PUBLIC FORUM.

Attack on education

Re ``Education a top state test'' (Feb. 28):

The governor's attack on Prop. 98 is something every Californian should be concerned about, not just Democrats. Prop. 98 was passed by voters in 1988 to ensure public education received at least a minimum funding level. The people of California understood what they were doing when they passed Prop. 98 and now it is under attack by the governor.

California currently ranks 43rd in per-pupil funding, but second in large class sizes. It is a fact that whenever per-pupil funding rises, so do test scores. The best way to invest in the future of California is to invest in the education of its children.

- Arleigh Kidd

President

Simi Educators Association

Are retirees evil?

Re ``Fight brewing over pensions'' (Business, Feb. 27):

In his column, Jim Wasserman quotes Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as saying ``There will be unions and special interests fighting us ... now we are going to the source, right there where all the evil is and we are going to fix the problem once and for all.''

Does the governor mean that Public Employees Retirement System retirees (I guess according to him, a special interest) are evil and analogous to Saddam Hussein and bin Laden? Are the retirees now included in the ``axis of evil''?

- Elaine Machiko O'Connell

Stevenson Ranch 

GM's electric cars

Re ``It's down to the wire for electric car's fans'' (Feb. 25):

General Motors designed, manufactured and marketed an electric vehicle years ahead of California's mandate to produce zero emissions ... and now they junked it. GM officials maintain there wasn't enough support from the motoring public to make it work.

If that is so, how come Toyota's Prius hybrid at 50/60 miles per gallon is selling like hot bread with a waiting list of buyers? What did Toyota do that GM didn't?

- Dante F. Rochetti

West Hills

Oscar night

Chris Rock was great at the Oscars. But someone needs to tell Sean Penn to lighten up. Bet he laughed at the George Bush jokes. Obviously, Rock was joking about Jude Law. (Apparently you can't make fun of one of his own.)

Also, Julia Roberts, it wasn't about you. It wasn't your turn to say whatever you want. (Giving someone a happy birthday message. Come on.) I believe it was all about ``exceptional directors.'' Be happy with your $18,000 gift bag and read your lines next time.

- Felicia Wheeler

Santa Clarita 

To say the least

Re ``Tiger-gate?'' (Your Opinions, Feb. 28):

Tiger-gate? I did not attend the candlelight vigil for the dead tiger, but I do love animals. Some people attend sporting events, some people go to the opera, and some people spend hours playing computer games.

Living in a democracy entitles each of us to spend our time as we wish. Who died and put Thomas Atkins in charge of labeling someone as a loser? Tacky, to say the least.

- Emy Lenoir Blackwell

Granada Hills

The difference

So they had to kill a tiger because it was a threat to human life. How come they don't hunt down the human animals that prey upon us?

Oh, that's right, they have guns and will shoot back if threatened. It's a sad shame a tiger had to die. And the human animal has the right to live.

- Lane Anderson

Tujunga

Personal responsibility

Recently there have been several letters to the editor regarding the shooting of the tiger in Moorpark, and the police shooting of the 13-year-old boy. The letters regarding both of these very sad incidents have claimed that ``we are all responsible.''

Whatever happened to personal responsibility? When are people going to start taking responsibility for their actions? There are three people responsible - the owner of the tiger, the teenager who was out in the wee hours of the morning in a stolen vehicle, and the boy's mother.

- Sharon Moran

Northridge

Bad life for tiger

I've changed my mind. Tony the tiger spent most of his life in a man-made prison, for no crime. Had Tony been apprehended instead of shot, he would have spent the rest of his life behind bars, too. At first I was outraged by his death, but upon reflection, it was an act of kindness. His tiger spirit is now free to roam whatever lies beyond.

- Peter Wilson 

Northridge

Armchair generals

I am sick and tired of all these bleeding hearts decrying the shooting of the tiger and the shooting of that kid who stole a vehicle, and then rammed a police car. If those people decrying those acts had been with the police or the hunters, they would have an altogether different story to tell. Let them stop being an armchair general. What was done was correct in that situation.

- Bernard E. Beiner

Sylmar

A boy and a tiger

Re ``Sad end to tiger tale'' (Feb. 24):

While I share the outrage about the needless death of a beautiful jungle cat, a victim of trigger-happy human folly, I have to wonder: What kind of people sorrow for the loss of the life of an animal, but not that of a human child? I have to wonder about people unable to see past black skin to empathize with a grieving mother, Evelyn Davis, who has lost both her husband and her 13-year-old son in little more than a year.

People who apparently have no hearts to feel for a young boy, struggling to come to terms with his grief at the loss of his beloved dad, whose teenage acting-out has cost him his life. I have to conclude that people unable to respond to the humanity of Devin and Evelyn Davis may have misplaced their own.

- Myrna Hill

Sylmar

Forget all five

Re ``Pols vow to love Valley'' (Feb. 23):

During my 60 years of voting experience, I have learned that professional politicians very seldom keep their promises unless it benefits the special interests that have donated thousands of dollars to their campaigns. After reviewing the promises and records of the 12 mayoral candidates, I have decided that I will vote for a nonpolitician.

It is better to vote for a candidate who believes in doing what is best for Los Angeles, rather than what will benefit him or special interests. The five so-called ``leading candidates'' have collected millions of dollars from special-interest individuals and organizations, while my preferred candidate, Walter Moore, hasn't collected anything from them.

- Bill Zelenka

Granada Hills

Moneymaking ventures

Arnold is looking for money for California. I suggest he do what they are trying to do in South Bend, Ind., and Clearwater, Fla.: challenge the tax- exempt status of the Catholic Church and the Church of Scientology. These two religious organizations are in the business of making money.

In South Bend, it's the Catholic Church and a senior housing development. In Clearwater, the Church of Scientology has become a major real estate-developer since 1993, when it was given tax-exempt status by the IRS. If it isn't church-related or charity-related, then it's business-related and it should be taxed, just like any other business enterprise. After all, the state should maintain its separation. And besides, we need the money.

- Ron Honthaner

Studio City

Commuting for the worse

Driving 16 miles via the 405 Freeway is now a second job. Getting to work causes stress. Trying to get home from work causes home stress. One to three hours to travel 16 miles is uncalled for. Our streets and freeways need better traffic control. Alternate routes are diminishing or congested just the same. We need double-deck roads and highways simply to have stress relief for the taxpayers of Los Angeles.

- Mike O'Donnell

Reseda