PUBLIC FORUM.

Best money can buy

Re ``Ethics Commission fines 3 developers'' (Jan. 26):

We seem to have the best city government that money can buy. This is an assumption that the developers paid to get the density laws changed. No one in his or her right mind would change two-story apartment zoning to a height of 45 feet. Just look at the new apartments going up. The bottom floor at ground level is for parking, and the remaining three stories are for apartments.

The city officials will get increased tax revenue to use so ``wisely,'' as they always have, and the rest of us will get overcrowded schools, hospitals, streets, sewers and a water and power shortage. So be prepared for increased rates and taxes.

- Gene Hardy

Valley Glen

Failing fire alarms

Re ``New LAUSD schools on fire watch'' (Jan. 25):

To expect the fire alarms at the new schools - or anything constructed by the baffled downtown bureaucrats of the Los Angeles Unified School District - to work 100 percent is unrealistic. Remember, these are the same people who routinely fail to educate more than 50 percent of our children.

The malfunctioning fire alarms are just a tip of the iceberg. The contractors for the new schools have been allowed to run amok, and there are problems from the foundations to the rooftops. Superintendent Roy Romer's team has failed the public, the students and the hard-working on- site staffs who are struggling to make the best of a bad situation. While the superintendent is out stumping for new school bonds, I hope he's banking millions for mistakes.

- Michael Guetzow

Woodland Hills

Another traditional name

Re ``Paddy wagons could get cops back on street'' (Jan. 21):

Chief William Bratton wants to use a paddy wagon to keep field officers in the field instead of wasting hours transporting arrestees to jail and booking them. The term ``paddy wagon'' was in general use in the latter half of the 19th century because of the perception that the majority of its passengers were drunks of Irish descent.

I was surprised that there was only one letter in your newspaper commenting that the term ``paddy wagon'' is derisive. Perhaps the chief would like to call the wagon by its other name, ``Black Maria,'' for a black woman named Maria who lived in Boston during the 1820s. She was supposed to have apprehended criminals and delivered them to the police carriage so many times that they named it after her.

- John R. Schlank

Granada Hills

And the work farm

Re ``Owning your own private pension plan only way to go'' (Their Opinions, Jan. 20):

And while we're at it, let's bring back the poorhouse, the work farm and the orphan asylum. Wall Street won't want a piece of those pies.

- Frank Johnson

Hollywood

Horrors of the past

Re ``Opposing sides mark Roe v. Wade'' (Jan. 22):

When abortion was legalized in 1973, not only did it save the lives of numerous women, who now had the choice to abort unwanted fetuses in a medically approved and safe environment, but this measure also saved this country billions of dollars each year for care in orphanages and foster homes at taxpayer expense.

It ended the surreptitious practice of abortion by coat hanger and uterine chemical injections. Ending legalized abortion will not save unborn fetuses; it will bring back the horrors of the past and kill our children and grandchildren. Is this really what the hearts and minds of America want?

- Sylvia Aronica

Arleta

Defeating fascism

Re ``War in Iraq is between Iraqis now'' (Their Opinions, Jan. 25):

Thomas Friedman should be advising our State Department. Clearly and concisely, he highlighted the challenge to a democratic Iraq: Iraqis must defeat Islamic fascists. In short, the insurgents must be destroyed.

His interview with the two French Muslim girls troubled me. If they really see themselves as Muslims first, not French, and have sympathies with Osama bin Laden and a mind set that glorifies ``martyrdom,'' are these women then a ``fifth column'' that would prefer for the West to succumb to Muslim terrorists? If so, one must hope that Friedman is again correct: Modernity, as an idea, will eventually defeat fascism, beginning with an Iraqi election.

- Robert Livingston

Northridge

Remembering Johnny

Re ``TV's comic king used power in aid of talent'' (Their Opinions, Jan. 25):

I rejoiced in the tribute and laughed through my tears as I remembered Johnny Carson. I particularly enjoyed the stand-up comics on his show - the old as well as the new. So I say to Jay Leno and David Letterman, the new banner holders of the late-night fun kingdom, bring back that tradition. Instead of all the insipid actors peddling their new films, let's have a special segment for the new and upcoming stand-ups.

This can be a continuing and standing tribute to Johnny and can be dedicated each night as the Johnny Carson stand-up portion of the show.

- Carol Sinclair

Newhall

Red Line blues

On a recent trip to the downtown Superior Court building for jury duty, I rode the Red Line from Universal City to the Civic Center. My first problem is with parking at the station. It is filled by 8 a.m. I did not have to be at court until 10 a.m. and was able to squeeze into a compact car spot, for which I got a ding in my car door. More parking would equal more riders.

Perhaps more importantly, I can't believe there are no turnstiles in which to put your ticket. It would appear it's an honor system. I saw a horde of riders running to get a train, and I don't believe they stopped off to buy a ticket first. No wonder the Metropolitan Transportation Authority loses vast sums of money that could be used to improve and expand the system and help to clear our freeways.

- John Kuhn

Studio City

Double-dippers

I fail to see how permitting citizens to use part of their payments for Social Security for investments in stocks would help to lower the costs of Social Security. Mainly, it would benefit the stock market. It would be much more ethical to eliminate some groups from the Social Security payroll: government officials - elected and unelected, local and federal - who have retired with huge pensions, almost equal to their pay, and chief executive officers who have received millions of dollars in bonuses after firing thousands of their employees.

- Jeanette Birnbaum

Sherman Oaks

Impeachment talk

Re ``Talk about rude'' (Your Opinions, Jan 25):

Elaine Berman writes that it is laughable to call Barbara Boxer's behavior toward Condoleeza Rice rude. ``After all, Rice lied to the American people about WMDs.'' She went on to say, ``This isn't rudeness, it's impeachable.''

I suggest you check recent history regarding your heroine, Barbara Boxer. Early in February of 1999, she had the opportunity to practice what she now preaches - her vote on perjury: ``not guilty.'' Her vote on obstruction of justice: ``not guilty.'' Barbara Boxer, indeed. Like so many of her peers - a politician for the people, of the people, and by the people. I have no wonder why she is so endeared.

- John Rowe

Simi Valley

Public questions

I was appalled to read the diatribes against Barbara Boxer. Since when, in this country, did it become so shocking for pointed questions to be asked of a representative of an administration that sent this country to war under false circumstances?

It's about time that an elected official showed some guts, and I applaud the senator for her courage. In a world where the 10 second sound bite rules, her candor was refreshing and for once I feel as if I have been represented and my own questions have been publicly asked.

- Rhona Brenner

Woodland Hills