PUBLIC FORUM MEASURE OF CHARACTER.

Re ``Ready for battle'' (July 30):

What a wonderful speech John Kerry gave at the Democratic National Convention: the delivery was impeccable, the content was positive, constructive and instructive, and the man came across as warm and caring.

Looking at the three yardsticks of character - his heart, his brain and his guts - convinces us that he has our vote in the next election because, in our estimation, his opponent lacks two out of those three markers.

- Sevak and Ida Khodaverdian

Sherman Oaks

Bringing down the house

Re ``Kerry scores'' (Editorial, July 31):

Wow, what a missed opportunity. Contrary to your editorial this morning, Sen. Kerry failed to unveil the entire picture of his public life to the nation yesterday.

After parading with Vietnam veterans for the last couple of days, you'd think the senator would present his anti-war activities in the video preceding his speech, highlighting this crucial phase of his life that probably shaped his political leanings. He then should have recruited Jane Fonda to introduce him to the convention and the entire nation. Now that would have brought the house down.

- Miguel Miguel

Reseda

Lerry as senator

Re ``Kerry scores'' (July 30):

During John Kerry's acceptance speech, he made a multitude of promisesincluding tax cuts for the middle class. As a senator he voted against theincome-tax rate reduction for everyone, the elimination of the marriagepenalty, increased child credits and lower rates for capital gains anddividends. These reductions have been a factor in our improving economy.

Do you believe he will keep all of his promises? And if he does, who willpay for them?

- Bill Zelenka

Granada Hills

Empty promises

At the Democratic convention in Boston, the donkeys brayed magnificently, the promises soared like beautiful, multicolored bubbles, empty as the promises of prosperity to the ``Beantown'' caterers.

The future was painted only by the politicos, and substance was noticeable by its absence because those who would be needed to hold the reins and guide the plows were not invited.

- Ralph Smathers

Newhall

Lesson in hypocrisy

Watching the Democratic convention is a lesson in hypocrisy. While that eternal gasbag Sen. Ted Kennedy is on stage deriding corporate America, his compatriots are backstage rubbing elbows with and otherwise hobnobbing with big-time execs from corporate America that are working both sides of the aisle. Kennedy and his minions are not adverse to taking good old U.S. greenbacks from these corporate types.

I will not say that Republicans don't do the same thing; the difference being they are not hypocritical about it.

- L.A. Calabro

Northridge

Decisive win

This is going to be an interesting election. I hope this time someone can win with over 50 percent of the vote. Both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush won with more people actually voting against them (43 percent, 49 percent and 49 percent, respectively).

The last time someone won with over half the votes was Bush Sr.'s 54 percent back in 1988. I would love to see someone win with the 59 percent majority that Reagan enjoyed back in 1984.

- Duane Tudahl

Van Nuys

Tutoring program

Re ``Few needy kids get promised tutoring'' (July 28):

The Bush administration's No Child Left Behind Act provides the LAUSD $60 million annually to pay for the tutoring of underperforming students. Less than 5 percent of children that qualify get signed up because the parents didn't know about the program; the parents are afraid of having their illegal-alien status exposed if they enroll; the parents think they might have to pay for the tutoring.

The LAUSD, which is controlled by the teachers union, spent the unused $58.8 million of the tutoring fund on something other than tutoring. The same teachers union endorses the Kerry/Edwards campaign, which claims that Bush's No Child Left Behind Act is not legitimate because it is underfunded. Did I miss something?

- Scott Wilkerson

La Tuna Canyon

Call this balanced?

It takes chutzpah (the Legislature), and maybe some real acting credentials (the governor), to declare a victory for this budget. Unabated spending increases as this disaster has, and hidden borrowing that doesn't show up as increased spending is creating a house of cards for California.

Bloated bureaucracy, highest wages and benefits in the country, shifting of priorities from spending on infrastructure to social programs is a pending calamity that will come home to roost. It is just a question of time. No tax increase? Maybe not today, but just wait. The interest on the loans will sap future funds like a sponge, leaving even less for the real needs. It's not $105 billion, it's more like $112 billion and growing. Even Enron couldn't have done a better accounting job.

- Bob Driscoll

Woodland Hills

Service dogs

Re ``Restaurant sued by disabled man'' (Briefly, July 27):

It made me so angry what I had read regarding Christopher Gabler and his service dog. The restaurant manager was very wrong, you never leave a service dog outside. It needs to be with his owner at all times. Looks like the manager of the restaurant didn't know about the Americans with Disabilities Act. A service animal is ``any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.''

I'm on your side, Christopher Gabler. I'm physically disabled, and use a wheeled walker. Without my walker, I couldn't walk too far. People treat thedisabled differently. Why? We have rights, too.

- Barb Weisman

Canoga Park

DONE responds

A July 28 letter from a member of the West Hills Neighborhood Council complained that they were not allowed to use public funds to buy savings bonds they wanted to give to some local students. That is correct.

In our mandatory training for neighborhood council treasurers, it is explained that state law prohibits ``gifts of public funds'' by neighborhood councils just as it prohibits city council members from giving gifts. They can't use public money for flowers, gift certificates, cash gifts and the like.

Neighborhood councils have been given $50,000 a year in city funds for their operating expenses and neighborhood improvement projects. We repeatedly urge neighborhood council members to check with us before money is spent for something questionable, and before promises are made. As one neighborhood council officer pointed out at a recent meeting, this is not the neighborhood councils' money to spend whichever they want. It's the taxpayers' money. We need to use it responsibly.

- Greg Nelson

General manager

Department of Neighborhood Empowerment

Moms

Re ``Mothers group honors two first-rate moms'' (July 27):

I applaud the fact that there is an organization out there which recognizes the effort mothers put into raising their children. I do believe, however, that the mother of the year should have been a single mom working two jobs and getting no child support from her ex-husband, and still managing to raise wonderful kids - that is an impressive mom.

- Ann Higashiyama

Rosamond

Three-mile ride

So the price tag on the LAUSD Beaudry property keeps going up. Imagine my surprise - $180 million and counting. This is Caprice Young's legacy of reform. If they need parking, here's an idea: There is plenty of room at the district-owned property along San Pedro Boulevard. Let them park there and take a school bus to Beaudry. Surely the three-mile ride is a lot less than what 100,000 bused kids must endure each day.

- Brent Smiley 

West Hills