PUBLIC FORUM GOOD TIMING.

How nice to receive my property tax bill just prior to the election. I now know how to vote on the propositions. I remember how the assessment for trauma/emergency was to keep trauma centers from closing. How many centers have closed? Is it three or four in the Valley alone? Now they want more.

Not on your life will I give them more money to squander. The same goes for 9-1-1. I'm voting no on anything that costs me more money for our politicians to fritter away. Look what happened to the $309 million surplus that the county found. No more; I can't afford it.

- Jack Pedder

Granada Hills

Dog and pony show 

Re ``15 face fines in City Hall corruption'' (Oct. 15):

Convicting a few businessmen for bribing L.A politicians is no different than arresting them for buying building materials, employing workers or paying taxes. Bribery in Los Angeles is simply a cost of doing business.

Our civic leaders have put these guys between a rock and a hard place, and now they get a hand slap for trying to breathe. Meanwhile, as usual, the crooks that demanded the bribes get away with a ``no comment,'' and sneak off to some dark alley to squeeze some other poor slob. The fish stinks from the top. Until we throw some crooks out of office, these convictions are just a dog and pony show.

- Michael Guetzow

Woodland Hills

Street time for cops

Re ``Cops' workweek'' (Your Opinions, Oct. 12):

Let's clear the air. Under the 8/5 workweek, an officer is on the street 2,080 hours per year. With holidays off at 12 per year, the net street time is 1,984 hours. Under the 3/12 workweek, officers work 36 hours per seven-day workweek, or 1,872 hours per year on the street.

The difference between 1,984 hours and 1,872 hours is 112 hours less time on the street in one year. How does this equate with Los Angeles getting more police coverage? Answer: We are not getting more; we are getting less. Under 3/12, from each officer on the payroll, we receive 112 hours less street time per year.

- Joe Trpcic

Van Nuys

More hours worked

Re ``Police time off'' (Your Opinions, Oct. 14):

When working a schedule using the eight-hour workdays favored by Councilman Bernard Parks, officers receive eight regular days off and one holiday (eight hours) each 28-day period. This amounts to their working a total of 152 hours every 28 days.

While working the present 12-hour workday, officers have 14 regular days off and one holiday (12 hours) each 28-day period. This amounts to their working a total of 156 hours every 28 days. In addition, they do not receive any additional compensation for the additional four hours worked. The true reply to ``How many unworked hours are compensated for in a 52-week year?'' Answer: Zero.

- Lonnie Tiano

Canyon Country

Dangerous jobs

Re ``Cop pay'' (Your Opinions, Oct. 14):

I spent most of my life in the elevator business. My wife kissed me every morning wondering if I'd come home that night too. There are only 25,000 elevator mechanics in the U.S. and Canada. Since the year 2000 we have lost 25 mechanics in the line of duty. Per capita compared with police agencies that's a huge number.

If you say to yourself and others ``my line of work is dangerous'' often enough and long enough you start to believe it - what seems to be is what it seems to be. I think that the Board of Supervisors hid $300 million until Proposition A got on the ballot. Now that the proposition is on the ballot, if it passes they'll have more money than they know what to do with.

- Kenneth Johnson 

Tujunga

More schools?

The Oct. 14 Daily News front page says the nation's second-largest school district (ours) in one year lost 4,000 students and foresees a steady decline in population especially in the Hispanic sector.

Then on Page 12 says the Ambassador Hotel will be changed into three schools providing seats for 4,200 students. So what gives? If we have fewer students now and there will be fewer still in the future, do we really need more schools? Is this about students or about some messy real estate deal?

- Dante F. Rochetti

West Hills

L.A. fiscal lunacy 

Re ``Racing warning a real smash'' (Oct. 14):

The LAPD, in an effort to stop the illegal street races in the Valley, announced that it has a ``new tool.'' The LAPD will begin seizing and destroying vehicles used in illegal street racing under the ``Nuisance Vehicle'' abatement law. The value of these modified vehicles can be more than $50,000 each.

I find it inconceivable that destruction is chosen by the city when those vehicles could be sold to finance the emergency rooms or other desperate public needs. If the LAPD had a bucket of confiscated water, and a fire erupted in Bratton's wastebasket, would the water be symbolically dumped in the ocean as the flames leapt forth?

- Charles L. Murray

Simi Valley 

Look who's driving

I am growing tired of the claim that President Bush is bad for the environment. Has anyone else noticed that the campaign bumper stickers on oversize, seven-passenger, gas-guzzling SUV with only the driver inside almost always say ``Kerry/Edwards?''

- Dan Pulos

Agoura Hills

Give us a choice

When will either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party give us a choice of a good, honest, caring man, for a candidate for president? Probably never. Also, whatever happened to the ``loyal opposition'' after an election?

- Irving M. Leemon

Northridge

Not bobcat's fault

Re ``Parrot falls prey to bobcat'' (Oct. 13):

I read with a mixture of sadness and rage about the demise of Rob Snyder's macaw, Shirley. I have an Amazon parrot that has been a very important part of my life for over 20 years now. I can't imagine how I would feel if something were to happen to him. On that level I sincerely empathize with Rob.

However, leaving a small animal unattended outside is an invitation for disaster. Birds are prey animals and to a bobcat it's just dinner. Leaving Shirley outside unattended, especially if her wings were clipped, was tantamount to setting the table for the bobcat. It's not the bobcat's fault.

- Geoff Sykes

Glendale

Not unexpected

Re ``"Parrot falls prey to bobcat'' (Oct. 13):

As an animal lover, I truly sympathize with Rob Snyder's loss of his pet. But I'm continually amazed at how people act so blindsided when a beloved pet left outdoors disappears and the culprit is found to be a wild animal.

As nonstop population growth eats up wildlife habitat at an unprecedented rate, these animals have little choice but to visit our neighborhoods in search of food and water just to survive.

- Mike Laskavy

Oak Park

Death penalty

Each Supreme Court case regarding the death penalty spells the ultimate end of capital punishment. Recent cases regarding executing juvenile murderers indicate that such punishment will end. Recent court cases regarding mentally impaired convicts place the burden of proof on the state to establish a convict's mental state - often impaired at the time of the crime.

No state executes murderers over 75. Women are rarely executed. Minorities make up the majority of Death Row inmates. Thus, I predict the USA will eventually end capital punishment in this century.

- Sol Taylor

Sherman Oaks