PUBLIC FORUM TEMPORARY SAFETY.

In ``How safe is safe?'' (Editorial, July 7), you take the position that Hesham Hadayet's lunatic rampage at LAX ``pushes the line further in the direction of stressing security as our highest priority.'' Wrong. Ben Franklin wrote: ``They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety'' - words it would be wise to keep well in mind during this time of public hysteria.

In a country of almost 300 million people, there will always be some who are going to commit acts of atrocity for a variety of motives. The only way to effectively prevent that is to throw our Constitution on the rubbish heap of history. If we give up our civil liberties, altering the basic fabric of our nation, then the terrorists have won.

- Brian Baker 

Saugus

Haven't forgotten

Re ``City closes down CSUN frat house'' (July 10):

Does City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo actually think that, if he picks on a Reseda strip joint and a few frat houses at California State University, Northridge, the people are going to forget his stance on enforcing immigration laws? I wonder if the city attorney has learned what the word ``illegal'' means yet?

- Ann Johnson

Santa Clarita 

Good thinking

Your Fourth of July editorial comparing Valley anti-secessionists with the Tory sympathizers in the period before the Revolution was clever and right on. My husband's forebears were among those colonists; they sold their farm on what is now Wall Street on Manhattan and moved to New Brunswick, Canada. Eventually, his direct ancestor made his way to Los Angeles and would - had he lived this long - perhaps have been for breaking away, having seen that the experiment worked.

We like your take on things.

- Barbara Beckner

Studio City

Not black and white

Re ``What's fair depends on how you define it'' (Viewpoint, July 7):

What is it with Kimit Muston? According to his cute (not) article, everyone for secession is a hero and those against it are less than bright. It is articles like this that make me lean a bit more toward secession opposition.

- Eileen O'Neill

West Hills

A darn good mayor

I take umbrage with Frank Jacobs' Public Forum letter July 2 disparaging Dr. Keith Richman's qualifications to run for mayor should the Valley secede. I have known Keith Richman since he was an 11-year-old Little Leaguer, and invariably I have found him to be honest, truthful, intelligent and hard-working.

Should he be elected mayor, I know he would utilize these characteristics to provide the Valley with a mayor who would hold the office for his constituents and not for his own aggrandizement and power. I'm all for having a mayor who is not a seasoned politician, but one whose ideals and goals have not been tarnished by years in office.

- Herb Wiener

Woodland Hills

Valley traffic deaths

Valley residents should be encouraged that traffic deaths on the surface streets have dramatically declined through the first half of this year. By midyear 2001 there were 40 fatal collisions. By midyear 2002, there were 29. For pedestrian deaths in particular, there were 17 by midyear last year and nine this year.

The men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Traffic Division continue to strictly enforce the pedestrian safety laws. We are encouraged by these numbers, but the tragedies persist. Please drive (and walk) safely.

- Capt. Greg Meyer 

LAPD Valley Traffic Division

Simple answer

The Los Angeles Unified School District board is contemplating pay cuts for employees to offset current budget woes. I'm puzzled by the budget problems. In a recent visit to the California Lottery's Web site, I discovered that the LAUSD has received almost $105 million in lottery funds just for this current year.

That's a lot of money by anyone's standards. As a retiree of LAUSD and as a taxpayer, I have to question Superintendent Roy Romer and his cohorts: Where has that $105 million gone? What was it used for? Perhaps the answer lies in one word: mismanagement.

- Carolyn Whitehead

Canyon Country

Wish them well

Re ``LAUSD fellows go from board room to chalk board'' (July 10):

I want to be a lawyer, a doctor, a general contractor, a professional athlete. Are there fellowship programs in these fields?

Why is public education the only profession that experts in other fields think they can enter and have an immediate impact - i.e. a former governor is running a large local school district? Does public education have no value because it is free? I am committed to my career in teaching and the goals of the LAUSD, and I wish these people the best of luck in their new endeavor.

- Steven Scheper

Northridge

Ahmanson's affordability

Re ``Ahmanson Ranch achieves nothing for affordability'' (Opinion, July 3).

At a time when few new homes qualify as affordable, 25 percent of Ahmanson's 3,050 housing units would meet county, state and federal criteria for affordable housing. To suggest that this does not make a contribution to the West Valley's need for affordable housing is ridiculous. An additional 25 percent will be priced in the $300,000 to $500,000 range. For the West Valley, this is a 50 percent affordability rate.

When home buyers upgrade, they must sell their more affordable home. This provides additional affordable housing to the neighborhood.

- Chris Trafecanty

West Hills

Both wrong

Re ``One issue'' and ``Freedom from want'' (Public Forum, July 10):

Regarding Burton Roseman's intention to vote only for pro-Israel candidates: I, too, am pro-Israel in this conflict, but it is shameful hypocrisy on your part when you demand the survival of the Israeli nation and its people while proudly stating, ``I am pro-abortion.'' Guess some lives are just more important than others.

And to Charles B. Edelman who waves Franklin Roosevelt's statement ``Freedom from want'' as if it were part of our bill of rights: Yes, this nation affords us certain freedoms, not least of which is the freedom to go out and improve one's lot so that you and your progeny can enjoy a better life.

- Dink O'Neal

Burbank

Palestinian elections

A victory for radicals would be the best possible outcome of Palestinian elections. There would then no longer be any mystery about the will of most Palestinians. Israel would finally be facing the real enemy. If these extremists agreed to negotiate, they could not, as Arafat has repeatedly done, claim that they were doing their best to stop attacks but were unable to shut them down completely.

If they refused to negotiate, they would lose international support. Continued attacks under either of these circumstances would give Israel the justification and political cover in the international community to impose a real military solution.

- Morris Schorr

Woodland Hills

National pride

I have heard many vocalists sing the national anthem at sporting events, but the young lady who sang prior to the Major League All-Star Game ranked among the worst. However, she is not totally at fault. The person or committee members who chose the singer must accept some of the blame for a presentation that desecrates our national anthem. Francis Scott Key must be spinning in his grave. I, for one, thought it was horrible.

- Truett Sparkman

Woodland Hills