PUBLIC FORUM : OK OF ASSESSMENT DISTRICT SPARKS DEMANDS FOR RECALL.

The whole idea of the American Revolution was that those who govern do so with the consent of the governed. Los Angeles Community College District trustees Althea Baker, Kenneth Washington, David Lopez-Lee and Gloria Romero have launched an attack on this most American of ideas. Their recall should be of the highest priority to all citizens who wish to guard freedom.

Anyone dishonest enough to say that this is not a tax certainly cannot be trusted with the dispersal of the money.

- Stewart Deats

Woodland Hills

As far as Gloria Romero saying, ``You're going to recall someone for abiding by California law,'' I can only state, to her, that just because there is a law on the books does not mean that it is right or moral. I hope she enjoys her political retirement.

- Ray Domkus

Burbank

Recall is warranted. Expecting half of the homeowners and owners of commercial properties to write in their objections was like shooting with loaded dice, or playing with a deck of marked cards. The winner was known before a board vote was taken. The legitimate, and proper, method would have been to submit the proposal to the voting citizens at the polls.

- Sy Gutterman

Northridge

The four trustees who voted for the $12-per-year special assessment should be commended, not condemned. They had the courage and guts to go against an uniformed majority.

These elected trustees were put into office to represent the community's best interests and they are trying desperately to do so. Turn the spotlight on them. Hear them out. Let them talk.

Most homeowners know that improving curb appeal adds thousands to the value of a home. Pierce College badly needs a face lift, and I am ready, willing and able to pay $12 per year to give the college a new life.

- Herbert Zakary Zeitlin

West Hollywood

I for one usually vote for needed public school improvements and bonds but I strongly oppose this skulduggery.

- Jim Beach

Van Nuys

I am tired of hearing the recently passed Community College District Assessment referred to as a ``$12-a-year payment for the typical homeowner.'' As an apartment house owner, my share is substantially more than that. For those of us who support ourselves and our families through our investments in multiunit property, the assessment is overbearing.

Because of rent control this cannot be passed on to the renters. In essence the measure is aimed at the apartment owner, who bears a grossly unfair share of the tax burden.

Why has our voice not yet been heard?

-Donald Low

Woodland Hills

I really can't understand how those four trustees had the unmitigated gall to sit in front of us and declare that the voters approved their bogus tax assessment because not enough people wrote to them to protest the assessment (real estate tax) and then have their lackeys stand up and tell of the plight of the endangered students who lack lighting. I guess they assumed that we were unable to read about equestrian centers, bicycle paths, electronic state-of-the art scoreboards, etc.

I have never been active in anything political in my entire life, but you can count on me to join the movement and do everything I can to have those arrogant, self-important trustees removed from their office.

Carole Breyde

North Hollywood

I wonder how anyone can truly have a problem with $1 a month to help maintain our colleges. The trustees who voted for the assessment should be considered heroes for doing the right thing.

The trustees found a way to free up more of the college budget for education by finding a way to pay for maintenance that costs each of us very little. What's so terrible about that?

- Susan Silvera

Tujunga

It would be significantly counterproductive to spend millions of taxpayer dollars attempting to recall the Los Angeles Community College District trustees who sent all affected property owner a notice that they could vote against a proposed assessment. Less than 5 percent of them opposed the proposal.

I thought that by including all affected property owners, it provided more protection to property owners than a registered voters referendum, which excludes thousands of directly affected property owners while including thousands of nonproperty owners.

Should the trustees spend the money on low-priority items, they can be defeated at no extra cost at the time of the regular elections.

- Shirley W. Forcier

Studio City

I think the four members who voted for the proposal should face a recall election. I feel the time has long past for the taxpayers to send a strong message to the tax spenders.

- Keene W. Thomas Jr.

Canoga Park

When an elected board of people allegedly representing the will of the majority of the voters disregards that majority opinion, then one must presume that the elected officials never intended to carry out the wishes of the voters in the first place. They had their own agenda.

This is not democracy. In my time it's been called Nazism, fascism and communism.

Let us vote out board members who do not respect the will of the people.

- Norman D. Rowe

Van Nuys

I strangely believe a recall of the college district trustees is necessary.

To assess (tax) property owners without a vote is wrong.

Colleges are not intended to be recreational facilities. I believe there is a need for better management of the monies already allotted and especially, a new board of trustees.

- Joline A. Erazim

Arleta

Had it not been for Proposition 13 my wife and I probably would have lost our home.

This is a way around Proposition 13. I believe the board should be recalled.

- D.W. Myers

Sylmar

I am disgusted by the arrogance of those community college trustees in voting to approve the subject property assessment.

The property assessment issue should be placed on the ballot for the voters to decide.

I support the action to recall those trustees who have disregarded the property owners reaction to this matter.

- George Wakayama 

Los Angeles

These scoundrels are afraid to put the ``assessment'' to a public vote because they know that the vote would result in a landslide against them. Well, these trustees have clearly shown that they should not have anything entrusted to them. They are intent on serving their own personal interests with complete disregard for the public will.

- Joel Schnur

Encino

I heard Lopez-Lee say that ``the people'' had a three-week opportunity to vote against the community college tax assessment, and the 23,000-plus letters did not meet the more-than-50 percent required to reject the plan. Just what planet does he call home?

Just when have we had a turnout of more than half the property owners of the district at any election?

How many property owners are unable to write a letter that requires inclusion of their parcel number and a specific reason for their objection. Many homeowners are either too ill, too old or their English is too poor.

- Paula Gavin

Studio City

The trustees may have had the law on their side, but they surely did not have the people on their side. I doubt that they got 23,000 letters of support.

- Raymond E. Russell

Winnetka

I fully support a recall of the four trustees, as they have proven that they are not qualified to make decisions affecting a million or more people. They are just little kids getting their way. We do not need them.

- Gloria Noblitt

North Hollywood

Bak

er, Washington, Lopez-Lee and Romero smugly rammed through their deceitful special assessment district tax scam over the overwhelming opposition of the voters.

Priority must also be given to repeal of the 1972 Special Assessment Law.

- Duane Guernsey

North Hollywood

I happen to be one of the 23,000 homeowners who wrote to the Los Angeles Community District trustees in opposition to their assessment tax on property owners. I couldn't attend both meetings but 23,000 letters should send a message. As a comparison, what is the turnout on local elections? Twenty percent?

These four incompetent board members were voted in and they can be voted out, but that is being too nice.

- Johnny Rotella

Van Nuys