PUBLIC FORUM : SUPERSCOOPERS STOPPED FIRE `IN NOTHING FLAT'.I take umbrage with the comments issued by Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman that the SuperScooper isn't super (Daily News, Oct. 27). As a civilian who pays for fire protection here in Southern California, the tinderbox tin·der·box n. 1. A metal box for holding tinder. 2. A potentially explosive place or situation: referred to the crowded prison as a tinderbox of suppressed violence. of the south, I find the Canadair SuperScooper to be a great asset to the arsenal of high-tech equipment available to the Fire Department. It not only helps the grunts on the fire lines, but also adds a much-needed piece of equipment to the list of fire tools that protect us. I have nothing against the helicopters and the brave pilots who fly these aircraft: They performed bravely and deserve our most grateful thanks. But let's stop here for just a second. On Oct. 27, two SuperScoopers responded to a fire call in the Westlake Village area. They were the third pair of aircraft to respond. They charged this fire like the 4th Cavalry, knocking it down in fairly strong winds in nothing flat. Ask the residents of the Westlake Village area if these aircraft were worth it or not. I believe the chief might hear the response of ``super.'' - A.C. Angel Thousand Oaks Editorial rebuttal rebuttal n. evidence introduced to counter, disprove or contradict the opposition's evidence or a presumption, or responsive legal argument. ``Spenders get greedy'' (Oct. 17), is not a proper characterization of the motivation of those who created Proposition 217. Gov. Pete Wilson is the one who got greedy and took billions of local property tax dollars to make up for a shortage of money at the state level. Because the state took our money, last year we were threatened with the closing of hospitals, clinics, parks and libraries. The closing of hospitals and clinics was proposed at a time when more and more people are unable to afford medical insurance. I am a member of the union (Service Employees International Union, Local 660), which sponsored Proposition 217. In July 1995, I was one of the group arrested in the occupation of the office of Los Angeles County's chief administrative officer A chief administrative officer (CAO) is responsible for administrative management of private, public or governmental corporations. The CAO is one of the highest ranking members of an organization, managing daily operations and usually reporting directly to the chief executive . I believe it is totally wrong for poor people to have to die, just so that rich people can have lower taxes. If ``lower taxes through less government'' meant primarily downsizing (1) Converting mainframe and mini-based systems to client/server LANs. (2) To reduce equipment and associated costs by switching to a less-expensive system. (jargon) downsizing the FBI, the CIA CIA: see Central Intelligence Agency. (1) (Confidentiality Integrity Authentication) The three important concerns with regards to information security. Encryption is used to provide confidentiality (privacy, secrecy). and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, then I would be a true-blue conservative. But I proudly went to jail to protect vital public services. - Ron McMullen Mission Hills Prop. A. supported Voters throughout Los Angeles County have an important, urgent proposition on the November ballot. Residents all over the county should vote yes on Proposition A, because of the 140 specific projects carefully selected by a citywide citizen's advisory committee, composed of private business, public employees, youths, seniors and community leaders. Referred to as the ``Safe Neighborhood Parks Act,'' it is really much, much more. Every city in the county benefits. - Marilyn E. Brainard Agoura Hills The Prop. 218 debate Proposition 218 should pass. It will do what Proposition. 13 was intended to do - put the control of taxes in the hands of the property owner. Just look at your local county tax bill. How many chances did you have to vote on the assessments you have to pay? Proposition 218 will change that. No new assessments, taxes or benefit districts will be placed on the property owners without their approval. The world will not end. The sky will not fall. It just tells the ones who enjoy spending our money that we want accountability now, before we give any more money. It puts the property owner in the driver's seat, where he or she should have been for all these past years. It gives every property owner the chance to vote for any tax increase on his or her property. It will make the ones who want the extra money explain fully why there should be a property tax increase. It's about time It's About Time may refer to:
- Jerry E. Lane La Crescenta Proposition 218 would be a devastating dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. blow to California. This flawed initiative would make it virtually impossible for communities to fund local services such as parks, libraries, even fire protection through assessments or taxes. The measure would impose an unfair system of weighted votes for assessments based on how much property you own. That sounds good in theory, but in practice, it could allow a small minority of wealthy out-of-town landowners to control community decisions about public services. Proposition 218 would require a two-thirds public vote for a tax increase or bond for parks, libraries, police and fire protection and other vital services. This allows a minority to overrule The refusal by a judge to sustain an objection set forth by an attorney during a trial, such as an objection to a particular question posed to a witness. To make void, annul, supersede, or reject through a subsequent decision or action. the majority. Please join the League of Women Voters League of Women Voters, voluntary public service organization of U.S. citizens. Organized in 1920 in Chicago as an outgrowth of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, it had