Published: Tuesday, May 21, 2002 'Pike'   The May 15 article on the groundbreaking for the Queensway Bay/Pike project quotes Mayor O'Neill as saying: "I feel like pinching myself to be sure that this is really happening today." Well, mayor, I feel like pinching you, too. Perhaps it would wake you up to the many reasons why you should have opposed this project long ago. In case this sounds mean-spirited, here are a few reasons I, and many others, have been against this development. 1. Four more acres of Shoreline Park on the south side of Shoreline Drive will be destroyed with this project. 2. The proposed land swap will trade state tidelands, with a view of the ocean, for land in the middle of the 710 Freeway with no water access or view, not even of the L.A. River. 3. The planned 23 to 25 restaurants and movie theaters are not providing the promised "link to downtown," but will compete with existing eating places and theaters in downtown and Shoreline Village. They will also be competing with the planned retail and restaurant project across the bay at the Queen Mary. 4. The taxpayers will be responsible for the bond payments on the multi-million dollar parking garage when the project fails and DDR pulls out. (Why would anyone go to a movie and have to pay for parking when they can park for free most other places in the area?) 5. This project has not only changed its name, but has also changed in size and character, something the State Lands Commission had told DDR was not permissible. 6. Where will two of Long Beach's biggest tourist draws, the Grand Prix and the Gay Pride Festival, be held when this project is built on both sides of Shoreline from the Aquarium to Shoreline Village? 7. The economy has severely affected the tourist industry - even Disneyland is in trouble. How can restaurants and movies bring millions to this area? 8. The 710 Freeway is a horror right now. If the millions of tourists do happen to come to this "unique location," no plans have been made for the resulting traffic. I implore everyone who opposes this fiasco to urge Gov. Davis not to approve the State Lands tidelands land swap. This is the last chance to stop this pitiful, money-losing project. Ann Cantrell Long Beach