionaires should help homeless population - Los Angeles Times
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Letters to the Editor: The Broad doesn’t need another $100 million. Spend that money helping L.A.’s homeless population

A pedestrian crosses the street toward the Broad Museum.
A pedestrian crosses the street toward the Broad Museum, which recently announced a $100-million expansion.
(Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images)
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To the editor: Downtown L.A. would be better revitalized by spending $100 million on low-income housing and mental health and drug treatment centers (“The Broad announces massive expansion that will increase gallery space by 70%,” March 27). Perhaps even a mental health hospital. It could be named after Eli and Edythe Broad in a giant artist-designed font.

I love art and art museums. But I feel very sad and conflicted when I leave the fancy Broad and encounter a person experiencing mental illness who is so degraded they cannot keep their stained pants on.

The billionaires of Los Angeles are a disappointing group. They have the capabilities to help our most needy residents, but they choose projects that will glorify their position in society instead. I guess there is not enough ego gratification in helping Los Angeles with what we really need at this time: services and facilities to ameliorate the tragedy of our unhoused, mentally ill, drug-addicted neighbors.

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A museum addition can wait.

Sidney Higgins, Los Angeles

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