as its original nucleus the leaders of the latter organization. , the Sierra Club Sierra Club, national organization in the United States dedicated to the preservation and expansion of the world's parks, wildlife, and wilderness areas. Founded (1892) in California by a group led by the Scottish-American conservationist John Muir, the Sierra Club , the California police and fire chiefs associations and other public-interest groups in voting no on Proposition 218. - Gerald H. Meral Executive Director Planning and Conservation League Sacramento L.A. needs Ferraro We read, with dismay and anger, your recent editorial unfairly attacking Council President John Ferraro and stating that it is time for him to give up his presidency of the Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. . At issue, for those of us in the know, is the fact that the Daily News has continually used the issue of the Boland bill as a litmus test litmus test n. A test for chemical acidity or basicity using litmus paper. to judge elected officials and civic leaders who are dealing with the issue of governance in the city of Los Angeles
As an organization opposed to the Boland bill, we believe John Ferraro showed the leadership appropriate for the president of the City Council in working to defeat it. This bill and the entire discussion about secession is divisive, counterproductive and does nothing to address legitimate concerns about governance, which the city as a whole must work on. What the citizens of L.A. do not know is that John Ferraro loves this city with all of his heart. He continually sets aside his own ego to bring about consensus among his colleagues - not an easy task. Ferraro could spend a lot more time grabbing headlines and pandering to the worst in us, but he does not do this. As a matter of fact, he never does it. That is why losing him as president of the City Council would be an extraordinary loss for the entire city. Shame on you for denigrating den·i·grate tr.v. den·i·grat·ed, den·i·grat·ing, den·i·grates 1. To attack the character or reputation of; speak ill of; defame. 2. someone whose commitment and service to the city has and will continue to be extraordinary! - Carol E. Schatz President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Central City Association of Los Angeles Valley's `fair share' I would like to commend the Daily News for its outstanding report Oct. 13, ``Does the Valley get its fair share?'' I have been expressing these same views for years, but you have put it all together with a marvelous job of research. I hope the City Council will wake up and do something, and that the Legislature will rethink the Boland bill. Also, why don't we have more council meetings in the Valley? Are they too afraid people will know exactly how they really are, as we witnessed the one time they did meet here this year? At least five of them didn't even bother to come to that meeting. - Donna Smith Woodland Hills Sandinistas lose I asked myself what former President Jimmy Carter was doing during the past elections in Nicaragua Elections in Nicaragua gives information on elections and election results in Nicaragua. The Republic of Nicaragua elects on national level a head of state – the president – and a legislature. ? Maybe he was going to celebrate with Daniel Ortega the return of the Sandinistas to power, as he did back in 1979. Fortunately, the people of Nicaragua sent a clear message to Ortega: No more Sandinismo. - Ricardo Cabrera North Hollywood Critic of liberals rebutted In reply to Robert Gilbert's response to my letter, regarding demonizing liberals (Public Forum, Oct. 16). I would ask the following. What part of ``of the people, by the people and for the people'' doesn't he understand? He falls back on the old conservative saw that the government is trying to redistribute wealth that doesn't belong to it. Additionally, he wants to create the illusion that all of America's ills, and I agree we have many, must be laid at the feet of the Democrats, i.e., liberals. Where were all the conservatives when we began our precipitous fall into the liberal pit he so decries? - Al Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. Sherman Oaks He's no hero Jeffery Maier, the youngster who achieved notoriety for reaching out of the stands and interfering with the Baltimore-Yankees playoff game, is treated as a hero by the media. I understand the enthusiasm of the youngster, armed with a glove, doing what comes naturally. What I don't understand is his being lauded for it. Since we live in a climate that charges a 6-year-old with sexual harassment sexual harassment, in law, verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature, aimed at a particular person or group of people, especially in the workplace or in academic or other institutional settings, that is actionable, as in tort or under equal-opportunity statutes. for giving a schoolmate a peck on the cheek, and puts basketball players who show up to games wearing a dress on the best-seller lists, why am I surprised? - Jerry B. Esten Northridge Too much Madonna I wholeheartedly whole·heart·ed adj. Marked by unconditional commitment, unstinting devotion, or unreserved enthusiasm: wholehearted approval. whole agree with Dennis McCarthy in his column on Oct. 17, about the birth of Madonna's baby and the hullabaloo the media and the paparazzi pa·pa·raz·zo n. pl. pa·pa·raz·zi A freelance photographer who doggedly pursues celebrities to take candid pictures for sale to magazines and newspapers. made of it. It was like a three-ring circus. I was so disgusted with them, every time they had the story of the birth I turned the TV off. - Granada Lietz Mission Hills CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Rains supreme? The vaunted vaunt v. vaunt·ed, vaunt·ing, vaunts v.tr. To speak boastfully of; brag about. v.intr. To speak boastfully; brag. See Synonyms at boast1. n. 1. SuperScooper's cost-effectiveness is debatable. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion