PUBLIC FORUM.

What a disaster

Re ``Brown plays blame game before Senate'' (Sept. 28):

``I've overseen over 150 presidentially declared disasters,'' former FEMA Director Michael Brown told a congressional panel investigating the response, or lack thereof, to Hurricane Katrina.

Who woulda thunk it? Divide 150 ``presidentially declared disasters'' into the 973 days Brown was FEMA director and that's a ``presidentially declared disaster'' every 6.48 days. This country is one giant disaster area, and we didn't even know it.

- Sandy Sand

West Hills

Dysfunctional Brown

Re ``Brown plays blame game before Senate'' (Sept. 28):

If former FEMA Director Michael Brown wants a definition of ``dysfunctional,'' he need only look in the mirror. So far he has blamed everyone else for his mistakes except Bush's dog. For those who thought cronyism was dead, look at Brown's resume. California driver's tests are more difficult to pass than GOP qualifications for sensitive posts in the administration.

- Hal Gold

Woodland Hills

About the resume

Re ``Brown plays blame game before Senate'' (Sept. 28):

Michael Brown has some nerve to get up in front of the country and blame everyone else but himself. I would have asked Brown who he blames for falsifying his job resume, which is instant grounds for dismissal and sometimes a criminal act.

- Troy Cline

Valencia

She's a scapegoat

Re ``Lynndie England receives 3-year term for Abu Ghraib poses'' (Sept. 28):

I am a retired master sergeant from the United States Army Reserve and I think it is a disgrace to make a woman, a private, the lowest rank in the Army, the scapegoat for the inadequacies of military commanders at the Abu Ghraib prison.

First of all, a private has no authority to make any command decisions and is only following orders. Second a woman private should have never been assigned to a male military prison. President George W. Bush should have the guts to take responsibility for his failings as commander in chief of the armed services and see that this woman does not serve one day in prison for his lack of attention to duty.

- Art Haendiges

Topanga

Pension fallout

Re ``Pension fallout looms'' (Sept. 18):

I was surprised that this powerful article got as little response as it did. By all appearances, our elected officials are mortgaging California's future for their near-term popularity, pressured by union bosses who are in turn fueled by boundless membership greed. All the while the voter is too busy watching Jerry Springer to be concerned.

I would welcome a comparison of California pensions with those of other states and to private industry. If this comparison suggests that appearances are correct, I recommend we declare all past and present California officials incompetent, void active contracts, endure the strikes, and set the stage for renegotiation.

- Donald Schmidt

Lancaster

Keep the elephants

Re ``L.A. Zoo needs to give its elephants a break'' (Their Opinions, Sept. 27):

The debate can rage on as to whether zoos should have elephants, but the reality is that our zoo has three. What is to become of them if their exhibit is eliminated? Gita and Ruby (the females) have been together for many years and have formed a bond. Because they are different species, they would have to be sent to different facilities.

Since sanctuaries don't accept bulls, where would Billy go? These animals have been here for many years (Gita actually walked to this zoo from the old zoo location in 1966), and do not take well to disruptions in their lifestyle. We have a responsibility to provide the best care we can for these elephants. An expanded habitat, more than twice the size they have now, is the right thing to do.

- Tom Powell

Van Nuys

Convention hotel

Re ``L.A. alive'' (Editorial, Sept. 15):

The proposed convention hotel project reveals that the developer, AEG, has worked out a very sweet deal. Here are a few issues I have. The hotel construction cost is $412 million. This estimate is about twice the amount made in 2000. It is also about 40 percent higher than the actual construction costs of recently built hotels of similar size in Houston (1,200 rooms in 2004) and Denver.

AEG is contributing $115 million. The funds are coming from the future sale of the 110 condominiums that occupy the upper 18 floors of the hotel. Using a more realistic discount rate of 6 percent rather than 10 percent results in $85 million for the transient occupancy tax subsidized by the city - not $62 million.

If AEG sells the hotel, will the new buyer be entitled to the TOT subsidy for the total time of 25 years? The consultant used by AEG for this project is PKF. PKF was also the consultant used by the city of Houston to generate more convention business. The subsidized Houston hotel has not met the consultant's projections; the convention center is not better off today; and three downtown hotels have filed for bankruptcy.

Is the loan from the Community Redevelopment Agency of $16 million to the project ``legal''?

- Joe Vitti

President

Valley VOTE

John Wisdom Dancer

For all of you who read, enjoy and contribute to ``Your Opinions,'' I am sorry to inform you that John Wisdom Dancer has died. Letter writing was his passion and it reflected his interest in the happenings in today's world that affected us all. His purpose was always to make people think and getting a rebuttal was the ultimate thrill - mission accomplished.

His pen has now been silenced but I hope he has touched many and made them want to voice their opinion and make others think. The pen really can be mightier than the sword.

- Fran Cassino 

Canoga Park

DWP enhancements?

Has the DWP learned creative enhancements? I am a Northridge resident who does not overuse my water and power. Out of the blue I receive a letter telling me my meter was defective and that they would fix it at no charge.

A week later I get a bill for $900. When I called to complain, I couldn't get very far in the customer service department and was blown off as some complaining fool. I wonder whether other people have experienced the same scam? My DWP bills are about $375 for years.

- Ken Kavouras

Northridge

Join them

One of your recent letters called for the HOV lanes being done away with? All it takes to use that lane is to carpool with another driver or two. Or would that be too difficult? Think of the big effect that would have. One, two, maybe even three cars not using the crowded single-driver lanes, and look at the added benefit in these days of high gasoline prices. The bulk of that oil money is sent to countries that are helping to support people killing innocent people.

Why is that so difficult? Just look at those cars zipping by in those HOV lanes and you sitting and fuming there in your car, by yourself. Time to join them, I say. Besides, you will start saving money during your next fill-ups.

- William Conroy

Northridge

Self-salaried

We, the citizens of the United States, made a grave mistake when we let Congress tell us what their salary and pension would be. They, Congress and the president, should be on Social Security, just like the rest of us. We need to vote on this subject.

- Robert Mauterstock

Lancaster