PUBLIC FORUM : SAYING `HI, BABE' ISN'T SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

Re ``LAPD spokesman suspended; Two female officers accuse 33-year veteran of harassment in 1995,'' Daily News, Feb. 21:

I see that Los Angeles police Sgt. Kristine Kenney and Officer Mary Elizabeth Hatter have established a close comradeship. Congratulations. However, I guess that they have never greeted someone with ``Hi, babe'' - not even each other or a girlfriend, right?

Come on - we all have used ``Hi, babe'' at times.

Don't they realize that the salutation ``Hi, babe'' is an endearing, friendly, buddy, comradeship kind of greeting that is heard and said by millions of people all over our overly sensitive, quick-to-file-sexual-harassment-lawsuit country?

If not, they should pay closer attention. They might be surprised how often they'll hear this familiar greeting.

If I, a female, was an LAPD officer, and I said ``Hi, babe'' to them, would I be suspended right now? Well, if I was an officer, I would hope that I could handle my reactions to such comments (greetings). Dealing with others is a form of art. It is a skill that has to be developed. It takes work. It takes comradeship.

If Cmdr. Tim McBride said ``Hi, babe'' to me, I would say ``Hi, babe'' right back to him. I'd probably give him a big smile, and if I felt like it, I might have just given him a big hug to boot. That is just part of what comradeship is all about.

- Beckaa Johnson-Mosher West Hills

The men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department were chosen for the job after rigorous testing procedures and intensive background investigations.

They are then all given the best police training that money can buy. They spend months dealing with all kinds of situations and scenarios. At the end of their training they are certified as peace officers. Each is given a gun and told to use the force necessary to keep the peace.

They are then put onto the streets of Los Angeles, the most gang-infested city in America. They are forced to deal with the dirty underbelly of our society. They learn how to deal with problems and situations most of us can only imagine. For the most part, they adjust and survive and do great service to our city.

Unfortunately, however, we are led to believe that there are a few women within the Police Department who cannot deal with certain words and phrases directed toward them. We are led to believe that the term ``babe'' and references to hotel rooms completely unnerves them. They can handle bullets and brawls but not words. What a slap in the face to women in general and feminism in particular.

I am a woman working in a male-dominated environment. Men, oftentimes being what they are, let their macho attitudes get the better of them. The key is to rise above it and move forward. To let it get you down and admit you can't function because of it only reinforces the stereotype of women as inferior.

Bobbie Hamilton Northridge

Animal regulation debate

Barbara Fabricant's letter (Jan. 20, 1997), contains many inaccuracies.

Los Angeles' animal services lack many of the resources needed to provide the level of service that the public demands. In the past five years, the budget has been cut from $7.66 million to $6.89 million, an 11 percent decrease, and field personnel have dropped almost 20 percent.

Despite these constraints, the agency provides services that range from caring for 80,000 impounded animals and investigating over 6,000 cruelty cases annually, to creating a special enforcement unit, which combats the loose dog problem.

The department also maintains a thriving volunteer program with 140 participants. These volunteers assist us in many ways, including helping to reunite people with their lost pets and assist people in adopting shelter animals.

The department is committed to enhancing the human-animal relationship that benefits us all. As those of us who devote our time and energy to this goal understand, we will succeed only if we work together in a constructive, productive manner.

Steven Afriat

President Animal Regulation Commission Los Angeles

The response from Barbara Fabricant is an indication that all is not well with the department and changing its name is not going to solve the problems there.

One of Fabricant's observations was the absence of qualified volunteers to answer the ``distress calls'' from the public - lost and found pets, spay-neuter information, rescue organizations, etc. For 22 years, Volunteer Services to Animals provided these services in the shelters free of charge with active daily volunteer desks. Also, VSA, being well-funded, spent large sums of money on many worthwhile requests of the public and the shelters.

