PUBLIC FORUM VERY APPROPRIATE.

It is very appropriate that one of the world's greatest athletes and a genuine humanitarian, Muhammad Ali, be honored by Los Angeles and Mayor Jim Hahn. The mayor brings honor to our city when he recognizes the icons of our era, as he did in December by recognizing literary giant Ray Bradbury.

Obviously it's more than the weather that makes Los Angeles a great place. It's also great because of the people, including distinguished residents who so excel in their chosen field that their contributions become legendary and worldwide-known. Our city, along with the world, has experienced some very sad and tough times, especially recently, so it is a welcome event to applaud the people who make our world a better place.

- Chuck Levin

Los Angeles

Confusing standards

Re Muhammad Ali being honored: I am shocked but not surprised at Hollywood. Our world has changed forever since Sept. 11. We have our brothers, sisters and children fighting, and some have given their lives so we can keep our freedom. And now we are paying tribute to a person who would not fight for his country, because of his religious beliefs, but would fight for a living.

It's not surprising that our children and even a lot of adults are confused about our standards. Ali didn't want his star embedded in the sidewalk because he didn't want to be walked on by people who disrespected him. Well, we were totally disrespected when he dodged the draft in the name of religion.

- Vonnie Harper

Van Nuys

Not the `greatest'

As a World War II veteran, I must agree with Neal Graney (Public Forum, Jan. 13). I have always had the same opinion of Muhammad Ali, who calls himself ``The Greatest.'' He was only great in his own inflated ego and opinion of himself. After that kick in the face, I could never vote for James Hahn again.

- Robert Turner 

Mission Hills

Fire him

Re ``Parks extols record as chief'' (Jan. 11):

As a retired detective sergeant who served the city of Los Angeles for almost 29 years, I wanted to get up and shout obscenities when I read your article on the achievement that Parks is taking credit for.

The Los Angeles Police Department is losing 35 people a month, and he dares to tell the news conference that he does not want to talk about negatives.

His entire staff is a negative. His career as chief has been a negative. He has been the main reason why hundreds of young officers have fled. Where are the young men who flock to his leadership? They can't even fill a class of 20 at the academy. Do you really think that the president of the Police Protective League wants to pick a fight with Parks? I don't think so.

- Chris Biller 

Moorpark

The real fraud

Re ``MTA attacks phony workers' comp claims'' (Jan. 8):

Only fools believe one-sided stories, and obviously there are a lot of fools out there. Never has the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office prosecuted an insurance carrier for not paying correct disability benefits - that is fraud under the law - or prosecuted an employer for reporting incorrect information to the insurance carrier so that the injured worker doesn't get correct payments.

And who determines that the injured worker is not injured? The doctor whom the insurance carrier and employer paid.

- Margie Perez

North Hills

Form of slavery

Thank you for Tom Waldman's great article ``Riding the subway a glorious new way of life'' (Opinion, Jan. 10). Welcome to the club, Tom. But I do wish to make a comment regarding the automobile as the ultimate symbol of freedom.

How in this day and age - with the tremendous cost of these mechanical oxen that leave the overwhelming majority of the people in very deep credit problems - can motor vehicles be thought of as freedom symbols when credit itself is a form of slavery?

- Charles J. Thomas

North Hollywood

A head start

On one of our busiest freeways, the 405, a car-pool lane has finally opened. Beginning at Sepulveda Boulevard and down to Wilshire Boulevard, southbound travelers will be able to get a head start to the next traffic jam.

Am I impressed? Are you? Maybe for that seven-mile stretch you will be.

- Pamela M. Taguinot

Woodland Hills

Exploited labor

Almost like clockwork, writers like Michael C. Hines and Richard R. Promen (Public Forum, Jan. 1) come out with comments that attack any public official who proposes giving illegal aliens any kind of a benefit. These people don't attack American employers who blatantly exploit the labor of illegal and legal persons of Latino ancestry.

Despite the enormous financial contributions - a billion dollars a day - that Mexican exports and imports give to our country's economy, these writers couldn't care less. President Vicente Fox has not been perfect, but he is trying very hard to move Mexico into the First World, which would certainly benefit all of North America.

- John F. Mendez

Los Angeles

It's a crime

As a native-born Angeleno, I want to know why charges have not been filed in federal court against the activist groups and individuals who are putting out and stocking survival kits with flashlights, blankets, etc., to make it even easier for illegals to cross the border.

These people, no matter how well-intentioned they may be, are aiding and abetting a criminal act, and therefore they are criminals themselves. If Mexico's President Vicente Fox and his country would take care of their own citizens properly, they wouldn't be so eager to leave it. While I can empathize with their reasons for trying to make it into the United States, that does not excuse or forgive the crime of sneaking into our country illegally.

- Graydon Wayne

Canyon Country

Come out, come out

There should be an award for finding Alex Padilla taking care of business and representing the people he was elected to take care of in the 7th Council District. Nowhere is he to be found. You can see him on TV as president of the City Council working for the power brokers in Los Angeles, but nowhere is he to be found attending activities in the district.

I still cannot understand how they could take this young kid without any experience and make him president of the City Council. He looks like a duck out of water. Please come back to the district and let yourself be seen.

- Frank Jacobs

Sylmar

Little guy gets nothing

We had the European Recovery Act, commonly called the Marshall Plan, at the end of World War II. We bailed out all countries that were in the war, no matter which side they were on.

We give money to every two-bit country around, whether its people support our ideas or not. We bailed out Chrysler and made Lee Iacocca look like a god. Now it's a German company.

We bailed out the airlines so all the rich chief executive officers could keep flying, figuratively and financially. What happened with Enron? All the big guys got out with a bundle, and all the little guys get to eat it. So no help is needed? Right?

- Jim McElvain

Panorama City

Same people

I would regard as sincere those who believe that Harry Potter is un-Christian and a danger to our children, but I suspect these are the same people who voted in the 1980s for a president who ran the country by pagan astrology.

- David Wentworth

Studio City