PUBLIC FORUM.

Powerless officials

Re "Call made for Grand tax break" (April 25):

If "several city and county officials said they were powerless to overturn" the Grand Poobah Eli Broad's committee's decision to release the Grand Avenue designs to only the L.A. Times, what hope have we that these same "powerless" officials will have any control over the project as a whole, or the enormous costs this project will surely obligate taxpayers to cover?

It seems that "pay and play" is still alive and well at L.A. City Hall, and Broad is still pulling the strings.

- Jan Brown 

Panorama City

A shell game

Re "Cops human shield for L.A. budget ruse" (Their Opinions, April 25):

The article by Walter Moore shows in detail how the city can not only afford more police without any fee hikes, but also points out much of the waste in the current budget, and the shell game that Villaraigosa is playing. But we all know this is going on, and most of us are disgusted with the elected officials in our city.

But what do we do to show our disgust? We re-elect them time after time. It's time we got rid of the Villaraigosas, the Gloria Molinas, the Jackie Goldbergs and Howard Bermans - the whole lot of them have to go. We really do have some control over our government and we can send a strong message. Vote incumbents out.

- Gregory Conte

West Hills

Outrageous pay

Re "City still ablaze with OT" (April 24):

I knew that firefighters made huge incomes, but the actual figures shocked me. No wonder L.A. is severely "in the red." Firefighters could still be heroes and could still make a great living, even if their pay was slashed. Considering our budget crisis, why hasn't action been taken sooner? If firefighting was a private business, the problem would have been corrected ages ago.

Consider the airline pilots who had to accept pay cuts or lose their jobs. It's no different with firefighters. They should accept pay cuts, and if they don't, there would be a huge line of "new heroes" willing to take their place. Imagine the dollars saved. We could pay for more policemen, and several other programs, that desperately need funding.

- Craig Crawford 

Acton

We chose them

Re "Special-interest triumph" (Editorial, April 24):

Your recent editorial offered, "Once again, the Legislature has chosen its contributors over the voters - something to keep in mind next time you're at the polls."

Are you addressing the same electorate that recently reaffirmed our support of gerrymandered districts and unrestricted political power for public employees unions? Have you been paying attention at all? We like corruption - apparently it keeps us amused.

- Kelli McAllister

Van Nuys

Oil profiteers

Re "State to probe price-gouging at the pump" (April 25):

Why is it a crime when merchants gouge customers for water after a natural disaster, but not a crime when oil companies gouge customers during a time of war? Oil is a national security issue, and an economic necessity that drives our economy.

These oil company profiteers are exploiting us consumers, and may very well drive us into a major depression. These crooks should be dealt with for the thieves that they are.

- Gary Haskins

Eagle Rock

Late learners

Re "Graduation a sore subject" (April 22):

How does a student at age 14 suddenly begin to learn? All the way through elementary and middle school, they have simply been allowed to fail and now they have to learn eight years' worth of education in four years along with the demands of high school. This is where mom and dad get panicked realizing their son or daughter is actually going to have to demonstrate knowledge. Their solution? Cry foul and blame the system.

Without taking serious action, LAUSD will continue to produce students who cannot pass 10th-grade math, which we call the High School Exit Exam.

- Lorin Wainwood

Newbury Park

Football worth it

Re "Picking up the check" (Your Opinions, April 25):

Since the Raiders and Rams left L.A. in 1995, I have read every sports page, watched every sportscast, waiting for the day that L.A. would get another team. Well, the time is finally near (hopefully). Two teams would be a dream; at least one would be great. I myself am ready for some football.

Then I read Don Robbins' letter. He is worried about his taxes going up. We all pay taxes for something we do not agree with. Having an NFL team is great for a city; it brings people together and revenue to the city (visitors, hotels, restaurants). Before you lose it over a tax hike, maybe you should go to a game. The nearest one to us is San Diego.

- Ted Marshall

Canyon Country

Gang violence

Gang violence has been increasing, going from streets to school. On April 21, there was an argument with two gangs, causing a death. A family of four was driving to church when bullets penetrated a side door. Of the four in the car, a child was shot and died shortly after. The gang got away and has not been arrested yet. I know the person who opened fire didn't know that a child was going to die. But he doesn't care about the death. He is scared of being put in jail.

I believe gang violence is going to continue if the police don't work to help us. Instead of having police giving out tickets for jaywalking or speeding, they should focus on gangs around our area.

- Steven Garcia

Sylmar

What's your name?

Re "Lay denies charges on stand" (April 25):

Former Enron chief Kenneth L. Lay was formerly known to President George W. Bush as "Kenny Boy" when they were very good friends. Now that Lay has to testify on his own behalf for alleged crimes as CEO at Enron, look for his memory to short-circuit and ask "George W. who?"

- Jerold Drucker

Tarzana

Called democracy

In her April 23 column, Mariel Garza has trotted out every hoary old saw of the pro-abortion movement. The South Dakotans are "desperate," anti-constitutional and suffering from dementia. Molested 14-year-olds will be forced to bear children for pedophiles. The anti-abortion side doesn't really care about aborted children; they just want to smack women down.

Reality is that abortion is legal up to the moment of birth in every American state because people who wanted that got five justices to agree with them. If Roe (v. Wade) is overturned, the decision about legality of abortion will go back to the states; some will vote to have abortion, and some won't. That's called democracy.

- Michael J. Nowland

Simi Valley

It happened

I am so tired about hearing about the Holocaust and now the genocide recognition. OK, it happened. What does it have to do with the American people? All it does is spread more hate and it always ends up costing the American taxpayers, one way or another, with parades or demonstrations or whatever, just like the immigration demonstrations.

The American people should not have to pay for all the services these people stir up. Finally, lots of people have suffered: Italians, blacks, Irish, Muslims, Christians and Jews. Get a life.

- Alex Bey

Los Angeles

Could be bad

Am I mistaken, or has our president suggested that we use nuclear weapons against Iran? Perhaps nobody noticed, but that could be a major blunder.

- Earle Gerstein

Chatsworth