PUBLIC FORUM.

Turnout or turncoats?

Re ``Arnold losing big'' (Nov. 9):

California, the land that hated Grey Davis enough to recall him and put an actor into power has cast its vote. Major issues promoted by Arnold as ``needed for reform'' have been voted down. Was it the limited turnout? Or are people so forgetful of ``how it was'' that they swallowed the misinformation paid for by giant unions and special interest groups?

We've made a major mistake in not giving the man we voted into power the tools to do the job we asked him to do. And we've empowered the very forces that supported the likes of Davis and marched California nearly into bankruptcy. Over the next few years these failures will haunt us and further erode the ``life expectancy'' of this state.

- Rick Colley

Tujunga

Misrepresentation 

Re ``Arnold losing big'' (Nov. 9):

This is California. The left ran a campaign of massive misrepresentation of the facts and won. And to top it off they are proud of themselves today, happy they could spread enough lies and won. A truly sad state of affairs here in California.

- Dan Forde

Saugus

Dictatorial power

Re ``Arnold losing big'' (Nov. 9):

California's unique tradition of democracy - namely that the evils of democracy are to be cured with more democracy, as exemplified by Gov. Hiram Young's institution of California's popular referendum in 1905 - have found an unexpected validation in California's rejection of Proposition 76, the amendment to the constitution that would have given its governor dictatorial power over its budget process.

California's governors have had this power for a long time but have always shied away from using it when it really counted. The line item veto not used by Govs. Deukmejian, Wilson, Davis nor Schwarzenegger essentially enables California's governor to change the Legislature's vote from no to yes. None of them, including Arnold, ever chose to exercise this power when it really counted.

- Martin J. Kotowski

Sherman Oaks

I'm out of here

Re ``Arnold losing big'' (Nov. 9):

As for the propositions not passing - Californians get what they deserve, honestly - higher taxes and a union-based government. To listen to Warren Beatty, of all people, talk about working with the Legislature, I had to turn the television off before I became physically ill.

I can't afford to live in California anymore - the unions just put it out of my price range. Oh yes, and kudos to the idiotic majority handing the LAUSD school board more money to build schools for the illegals - classy move. I'm out of this state; the inmates are running the asylum.

- Kim Greene

Studio City

Sweet deal

Re ``Mayor defends jet use for trip'' (Nov. 8):

I am glad the mayor is willing to submit $438 to Ameriquest for the airfare he encountered going to Detroit. That is a very good deal, since the normal price of using that private jet would be about $19,000. So I was wondering ... I was planning on going to Detroit next week. Is it possible Ameriquest could accommodate me for $438?

- William T. Child

Chatsworth

Promises, promises

Re ``Mayor's animal problem'' (Nov. 8):

Antonio Villaraigosa has a big problem with past promises. First promise - he would not run for mayor if elected to City Council. This created a recall in his district when he announced he would run for mayor. Then, in his campaign, he made all kind of promises, and one he admitted that he made was to develop a low-kill policy.

Then there is his terrible answer: ``Yes, I made the promise, but I did not say when.'' Will he use the same answer for street repairs, more police and other promises? When could he not use it? He needs to keep the animal activists aware what is going on, and it would be helpful if one or two are made part of the group working to improve this situation.

- Frank Jacobs

Sylmar

Gunbattle

Re ``Robbery suspect killed in gunbattle'' (Briefly, Nov. 8):

A store owner defends himself against armed robbers. Of the three people involved in the shootout, which do you suppose bought his firearm by walking into a gun store, showing ID, filling out paperwork and waiting several days before he could take his firearm home? Which do you suppose bought his gun illegally from another criminal? Therefore, who do you suppose would be hurt by stricter gun control laws? There's a reason we call them criminals.

- Mark A. Overturf

Reseda

Sensible stand

Re ``Mayor's animal problems'' (Nov. 8):

Kudos to the mayor for taking a sensible stand against attempts by radicals to bully and blackmail him into firing a city manager without evidence of incompetence. When L.A. capitulates to violence, chaos will rule forever. If the commission that heads this department has better solutions, why haven't we heard from them?

Let Guerdon Stuckey be evaluated on his record. If he fails, he fails - but he should do it on his own, not because of a power play for media attention. All this disruptiveness has to stop if the Animal Services Department is to function effectively and humanely. The circus atmosphere and the endless threats must be firmly dealt with by the law enforcement folks.

- Denise A. Justin

Los Angeles 

Crossing gates now

Re ``Residents want better Orange Line safety'' (Nov. 8):

The Orange Line buses should be treated by motorists as if they were light rail vehicles. If the Orange Line had been light rail (as it should have been) crossing gates would have been installed and bonehead T-boners would have been cut to a minimum.

Installing crossing gates now would be far cheaper in the long run than settling the inevitable lawsuits from future accidents.

- Michael Leviton

Encino

Best guarantee

Responding to Tina Gerard's letter ``His own standard'' (Nov. 8) on guaranteed jobs for teachers, if you recall (pardon the pun) the last recall, Gov. Gray Davis didn't finish his ``guaranteed'' four-year job due to his poor performance. The same fate potential holds true for any elected governor, including Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I am not aware of any private sector job that guarantees lifetime employment after two years or any number of years for that matter. Performance is the best guarantee to stay employed.

- William Bowen

Thousand Oaks 

Not my problem

Re ``Money well spent'' and ``Head Start'' (Your Opinions, Nov. 8):

To answer Jean Karon: Comparing the money spent on Head Start to the War in Iraq is asinine. I could also compare it to the ill-spent monies by our local and state officials.

Robert Stachowiak states, ``Parents struggling to earn a living must both work to pay bills.'' This still doesn't explain why all taxpayers must share this burden. I say to you all, ``Plan ahead.'' Family and life is a great undertaking. If you don't plan and know how to succeed, then it's your problem, not mine. I pay for enough mistakes made by politicians that people like you who can't plan have elected. Yesterday's voting results prove my point.

- Richard Detanna

Granada Hills

Flood control?

It is that time of year again, when the powers-that-be will spray Arroyo Simi with tons of toxic chemicals to kill the evil Sycamore trees and Cat-tails. I lived for many years in Arizona, which was once famous for its verdant grasslands and year-round, free-flowing streams. Cattle ate the grass, rain washed away the top-soil, humans pumped the aquifer, and free- flowing streams in Arizona are now history. Riparian habitat is a treasure, but in Simi Valley, the gift is feared and reviled.

In this age of supposed ``environmental awareness,'' why is poisoning riparian habitat still considered a viable form of flood control?

- Peter Wilson 

Simi Valley