PUBLIC FORUM : WRONG LESSON.Re ``Jesse preaches `Can't Do' '' (Opinion, Nov. 24): Yes, it does seem that time, success and a great deal of publicity have reshaped Jesse Jackson Noun 1. Jesse Jackson - United States civil rights leader who led a national campaign against racial discrimination and ran for presidential nomination (born in 1941) Jesse Louis Jackson, Jackson from a dedicated, sensible man trying to inspire and guide African-American youths to maturity and self-sufficiency into one who often appears to be crazed, frenzied and bent on Adj. 1. bent on - fixed in your purpose; "bent on going to the theater"; "dead set against intervening"; "out to win every event" bent, dead set, out to hyping people by screaming about racism (thereby keeping alive the them vs. us theory civil rights has been trying to resolve and eliminate for years) and importing professional protesters. His themes are usually anti-establishment rather than pro-anything-positive. This latest uproar seems to have been to send the message to African-Americans that breaking the rules is OK and, after all, ``boys will be boys.'' And he also undermined the authority of the school. Lack of respect for the authority of teachers, schools and parents is one of the biggest problems with too many of today's youths - of all races. And, to add a note of ridiculous to the pot, in a TV interview Jackson said, ``Schools are about correcting children. . . .'' Oh? - Terri Andrews Castaic There's a difference Well I see that Jesse Jackson is back to his usual grand-schtick. This time trying to fire up a bunch of his usual audience of sycophants because six students who happen to be African-American were expelled from a school in Decatur, Ill., for taking part in a brawl in the stands at a football game and rightfully being expelled from school because of it. He says that it was not a question of racism, but whether the students were treated fairly. What about the rest of the crowd who were having to deal with those guys who were doing the brawling? Don't they count? By now, I am sure that you have heard of Clinton fatigue. Well, Jackson belongs in that same category, and no matter how much he would like to think so, he should face that fact that a Martin Luther King Jr. he will never be. There is a difference between being famous for being a genuine leader, and simply being a headline hunter. - Graydon Wayne Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, Alternative math Reference is made to the report that mathematicians have criticized the new Mathland and other school mathematic programs endorsed by the Department of Education because they don't teach students the division of fractions. But the DOE is endorsing that which it knows needs to be endorsed. You can't teach what you don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. ; and most elementary school elementary school: see school. teachers and their professors in the schools of education don't know how to divide fractions. Most teachers are scared to death of mathematics, and that fear is transferred to their students. I suggest that we can't get our kids to do mathematics until and unless you get teachers who know the subject matter and are not afraid of math themselves. - George Noonan Sylmar No one responsible I am afraid that it will take more than new leadership to clean up the mighty LAUSD LAUSD Los Angeles Unified School District (Los Angeles, CA) . The good old boy network is alive and well, and it will interfere with the new leadership. The state must take over and clean house. Fire all incompetent administrators, fire them, not buy them out. It's obvious that the current administrators are not up to the job. It just seems that no one is responsible for anything that goes wrong. - L. Art Camarillo 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. Nice irony The Nov. 27 headline ``Crowds mob malls'' followed by the stories titled ``Parents go cuckoo for Pokemon'' and ``Shoppers cope to get bargains'' spoke of parents waiting in front of toy stores as early as 4 in the morning to ensure their child's favorite toy would be under the tree. It is ironic that Ann Lander's column in L.A. Life, which starts out ``Want to raise a delinquent child? Here's how to do it,'' lists as rule No. 1, ``Begin with infancy to give the child everything he wants. In this way, he will grow up to believe the world owes him a living'' and, as part of rule No. 9, ``See that every sensual desire is gratified grat·i·fy tr.v. grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing, grat·i·fies 1. To please or satisfy: His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at please. 2. . Denial may lead to harmful frustration.'' - Stephen P. Demski West Hills Van Noise Airport How charming, Vanna White Vanna White (born Vanna Marie Rosich on February 18, 1957) is an American television personality, best known as the hostess and puzzle board operator on the long-running game show Wheel of Fortune. She is the niece of actor Christopher George. posing with Clay Lacy and a Learjet. Lacy is known to be a proponent of allowing Stage 2 and 3 jets to use Van Nuys Airport Van Nuys Airport (IATA: VNY, ICAO: KVNY, FAA LID: VNY) is a public airport located in Van Nuys, California in the San Fernando Valley, within the Los Angeles city limits. regardless of the impact they have on the community. The so-called impact on the economy has top priority over noise and pollution that these jets and helicopter's bring daily to the community. Could not these successful businesses and the wealthy owners be able to absorb the cost of noise abatement equipment without too much impact on their profits? - Ken Thatcher Thatch·er , Margaret Hilda. Baroness. Born 1925. British Conservative politician who served as prime minister (1979-1990). Her administration was marked by anti-inflationary measures, a brief war in the Falkland Islands (1982), and the