PUBLIC FORUM PROSECUTION PROGRAM WORKS.

The Sept. 9 article ``Neighborhoods calling in big guns'' was a much needed information piece for all of L.A. The neighborhood referred to at the end is my neighborhood. The Neighborhood Prosecution Program works. And it works because people like Mike Pizzuti personally ensure neighborhoods are safe and rid of corruption.

The next time your neighborhood is in trouble, pick up your phone and call your councilman or anyone on his staff. They know how to get hold of Pizzuti or anyone else in this program. You don't have to live with it. Mayor James Hahn said so when he ``dumped'' $4 million into this program, and Councilman Dennis Zine and his staff said so when they got Mike involved. I look forward to my bike rides around the block now.

- Mary Jane Casarez

Winnetka

It's their money

Re ``Ugly eyesore'' (Public Forum, Sept. 6):

I get tired of hearing and reading about people who don't like the cathedral saying the money should have gone to the poor and homeless. What these critics and protesters don't understand is after all the money is gone, the poor and homeless will still be with us, and the people of L.A. still wouldn't have a cathedral.

Besides, the money comes from private individuals and private foundations. The protesters and critics have no right to criticize what they do with their money.

- Scott Buchanan

Van Nuys

Nothing humble

I am appalled, ashamed and angry over the $193 million spent on the new cathedral. As a Catholic with a Catholic school education, I was taught to be humble and to help my fellow man. There is nothing humble about this cathedral, and it is not helping our fellow man. We have to pay for parking?

If this is true, I will never attend Mass in this cathedral. I cannot believe that God is pleased over the amount of money wasted on this edifice. Our cardinal is considered a prince of the Catholic Church, but he should never live as one.

- Pat Ramirez

Sherman Oaks

Still silent

Re ``City Council will continue nonsectarian invocations'' (Sept. 11):

Can anyone tell me why not a single political or religious leader has not publicly condemned the very recent ruling of the 2nd District Court of Appeal that the Burbank City Council cannot mention Jesus Christ during a prayer prior to its Tuesday evening meetings?

What's next, the banning of saying ``God bless America'' during future 9-11 ceremonies? Is the silent majority going to remain silent forever?

- Everett P. Harrington

Glendale

Better than nothing

As a 17-year-old teenager who is struggling to get a driver's license and who is dependent on the MTA, I must strongly agree with your Sept. 1 editorial, ``Get On The Bus.'' It is in the absolute best interest of all Vals to fully support any improvement the MTA settles on. I have had my share of ``unpleasant'' bus rides, whether it be too crowded, too late, or just too dirty, but I continue using the bus as a last resort. Anything is better than nothing.

- Khorrie Luther

Van Nuys

Not the workers

Re Caroline K. Malloy's ``Lower prices'' (Public Forum, Sept. 9):

You should have a Wal-Mart Super Center, but to blame grocery clerks for their salaries makes me laugh. Open your eyes - Enron, Global Crossing, Detroit auto executives, etc. These CEOs, VPs and managers are to blame, not the workers. Corporate America is out of control and we as Americans must pay for their inflated salaries.

Read the paper, watch TV news. From one company to another, those CEOs, VPs and managers make outlandish salaries - from $1 million to $825 million. Forced to pay higher at the supermarket? Blame the CEOs, VPs and managers. And let's not forget about their outlandish bonuses they get, too. No one is worth one million a year, no one!

- Robert Repaich

Palmdale

Ill-conceived notion

So now we have a new law signed by Gov. Gray Davis requiring us to purchase water-efficient home washing machines by 2007 at the cost of an additional $250. This brings to mind the requirement to install low-flush toilets to promote water conservation. That ill-conceived notion went down the drain, so to speak, when we discovered it took multiple flushes for the toilet to do its job.

If given a choice between practicing serious water conservation habits or buying expensive machines, I would guess that consumers would choose the former. Remember how many of us stopped watering our lawns or cut down on our laundry loads when the water shortage became severe several years ago?

- Yolanda Fintor

Northridge

War in Iraq

If we are to deal successfully with the threat of terrorist elements, we must develop a cogent policy that focuses directly on the terrorists and the nature of their activities. This requires a recognition that they are closer to a criminal conspiracy than to any particular national policy.

Mobilizing world opinion and resources to deal with these rabid fanatics through international police and intelligence activities will surely be more effective than dashing in to a war that will almost certainly exacerbate the emotions and activities of the radical elements among our avowed enemies.

- Ira Skutch

Sherman Oaks

Look around

Re ``Priorities revised after middle-class Americans slain'' (Opinion, Sept. 11):

Kathleen Kane's piece on the personal impact of 9-11 has soiled your paper. Kane included the issues of Indian conquest and African slavery when compiling the article. Why do liberals always seek to find some blame for the U.S. whenever possible? Is there no pride in our history? We took the lead in rejecting slavery, kingdoms, dictatorship and theocracy, which unfortunately still exist in the world. Kane - please go visit Sudan and Iraq for a while, and write us another article.

- Glenn Victor

Northridge

Focus on now

The attacks on the twin towers happened one year ago. Isn't it time to refocus on other tragedies that are taking place daily in our own neighborhoods? Robberies and gang wars continue to take lives. And what are we doing about people who are starving and homeless? Are their lives any less important than those who died on 9-11?

I feel that we have been focusing too much on the past and too little on what we can do to solve our present-day problems.

- David S. Eicher

Glendale

And worse

It's incredible. One year after 9-11, some people are busy blaming President Bush for not having taken seriously warnings about a terrorist attack on the U.S., and thus prevented it from happening.

Today, after the horror of 9-11, some people are complaining that Bush is a warmonger for taking seriously the distinct possibility of more such attacks, and worse. Apparently, experience doesn't teach anything to some people.

- Margie A. Gee

Burbank

No, you are

Re ``Not our policy'' (Public Forum, Sept. 12):

The lowest form of life on the planet: Those who refuse to acknowledge the blame of U.S. foreign policy in the Sept. 11 attacks. Wake up.

- Traci Owens

Sylmar