Dishing on the NYBD

Editor:

I am writing to advise you of a very special deli on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica that you missed in your article concerning delis (“Sandwich lovers are taking sides,” page 14, Jan. 20): The NYBD, New York Bagel and Deli, located near 23rd Street on Wilshire Boulevard.

I am a frequent customer of NYBD. This deli is very special and has an owner who is most welcoming and creates a very warm and inviting atmosphere. The environment of NYBD has caused many regular customers to become an extremely close-knit group of friends. This group comprises of about 40 people, ages 2 to 80. The group includes working people, married, single, retired people and professionals, and we met because of the relaxed and warm environment created by (the owner).

Together, we made a party at a private home when the owner got married. At a recent funeral for the wife of one of the customers, not only did many of the group attend, but the owner and staff of NYBD also attended. Several individuals have helped others in time of need, such as sickness, and others have celebrated birthdays at NYBD and had the entire group there.

Not everyone is there every day, but there are some that do have breakfast at NYBD daily. On the weekends, one couple with a preschooler still come to join the gang, even though they moved to the Valley. Many of us, including myself, block out Saturday mornings so as not to miss seeing our regular group of friends. It is a special and fun time, indeed. I have never heard of such a group of friends developing from any restaurant or “bagel place,” which is how we refer to NYBD.

Arlene Bell
Santa Monica



Breaking the border

Editor:

Carole Orlin wrote about illegal immigration issues (“Taking on the accelerating illegal immigration issues,” page 5, Jan. 22) and that will, no doubt, irritate the bleeding-heart liberals who believe the country should be open to anyone who “simply comes here looking for a better life.”

There are millions of people all over the world who have learned English, waited 10 years for a visa and are still not allowed to come here and become “Americans.” They are not just illegal alien residents that want to send money back home to their real country of allegiance. The people who illegally cross the border steal jobs from people who have waited 10 years and more for a precious visa, who could come here to become real Americans, not just blood suckers that pay nothing for health care or schooling for their hoard of children.

Illegal aliens are just that, “not undocumented immigrants.” How do you fix the problem? One busload at a time, from each city, to the border, for as long as it takes. While that is happening, open the border to all the legal visa applicants who have waited and done the right thing. They deserve the opportunity to become Americans, not the people who ignore our laws and stick their middle finger in our face.

Bunnie Meyer
Santa Monica