PUBLIC FORUM WEST NILE VIRUS.

Re ``W. Nile spraying might be needed; County's fourth death from virus confirmed'' (Aug. 24):

Finally an article that includes information from experts that explain the serious health and environmental dangers of the pesticides currently being used by Vector Control. The definition of safe is free from risk. You only have to read the label and know that Scourge, one of the products used by Vector Control, is not free from risk.

Why mislead the innocent public? Especially people in minority communities with other environmental pollution issues (chrome plating, auto-body and cement mixing, refueling stations, film processing companies) - places like Van Nuys, Sun Valley, Pacoima, Pico Rivera and other communities. I doubt this would happen without notification in Brentwood or Beverly Hills.

- Brandon and Nicholas Baker 

Van Nuys

Ticketing not enough

Re ``Police targeting illegal left turns'' (Aug. 20):

The best tactic is to control left turns. Our Chatsworth Neighborhood Council has been pleading with LA DOT for all of 2004 to add some 25, 4-way turn signals, identifying 11 as mandatory. Our Devonshire police confirm that a majority of Chatsworth accidents are due to left turns, (and that is only the reported accidents).

Chatsworth also has a major traffic problem with thousands of cars per hour going north and south. We have pleaded for low-cost, three-lane roads (paint/signs), both north-south and east-west, and other traffic improvement solutions - more of the same: nothing. The answer to all of the above is ``bureau'crazy,'' and ``it's not in the budget'' - not we will try, or we will ask for the money.

- Charles Dusheck

Chatsworth

Hospitals closing

Re ``Valley hospital to close its doors'' (Aug. 20):

When the last hospital in California closes, what shall we do, go to Nevada for health care? Their hospitals aren't closing no matter how many poor people seek treatment. Why are our hospitals closing and Nevada's aren't? Why are Nevada's schools newer and better equipped than ours?

All of us know the answer: We spend too much entertainment money there and not enough here. The question is, why don't we make a ghost town out of the State of Nevada and a boomtown out of the State of California? Let's legalize gambling before our state becomes a Third World country.

- Dean Brassfield

Toluca Woods

Landfill problems

Re ``Sun Valley gravel pit may become trash site'' (Aug. 20):

Council members Wendy Greuel, Tony Cardenas and Alex Padilla, plus Mayor James Hahn, insisted they wanted the Bradley and Sunshine Canyon landfills closed. I agree, but where will trash and garbage be dumped? At what cost?

Elected officials took Asian jaunts, attended conventions, banned smoking on beaches and other low priority matters. Fix our landfill problems now. Let elected officials serve their constituency, stop frivolous voting and posturing. It's not efficient and voters are making decisions for November. Show action prior to our upcoming elections. Incidentally, ask Gray Davis about voters' dissatisfaction.

- Ron Hall

Sun Valley

Paper as NIMBY 

Re ``Bully tactics'' (Editorial, Aug. 23):

I am so tired of the Daily News deriding the city of Los Angeles over the issue of landfills for the tons of trash that are generated every day by the citizens of this fair city. The landfills in Sun Valley were there long before the area became as populated as it is, and they are ideally suited for that purpose.

If you don't want a landfill in your neighborhood, don't move there! But the worst offense is your paper kowtowing to these hand-wringers and trying to make the city of L.A. look like the bad guy. Not once was a viable solution offered by your paper, simply a ``Not In My Back Yard'' complaint.

- Glenn L. Calzada

Street maintenance supervisor

Department of Public Works

Busway bill

In the article, ``Proposal to resume busway work stalled in Senate'' (Aug. 24), Lloyd Levine was quoted, ``It's a shame. When things need to get done, they can get done, and I'm not quite sure why this isn't happening the way I'd like to see it happen.'' This sounds as if he is acting on his own personal agenda, not in the best interest of his constituents.

The California Environmental Quality Act was designed as a safety net for the type of abuses we are seeing concerning this project. He is disappointed that he is not getting this project, but not making the safety of the people his No. 1 priority. Isn't it his job to represent the people?

- Jolene Fisher

Van Nuys

One may presume

Re ``City Hall honors'' (Editorial, Aug. 24):

Can one assume that when these same exact routine commendations are awarded to other career, long-term, city employees and civil servants, such as trash-truck drivers, police officers and dog catchers, some of whose salaries exceed the councilmen's, that the Daily News will afford them the same coverage as Tom LaBonge and Greig Smith? Quite doubtful. It is not necessarily what you said, but what you suggested.

Greig Smith works 25 hours a day, seven days a week. I have watched this guy mop floors and pick up trash. He volunteers as an LAPD reserve officer and works tirelessly, almost robotic-like for his constituents. His personal life takes a complete back seat to his responsibilities to this council district.

- Dan L. Huffman

Chatsworth

Not an accident

Re ``Vietnam mud - again'' (Editorial, Aug. 25):

You've got to hand it to Karl Rove and his Republican allies for their masterful ability to manipulate the focus of the presidential race. Knowing that there is a limited amount of print and air space available to cover the campaign, they have skillfully diverted attention away from a discussion of Bush's record over the past four years and the future direction that Bush or Kerry would take the country, onto a petty dispute over how deep Kerry's wounds were some 35 years ago.

- Phil Seeman

Calabasas

Love does have borders

Re ``No borders'' (Your Opinions, Aug. 23):

I understand your point of view regarding gay marriage. One thing concerns me greatly and that is your sentence ``love has no borders.'' If this were true and practiced, we would see marriage between man and animals, man and children, and perhaps even man and inanimate objects.

Love truly does have borders. Everything has its limitations.

- Mark Hollinger

Agoura Hills

Lake Castaic

This is in response to Trent Hilton's letter (Your Opinions, Aug. 24) citing a lack of support for lifeguards at Castaic Lake from Supervisor Michael Antonovich. Nothing could be further from the truth. Perhaps Hilton could do some research and place the blame where it belongs: the Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation Department, for proposing the cuts in funding, and the county supervisors who voted to support the cuts.

Supervisor Antonovich funded the lake from his discretionary fund last year to keep it open for the summer. He continues to support causes in the Santa Clarita Valley, most recently to keep the Castaic Animal Shelter open. There are five county supervisors; Antonovich is the one voice our valley has at that level, and his record speaks for itself.

- Bruce Van Wetter

Val Verde

Do it yourself

Re ``Arabs' reaction to 'Fahrenheit 9/11''' (Aug. 15):

Sure Saddam Hussein was a cruel dictator. But where were your Garibaldis, Bolivars or Pancho Villas? Why did we have to send our beautiful young men and women to fight Arab battles?

Why are Arabs still killing them? Send our children home so they can be out of harm's way, and take care of your own cruel clergy and take care of your own messes.

- Angela McKervey

Pacoima