Angel of Fortune

Gene Maddaus' profile of Silicon Beach investor Paige Craig had readers talking last week (“L.A. Angel,” Aug. 15). Many were not impressed by Craig.

Writes JoeLeisure, “Gordon Gekko 2.0. Man, that show Silicon Valley is so spot-on. It lampoons these greedy fucks (sorry, 'angels') perfectly. 'I'll only invest in companies that will change the world'? Really? A parking valet app? Yes, that should make a huge impact on mankind. Why not 'nurture' the guy trying to protect redwoods? That could change the world. But nah, not enough return.”

Siliconbeachrulez also is skeptical. “So this guy defrauds taxpayers by charging millions writing press releases to Iraqis, then spends that money on 'disruptive' valet apps?“

Julieeking is more annoyed by Craig's choice of wall art. “Huge close-ups of … guns. In his home. Everyone's cool with it 'cause that checkbook's out and Patron flowing. Oh-kayyy.”

Another Digital Dude

Readers also were unimpressed by Brian Bordainick, the “startup dude” behind Besha Rodell's Aug. 8 cover story (“Food, Inc.“). Writes M. Hunt, “I find it quite amusing that Brian Bordainick is spending so much time and money on his project for the perfect business model. Wouldn't he have been better served by simply going to the restaurants in the major cities that have been in business for 30 or 40 years and observing what they do? Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles have been serving variations on octopus for the last 30 years.”

Jules Falcone agrees. “Leave it to a guy whose vocabulary 'swerves easily into corporate speak' to remove with surgical precision everything pure from the culinary arts. No true foodie would participate in this. This is for people who want to be foodies. Dinner by committee? I'll just say no.”

The Price to Pay

In an online-only essay, Daniel Kaufman argued for raising water rates (“Hey, L.A., It's Time to Raise the Price of Water,” Aug. 12). Readers mostly applauded.

“Kaufman has it almost right,” Jerry writes. “These are good ideas that don't go far enough. It's true that raising prices will reduce consumption. But giving more money to a government agency is never a good idea. Privatize the water delivery (other cities have done this very successfully) and get the government out of it completely — including the insane policy of paying farmers to grow crops where there should be none. Then, let the market set the price.”

JP applauds Kaufman's essay. “I've been saying this for years. No one will listen or conserve until it hits them in the pocket. It's terrible that money is the only way that people will find the resolve to conserve.”

You Write, We Read

Please send letters to L.A. Weekly, 3861 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230. Or email us at ReadersWrite@laweekly.com. Full name and contact info preferred.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.