PUBLIC FORMUM.

It stinks

Re ``Ludlow getting a hand tonight'' (July 21):

Whatever is being served at the $500 -- $4,000-a-plate bash for Martin Ludlow in Holmby Hills should smell as much as this whole tacky tribute to a crook. Ludlow did not ``make a mistake,'' he knowingly conspired to commit a crime. He did not come forward until caught.

That the political hacks, including the former and current heads of the police commission, are not only rewarding him for his actions, but defending him and calling him a ``role model'' is truly pathetic.

-- Jan Brown 

Panorama City

Of course he pleaded

Re ``Ludlow getting a hand tonight'' (July 21):

What a bunch of crock. What is this coming out of Police Commissioner David Cunningham's mouth that Ludlow is ``among young people somewhat of a role model.'' This guy won a rigged election and with the pay, perks, etc., etc. -- this is nothing but grand theft.

Big deal that he plead guilty; notice that he didn't do that until he knew law enforcement had him cornered. Reminds me of what someone once said: ``What's the difference between a catfish and an L.A. politician?'' One is a bottom feeder and the other one is a fish.

-- George Timko

West Hills

Direction of doom

Re ``Ludlow getting a hand tonight'' (July 21):

Martin Ludlow ``admitted to a federal judge in March that he knew he was breaking the law when he conspired with a labor leader to funnel union resources ... ``to his campaign.'' Do our most respected civic leaders want him punished? Of course not; instead they reward him by hosting a fundraiser for him.

Any organization that rewards those that violate our laws and punishes (with higher taxes, fees and assessments) those that respect our laws is headed for failure.

-- Pat Dasse

Chatsworth

And just fire them

Re ``Council wants four more years'' (July 18):

Like so many other people who have written in, I am disgusted at the thought of this idea. We should vote in a policy to get rid of the council members who do not do their job, who do not uphold what the public is begging for, and who pass frivolous spending for asinine projects.

Like any other job, a person who is not doing their work gets fired. Why wait to remove them when their term is over? Let's see them put my idea on the ballot.

-- Erin Ziliak

Sylmar

Native trees

Re ``When the boughs break'' (July 22):

In reference to Valley residents who are losing trees to the heat, I hope this is a motivation to plant native species. The city seems to finally be getting the message, as I have seen native hybrids planted in recent years on tree belts. Not only will natives thrive in the Valley, they will also encourage native bugs and native birds.

The California Native Plant Society has been telling us this for years. Contact it on the Web or contact the Theodore Payne Foundation in Sun Valley. Work with the environment, not against it, and insist the city do the same.

-- Mary Montes 

West Hills

Could have saved it

Re ``Hot: Power outages'' (July 24):

The picture of the woman in North Hills staring into her 20-cubic-foot, double-door fridge after loosing her power and watching her food spoil is a classic. Food will last as much as three to four days if you open the door sparingly. The thing I found curious is why does anyone need four refrigerators for one-family dwelling?

-- Bob Mauch

North Hills

Enough trouble

Re ``Safe at home, but forever changed'' (July 23):

It seems like people who travel to foreign countries expect the United States to immediately rescue them when conflict arises, such as the article by Lisa Van Proyen, who complained that the United States didn't move fast enough.

They were aware that there was unrest in the area but they chose to go anyway. I fail to see that this is the fault of the United States and I take exception to the fact that it seems as though we are blamed for whatever happens. We have enough trouble on our plate without people like this making more.

-- Luella Noonan

Burbank

Cowboy up, America

I am sick to death of hearing the U.S. citizens who ignored travel advisories, and did not register with the U.S. Embassy, complain about accommodations for their rescue. You put yourself in harm's way, are warned not to go, go anyway and then blame the U.S. for your stupidity.

Should you be charged for your rescue? Of course. I sure shouldn't have to pay my tax dollars to rescue you. What happened to the U.S. citizens who tamed the West, made huge sacrifices for World War II, and defeated many other foes with courage and honor? I say to those who go to the Middle East on vacation, you deserve what you get. Cowboy up, America, and start acting like the great nation we are. Take personal responsibility for your idiotic actions.

-- Craig Hawley

Reseda

If it were Ireland?

Re ``Fortunes of war'' (Your Opinions, July 24):

Lebanon did not ``give'' Hezbollah parliament seats, they were elected by an area -- southern Lebanon -- that was not under government control. If the Israelis could not wipe out the terrorists when they controlled the area how could they expect the much-weaker Lebanese army to do it?

Of course civilians will be killed in almost any military action but for Jason Levi to state that ``the Israel army is attacking with surgical precision Hezbollah's area'' is ridiculous. Beirut International, Tyre, Tripoli, blocks of Christian Beirut have all been attacked by missiles and bombs. For many years the IRA bombed British civilians and a lot of its support came from the Irish Republic (also Boston and New York). Imagine the outcry if the Brits had bombed Dublin.

-- Fred Thomas 

Simi Valley 

Heat wave

I don't think it can be said enough that since we are all victims, including pets, of this unrelenting heat wave, it is important for people who have pets to make sure that their pets have ample ventilation and fresh water. Animals carry a higher body temperature than humans and, like humans, can also suffer heat stroke, too.

Also, if people have relatives, friends, or neighbors who are elderly, please check on them to make sure they have ample ventilation as well. Lastly, no one should ever leave an animal or a child in a car, as even with the windows rolled down, the temperature can still be dangerously hot for the child or animal.

-- Sophia Sherman

Sherman Oaks

Worth dying for

Re ``Good and Evil'' (July 6):

Philip Wilt states that since the Iraq war with its casualties cannot be called good, ``then it must be evil.'' If our past leaders had relied solely on the potential for casualties to determine our foreign policies, we wouldn't have gained our independence, freed Europe or stopped a Japanese invasion. Since hundreds of thousands died, I assume these causes were all evil in the mind of Wilt.

I correspond with a few soldiers overseas and all express tremendous bravery and determination to ensure America's safety -- at all costs. One soldier wrote that freedom is something ``so sacred that we would easily lay down our lives to defend.'' Many people (myself included) feel that there are some things in life so cherished they are worth dying for.

-- Sharon Howard

Encino

A higher power 

Re ``Big Top blessing'' (July 21):

Forget the million-dollar elephant enclosure and sanctuary. It seems all that is needed is a cardinal's blessing. What a photo op for Ringling Bros.

-- Joan Kelley

Van Nuys