PUBLIC FORUM.

Redesign power system

Re ``DWP flub leaves 2 million powerless'' (Sept. 13):

Los Angeles may well boast of its response to the power outage of Sept. 12, but this has once again shown how our power system fails to isolate a local problem and instead allows it to cascade into a regional blackout.

In the past 40 years, we have had numerous instances of our interconnected power system transmitting such failures not only over a city but sometimes over much of the North American continent. We need to redesign the power system before a terrorist with a bobby pin manages to do deliberately what power technicians now do unintentionally.

- Thomas E. Locke

North Hollywood

Not a joke

Re ``DWP flub leaves 2 million powerless'' (Sept. 13):

When the electricity went out this week affecting two million people, the spokesman for the Department and Water thought he was humorous by cracking a joke as he was explaining what supposedly occurred.

If this was a human error, then where is the face of this person? When Hurricane Katrina struck, that was Mother Nature but the blame game was in place. We know who was to blame on Monday and now it is time to show the face of the person in the Department of Water and Power who clipped the wire and fire that person and reimburse the city for the very costly nonhumorous mistake.

- Mary Lou Holte

Van Nuys

Innovative DWP

Re ``DWP flub leaves 2 million powerless'' (Sept. 13):

The DWP deserves that huge raise for being innovative. Rather than work in the darkness and on overtime, they decided it was better to work during the day, on straight time. The cost to the city of L.A. was only a few hours worth of power outages rather than a whole night. That's because they cut only one power line rather than the entire grid.

Imagine if the California legislators had the same creative thinking. They could have cut through their own red tape during a normal session and got us a freeway system in Southern California. They too deserve their 12 percent pay raise. Not!

- Carlos Solano 

Valencia

Look no further

Re ``Mayor urges search for savings, revenue'' (Sept. 13):

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is asking the city's general managers to look for efficiencies and savings because of a $245 million city budget deficit. Mr. Mayor, read your citizens' lips: ``Los Angeles City DWP.''

- Everett P. Harrington

Glendale

Earned the benefits

Re ``An F for finance'' (Editorial, Sept. 14):

I was a teacher in the LAUSD for 35 years, and for many of those years we, the teachers, gave up pay raises to keep our medical benefits. We did not rape the system, but now the system wants to rape us. Medical benefits are of major importance and we have earned the right to keep them. Look back in history and then make statements. If the LAUSD would stop wasting money - the Belmont fiasco, a new $52 million parking structure - then maybe, just maybe, money would be there.

Speak with teachers who were around when all of the fighting and work to save health benefits took place. I was there and I know this is true. Read about the fighting that took place and the strikes that took place.

- Stephanie Schwartz

Canyon Country

Separate is unequal

Re ``Back to the people'' (Editorial, Sept. 9):

The opinion argued that California's civil union laws already provide all of the same rights as married couples. The laws do not provide all the same rights and responsibilities. Jurisdictions outside the state which may recognize legally performed same-sex marriages may not recognize civil unions. Allowing same-sex marriages maximizes the likelihood that their unions will be recognized and accorded full rights outside of the state.

Restricting same-sex couples to civil unions and calling this equal treatment under the law is the same ``separate but equal'' treatment that was rejected in Brown v. Topeka Board of Education. We would do well to remember the ruling in that case: Separate is inherently unequal.

- David Holland

Northridge

Witness and watchdog

My heart weeps for all those displaced by Hurricane Katrina. All herded like cattle to places far away from home. All at the mercy of those who have taken charge of them. Their misery exploited and flashed before the world on TV screens. Their dignity slowly stripped away by their need to be dependent on their fellow man. We who are witnesses to their suffering must become their watchdogs.

Their homes and their land must be returned to them. Land grabs have occurred in the past under these circumstances. Halliburton and Bechtel are already on the scene, like vultures, once more benefiting in the wake of a disaster. Why not hire local companies and people that have been displaced by this disaster? They can rebuild their own cities and at the same time keep the money locally.

- Gina Mendez

Sherman Oaks

Abandoned pets

Re ``More than a life?'' (Your Opinions, Sept. 8):

Susan Brandt, you expressed my feelings exactly. I am heartsick about photographs and articles about beloved, abandoned pets in the hurricane-stricken areas. The media is there, reporters, photographers, and goodness only knows who else ... why can't these people save some of these poor animals? They are in some sort of watercraft - OK, take the picture, then be a hero and rescue some of those dogs.

I read an article about rescuers going house to house to identify survivors or dead bodies, and at one location all they could hear ``was only the whining of abandoned dogs.'' So save them. It makes me sick.

- Janet Ballin

Canyon Country

More barking dogs 

Re ``Katrina pet rescue unleashed'' (Sept. 13):

Great! That is all we need. More barking dogs in the neighborhoods. I am currently battling with neighbors over their 24/7 barking dog. No human should have to be tortured by animals that could be controlled by a simple collar.

Now they are bringing more from out of state. PETA and its ilk are a pain in the butt. I am personally boycotting all films featuring these movie stars that have no life. Didn't God give man dominion over all animals? So why are they put first on some people's list?

- Laverne Williams

Van Nuys

Democratic deliberation?

Re ``Left loses legitimacy by name calling'' (Their Opinions, Aug. 29):

The reason ``liberals'' use the term ``chicken hawks'' when we speak of this administration is to point out the hypocrisy of a situation where people who have never been to war repeatedly ignore the advice of those who have, and send troops to war.

What really angered me about this article was the last paragraph. Lowry writes, ``The Iraq war was arrived at through the democratic deliberation of the American public.'' Oh really? How exactly did we make a ``democratic deliberation'' if the information we were given was a pack of lies? This war was arrived at through a series of lies and manipulations and some very powerful media propaganda.

- Josie Nericcio

North Hollywood

It's dangerous

Re ``Van Nuys car hits 4, kills 1'' (Sept. 8):

It's a concrete jungle, with our civic and criminal courts center and Van Nuys Airport adding to all the other vehicles. There are 20-plus public elementary schools here. Although some of us prefer exercise to driving in this congestion, it's dangerous. Because of distracted and stressed drivers, I have to overcompensate and try to stay way clear, out of their paths.

I long for the little-town atmosphere I grew up in - in Illinois and Indiana communities. I commend anyone who is tired of this mayhem and moves to a less-traffic-congested area. I can no longer be a ``happy hiker.''

- Janet York Marquez

Van Nuys