PUBLIC FORUM : LAUSD BOND ISSUE IS A $4.7 BILLION TAX.

This is in response to the letter of Oct. 8 by Robert Gross, one of the proponents signing the argument for Proposition BB, Los Angeles Unified School District's general obligation bonds.

Attacking me personally does not change the facts that are presented in the official sample ballot, that this is a total tax of $4.7 billion. They would have you believe that this bond issue would go only to repairing schools. They also would have you believe that what they have told you is binding and they will continue to budget the regular monies for maintenance and operations.

Los Angeles County Counsel DeWitt W. Clinton, in his analysis of Proposition BB in the sample ballot, states that funds will be used to provide computer technology in classrooms, to upgrade school security with metal detectors, to construct classrooms including addition of factory-built classrooms. In the proponents' argument, they say monies can be spent only for renovation of school property.

The bonds would be issued and sold at an interest rate not to exceed the maximum legal rate of 12 percent per annum and would be repaid in a term not to exceed 25 years by a property tax levied upon real property within the district. This does not tell you that a fee will go to the bond sellers, which, if past history is any indication, could be around 10 percent of the $2.4 billion principal or around $240 million.

In a statement in compliance with the Elections Code, which also is printed in the official sample ballot, the following information is given: The current projection is that $2.4 billion in bonds, with an estimated $2.305 billion in interest, will be sold in nine series. It states that the tax will vary from year to year with the highest levy being estimated in the years 2013-2014. They don't tell you how much your tax will be.

The most interesting is the statement that ``the foregoing is based upon projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the district.'' This was signed by Sidney A. Thompson, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The proponents say they have a binding contract with each school. Who are you going to believe, the official statement or those who can say whatever they wish, to make you think that the monies will be well spent?

- Gordon Murley,

President

Woodland Hills

Homeowners' Organization

Woodland Hills

I understand taxpayers' hesitation at the thought of higher property taxes due to the passage of Proposition BB. However, think what you would do if you owned a home that was built in 1959. If necessary, wouldn't you by now have repaired the roof, repaved a cracked and dangerous driveway, painted the flaking and peeling trim? That is the sorry condition of the schools that children have to face every day.

Darby Avenue Elementary School in Northridge, built in 1959, has deteriorated due to age and weather and two major earthquakes, prompting serious concerns about the safety of the facilities and playground. It would take years of extreme effort to raise the kind of money needed to fix all that needs to be fixed and the LAUSD on its own, is not going to fund the repairs anytime soon.

The school board has a contract with Darby, as well as other schools, addressing those items desperately in need of repair, as per Proposition BB. Imagine what a positive learning environment the children would have at a freshly painted and renovated school.

These children are our future. We, as members of the community here and all over California, are the children's only hope to provide them with a safe and clean school that they deserve.

- Mary Lou Westmoreland

Northridge

`Pay the same basic rate'

Re earthquake insurance rates:

It seems to me that if everyone in the state of California receives the same basic coverage, then everyone in the state of California should then pay the same basic rate. The rate could have some incentive adjustments for meeting new building codes - that is, an old house that has been upgraded would have the same rate as a new house.

Each homeowner should be required to have minimum coverage, which goes into the state pool for earthquake damage. Obtaining additional coverage beyond the required minimum would be between the homeowner and his insurance carrier.

These high-risk zones are wrong. An earthquake can occur at any place at any time. Northridge was on a ``hidden'' fault. The people at Caltech cannot predict when or where a quake will occur.

Everyone has the same risk so everyone should pay the same rate.

- R.L. Langford

Sherman Oaks

The basic concept of insurance is to spread the risk by using the laws of large numbers so that when a catastrophe occurs, funds are available from the premiums paid in. If the rates for the San Fernando Valley are so high that only the people with the larger homes and higher risks are able to afford such premiums and buy such coverage, then we will lose the benefits of spreading out the risk.

Overcharging the San Fernando Valley does not appear to be the solution.

- Maureen LaPorta

Northridge

Safire's selective memory

Conservatives amaze me. I can never understand how so many otherwise intelligent people can nurture and maintain such huge blind spots. Does columnist William Safire mean to imply that the Clinton White House is solely responsible for the public's deep cynicism about the trustworthiness of government?

Was Safire vacationing during Iran-Contra, Watergate, Abscam and the Pentagon Papers, to name a precious few? How did he manage to mention everything that smacks of dishonesty during this administration, but not during the past six? The truth is, Safire experiences moral ``outrage'' when it suits him politically.

I wish a liberal columnist would write a column about the ``hypocrisy'' issue. Conservatives can dish it out, but they can't take it.

- John Smart

Los Angeles

Diesel exhaust worse

Re Smog Check II:

If the Legislature had not been cowed by the Teamsters union, etc., over the years, it could and should have outlawed diesel fuel after a phase-out period. There are many more carcinogens and pollutants in diesel than gasoline exhaust. Black, thick diesel exhausts are worse than those from any car driven by the current type of gasoline, especially when catalytic converters are considered.

Smog Check II is unfair to the citizens of California.

The costs involved to test, repair or buy another vehicle could be prohibitive for many, especially retirees, the disabled, small companies, etc.

I believe that Smog Check II should be revised to be more humane.

- R.J. Currier

Simi Valley 

Garcetti rebuked

Re the race for district attorney of Los Angeles County:

When a candidate for public office, in this case District Attorney Gil Garcetti, makes the comment that proof of community support is reflected by the amount of money in their campaign finance war chests, it is no wonder that we find Propositions 208 and 212 regarding campaign contribution reform on the November ballot.

Garcetti's fund-raising abilities are well-known, but a few overly large donations from corporations like Guess? Jeans, Arco or Disney do not reflect the will of the voting community. The arrogance of Garcetti's statement negates the voices of the hundreds of contributors to John Lynch's campaign who cannot afford to make generous financial gifts.

Also, what about the voting public in general who do not donate to political campaigns. Does the money from large contributors to Garcetti reflect their will? No, it does not.

Also, I find it sad that the money can then be used to mount a smear campaign on television, in which a candidate can say just about anything he wants, distorted and untrue, about the other.

Character and money have become an issue in this race.

- Phyllis Kelley

Sherman Oaks

Costly propositions

Bravo. Your editorial recommending ``no'' on Propositions 214 and 216 (``Unhealthy ideas,'' Oct. 11), came right to the point. These so-called health-reform initiatives could wind up costing Californians billions of dollars per year and would do nothing to improve access to quality health care.

Clearly, California must investigate ways to reduce health care costs, especially for businesses. But Propositions 214 and 216 are not the answer.

- Martyn Hopper

State Director

National Federation

of Independent Business

Sacramento

How the `village' raises kids

It has recently been reported that teen-age pregnancies are at a record high. More and younger teens are sexually active. AIDS is on the rise among teen-agers. Children are committing more crimes of a violent nature. Drug use is on the rise - this after years and years of our tax money being poured into programs instituted to provide intervention to prevent the problems stated above.

If this is the way that the ``village'' raises children, then we could do without the help. What children need are parents. The Parental Rights Act, which makes the statement that ``the right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children shall not be infringed'' is vital for the survival of the American family.

The message that the ``village'' is sending to our children is that no matter what they do, they will not have to be accountable. There will always be a school official, social worker or health official to arrange for a child to receive birth control, tests for sexually transmitted disease, abortions, therapy, drug treatment - all without the knowledge or permission of parents.

It doesn't take a village to raise a child - it takes a family.

- Vicki Van Camp

Sylmar