PUBLIC FORUM THEY'RE BOTH RIGHT.

The negative garbage we have received in the mail so far for the 12th District City Council race is a real eye-opener. Both candidates have offered nothing but negative accusations about each other or half-truths about themselves. Nothing positive has been stated - like what they propose to do for the residents of the district and what stand they would take on our local concerns and problems if they are elected.

Also, the enormous funds they have both received from downtown and ``out-of-the-area'' sources indicate to me their interests and goals do not even include us. You know what? I believe they are both making true statements about each other and that neither of them is fit to represent us on the council.

- Dick Hillyer

Chatsworth

Increase in homeless

Re ``Old Guard homeless scorn new wave in Van Nuys'' (May 12):

The increase in homeless in the Erwin Street Mall may also be due to the periodic rousting of men, women and children from under the freeway overpasses by the California Highway Patrol.

It's good to see the city and county getting together to work on this problem. It would be even better if they included the state in sharing information and resources.

- Irena Szewiola

North Hills

Employees and constituents

In your May 11 poll asking whether wage and benefit increases by Mayor James Hahn are justified, I find it most revealing that 97 percent of the responders said ``no''; whereas only 3 percent said ``yes.''

My guess is that those who support the increases by the mayor are either city employees or some of their relatives. Too bad these politicians continually ignore the wishes of their constituents.

- Bernadette Hammer

Tarzana

Freeway numbers game

Re ``New lanes numbers game for freeway'' (Viewpoint, May 11):

It was very refreshing to read that someone, Arnold Steinberg, is also concerned about the freeway numbers game. More wasted taxpayer dollars, more unneeded property takeovers and more lanes only equals more cars and more pollution to an already congested Valley.

- Dan Huffman

Chatsworth

Society crumbling

Re ``Reward mounts in kitty crime'' (May 13):

As I read the article, tears came to my eyes. What kind of person would intentionally harm a blue-eyed cat? This is a sign that society is crumbling. I thank the good people who found the cat and brought it to safety. What kind of sick person would intentionally try to murder a cat? If the cat was not wanted, why not give it to an animal shelter?

- Caroline K. Malloy

Reseda

Patriot Act 

The Patriot Act of 2001 granted the federal government unconstitutional new powers in clear violation of our Fourth Amendment. These powers allow the FBI or a designee to obtain our personal records or other items without a warrant or probable cause. Furthermore, this act prevents anyone from telling us that they were obtained even though the FBI clearly circumvents the Constitution. Obviously, this is how police states are born.

Fortunately, this unconstitutional act expires at the end of 2005. Unfortunately, Congress wants to expand these powers and make the act permanent. Citizens who value their freedom should contact Congress now.

- Dominick Odorizzi

Northridge

President's tax cut

Re ``House approves $550 billion tax-cutting proposal'' (May 10):

The tax cut won't help average people significantly, but it will hurt. In California, that money could pay for health care coverage for about 9 million children or 4 million Californians of all ages receiving health care. That, in turn, will save the state hundreds of millions in downstream costs, while relieving a great deal of suffering and anxiety.

What's more important? A political plum for the president with a gift to a handful of wealth people, or something worthwhile for many, many people.

- Gary Davis

West Hills

Typical of left

Re ``The alienable right'' (Their Opinions, May 9):

What took Jayne Shapiro so long ``to come home.'' In my opinion she was no more Republican than Tom Daschle to name just one. Her tirade on the ``sins'' of the Republican Party was so far left and so typical of the left's distorted criticism of conservative values. Reading her column reminded me of why I am a Republican and proud of it.

- Gloria Ray

West Hills

Cheney on the ticket

President Bush has asked Vice President Cheney to stay on the ticket in 2004. Fate should have us consider who will be vice president. Except for Reagan, every president elected in a 'zero' year (1840, 1860, and so on) has died in office. George W. Bush was elected in the year 2000, and so ... oh, wait, no problem. He wasn't elected.

- Mike Kirwan

Venice

A moral nation

The key to peace in the Middle East and the world is the same as for your own home. Treat one another with love and respect. Two thousand years ago, an uneducated carpenter brought forth a revolutionary new idea: Love your enemies and do good to those who would despitefully use you. Many claim to be his disciples but who among them follow his advice? If America would lead the world to peace, it could be done with one simple action. Forge a new foreign policy that treats everyone, whatever creed or nationality, with love and respect. It is time for the world's most powerful nation to become, not in word but in deed, its most moral nation.

- James Matthews

Westlake Village

Taxicab panel responds

Re ``Kickbacks as usual'' (Editorial, April 16), ``Kickbacks continued'' (Editorial, May 4):

It is not true that our board has turned a ``blind eye'' to the practice up until now. After much discussion, we formed an ad-hoc committee last October to receive and review input from taxi companies, drivers and hoteliers to determine what reforms, if any, were needed in the current rule, and how we could best gain industry compliance. The committee has now made recommendations to bring all the taxicab companies into compliance under the threat of substantial penalties, including the possibility of losing their city of Los Angeles Taxicab Franchise.

Contrary to the Daily News' editorials, taxicab meter rates in Los Angeles are not based upon any hidden costs of taxicab company payments to hotels. Rather, the rates are set according to an index of costs (gasoline, insurance, vehicles, dispatching technology, etc.) tied to the Consumer Price Index. We are very concerned with the amount of money spent on hotel exclusives because it reduces the economic viability of taxicab companies, their drivers and the quality of taxicab service. While our board has no legal authority over the hotels, which are the ones actively encouraging these paid exclusives, we are in the process of exerting our authority over taxicab companies to enforce our rule prohibiting paid exclusives.

- Joseph A. Czyzyk

President

Los Angeles Board of Taxicab Commissioners

Vote-buying scheme

Re ``Mexican ID cards gaining acceptance'' (May 10):

I read with disgust about how Mexican ``matricula consular'' cards (which are easily forged and sold) are being pushed, mostly by Democratic Hispanic politicians such as Councilman Alex Padilla. It is nothing but a blatant attempt by those politicians to buy the Hispanic vote - because that is the obvious next step.

I have news for them. No matter how hard they try to gloss over it, an illegal is an illegal is an illegal. The time is long overdue for Democratic public servants to think more about protecting our own borders and pay more attention to our own country's citizens' best interests for a change, instead of catering to and supporting those who sneak across our borders, while our own citizens are forced to foot the bill.

- Graydon Wayne

Canyon Country