Simon Fanshawe criticises Julie Burchill's opposition to the City of Culture campaign (The Argus, June 15).

He rolls out the same stuff as Councillors Lythell and Bodfish about the boost the bid will give to local employment. I have to say I don't believe it.

The city has a wealth of low-paying, no-prospect, no-security employment.

What it doesn't have is a business community providing career employment that will motivate and sustain our working population to achieve better lives and living conditions.

The council and other leaders could and should be doing much, much more to bring real prosperity to the people of the city rather than those who profit more than any other businesses in the UK because of Brighton and Hove's cheapskate employment scene.

We may be the UK's most famous seaside resort but that doesn't mean we have to continue to have a candyfloss economy with no social substance.

Brighton and Hove residents who are settled here and hoping to remain so with their families really need to start demanding better things.

Far from things in our grubby, tacky, exploitative city getting better, there are clear indications of huge inequities and mismanagement of our collective future.

Councillors' recent responses to this issue have served to confirm they either can't or won't understand what those who oppose the City of Culture bid are saying.

There are profits for the few in the course they are taking but nothing that will strengthen and grow the city's economic sustainability in the long-term.

-L Cerrato, Robert Street, Brighton