PUBLIC FORUM; IGNORES THE REAL CAUSE.

Governor Gray Davis' recent State of the State address provided additional reasons why he deserves to be removed from office, and the sooner the better. Davis shows a detachment from reality and a disdain for the truth that disqualifies him from holding public office.

He blames the fact that California schools are ranked 50th in the nation on our teachers and says they need more training. He also says we need more teachers and need to spend more money on education, even though both levels are at all-time highs.

Davis ignores the real cause for the failure of our schools: unchecked illegal immigration. Our schools are being flooded with children from Third World countries. It's not a question of race, it's the fact that Davis is asking our teachers, our schools and us taxpayers to do the impossible.

- Fred Akers 

La Canada Flintridge

DUMP THE DUMP SUIT

Re ``Group sues over landfill decision'' (Jan. 12):

The people of Granada Hills claim a one-half-mile distance to the Sunshine Canyon landfill. That may be true, but there is a giant wall of dirt called a mountain in that half-mile that divides the landfill from the homes. On top of the ridge dividing the area, there is a very tall chain-link fence, constructed to catch any loose debris. The landfill operation is moved to a box canyon when the wind reaches a certain speed. The tilt up operation is halted. The trash is covered at higher wind speeds to eliminate blowing trash. Now, with the existence of the county area landfill, the dumping operation can be moved still further away on windy days. Also resting on that divide is a wind gauge that records the wind speed, direction and the time.

My suggestion is, stop whipping a dead horse. The landfill is not in your back yard, it is over the hill. The city saves millions of dollars for all citizens by using this landfill in place of transferring the trash to a freight car and sending it miles away. The landfill was there before developers built the houses close to knowing there was a landfill over the hill! The land values are stable. Save your money, don't sue.

- I. Forbes

Sylmar

TAKE A BREAK

I've been called a lot of interesting things things in my life, but Dink O'Neal's comment (Public Forum, Jan. 4) that I was ``not cynical enough'' is a new one.

On Dec. 28, my letter was published in Public Forum commenting about one unnecessarily critical remark judging the singing of a group of children visiting the White House. I suggested there are times to step back from criticism and focus on encouraging the efforts of children. Silly me to think that would not be particularly controversial.

I figure I have at least 11 months out of the year to be cynical. So, Dink, give it a rest. Take a little time to count your blessings, take a break from criticizing others if you can.

I have and it's sweetened my mood.

- Jaime C. Jameson

North Hollywood

PAPER DEFENSE

I read with interest the Public Forum debate on gun control and the proposed ammunition ban. I can only advise the people of Los Angeles to start saving their issues of the Daily News and keep them handy. A wadded-up one thrown at an intruder might not have much effect, but who knows what several hurled in rapid succession might do?

- Tim Duncan 

Burbank

MOM MARCH

Re Mariana Groisman's letter on the Million Mom March (Public Forum, Jan. 11):

It is not law-abiding citizens who run around shooting people. It is little twerps whose parents are not monitoring their kids. It is gang members and sick kids who are doing the shooting. They don't buy those guns at gun shows or gun shops. They buy them from equally sick kids, out of the trunks of cars. Why do kids commit crimes? Because they can get away with it - thanks to hug-a-thug liberals like Groisman. Honest citizens don't use guns for criminal activities. They use them to protect themselves against the punks you are trying to protect with inane gun control laws that give criminals the right to have guns, but not law-abiding citizens.

- M.L. Ree

Santa Clarita 

BILL IT TO BILL

I am in full agreement with reader Alfred Pierfax's comments in his letter of Jan. 11 (``Fix the VA gym,'' Public Forum). However, there is a solution to this problem. If you will remember, just before Clinton's personal secretary was to testify before the grand jury, the president took her and between 1,100 and 1,300 people on a tour of Africa. The bill for this traveling circus, $4 million-5 million, was charged to the Pentagon.

I am sure that the Executive Office has a more-than-generous travel allowance. If the president cannot adhere to it, disabled veterans should not have to pay the price. They already have. Join me today to ask for a reversal of this charge with the $5 million going to the VA. One e-mail a day.