As a volunteer coordinator of VSA at the West Valley Shelter for 13 years, I was close to department employees, the never-ending animals coming and going, and the numerous every-day happenings and problems of shelter life.

Quite suddenly, we were no longer needed and dumped. General Manager Gary Olsen, decided that the ``department'' would take over the volunteer desks.

The problem is, and always will be, that animal overpopulation will continue. Spaying and neutering the animals earlier, eight weeks, is feasible and most vets will agree to do it upon request. Pet owners are reluctant to have their animals altered at such a tender age. Animal regulation should be working on a plan to educate the public on this relatively new procedure.

Josie Kent Granada Hills

Stein rebuked

Re ``Hahn, Stein at odds over appeal to Valley voters,'' Daily News, Feb. 20:

This is to add context to the unfortunate remarks by land developer Ted Stein, candidate for Los Angeles city attorney, dismissing the objectivity and significance of the endorsement of his opponent, incumbent James K. Hahn, by the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley - and questioning the intentions of our group.

It is important to know that the Democratic Party of San Fernando Valley carefully judges the qualifications of all Democratic candidates through an exhaustive interview and evaluation process before making an endorsement. Democratic candidates ordinarily welcome involvement in the review process. Stein, however, chose to decline multiple offers to be interviewed, making it difficult to evaluate him - and virtually impossible for him to fairly judge our process, let alone our intentions.

Within this context, his remarks not only seem more like sour grapes but reveal both an arrogance and an unfortunate disdain for the only organization of his party in the Valley that represents over 2,000 grass-roots volunteers - not the well-healed contributors.

- Wayne Fisher Chairperson Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley Van Nuys

Had Ted Stein attended an interview, he would have found DPSFV to be anything but a group of ``liberal'' Democrats.

I, with Stein, accepted the interview application. I would have liked to hear his perception of issues in the city attorney's race in a quiet dialogue among his fellow Democrats, which, incidentally, included liberals, moderates and conservatives.

Larry R. Furman Chair, Candidate Interview Committee Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley Sherman Oaks

Ted Stein seems to be mixed up. He says he's a Democrat but his actions dictate otherwise. First, it turns out that the notorious Hollywood Bowl tickets bought by Republican Hal Bernson, under attack for using his City Council officeholder account to make their purchase, are in a box shared with Stein. Then Stein's Studio City fund-raiser last week was not sponsored by Democrat leaders, but by such well-known Republican insiders as Bert Boeckmann and real estate developer Bob Selleck.

Joan H. Leonard Sherman Oaks

Size and bearing

There are certain kinds of jobs or restrictions that are applicable for vertically enhanced people or animals. There are also careers that are more apropos for vertically challenged people. For example, in the United States Navy there are certain height restrictions for submariners or pilots.

Throughout history, world-class military and/or police organizations have had certain height requirements. These include or included at one time the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Coldstream Guards. These organizations knew long before Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams ever arrived on the scene that height and appearance were extremely advantageous and greatly contributed to military or quasi-military bearing.

Doug Aitken La Crescenta

Clinton's fund-raising tactics

Re ``Clinton OK'd donor visits,'' Daily News, Feb. 26:

I want my money back. As a taxpayer, I'm absolutely amazed at the fact that this president can get away with this selling of the White House. This affront is right in our faces.

He says, and I quote, ``I enjoy spending time with my friends.''

He has the time to rent out my White House and use the money for his own personal political gains, but he doesn't have the time to answer Paula Jones in court about his sexual behavior.

I'm certain he discussed this matter with his friends, Jane Fonda, Barbra Streisand and Ann Landers over breakfast. It infuriates me that I paid for that breakfast.

William Marky Reseda

Administration spokespersons over the last several days protest that the donors' large contributions to the Democratic National Committee did not buy any quid pro quo. So, donors, your contributions have been for naught, right? And you're never going to contribute again? Or do you believe that the protestations are insincere? Which way will it be?

Arthur T. White West Hills