The Eye of the Beholden?

A profile of an unusual MacArthur Park couple (“L.A.'s BDSM Power Couple, and Their Sex Dungeon,” Nov. 13) sent readers into opposing corners. The focus was almost entirely on the choices made by veteran (age 55) porn star Nina Hartley. Said Pennyantine: “Nina was paid to do a job she loved. She was part of a close community of people, all of whom made sex movies. She was not exploited any more than a nurse who loves her job is exploited when she gets paid for doing her job. Everyone works for pay.”

But Jgd.Kansas launched an impassioned argument: “She could have done it in private with no audience and no money … and the case for exploitation would truly dwindle away. But when you do something for money, this is when exploitation enters the picture, by definition.” 

Angelenos Against Skyscrapers

In regards to our look at environmental attorney Robert P. Silverstein (“How a Ragtag Coalition Stops Skyscrapers in Hollywood,” Nov. 14), who has successfully argued to five different judges that City Hall is breaking the law in approving skyscrapers and outsized buildings in Hollywood, the low-building crowd came out in force.

Ede19 asked of city leaders, “Why don't people realize that not everyone lives — or is able to live — near where they work? For those of us in the entertainment business, jobs are fluid. When you change jobs, your job can take you from the Valley to Hollywood to Santa Monica. It doesn't mean that you move to be near that location, especially if you own.”

BorninHollywood backed up Ede19, explaining, “The higher-density high-rises going up all over Hollywood — most Millennials that [these high-rises] are supposedly for can't afford to live in them unless [they're] willing to live like they did back in their college dorm days, three [or] four to a unit. They come and go. None of the developers want to build units for families.”

But MarkW, while having no objection to Silverstein criticizing the L.A. City Council, says the attorney runs the risk of “being against smart development, such as those that are within walking distance of one of the Metro stations, especially in these days of concerns about global climate change.”

He adds a civics lesson, saying, “Also, people in the community groups should recognize that they live in a big city, and with the vast majority of buildings less than 100 years old, Hollywood is not a UNESCO World Heritage Site.”

Correction

Last week's Music feature, “A Little Help From…”, incorrectly identified the artist behind Braille. His name is Praveen Sharma. We regret the error.

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