PUBLIC FORUM TRUCKING OUT.

So I received my vehicle registration ``bill'' the other day, triple tax. When is the last time you saw a U-Haul or Ryder vehicle with California license tags?

- William T. Child

Chatsworth

Improve Valley mobility

As a daily bus rider, I strongly disagree with the MTA's plans to cut some service in the San Fernando Valley (``Transit funds raided,'' Sept. 2).

We in the Valley have never received our fair share of transit dollars. We still have buses that run only once an hour on weekdays, and some lines do not run on Sundays. There are areas in the Valley, particularly the Northeast, that have no service whatsoever.

We were told that the new MTA Valley sector had a budget surplus. Why can't some of that surplus be used to improve bus service right here? How about better bus access to the Van Nuys FlyAway, which is reducing its parking spaces? We certainly could use more transit access to Burbank Airport.

The Valley's prosperity depends on improved mobility for all, and better bus service can play a key role.

- Nate Zablen

Sherman Oaks

True gem

Ellen DuBois' ``Recall election part of political dysfunction'' (Their Opinions, Aug. 28) is a true gem. She draws an inverse parallel between the democratic action of placing a recall provision in the state constitution and the democratic action of using it - logic worthy of George Orwell's ``1984.'' She calls George W. Bush's 2000 win via constitutionally established Electoral College procedures ``stealing.'' She claims antiquated punch-card ballots ``ruined'' the Florida process, but says nothing about the fact that Gray Davis won his re-election via those same ``antiquated'' machines.

And this lady is a history teacher? Wow. I'm glad I'm not in her class.

- Chuck Gass

Camarillo

Less than total recall

Suddenly Arnold Schwarzenegger's wonderful mind, which remembers coming to America, hard times and lengthy scripts for the ``Terminator'' movies, has gone blank. His sudden amnesia has blocked out memories of Gold's Gym, drugs, women and orgies that he described so vividly in 1977 for a magazine. What else is there that he can't remember that we should know, and how will the voters know that he won't forget he said no new taxes

I have a feeling that lots of folks are going to have amnesia on Oct. 7, and won't remember his name.

- Philip Wilt

Van Nuys

Enron-style

Both Gov. Gray Davis and Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante are engaging in Enron-style accounting. Davis has transferred several billion dollars from a transportation trust fund to the state's general fund. Bustamante has accepted millions of dollars from special-interest groups into an old campaign fund, then transferred the money into his recall campaign committee.

Both of these actions are contrary to Proposition 42, which set up the transportation Trust Fund, and Proposition 34, which set a limit of $21,200 in an election for governor. With Enron it was fraud, with Davis and Bustamante it's politics as usual.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has a great idea: Have an outside accounting firm audit the state's budget.

- Guy Smyrnos

Newbury Park

Ducking the issue

So far I'm hearing lots of ideas from the candidates about the California budget crisis and Proposition 13. Do any of the candidates have a plan to fix illegal immigration, or have they passively decided not to touch this hot potato? No candidates are worthy of anyone's vote until they state their plan to deal with this issue. So far, I've heard nothing from any candidate in the press. Are the candidates wimps and going to avoid this issue, or is it just something they haven't got around to yet? Will the people be directed to bring back Proposition 187 (in another form) and put it back on the ballot once the smoke clears after the election?

- Jack McMahon 

Lake Balboa

Inviting trouble

The recent debate between the candidates for governor failed to have a question or answer pointing out that part of our $38 billion deficit is a result of providing social services to illegal immigrants. Giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants is just inviting more of them into the state and, sooner or later, terrorists. It seems to me that it is illegal for California to implement its own immigration laws. This is a federal issue and a matter of national security. Remember 9-11?

- Mitch Sternbach

West Hills

Liberals lack perspective

Re ``New Rampart probe a waste, Parks says'' (Sept. 2):

The Rampart probe may be a waste to Councilman Bernard Parks, but not to many of us taxpayers who have been waiting for answers and the truth. Because of Parks' poor leadership, weak management skills and failure to investigate Rampart thoroughly when he was chief of the LAPD, our officers have a brick hanging over their heads called the federal consent decree. Thanks to Parks, we lost over 1,000 officers, as recruitment and morale were at an all-time low.

The City Council should finally hold Parks accountable for the Rampart scandal.

- Monica Harmont

Los Angeles

One happy ending

Re ``Clock is ticking for trio of pooches,'' Aug. 30:

As the executive director of Humane Animal Rescue Team, thank you for highlighting the dogs' plight. Brad, Lucky and Spot were adopted together during a major holiday weekend, a difficult time for both animal control and rescue.

Sadly, wonderful, sweet dogs (and cats) just like Mr. Boyd's wind up in our municipal shelters all the time. We urge everyone who loves their animals to issue detailed, legally binding written instructions on the transfer and care-taking of their animals should something unforeseen happen. And for those wishing to adopt a loving companion, please consider an adult dog parted unexpectedly from their guardian because fate intervened.

- Jamie Pinn

Fillmore

Relieve classrooms

Re ``NoHo deal clears path for new school'' (Sept. 3):

The LAUSD is building a new high school in North Hollywood, which will offer some relief to North Hollywood High School, but what about the other high schools that are also on a year-round schedule? Where is their relief? We blew millions of dollars on the Belmont Learning Center only to find out it is built on top of an old oil field that's still venting gas, making the campus a millstone around the school board's neck.

How much more of the taxpayers' money are we going to waste before we get the classroom relief that is needed to provide a better ratio of teachers to students?

- Miles Hodge

West Hills

Whose property is it?

Re ``Back-stabbing Prop. 13'' (Our Opinion, Sept. 2):

The bigger picture is that the ``American dream'' of owning and controlling your own property is being undercut more and more by the Sacramento spenders. (Try not paying your property tax and see who owns and controls ``your'' property.)

Instead of increasing Proposition 13 tax levels, why not lower all other property taxes to Proposition 13 values? If the meddlers can't figure out how to do that, perhaps I can give them the formula.

- Bob Sharp

Arleta

Nine Commandments

Arguing against removing the Ten Commandments from Alabama's Supreme Court's entrance, Dave Petterson points out that our money bears the slogan, ``In God We Trust'' and asks if we have to hide our cash too (Public Forum, Sept. 4).

He fails to note that our money also bears graven images, in violation of the Second Commandment.

Seems a bit hypocritical, doesn't it?

- Morris Schorr

Woodland Hills