PUBLIC FORUM.

Societal phobia 

Re ``Childhood obesity bills to sink state?'' (May 2):

Your article is sadly prejudiced. Recent studies have also shown that: much of the ill effect of overweight comes from yo-yo dieting in response to societal phobia against weight; prejudicial medical treatment and harassment causes fat people to avoid health care professionals except in extreme medical emergencies - indeed, one study suggested that the higher rates of certain ``female'' cancers in fat women may be due to these women not getting adequate preventive care.

Social stigma persuades the overweight to avoid participating in physical activity that would lead to greater fitness; and, finally, an April 19 report from the CDC indicates that people who are modestly overweight have a lower risk of death than those of normal weight.

- Sue Morris

Van Nuys

Correct endorsement

Re ``Villaraigosa for mayor'' (Editorial, May 1):

Thank you, Daily News: Your endorsement of Antonio Villaraigosa was refreshing and 100 percent correct. This Valley voter wants the guy that gave LAFCO the $1.3 million to study secession so my neighbors could have a chance at independence.

This Valley voter wants the guy that opposes Van Nuys airport noise pollution. Wants to shut down Sunshine and Bradley dumps - as a city councilman he has provided 359 cops, compare that with Hahn's broken promises. Hahn's only accomplishment in his four years is his penchant for FBI investigations and DA inquiries, what an embarrassment.

- Michael Trujillo

Mission Hills

Not my candidate

Re ``Villaraigosa for mayor'' (Editorial, May 1):

I am not certain you are writing about same mayoral candidate when you endorsed Antonio Villaraigosa for mayor. He has been my assemblyman and my councilman and I cannot recall anything he has done in all his years. As assemblyman, he could have improved the north 110 Freeway, but he didn't.

As councilman, he could have cleaned up Eagle Rock, Highland Park and Boyle Heights, but he hasn't. He did lie to the voters and said he would serve a full term as councilman. He should have resigned as councilman when he ran for mayor. That's the only good thing that may happen: he might get to be mayor and we in Northeast L.A. would not have to deal with him.

- Michael P. Rives 

Eagle Rock

Freeway shootings

Re ``Another shooting on area freeways'' (May 3):

If California were one of the two-thirds of states which permit law- abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms, at least we could shoot back. The rate of freeway shootings would tend, um, downward.

- James F. Glass

Chatsworth

Workers' comp bad joke

Re ``Workers' comp czar deserves award, not grief'' (Viewpoint, May 1):

Jill Stewart doesn't have her facts straight. Rates are not plunging, insurance companies see huge profits at the expense of the injured worker and the truly injured are being denied benefits.

Senate Bill 899 is a travesty, not a success. It and the other reforms have taken away a worker's right of medical choice, denies medical treatment, limits rights to temporary disability payments, denies any vocational training and reduces the amount they will receive for permanent injuries. To call Andrea Hoch the champion of the truly injured is a joke.

- Susan Fields

Northridge

Focused on SS

Re ``Bush: Limit benefits for rich retirees'' (April 29):

Although President Bush says he doesn't pay attention to polls, it's not polls that make the difference, it's GOP focus groups. These focus sessions are what the Bush administration pays for and pays attention to, in order to find buzz words and subconscious concepts that work best.

Changing Social Security to private accounts is the goal and payoff for Republican investment banker campaign contributors. ``Attack the rich. Make it appear we're attacking the rich for the benefit of the poor and middle class.'' Don't bother to tell the people it means their benefits will be cut. That way we can feel sorry for the poor rich and feel good for the poor poor - and middle class who will be ``focused'' big time.

- Jerold Drucker

Tarzana

Stem cell headquarters

Re ``Panel favors Bay Area for stem-cell agency HQ'' (May 3):

The first order of business for the taxpayer-funded stem cell agency was to choose the most expensive commercial real estate in California as the site of a 17,000-foot building built by California's highest-priced commercial building contractors. Is there a fishy smell here?

I predict, this is just the beginning of another over-funded avenue of tax dollar abuse with no oversight or accountability. Never to die, but to live in perpetuity with annually increasing funding stripped from the pockets of the good citizens of California, by a panel that demonstrates its arrogant lack of fiscal concern with its very first major decision. Addicts and heroin, government and money - neither can get enough.

- Patrick Weir

Chatsworth

Still disagree

Re ``Panel favors Bay Area for stem-cell agency HQ'' (May 3):

The fact that they are going to spend millions of dollars more gives us Californians a bigger worry on taxes and money saving for the future.

I voted against the stem cell project and I still disagree on what they are going to do and the amount of money they are going to spend for the next 10 years or so. I hope that I am (and many others are) proved wrong by their new medical technology.

- Norma Hernandez

Panorama City

Just another ploy

Re ``6 cops face penalties'' (April 29):

Should these headlines make everyone feel better? I don't think so. If it wasn't for this being an election year, those headlines wouldn't have even existed. They were just unlucky (the LAPD) that it was captured on tape. It is just another ploy by City Hall to get Mayor Hahn re-elected, to make the citizens of the City of Angels feel better, maybe more protected that we have a watchdog out there protecting us from rogue police officers and corrupt city politicians.

LAPD statistics show crime is down. Yeah, right, it is only down because with fewer police patrolling our streets there are fewer criminals being caught. Everything goes hand in hand.

- Kevin Lee

Reseda

Whose fault is that?

Re ``It's about money'' (Your Opinions, April 29):

James, the laws of California state that a person must at all times keep aware of all signs and laws governing the flow of traffic. If you were traveling too quickly to notice the sign, or allowed yourself to be distracted by your car radio or your morning cuppa Joe, whose fault is that? Certainly not the city's.

I drive through that region from time to time. I have never failed to notice that sign, and if I did fail to notice it and got a ticket as a result, I wouldn't cry about it. Take some responsibility for yourself, learn your lesson, and pay attention to what's around you in the future.

- Eric Johnson 

Glendale

Freedom to vote

Re ``Secrecy?'' (Your Opinions, April 29):

I'm sure any Iraqi citizen who voted in that country's last election could really appreciate why George Cooper is not voting. I'm sure Iraqi voters can compare risking life and limb to make it to the polls with the ``horror'' of having to put your ballot in an envelope twice to protect your privacy. Oh, yes, the nightmare of this terrible inconvenience sure makes it a good reason not to exercise your freedom to vote.

- Pam Konyk

Van Nuys