PUBLIC FORUM BOTTOMLESS TROUGH.

Re ``Terminating waste'' (Editorial, May 21):

I would draw your attention to the Daily News front-page headline of Jan. 25, 1997: ``Katz, Boland back on state payroll,'' in which Assembly Speaker Cruz Bustamante named Richard Katz to a seat on the California Medical Assistance Commission, a part-time panel meeting only twice a month but paying members the same salary as a full-time Assembly member. Also former Gov. Pete Wilson named former Assemblywoman Paula Boland to a new state post. Go get 'em, Arnold. It's about time.

- John Bunte

Sunland

Arnold, Arnold

Re ``Arnold takes aim at cushy board appointees'' (May 20):

This article validates my vote for Arnold. He is doing what should have been done years ago. Once the cushy (useless) part-time jobs paying $90,000 to more than $100,000 to former legislators, administrators, officials and party leaders are eliminated, we may see a drop in our taxes. It is unfortunate Arnold is not eligible for president. He is, however, eligible to run for any office except those that require birth in the USA.

- Ronald Adler

Chatsworth

Busing battles

``L.A.'s busing battles'' (May 16) hit me like few articles ever have. I suppose that is because I was a very young participant in the anti-busing effort, an organization called United Parents Against Busing. I remember a rally at Pierce College that drew thousands of people and two television reporters and at least one candidate for city government.

It really was an emotional immersion into grass-roots activism for a 16- to 17-year-old young man. Roberta Weintraub, Joy Picus, countless parents including my own, Lynne Hunker - God rest her soul - and Phillip Hunker, my mother and stepfather. Thank you all for fighting so hard for a good cause and thanks to Jennifer Radcliffe for a fine article on difficult times.

- Daniel Ballard

North Hollywood

Take my chances

Re ``Hands on the wheel'' (Your Opinions, May 19):

I see where Caroline Malloy feels it's utter nonsense to be ticketed for eating a hamburger and sipping a drink while driving her car. I wonder if this was the same person I almost plowed into this week while driving on Balboa Avenue around noontime.

The woman driver was going less than 20 miles per hour and the traffic was horrific. She was totally oblivious to what was going on around her. I'll take my chances with an illegal or someone who has consumed a six- pack, Caroline. I find anyone who uses the front seat of their car while driving for a dining table is utter nonsense.

- Bob Mauch

North Hills

More useless laws

Re ``Hands on wheel - or else'' (May 19):

After voting for this new law, I wonder if all the Democrats jumped on their desks and did their best rendition of James Brown singing ``I feel good, like I knew that I would, I feel good, so good.''

It is amazing that the left can always come up with more useless laws restricting one's freedoms rather than enforcing those that are already there. In addition to the ordinances of no smoking on beaches or in the parks, now we have no combing your hair in the car, no fiddling with the radio, no smacking the kids in the back seat, no cell phone. I have never seen a more intolerant, social-engineering bunch of busybodies.

- Eric Dressers

Burbank

Beheading condemned

Re ``No condemnation'' (Your Opinion, May 20):

As a Muslim I condemn the beheading of Nick Berg by those savages. What Scott Brossard does not understand is that those savages are not true Muslims. A lot of atrocities have been committed in the name of religion - but that does not mean it is the teachings of that religion.

Islam is the religion of peace. Judge every individual by their actions and not their religion. I do not blame the religion (whether Christian or Jewish) of those U.S. soldiers who abused and murdered the Iraqi prisoners (which reportedly more than 70 percent were innocent Iraqis picked up at random). I blame the soldiers and their superiors. That is why you should not portray us as a ``homogenous group of villainous terrorists.''

- Sami Sadri

Calabasas

In a war zone

Re ``American attack kills 40 at wedding, Iraqis say'' (May 20):

Just because the ``wedding party'' were wearing civilian clothes with women and children in the group doesn't mean they're not the enemy. Our enemies are terrorists who are not assigned uniforms. Women strap on bombs, children carry guns.

These people were in a deserted area where strategic weapons were known to be hidden. It was 2:45 a.m. when an American military helicopter flew over. If they were shooting in celebration, as claimed, does it make sense they'd continue shooting when a military helicopter flies over? They were in a war zone. It does make sense the military would fire back.

- Janet Hinde

Canyon Country

Dreaming up problems

Re ``Firefighters oppose overtime payoff'' (May 20):

Integrity, a simple word with a big meaning - something our City Council would know nothing about. Only in Los Angeles do they dream up these problems. What happened to getting your paycheck, like I did? I earned so much this week, and that is what I got paid.

But nooooo, this is too simple. Let's play with this for a while and screw it up. At any rate, taxpayers will foot the bill. Our politicians need a reality check. Former Gov. Gray Davis got one, why not the rest?

- Joe Pinoy Lozano

Mission Hills

Never rebuild it

Re ``Poolish price'' (Your Opinions, May 18):

The letter writer expressing the loss of the Northridge Pool needs to be gently reminded of some simple mathematics ... (as calculated by L.A.) the city of Los Angeles bases its repair price on the volume of the pool, hence, if your pool is one-sixth of the size of the Northridge Pool (by a length dimension), then cube the ratios.

So, it is now one to 216. With this reasoning (by Los Angeles officials), the new pool is $45,000 times 216 or nearly $10 million. (By the way, I miss the pool, too ... and the city of L.A. will never rebuild it.)

- Tom Baker

Simi Valley 

Too early to tell

Re ``Traditional marriages'' (Your Opinions, May 20):

Gay weddings weren't legalized a decade ago in the Netherlands but were legalized on April 1, 2001, a mere three years ago. There is no way that there is already a measurable impact on weddings as a total in the Netherlands in this short period of time.

In fact, the Netherlands suffers from the same problems with marriage as the United States: massive increase of divorces, people living together but not getting married, the ``graying'' of the society where there's many more older people than younger people (fewer young people means fewer marriages), etc. Gay marriage has little to do with this. I am happily married to a great American woman and I feel that homosexual people should be able to experience the same happiness and rights as the rest of us.

- Mike Hemmelder

Woodland Hills

True love

Re ``Traditional marriages'' (Public Forum, May 20):

Karen Foxen does have a point. I don't think marriage in the U.S. has ever been on firmer ground. Ask any divorce lawyer. What she doesn't know is marriage in this country used to be more a transaction than anything else. Which is why ``straight'' marriages were performed inside, while gay marriages, or the closest thing to them back in the day, were performed outside because they were done for true love.

Marriage isn't about having kids, it's about sharing your life with the person you love. There are many gay couples, unmarried, who have been together longer than most married straight couples. That's true love, and Foxen would gladly deny them the right to be joined legally. Why? Does it offend her? Probably.

- Jason Melby

Van Nuys

You call that tough?

If the hysterical hand-wringers over Abu Ghraib pictures wanted to know real naked humiliation and abuse of inmates, they should have gone through Marine Corps boot camp with me.

- Bill Starr

Burbank