PUBLIC FORUM DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE.Re ``L.A.'s real estate spree'' (Sept. 13): My outrage meter is worn out from going over the top so many times this year ... and here we go again. The folks that govern L.A. hired a consultant to advise them on buying a building which would net the ``consultant'' more than $900,000 from the owner of this building if the sale went through. The ``consultant,'' Trammell Crow F. Trammell Crow (born June 11, 1914, in Dallas, Texas) is an American property developer who created several famous projects, including Dallas Market Center, Peachtree Center (Atlanta, Georgia), and San Francisco's Embarcadero Center. Co., said this commission was ``standard practice'' and that the city had agreed to it. After this was revealed, several members of our esteemed elected City Council stated they should not be relying on someone with a vested interest Vested Interest A financial or personal stake one entity has in an asset, security, or transaction. Notes: For example, if you have a mortgage, your bank has a vested interest on the sale of your house. See also: Right in having the building sold. I feel like Alice after falling down the rabbit hole. - Nancy Cook Nancy Cook (August 26, 1884–August 16, 1962) was an American suffragette, teacher, part owner of the Todhunter School and an intimate of Eleanor Roosevelt. Birth and early life Northridge Unethical practices Re ``Dim bulbs'' (Editorial, Sept. 15): In this editorial, you asked, ``Do they think we're so gullible?'' Well, in a word, ``Yes.'' Just look at the numbers of sad and unethical practices that continue in the greater L.A. governmental area, not to mention all the propositions and measures that are written by the politicians in crafty ways that pull the wool over most of the sheepish sheep·ish adj. 1. Embarrassed, as by consciousness of a fault: a sheepish grin. 2. Meek or stupid. sheep voters' eyes. These gullible voters pass these terrible measures, then are surprised that more of their money is gone and there's nothing to show for it. In short, any measure that asks for more of our money is a joke. ``They'' already have more than enough of our money to do what needs to be done here. They just prefer to keep taking more and maintain the corruption. Poor us. - Dave Petterson Sherman Oaks Preventable Re ``Ivan's terrible twisters'' (Sept. 17): ``It's sad,'' said a weary Florida Gov. Jeb Bush John Ellis "Jeb" Bush (born February 11, 1953) is an American politician, and was the 43rd Governor of Florida as well as the first Republican to be re-elected to that office. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the younger brother of current President George W. . ``I 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. quite why we've had this run of storms. You just have to accept that.'' Jeb, look no further than your brother's scorched-earth anti-environment policy, which takes us back in time to the dark ages of lax emission controls, unlimited development of public forest land and creeping global warming global warming, the gradual increase of the temperature of the earth's lower atmosphere as a result of the increase in greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution. for corporate profit. We do know who is changing our climate and, no, we don't have to accept it. - Marshall Abernathy Woodland Hills Convenient commode commode Piece of furniture resembling the English chest of drawers, used in France from the late 17th century. Most had marble tops, and some were fitted with pairs of doors. Re ``Shoppers like a plush flush'' (Business, Sept. 16): The article really hit home. As a mother of two young children, I certainly have noticed the cleanliness/convenience of public restrooms while shopping. It's great that Westfield Sherman Oaks is updating its facilities. Now if they could also relocate them to more-convenient locations. Try wrestling with a double stroller while dodging maintenance carts down a long narrow corridor wrought with turns and closed doors to get to the restroom. - Anita O'Connell Van Nuys Chatsworth library seal In regard to Patrick's O'Connor's cartoon ``Politically incorrect politically incorrect adj. Disregarding or unconcerned with political correctness. political incorrectness n. Adj. 1. county seal,'' Sept. 16): I am deeply ``offended'' by the display of the porn queen of Chatsworth on the new politically incorrect county seal. Although it definite depicts our ``heritage'' of Chatsworth, I would like to see it replaced with a picture of our new Chatsworth library showing the locked gates. We have a new library - the lights are on, the books are on the shelf, but no one to manage it. I was told that our city does not have the funding for a library staff. Although I can't figure out where our librarians from our old library have gone, perhaps another bond issue will fund a library staff for our new library. - Kathy Perger Chatsworth A better amendment Re ``Amendment sought to let Arnold become president'' (Sept. 16): Instead of creating a constitutional amendment to allow foreign-born citizens to become president, why not go to a higher level and create an amendment to prevent actors and entertainers from holding public office? - Tom Hodges Reseda Don't do