PUBLIC FORUM SPENDING MAYOR.

Re ``Chick: L.A. may run out of cash'' (Dec. 17):

Laura Chick is doing an excellent job, however, let's get some facts straight. The city's fiscal year starts July 1 and there was no tripling of the vehicle license tax when this budget was passed, so why did the mayor and City Council start spending recklessly when Gray Davis signed that tripling of the vehicle tax which everyone knew would be challenged in court?

The mayor should be recalled - he is another Gray Davis with his extortion of campaign funds from everywhere and paybacks with lucrative city contracts, union contributions and pay raises in return. How about the pledges and promises to the San Fernando Valley that Mayor Hahn made? So why should he expect our new governor to do what he himself has failed to do?

- Gary M. Schechter

Woodland Hills

What's necessary

So now cities and counties in California are suing the state for the ``lost revenue'' from the tripled license fee. How can anyone lose something he never had? This year only the basic license fee was available; next year it will be the same. Because of the financial crunch, everything except necessities must go.

In Los Angeles, that means things such as city cars, conferences, trips, and consultants - who are not needed if elected and appointed officials are qualified for their positions. We must have a bare-bones budget. What part of ``cut the fat'' can't these people seem to get?

- Arline George

Reseda

He meant it

During the recent recall campaign, Arnold Schwarzenegger said he wanted to govern like George W. Bush. (That's one of the reasons I didn't vote for him).

Now I see the governor meant what he said. Pretty soon California will have its own national debt.

- Stan Gordon

Encino

Rules of play

Re ``Cops or buildings'' (Editorial, Dec. 8):

Why do the city leaders pick police buildings instead of policemen? Simple: Policemen are not big political donors; contractors and developers are. Check the people who get these contracts and you will find out that they are big political donors. Everyone knows city government is more interested in keeping political donors happy than the overall safety of the public.

- Jerry Hays

Studio City

Firefighters' pay

Re ``Looking for heroes'' (Editorial, Dec. 16):

Having our city firefighters agree to defer a pay hike until the city can afford it is ludicrous. First, the city of Los Angeles will probably never in the near future be in any situation to catch up with its debt. This deficit in city budget is cumulative from years ago. To believe that the city will come out of this soon is truly optimistic but not likely.

Let us not forget that our firefighters and police officers are in the business of saving lives just like a physician. Let us not lose sight of what the meaning of heroes really is. Their negotiations on increase of salaries should never be compromised.

- Azurica Westbrook

North Hills

You tell 'em

Re ``Fat City'' (Editorial, Dec. 11):

Regarding James Hahn's quote, ``We already have cut the fat; there is no more to cut from the city's $5.1 billion 2003-2004 budget,'' like most politicians who spout, this is pure bureaucratic rhetoric. The article points out the ``fat'' in millions of dollars that are intended to fund pay raises for all city workers and the stupid millions for consultants to produce studies that no one reads. Ninety-nine percent of all government is guilty of this from local to state.

And finally, what I have been waiting for someone to hit on for years - the cars and gas we taxpayers pay for city employees from the top down to use around the clock. They didn't worry about the tripled car tax - because we would have paid for it.

- Kenneth Dean

Santa Clarita 

It's all true

``We got him!'' The man responsible for 9-11, who with weapons of mass destruction was an immediate and imminent threat. ``He was caught like a rat in a hole.'' Although surrounded by 600 of our finest and armed with a gun, he cowardly chose to give up without a fight. By contrast, our leaders would never go into hiding if we were attacked.

``He lied and deceived his people for his own agenda.'' Nothing comes to mind. These statements and others like it, have once again united the American people. Bush says he will not rest until all Americans are safe from terrorism. It took billions of dollars and thousands of innocent lives to find one man hiding in a hole in a country the size of California - so like the man says, be patient and prepare for more sacrifice.

- Albert Obregon

Sunland

The carping left

Now that Saddam has been captured, the stock market is roaring back, the lagging economic indicator of employment is catching up and the Iraqi Governing Council has already begun functioning - at least in a rudimentary fashion. What do the insignificant nine carp about now?

As members in good standing of the ``yes, but'' coterie, and of our stereotypical domestic left, they are already asking if we are going to treat Saddam humanely and feed him food native to his culture? And, will we do what those ``civilized'' Europeans would: Let others try him for his crimes? After all, they certainly wouldn't even countenance the death penalty. And, ignoring the 68 allies which are now helping in our efforts, they keep on saying we need to ``globalize'' the efforts.

- Jack Schlicht

North Hills

Everything else

Re ``Noncitizens deserve the right to vote - study'' (Dec. 11):

Joaquin Avila is all wet. People immigrate to the United States for a multitude of reasons. The fact that they have successfully crossed the border - legally or illegally - makes them eligible for free education, health care and other social services, whether they pay taxes or not.

As our pockets continue to be drained and our services eroded, Avila suggests that U.S. citizens just aren't doing enough to accommodate them. Immigrants make a choice to remain noncitizens. To suggest that the vote is owed to them shows enormous disrespect for the citizens of this country.

- Kathleen Wininger

Granada Hills

Tragic existence

As Christmas slowly approaches we hear stories on a daily basis of the prohibition of the mention of Christ, Nativity scenes, religious articles, etc. I guess we have come to a point in this country where the church-going, moral Christian is considered ignorant and evil.

The local abortionist is the fair-haired boy. A handful of resentfuls can usurp the will of the people by forum shopping for hateful judges who will accommodate their resentments. What a tragic existence for your children ten to fifteen years from now when Christmas is outlawed and if you want your speech protected, it better be pornographic. Merry Christmas.

- Michael Hannin

Oxnard

Not unprecedented

Re ``Potential blockbusters wait in the wings'' (Business, Nov. 1):

Brandon Gray of Boxofficemojo.com should know better than to say ```Two Towers' was the first sequel to outgross its predecessor.'' At least one set of sequels (there are probably others) comes to mind as accomplishing this.

``From Russia With Love'' (1963) doubled the take of the first James Bond film, ``Dr. No'' (1962). ``Goldfinger'' (1964) made more than those two films combined (and then some) and held a place in the Guinness Book of Records for fastest ticket sales for a number of years. ``Thunderball'' (1965) then proceeded to outgross ``Goldfinger.''

Just setting the box office record straight.

- Thomas Clement

West Hills