PUBLIC FORUM WAITING FOR PRESCHOOL.

Re ``Kids left waiting for preschool'' (Jan. 3):

Of course, young children benefit from early childhood development programs. Of course, education at an early age results in a bigger bang for the buck. Time after time - or should I say ... bond after bond - we have supported the Los Angeles Unified School District and the education of our children. And, bond after bond, we are taken advantage of.

Measure K and the current debacle led by long-time board member Julie Korenstein is a perfect example. We dug deep and were promised $15 million for important preschool programs. Yet somehow, a system that is $550 million in debt was unable to allocate $12.8 million to preschool programs. Another bond measure is not the solution. What we need are leaders who are able to care for the educational needs of our children.

- Yolanda Petroski

Granada Hills

Refresher course

I believe that LAUSD board member Julie Korenstein needs a refresher course in money and finance (``Kids left waiting for preschools'' Jan. 3) after reading her statement ``That's why we ran the bond measure, so we wouldn't have to borrow money.'' I am willing to help on two key terms she (and the rest of the elected and appointed LAUSD officials) should know.

``Bond'': The promise to repay borrowed money over a defined period of time at an agreed to interest rate with periodic payments all contained within a written contract. ``Whole bunches'' A term describing the current LAUSD debt burden ($550 million), the amount wasted on the Belmont Learning Center (over $150 million), the amount of money paid to Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez ($250 million over 10 years) or the amount of money taxpayers provide to the LAUSD.

- Greg Badovinac

North Hollywood

A blessed event?

Re ``Deadly derailment'' (Jan. 7):

Let me see if I've got this straight: A truck driver ignores flashing red traffic signals, flashing red lights and ringing alarm bells plus lowered gates at a grade crossing, and makes a deliberate left turn around the end of the gate and onto the railroad tracks, thereby causing four Metrolink cars to derail, and two of them to overturn.

Rail traffic on that line is disrupted for about 24 hours, 33 passengers and the Metrolink crew are traumatized and injured (some severely). The careless motorist is killed. And Burbank Fire Chief Dave Starr says, ``We must recognize how blessed we are today.'' Excuse me? ``Blessed?'' By whom, or what? And for what purpose? I think chief needs a reality check.

- Elaine Hampton

Burbank

Busway dangers

Re ``Deadly derailment'' (Jan. 7):

On Monday a driver was killed at a train grade crossing in Burbank. We can now look forward to more drivers being killed at busway grade crossings in the San Fernando Valley. It would be so much safer for drivers if the Red Line would be extended across the San Fernando Valley as an elevated rail line instead of an ``at grade'' busway.

We could have through trains from the West Valley to Downtown Los Angeles without the delay and inconvenience of transferring between buses and trains. This could be possible if the proper legislation was passed and would be well worth the additional cost and time to construct. We could have one rail line instead of a disjointed bus-rail nonsystem.

- Raiford L. Langford

Sherman Oaks

Where the money is

Re ``$30 million lawsuit for LAX shooting'' (Jan. 5):

If LAX had instituted full body and luggage searches for all who enter Los Angeles International Airport, Hesham Mohamed Hadayet would not have been able to kill two and wound four others when he opened fire at the El Al terminal last year. Five people would not now be suing the city of Los Angeles because of Hadayet's actions.

However, what most likely would have happened is that these same lawyers would be suing Los Angeles for violating Hadayet's civil rights when he was arrested for carrying firearms. Since Hadayet was responsible for all carnage, why are the lawyers suing Los Angeles? Obviously because Los Angeles has more money than the late Hadayet's estate.

- John R. Schlank

Granada Hills

Death penalty

Re ``Sent to Death Row'' (Jan. 4):

David Westerfield has been added to the long list of Death Row inmates - No. 617 - almost none of whom will ever be executed. So why the painfully lengthy and expensive penalty phase of these murder cases? It is a fraud foisted upon the jury, the court, and the public that the death sentence is ever meted out at trial.

Most will be overturned at appeals to life imprisonment. The rest (90-plus percent) will die of other causes while in the selective care of Death Row. I say abandon Death Row and throw all convicted murderers into the general prison population and let the chips fall where they may. Now, in Texas and Florida, Death Row means something different than in California.

- Sol Taylor

Sherman Oaks

Ugly library

We were pleased to read the Jan. 5 Your Opinions letter regarding the almost-completed Tarzana Branch Library. We now know we're not the only ones holding their noses when passing this misshapen edifice.

We, too, couldn't figure out what architectural style it is (neo- gauche?). Hopefully some tasteful landscaping will help. We recommend cypress, tall cypress, lots of them, tightly spaced, please.

- Dick and Katie Lefevre

Tarzana

Raise taxes

Even Gray Davis has said, ``10 percent of Californians pay 80 percent of the tax revenue collected in California.'' No wonder California is in trouble. That 10 percent are the ones that can afford to leave. Drastically raise taxes on the 90 percent. Maybe if the other 90 percent were taxed more and had to work harder and smarter to keep more, maybe we wouldn't have to subsidize them. They might even cause an economic boom if they had to work smarter. At least maybe they would understand the debate about tax cuts.

The subsidy lifestyle is taught and perpetuated, so the need for social services grows. Cut the social services and government; round up and send all illegals home. I bet we'd balance the budget.

- Carol Locus

Sun Valley

Modern myths

Re ``Bigfoot belief lives on after prankster's death,'' (Jan. 3):

I was glad to hear that the Bigfoot myth has been revealed for the fraud it was. One of the documentary TV shows has also revealed the fraud of ``Crop Circles'' by setting up night vision infrared cameras and catching the human perpetrators in the act.

Of course, we still have Yeti and the Loch Ness Monster, but most of all, I look forward eagerly to that day when someone finally frees us from all that silly UFO nonsense.

- Leonard McGinnis

Granada Hills

Rush is conservative

Duane Guernsey's rantings on Rush Limbaugh (``Derailed trolley,'' Your Opinions, Jan. 3) seem to be full of what he calls ``questionable facts.'' As an 11-year listener to the program, I for one, have never heard Limbaugh say he is the ``self-proclaimed spokesman of the Republican Party.'' He regularly makes the point that he does not work for the Republican Party.

As for Limbaugh ``interjecting recorded blurbs into other programs at his radio network,'' I believe that is the decision of the individual station and not Limbaugh. He does not own the network. Lastly, you say ``his rantings ... have become very objectionable to all moderates.'' Sir, Limbaugh has never claimed to be out to please a moderate. He is about conservatism, plain and simple.

- Brian Peterson

Valley Village