PUBLIC FORUM.

New policy woes

Re ``LAPD can't afford moving-vehicle training program'' (Feb. 18):

I can't believe what I'm reading. How much training does it take to not shoot at a moving vehicle under questionable circumstances? How difficult is it to instruct someone to get out of the way of a moving vehicle, if possible?

I guess when I'm confronted with the absence of a sidewalk, I might as well not bother walking toward oncoming traffic at night because I have not received millions of dollars worth of instructions on how to avoid getting hit by an approaching vehicle.

- Eric Dresser

Burbank

Always, more money

Re ``LAPD can't afford moving-vehicle training program'' (Feb. 18):

Which line of bull are we to believe this week? Mayor James Hahn says in his TV ads he has put more cops on the street; Bratton says crime is down. Why is it every time they come up with a new policy, the only way it will work is if we hand over more money?

Hahn, Bratton, it is very simple, like teaching your child right from wrong - don't shoot at moving vehicles. Don't forget to vote, the mayor can't come up with a way to tax us for that.

- Vonnie Harper

Van Nuys

Unnecessary spending

Re ``LAPD can't afford moving-vehicle training program'' (Feb. 18):

If a bullfighter is capable of preventing serious injury or possible death by sidestepping a furious, charging bull, then surely an agile, physically fit LAPD officer can sidestep a vehicle backing up toward him at a speed much less than that of a charging bull.

What in heaven's name has happened to the common sense and reasoning amongst the L.A. mayor, Police Commission and the City Council? They want to spend huge amounts of time and money to train 9,100 LAPD officers how to react to a situation that is instinctive to anyone with an IQ of over 70 - sidestep.

- Everett P. Harrington

Glendale

Nomination logic

Re ``Bush names national intelligence czar'' (Feb. 18):

Given John Negroponte's history of involvement with the Contras, there may be some logic in his recent nomination of the job of finding terrorists. Perhaps his appointment is based on the old adage that it takes one to know one.

- Patrick Bonner

South Gate

PR write-off

Re ``White House PR'' (Editorial, Feb. 18):

I wonder if I may claim Armstrong Williams, Mike McManus and Angie Gallagher as dependents on my income tax, since my taxes paid for their propaganda? How much did Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly receive? Why does this remind me of Himmler and the Nazi propaganda machine of World War II?

- Ernest F. Fintor

Northridge

English immersion

Jill Stewart (``English-immersion foes hold children back,'' Viewpoint, Feb. 20) accurately depicts the paradox that our officials in Sacramento are afraid to endorse English immersion even though it's a proven vote-getter and test-score improver.

It is not clear, however, why Jill believes that ``moderate Democrats'' got rid of bilingual education in Los Angeles Unified. LAUSD didn't get rid of anything until the passage of Proposition 227 forced it to, and 227 was entirely nonpartisan. You don't have to be left, right or center to see that kids learn English by studying English.

- Doug Lasken

Woodland Hills

State keeps taking

Re ``What ails California?'' (Viewpoint, Feb. 13):

Gee, Assemblyman Paul Koretz thinks Californians are undertaxed. He doesn't have enough money to spend on programs and services. Did he ever stop to think that if the state didn't take so much, more of the people with the money that he craves would stay and pay into the kitty?

Every time the state comes and confiscates the taxpayers' property to pay for whatever he wants to spend it on, we have to tighten our belt, but whenever the state spends more than it brings in, Koretz just wants to get together with his buddies in the Legislature to change the rules so they can squeeze more money out of us. Great system. Thankfully, the governor is saying no.

- Steve Brazil

Palmdale

Leash law justice

Re ``Civilians protest pit bull's death'' (Briefly, Feb. 20):

The officer knew the law, so should the rest of the public. It is called the California leash law. I quote: ``A potentially dangerous animal may be off the owner's premises only if it is restrained by a substantial leash, of appropriate length, and if it is under the control of a responsible adult.'' End of subject.

If you have ever witnessed the damage a pit bull, Rotweiller, German shepherd or other large dog can inflict, you will understand why the officer did what was needed. But this law pertains to all dogs. Dog owners can and should be held responsible for the actions of their pets.

- Greg Beckman Sr.

North Hollywood

Small high schools

Re ``Arnold: Trim school size'' (Feb. 16):

Arnold's plan for trimming high school sizes down to 500 students each will just not work. His plan for breaking up the Los Angeles Unified School District is possible. However, coming from a high school of roughly 500 students, I know the advantages and disadvantages of having a small school system. My principal still does not know everyone's name; kids still have cliques and mean girls.

We also are robbed of so many class choices and our AP classes are very limited. Los Angeles is in great need of more high schools; minimizing the number of students will do nothing to relieve that congestion.

- Justine Vivar

Panorama City

Another medical study

Re ``Older docs likely to lag in learning'' (Feb. 16):

This is another of those studies that are misdirected and serve no other purpose but to confuse the public. The study seems to convey that you need to be in medical school forever. Care in a medical school is definitely better because of the closeness of the various departments and little interference from insurance bureaucracy.

In no other profession does experience count as much as in medicine. It may be different in case of treatment of a heart attack, but for all practical purposes there is no substitute for experience.

- Paramjit Singh

Lancaster

Really big cat

Re ``600-pound cat prowling close to Reagan Library'' (Feb. 19):

I am not an exotic cat expert, but I do have some questions. Why do we not hear this big cat roaring? Why do we not see any signs of this big cat eating? They do eat up to 100 pounds of meat at a sitting. Why has no one reported this big cat missing? Why haven't the dogs been barking a lot in certain areas?

Why have we not heard of excrement being found? Where in this rainy weather has this big cat found shelter? It just can't crawl underneath the porch. Or, could this be a hoax. And last, if it is not a hoax, I hope it isn't shot and killed.

- Jean Leighton

Simi Valley

Dissertation

Re ``Just deserts'' (Editorial, Feb. 15):

Your dryly, paronomastic headlines are always appreciated (made you look!), but characterizing the LAUSD ban on ``chocolaty'' ``desserts'' as a ``PC fad'' was, well, fudging the facts a bit. Humor is usually conservative, but this was almost reactionary.

My sainted Republican mother banned cake mix and brownies from our home over 50 years ago, not because of ``chocolate,'' but because the two main ingredients - refined white flour and refined white sugar - are cumulative poisons. You were right on one score: when they couldn't auction it off, they should have offered it to Big Lots or the 99 Cents Only Stores at a big discount. They need the money, after all.

- William O. West

Reseda