PUBLIC FORUM HEALTH INSPECTIONS.

Re ``Timid investigators'' (Editorial, April 4):

You make an unsubstantiated assumption that the L.A. County health inspectors are neglecting certain neighborhoods out of fear and that this impacts the needs of neighborhoods beset with social problems. In fact, all of Los Angeles receives inspections, regardless of the dangers or time of day (inspectors routinely respond to late-night emergencies). The safety concerns associated must be considered.

I believe that someone ``sitting behind a desk'' is not informed about the job of the health inspector. All the inspectors are asking for is a review of the process to assure their safety.

I challenge the writer to make some night stops with these dedicated public servants.

Then one might experience the hazards of the job, rather than jump to unfounded conclusions about the inspectors.

- Adam Rocke

Burbank

Lawbreaking pedestrians

Re ``Cops hop on drivers who don't stop'' (April 7):

Your article regarding the increase in deaths of pedestrians pretty much blames motorists. I have to disagree. The other day while two others and myself were waiting to make a right turn, there were three girls in the crosswalk, crossing while the signal was flashing not to walk, just sort of loitering in the crosswalk laughing at us waiting to turn.

On numerous occasions, I have seen older people step into the crosswalk as the ``no walk'' is flashing and, halfway through, the light turns red to them.

It is no wonder that traffic gets backed up when nothing is done about these inconsiderate pedestrians. Why aren't they getting tickets for breaking the law?

- Joseph A. McMillin

West Hills

Mental health cutbacks

Re ``Northridge psychiatric unit closure'' (April 6):

What will it take for our government to realize the importance of mental health care? We need our psychiatric care centers, especially for our youths (teens). How many more teen suicides or outcries for help, such as cutting themselves, does it take to realize that mental health problems in our society are just as big an epidemic as obesity or diabetes?

And why is it that Medi-Cal always has to strain our hospital services to the point where we can't even provide services for private insured citizens, who well deserve the benefits they pay for?

- Donna Cagle

Granada Hills

Out-of-touch judges

Re ``Death-verdict appeals compound vile crimes'' (Their Opinions, April 6):

Give the public an apple, but never let them see the tree. This is in essence what Bob Baker of the Police Protective League is saying. Dish out the proper penalty for murder (this is the only crime you can get the death penalty for), and then let the victim's family suffer for 20 or so years.

If justice was ever to prevail in this state, the appeals process would be given 365 days, and the murderer would be eligible for execution on day 366.

But, alas, this is the left coast. We do need a change. Maybe limit appellate court judge terms to three years.

- Greg Beckman

North Hollywood

One-track mind

Re ``Boxer defies her own 'mainstream' label'' (Viewpoint, April 4):

Chris Weinkopf's column on our ``abortion at all costs'' Sen. Barbara Boxer succinctly defines her one-track mind.

It is no surprise that she was unable to vote for the Unborn Victims of Violence Act because unborn children are just not in the mainstream worthy enough for our senator.

If an elected official cannot see his or her way to give even the most modest of rights to the most defenseless of our society, do we really care what else they have to say about anything?

- Mary Burke-Farrell

Northridge

Defying the right

Sen. Boxer is courageous to defy the right's attempt to undermine civil rights by prosecuting a crime committed against Laci: a Latina. Its clearly part of a strategy to reverse Roe v. Wade.

She is doing right, despite the misinformed and manipulated mainstream.

Thank God, someone is challenging the ``mainstream'' of our day. Our lives would be different if Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Susan Anthony, Thurgood Marshall, Cesar Chavez, Samuel Gompers and Franklin Roosevelt didn't challenge the mainstream of their day.

As a working-class American woman of color, I would be property, have no voice, no rights.

- Alma Marquez

Bell

Handicapped parking

Not all disabled people are visibly handicapped. Most days, excessive pain may prohibit me a walk of several hundred feet without resting. However, unless you saw the scarring on my back, you'd never know that two major spinal operations kept me from paralysis of the legs (and that a third operation has been suggested).

In my refusal to let myself give in, I do my utmost to appear vigorous and ``normal.'' I force myself to not limp or hunch over.

Am I one of those who appears to be parking illegally or unnecessarily in a blue handicapped spot? Yes. But I'd never wish upon you the small relief that handicapped space gives me.

- Phillip B. Segall

Burbank

Reduced speed

If there was ever a time to return the national speed limit back to 55 mph, now is the time. It would not only reduce fuel consumption millions of gallons per day nationwide, but your vehicle will get more miles to the gallon of gas.

As an added bonus, many lives would be saved.

When you consider the thousands of drivers on the road today that cannot handle a vehicle at today's higher speeds, it only makes sense to lower the speed limit. I speak as a past professional racer.

- Jack Wollard

Sunland

Bring our boys home

Re ``Iraq erupts'' (April 5):

President Bush and his staff are sitting comfortable in Washington while American soldiers are being killed every day in Iraq, their bodies burned and dragged through the streets and hung.

I think it's time for our boys to come home or we're going to hear about new atrocities every day.

Iraq is wealthy enough to rebuild and govern itself.

- Anthony Gigerian

Los Angeles

Plea bargaining 

It seems to me that the conditions under which President George Bush and Dick Cheney have agreed to appear before the 9-11 Commission sound an awful lot like the kind of plea bargaining a guilty person would engage in. Way to go, Bush and Cheney. You've succeeded in reducing the office of the president and vice president to the bargaining level of a petty criminal.

- Josie Nericcio

North Hollywood

American response

The April 5 Daily News front-page picture of the Iraqi people celebrating the death of U.S. soldiers is grossly offensive and is glorifying the killing of Americans. The Daily News reports the killing of our soldiers as if it were a score in a sick video game.

The American response to such atrocities is hardly mentioned. It gives the impression that the American soldiers are just pussyfooting around and getting themselves killed by the people they are trying to help.

These Iraqi people and their religious leaders only understand violence. All of those in the picture should receive the same harsh treatment that they give to our soldiers. Anything less only encourages them to continue their killing.

- Gerald L. Rowe

West Hills

In the mail

Gas prices too high? Try using the mail.

- Jack Botwin

Sylmar