PUBLIC FORUM.

Merry Christmas

I was born and raised in America, Los Angeles, California. Christmas is a federal holiday. I will always say Merry Christmas to those I greet, not Happy Holidays or anything else. To all the others, I wish them well, and want them to celebrate their special day.

- Pat Werth

Granada Hills

Rocky responds

Re ``Stinky deal'' (Dec. 19):

The Bradley Landfill settlement was the latest of many successful environmental justice prosecutions and will bring Para Los Nios, a premier child health and welfare agency in Southern California, to the children of the San Fernando Valley for the first time.

The environmental protections and compliance brought about as a result of the Bradley settlement are a victory for Valley residents. However, the donation to Communities in Schools and the opportunity to attract an agency with the credibility and track record of Para Los Nios to support the resources that currently exist, will result in incalculable improvements to the lives of Valley residents for years to come.

- Rockard J. Delgadillo

Los Angeles city attorney 

Lost liberties

I think pretty much everyone except Sens. Harry Reid and Barbara Boxer realizes that the ultimate loss of one's civil liberties is when you are lying dead in the street as the result of a terror attack.

Once again, the Democrats have a tin ear when it comes to the War on Terror - they will regret their hysterical rhetoric when they see W.'s poll numbers tick up another couple of points. President Bush looks strong and forceful and the Democrats look weak on defense, which of course they are.

- Bobbi Leigh Zito

Porter Ranch

How cynical

How cynical of certain right-wing politicians to resort to low-down tactics to push unpopular programs on the American people! I support any effort to block drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Of course the Republican propaganda mill will view that as supporting the troops since they have the two issues confused.

I do support the troops - I just don't support them to death.

- Brian Levy

Simi Valley

Wall it up

Re ``Border wall angers Mexico'' (Dec. 21):

How dare you use the same policies that we use against illegal immigration - that's the message we get from our friends on our southern border. While Mexican officials don't accept illegal immigrants coming into their country, they demand we accept the illegal immigrants that sneak into ours. I think it was Benjamin Franklin who said good fences make good neighbors.

I can see no better use of taxpayer money than to get this wall built as quickly as possible.

- Robert Gardner

Sylmar

Not shocking

Re ``Feds slug state's poor'' (Dec. 22):

Is anyone really shocked that the Senate cut federal aid to California? Elected officials in Washington make a habit of reaching into our pockets to balance the difference when they overextend themselves financially. Something or someone is always just a little more important than the struggling families here on the West Coast.

The fair thing to do is to create a flat tax for all Americans and force the feds to stick to the budget and only borrow during a national emergency. Cutting the pork out of bills and directing Homeland Security funds to the states that truly need them would also be fiscally responsible. They can start by not building a useless ``bridge to nowhere'' up in Alaska.

- Kyle Laurent

Newhall

Isn't it ironic?

It is depressing that our government has decided to chop billions from the federal budget set aside for the poor and elderly. Each year, more than 1 million additional Americans fall below the poverty level, while corporate CEO paychecks now average 180 times more than the average pay of their workers and 45-plus million Americans do not have health care insurance and depend on Medicaid.

This administration has meanwhile reduced the taxes for wealthy Americans, while spending billions of dollars on Iraq.

It is ironic that it is the poorer people in America who are sending their sons and daughters to fight a war to make the wealthy Americans richer at a cost of over 2,100 lives and still counting.

- Gus L. Keolanui

Woodland Hills

Close the LAUSD 

There is no reason for Los Angeles Unified School District officials to continue to spend more and more of our tax money. They have not improved the education level of our children. They have spent public money as if it were endlessly available to them.

The solution is to totally close the LAUSD down and eliminate it. Then make all of Los Angeles schools charter schools. Charter schools have proven they get better results improving our children's education level, have a closer relationship with the parents. If something bad happens the principle can take immediate action. Look at the statistics and results; Charter schools win each time.

- Charles Dusheck

Chatsworth

Wiretaps R America

It is interesting to hear all the liberal and democratic voices raised in outrage over the practice of eavesdropping on the enemies of America in a time of war. They conveniently ignore the fact that every president since Ronald Reagan, including their beloved Bill Clinton, used this same tactic.

- John Green

Northridge

Hardest job in U.S.

Re ``The best job in America?'' (Dec. 18):

I wanted to respond to let people know how my job as the councilwoman representing the Port of Los Angeles has changed in response to Sept. 11 and the growth of the international trade industry.

While I did have the highest number of absences during the past year, I missed City Council meetings working on big issues at the port. In fact, 10 of the days I was absent from council were spent on port-related issues, including fighting for more port security from the federal government and implementing a program to move goods out of the port during nights and weekends - finally offering some traffic relief both in the Harbor Area and throughout Los Angeles.

I take my job as a council member seriously. But, in all honesty, I am usually more productive and able to get more done for my constituents outside of council chambers. By implying that council members only work three days a week during council meetings, the Daily News misrepresented and devalued the hard work that my colleagues and I do 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

- Janice Hahn

Los Angeles city councilwoman

Let the MTA decide

Re ``Bill may revive Wilshire subway'' (Dec. 17):

Rep. Henry Waxman's bill dealt with safety, not whether a subway should be built. But Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, in his infinite wisdom, wants to use this NIMBY approach to kill the Wilshire subway.

We still have the no sales tax to be used for subway construction law in place, and that means most likely we could not get federal funding for subway construction.

It should be up to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board to determine if we should build a subway or not, not a single supervisor from Antelope Valley who is for a cost-inefficient monorail system.

- Robert Leabow

Rolling Hills Estates

Shameless arrogance

Supervisor Michael Antonovich shows the levels he will go to to prevent any progress on the Wilshire subway. I could understand him objecting to tunneling costs, but to advocate retaining the methane gas law when it no longer applies is the epitome of shameless arrogance.

- Dane Pereslete

Glendale