it Re ``Amendment sought to let Arnold become president'' (Sept. 16): Some are trying to change the provision in the U.S. Constitution by our Founding Fathers to let the foreign-born run for President. ... We must not let this happen. - Martha Ballardo Montrose West Nile virus West Nile virus, microorganism and the infection resulting from it, which typically produces no symptoms or a flulike condition. The virus is a flavivirus and is related to a number of viruses that cause encephalitis. battle The city gave a presentation on West Nile virus to our Chatsworth Neighborhood Council, basically, how to prevent WVN WVN West Nile virus, see there happening to you, or your neighbors. Following the talk, I asked: Considering the death of six citizens, why hasn't the city sprayed the Valley by air/ground? They answered: It is up to the state. The state health services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract said they are working with the city, but not about spraying. Summary: The city is fighting the hot spots hot spots acute moist dermatitis. , but not ``every possible'' source. Problem, L.A. homes have animals, pools, auto-water systems, all sources of West Nile virus. The next excuse from L.A. will be: With the cold weather, we should have no more trouble. How many deaths between now and then? Also, when the warm weather returns in the spring, the mosquitoes will rise again - along with their children. - Charles Dusheck Chatsworth Edwards' draft age In a Sept. 16 letter to the editor, Josie Nericcio ``attempted'' to set the record straight by stating that John Edwards  This article or section contains information about one or more candidates in an upcoming or ongoing election.Content may change as the election approaches. did not reach a draftable age until 1973, the year the draft ended. This statement is only half right; the draft did end in 1973. According to the official Kerry Edwards web site, John Edwards was born in 1953, thus making him eligible for the draft in 1971 when he turned 18. Thus Edwards could have volunteered for the service but, like many of his generation, he asked for and received a student deferment deferment Delaying of an obligation. See Default, Medical student debt. Cf Forbearance. . It seems that Josie must have used Dan Rather as a fact checker. - Ron Dasher dash·er n. 1. One that dashes, especially the plunger of an ice-cream freezer. 2. Sports The ledge along the top of the boards of an ice rink. Los Angeles Borrow and spend Whatever happened to the ``Contract with America'' and the ``Balanced Budget Balanced budget A budget in which the income equals expenditure. See: budget. balanced budget A budget in which the expenditures incurred during a given period are matched by revenues. Initiative,'' which were once high priorities of conservative politicians? We have accumulated the largest deficit ever in the history of our country. Our national debt is over $7 trillion, and, according to the U.S. Treasury U.S. Treasury Created in 1798, the United States Department of the Treasury is the government (Cabinet) department responsible for issuing all Treasury bonds, notes and bills. Some of the government branches operating under the U.S. Treasury umbrella include the IRS, U.S. , the interest on that debt is over $300 billion. How in the world will we ever be able to enforce our trade laws against our bankers? The whole future of our country has been put in jeopardy to cope with the ``borrow and spend'' method this administration is using. As a responsible citizen, I'd rather ``tax and spend'' - or pay as you go - than push my financial burdens off to my children, grandchildren, and, yes, great-grandchildren by ``borrow and spend.'' - Gerda Fadden Thousand Oaks Version of royalty I'm with Jay Leno on this one - the smog check law. I drive an '88 Honda Accord with 132,000 miles that has failed the smog test three times, and Jay owns this splendid classic car collection that is exempt from the law, but that isn't the point. Jay is a star. A star is the American version of royalty. Royalty is entitled to certain perks and privileges the rest of us - the average working slobs - have dismally failed to claim for ourselves. At the top of the list is: peace of mind. I refer you to the last scene in the movie ``The Madness of King George.'' The king stands there on the steps of the castle to address this vast hideous throng of scum - his subjects - and he turns to his son and says: ``Look happy. That's what we're here for.'' - Jack Spiegelman Los Angeles Weapon or tool? Banning assault weapons unfortunately has no effect on the criminal element. The real issue is whether our law enforcement agencies A law enforcement agency (LEA) is a term used to describe any agency which enforces the law. This may be a local or state police, federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). have the means to combat domestic terrorists. Just as we provide our military with the most advanced tools to combat international aggression, the same thinking needs to be implemented here at home. The very first priority of our tax dollars should be allocated to those who protect us, not to those who legislate us. - George Green Valley Village |
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