Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,I have just read Cassandra Walker's defense of the Cinedome's departure from downtown Napa ("Why a thriving downtown is no place for a multi-plex," June 8) and I could not disagree with her more. At present, the Cinedome is a major draw for the downtown area. Just look at the parking lot when a good movie is showing. Do not underestimate how many people enjoy dinner before or after a movie downtown, nor how many people arrive early and linger in the nearby shops before going to a movie. What do we have downtown right now? Many new, exciting restaurants, a few good shops, some wine tasting venues and what else? Lots of empty storefronts. Look at downtown San Mateo, where a movie theater and housing have been major factors in its revival. We still do not have housing and will not have it for at least two years. So why are we discarding a successful movie theater at the risk of causing further blight in downtown Napa? I think Cassandra Walker is on a very wrong track but she's probably so far down the wrong path that it's too late for her to admit she's wrong. It's too bad for Napa.

Dear editor,

Dear editor,