Pershing Square

I liked Sam Hall Kaplan's piece on the proposals for Pershing Square (July 27), especially, "None of the Above." I'm a native, knew the square before the garage was installed--that's when it really began to deteriorate--and now I think it's a lost cause. Here's my entry for the contest: Assuming that the city owns the property, have the city build a beautiful high tower in the middle of the square. Use whatever space they need and rent the rest. Parking is already there for all tenants.

In his article on Pershing Square ("Bold New Look, Same Old Hope," (Feb. 13), Leon Whiteson asks, "Can an act of architecture change a city's ingrained social habits?" This new-era urban-designed square will certainly change our ingrained social habits. You see, no public restrooms are provided. Whiteson's article mentions that the architect's post-modern "Latinismo" style seems "tense." Perhaps this is what he meant. JOHN DONALIES Long Beach In his review, Whiteson should not have been so quick to blame the possible failure of the new park on the Anglo business community's (presumed)

The day at Pershing Square begins with the sky turning yellow over the buildings of the Jewelry Mart, and with a 64-year-old homeless man named Edward Reifsteck claiming his spot on one of the park's concrete benches. By 6:30 a.m., he's packed up his tent on Los Angeles Street and walked the four blocks to the park. I found him there just after noon with "The Story of Bohemia," a book from the nearby Central Library, reading, scratching his chin and looking out across a landscape of fountains and fake snow.

It doesn't take much to get someone to beat his fellow man silly. Just give him a weapon: A pillow. And provide motive and opportunity: International Pillow Fight Day. On Saturday, hundreds of people packing pillows descended on Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles -- one of some 150 cities worldwide where fights with soft bedding were expected to break out. The loosely coordinated events were part of the so-called urban playground movement...

Regarding Sam Hall Kaplan's "Lesson for Pershing Square:" You have enough clout to influence City Hall to abandon social problems of Pershing Square by making new parks in Skid Row where there are many vacant lots. It would be a fine improvement, if that is what the city is looking for. Now and then, I walk through Pershing Square in the daytime, and no one ever bothers me. Please work on my suggestion. IDA JEFFREYS Los Angeles

The Pershing Square Management Assn. has elected David C. Martin and Joseph Woodard vice chairmen and Janet Marie Smith president, it was announced by Wayne Ratkovich, board chairman. Martin is affiliated with Albert C. Martin & Associates and Woodard with Westgroup Inc. Smith was formerly executive director of the association. Ratkovich, of Ratkovich, Bowers & Perez Inc., is the founding chairman of the association, formed in 1982.