Race Isn’t an Issue in High Costs of Aquatic Center

I am writing in response to an article written about the new Rose Bowl Aquatic Center (Times, Dec. 20.)

I feel that as a member of the pool, and a member of the community of Pasadena, that an alternative point of view should be reported.

Furthermore, I think the NAACP is wrong in assuming that the board is charging high prices in order to exclude minorities.

The facts prove that the pool is expensive to operate, it was expensive to build, and it is expensive to be a member. The reason it is such an expensive facility is due to its purpose--it was built for swimmers. The majority of pools in this country outside of universities and colleges are built for recreation, not for true athletic swimming and diving training capable of producing world-class athletes.

The children of the community will benefit by having the opportunity to excel in aquatic activity--but it does cost something. Training, education and facilities are not cheap, and somewhere down the line someone will have to pay.

I feel the NAACP should match the time and effort that the board donated to produce this pool, and do some fund raising for the children they say are being excluded. It will certainly take more effort than pointing a finger, but the reward of putting as many children as we can into the program is well worth the work.

JANIE MALLOY, Pasadena