- Richard Bussell

Santa Clarita

DON'T ANNOY DONORS

I read with interest your editorial regarding donating blood (``Give blood,'' Jan. 5). I think giving blood is a wonderful thing for every healthy person that wants to do it. I have done it myself. However, after recently being called four days in a row by the Red Cross, I don't know when (if ever) I will again give blood.

The Red Cross would be wise not to annoy blood donors so much. They might get more repeat donors or at least more than 3 percent of the population.

- Ann Valadez

Sun Valley

WE PAY THE BILL

The legal maneuvering being done by the doctor whose wife was found shot along with three children in their Santa Rosa home leaves me quite angry, as well as annoyed, with our legal system.

The woman had not yet been found guilty, yet the law is allowing the husband to legally tie up any means of her fair day in court.

The doctor, in an effort to secure his earthly belongings (which I'm sure she had a great deal to do with his savings), has filed for divorce and is suing her for diminished capacities . . . asking the court to tie up all of his assets from her to use to defend herself. Yet, he is allowed to use the same assets to pay all attorneys to protect himself. The court has turned down her request to protect herself legally for this trial with her due 50 percent community property. So basically, she can only defend herself with a public defender, while he gets away with the family jewels and her 50 percent of community property.

Why should we, the public, once again have to pay for the defense of a woman who can well afford to pay for her own defense . . . but has a husband who is monetarily clever and wants to keep it all to himself?

- Myra Lazar

Woodland Hills

APPLES AND ORANGES

Rick Orlov's Jan. 2 column captures the apples and oranges dilemma that the Los Angeles Unified School District faces when he writes: ``The LAUSD will continue to grapple with the Belmont Learning Center fiasco as it tries to find someone tough enough to clean up the administrative mess.'' Obviously, two very different issues. The solution is to complete the Belmont Learning Center using all available technology to make a safe school. Then sweep up the administrative mess with whatever money is left over.

- Chuck Paioni

Granada Hills

AIRPORT AS NEIGHBOR

Re ``Go Ahead and Move,'' (Public Forum, Dec. 17):

There are plenty of home owners, such as my family, that bought property in the Granada Hills area as far as possible from the airport, paying more for the property and property taxes. Eighteen years later with airport expansion, we have jets screaming overhead, some at approximately 1,000 feet or less, at all hours of the day and night. No doubt the flight patterns have changed as well as the airport expansion.

Van Nuys Airport is a far cry from being a responsible business owner for our community and is an accident looking for a place to happen and no doubt it will, probably sooner (rather) than later.

- Sheila Winn

Granada Hills

TRY PLANNING

Forget rapid transit - implying a destination. Are Los Angeles cityplanners planning to build a city someday?

Encircling the town square, one might find a city hall, public service and safety centers, schools and universities, commerce, houses ofworship, parks, cultural centers and - people. In most cases, aesthetics are taken into consideration, drawing people together by continuity in architecture, ambience and interests, via public transportation.

I'm certain Valley secessionists are thinking about such things, havingrealized Ventura Boulevard is a mighty long stroll to nowhere in particular. As an added thump on the head, city officials responded it would be a decade till the Valley is included in plans for rapid transit.

We could have used a central meeting place on December 31, 1999. Here in the Valley, we have an existing multimedia town square so immense one can scarcely imagine it. Is it possible these conglomerations declined an opportunity to join in hosting the most colossal celebration Los Angeles has experienced? Or did City Hall deliberately flash the Hollywood sign, rather than include the real deal? Designed like a movie set - with all of us cast as extras - it would have been great fun.

Maybe next time. We'll coordinate the transportation if they'll provide the destination. It's doable. After all, they have one thousand years to plan it.

- Sharon Anderson Kanan

Encino

GRADY'S GREAT

It is always a treat to read Sandy Grady in the Daily News. Somehow he always manages to say what I am thinking, but he does it in his always clear and succinct style with flair and finesse. I am referring to his Jan. 6 Opinions article ``Dole no veep for Bush.'' Wonderful, wonderful.

I must say I was a tad taken aback when I read that Bush's spokesman Ari Fleisher thinks Elizabeth Dole ``appeals to all voters.'' I know for a fact this is not true.

Thank you, Sandy, and the Daily News for bringing him to us, and keep up the good work.

- Eileen O'Neill

West Hills

CAPTION(S):

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Photo: California Gov. Gray Davis gestures during his State of the State address before the Legislature.

Associated Press