PUBLIC FORUM USING OUR MONEY.

The opportunity for us to wrest the control of our community from big- city bureaucracy is fast approaching. In the last month or so, we have been bombarded with a media onslaught of big-city propaganda that is nothing short of lies. It is we Valley folks who pay the brunt of the city taxes that are paying for this media campaign. City officials are using our money to lie to us and take our choices from us.

The secession groups cannot compete with Mayor James Hahn when he has access to our money to use against us. How many of us really believe the ads being aired by the Los Angeles police? We can create a police department or contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Should we believe this big-city garbage they are force-feeding us with our own money?

- Andrew L. Epper

North Hollywood

One term emperor

First, let me state that I'm a Valley resident and for secession. However, whether you are pro or con, think about this: Jimmy Hahn is Los Angeles mayor only because the Valley voters mistakenly believed him when he said ``the voters should decide.'' Now that he in office, he has collected so much money to fight it that he even has to return checks.

I'm sure he has told the union heads to get all their sheep to vote his way. He knows what is best for all us Valley hicks. If a Valley mayor ever pulled such a stunt, he would be recalled from office and would not just get moved to some other cushy position, as happens with the recycled bozos in L.A. In my opinion, Hahn has zero integrity and honesty. One hopes he will be only a one-term emperor.

- George Timko

West Hills

Secession and salaries

If the secession were to succeed and more than $1 billion were no longer available to Los Angeles, what would happen to the high salaries paid to the mayor, the City Council members and other city officials? Would Los Angeles be in the position to pay council members their $135,000-per-year salary? I don't think so. This would also apply to other well-paid members of the city staff.

Mayor James Hahn must have higher political aspirations for the future. He can't afford to let secession win. He would be down in history as the mayor who lost the San Fernando Valley. I don't think his political party would then consider him suitable for candidacy for higher office. It will be interesting to see if he has any clout in Sacramento to get a state law passed preventing secession from being brought up every year.

- Bill Tuck

North Hollywood

Slap on the wrist

Re ``Arthur Anderson LLP gets maximum penalty'' (Business, Oct. 17):

The president of the accounting firm Arthur Anderson was just given a sentence of probation for five years and a $500,000 fine for his part in the Enron debacle. He was part and parcel of this whole scam, and that is all the law allows him to get - no jail time.

This was a premeditated crime that has caused hundreds of plain innocent citizens to lose their life savings and more, and this man gets away with just a slap on the wrist. This tells me that the other culprits will get away with just a slap on the wrist and be allowed to keep all their ill-gotten gains. Who says crime doesn't pay? Petty thieves get much stiffer punishment for a much lesser crime. I believe our ``justice'' system needs some looking into.

- D. Acevedo

Northridge

It's no choice

I've had it. I'm writing in Richard Riordan for governor. So the vote won't be counted. So what? The Libertarians have disowned their candidate. The Greens are way too far left. The other minor party nominees are barely compos mentis. The major parties offer me a mendacious stumblebum or a rapacious liar. Bumble Stupus or Greedy Doofus? Who gives a rap?

It's no choice, and I'm not going to choose. So my Riordan vote won't be counted. Writing in the man I really want will at least allow me to keep my integrity whole. Casting my ballot for someone I don't care a rat's behind for - now that would really be throwing my vote away.

- Paul Morgan Fredrix

West Hollywood

Gun registration

Re ``Tension high in D.C.'' (Opinion, Oct. 15):

Gee, William Safire, I'm so glad that you feel that gun registration would be the answer to our sniper woes. Most states already require that we register a gun when it is purchased, and I'm not sure how having a weapon registered would help in this case. We don't have the weapon being used for the crimes, so we sure don't know who owned it.

For all you know, the gun was registered. Oh, wait, I get the idea. You want all the guns registered so that law enforcement or the government can find out all who own a .223-caliber rifle and then go raid their houses. It all becomes clear now.

- Meg Francoeur

Canyon Country

Proactive defense

When reading the invective that's directed toward those who understand the need for a proactive national defense policy, it's important to remember Ronald Reagan's observation: ``It's not that our friends on the left don't know anything; it's just that so much of what they know is not true.''

- Mike Savell

Simi Valley

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