passage of a Sr. Van Nuys Taxed to death The brouhaha over ATM fees is simply unbelievable What really bothers me is how the average cardholders can agonize over this tiny fee when their government takes far more money every day, over 40 percent in some cases. A recently published article from the Taxpayers Association of Europe states that Sweden pays the highest taxes, 51.9 percent, while the U.S. ranks 25th, paying 29.7 percent. Naturally I wondered what I actually pay in taxes so I totaled my federal tax, state tax, Social Security tax, California sales tax sales tax, levy on the sale of goods or services, generally calculated as a percentage of the selling price, and sometimes called a purchase tax. It is usually collected in the form of an extra charge by the retailer, who remits the tax to the government. , property taxes, plus miscellaneous taxes levied on gas and federal excise taxes on such items as tires. It was no surprise to find that I am paying an amazing 41.5 percent of my total family income to taxes. The difference between my family and a Swedish family is that for their taxes they get free education through college and free medical care. Many ATM users are paying more than 40 percent of their income in taxes and elicits no response, yet when a petty charge of $1.50 is levied for convenience of using an ATM, they go ballistic. - Lorin Wainwood Newbury Park Knock on the door I just received a copy of the Public Safety Committee's proposal to make the sale of firearm munitions mu·ni·tion n. War materiel, especially weapons and ammunition. Often used in the plural. tr.v. mu·ni·tioned, mu·ni·tion·ing, mu·ni·tions To supply with munitions. , components, and reloading Reloading A term lenders commonly use to refer to the habits of borrowers taking out loans to repay the balance on other loans. Often reloading is done to take advantage of lower interest rates offered by other loans, and potential tax benefits. devices illegal in the city of Los Angeles
2. In the constitution of the United States, the preamble. declares that the people "do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America. .'' Are three city council members really ``The People of Los Angeles''? Are ``The People of the City of Los Angeles'' aware of this proposal? This proposal is being championed by Joel Wachs, Cindy Miscikowski and Nick Pacheco of the Public Safety Committee. Somehow I doubt they authored the proposal, but just the same they are the civil service force behind it. I'm sure Bernie Parks, Handgun Control and others would like to see the proposal become law. If it becomes law, in the not too distant future can we expect possession of munitions, components and reloading devices to be illegal? Will possession warrant a search and seizure search and seizure In law enforcement, an exploratory investigation of a premises or a person and the taking into custody of property or an individual in the interest of gaining evidence of unlawful activity or guilt. visit from the LAPD 1. LAPD - Link Access Procedure on the D channel. 2. LAPD - Los Angeles Police Department. ? - S. Krogh North Hills Secession no guarantee Re ``Neglect everywhere'' (Public Forum, Nov. 21): I wish to inform the public that total neglect in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. in terms of repaving and cleaning streets, filling potholes and trimming trees does not apply to Sunland. During the past two years, our portion of Foothill Boulevard extending into Tujunga has been repaved, with potholes filled, ramps leading onto and off of the Foothill Freeway East have been landscaped with scenic trees and large rocks, and beautification beau·ti·fy tr. & intr.v. beau·ti·fied, beau·ti·fy·ing, beau·ti·fies To make or become beautiful. beau projects in Sunland have sprung up due to civic efforts, funding and the support of City Councilman Joel Wachs. I have personally seen trees in Sunland Park trimmed by city employees on more than one occasion and streets cleaned. Secession from the city of Los Angeles would be an extreme measure to correct years of neglect. What guarantee is there that the cost of public services will not rise due to a reduced tax base, and what guarantee is there that they will be better? - Meiling Dai Sunland One rule for everyone No, I do not believe that senior drivers should be targeted for other driving tests than other drivers. Set one rule for all drivers. If any driver is ticketed or has an accident, perhaps that is the time to test all persons involved in the accident. I am a nondriver. I have never driven an automobile. But I am a constant passenger and I see all ages that drive crazy here in the Valley. Ticket those drivers disobeying the ``Walk'' signs. Many have no concern for those of us who are walking - many of the walkers are seniors. - Jackie Roose Woodland Hills Wrong leader leaving Why doesn't Mayor Richard Riordan step down, instead of the humble Los Angeles Unified School District The Los Angeles Unified School District (the "LAUSD") is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population. Superintendent Ruben Zacarias? - Brian Hutchings Santa Monica Best use Re ``A better use'' (Public Forum, Nov. 21): It seems that the writer is concerned what a wealthy individual does with her money, Glorya Kaufman donating $18 million to UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX . The writer suggests feeding the poor would be a better use. I feel we need to help those less fortunate then ourselves, but when you feed a hungry person today you will have to do it again tomorrow. Kaufman's donation will put hundreds of people to work building the performance dance center and when it is completed countless others will work there and enjoy the results of her generous donation. Thank you Ms. Kaufman, your generosity will touch thousands. - Peter G Glowaski Northridge |
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