PUBLIC FORUM.

And good luck with it

Re ```Big day for Antonio''' (Aug. 30):

I cannot express the joy I feel to wake up on a Wednesday morning, open the Daily News and see a huge picture of our mayor grinning for the cameras. Does anyone like having his picture in the paper more than our mayor?

In regard to the school takeover, our mayor pushed through his plan without the real support of the community. Sure, he had his ``dog and pony'' support shows, but putting his plan to a public vote would have given all of us the chance to give our opinion. Now the mayor is in control; good luck trying to get things turned around, especially with the overabundance of children (and their parents) that express no interest in getting an education.

-- John Horn

Granada Hills

School transfer

Re ```Big day for Antonio''' (Aug. 30):

Now that the mayor has control of the Los Angeles Unified School District, I wonder if he will now send his kids to public schools. I would love to see a reporter ask him that question during the next news conference/photo op.

But that's right, reporters don't ask tough questions to Democratic politicians.

-- Clovis Kerr

Castaic

New chef onboard

Re ```Big day for Antonio''' (Aug. 30):

So Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's bid for greater control over the Los Angeles Unified School District has succeeded. Big deal. There is an old expression that fits this situation perfectly: ``You can't make chicken pie out of chicken feathers.'' As someone who failed the State Bar exam four times, he knows this better than anyone.

-- Dick Bank

Los Angeles 

Not their fault?

Re ``College aid backed for illegals'' (Aug. 30):

Why? Because our Democrats in the state Legislature say, ``It's not the kids' fault parents brought them to California.'' I couldn't think of a more lame or unreasonable excuse if I tried.

It's not my son's fault that his mother and I brought him into the world. My son gets his B.A. this fall from a state university. He has worked his way through college for four years. It has been very, very difficult for him -- no state aid of any kind. If my son can do it, why can't the illegals? Who authored the bill ... Hector De La Torre, Democrat. Who else? Please write the governor and ask him to veto this bill.

-- Kenneth D. Johnson

Tujunga

The American dream?

Re ``College aid backed for illegals'' (Aug. 30):

The legislators say ``It's not the kids' fault parents brought them to California,'' so they should get special state financial aid to attend college. Likewise, it's not the kids of legal residents' fault they were born in California, but they are guaranteed nothing in regard to financial aid because supposedly they are already ``living the American dream.''

All kids should be treated equal; they have no control over where they are ``brought'' or where they were born. The assumption is that if you're born here you are well to do and can afford to provide your child with a college fund; for some this is true, but not for the majority who would also like to experience the American dream.

-- Lavina Suarez

Sylmar

Not my fault either

Re ``College aid backed for illegals'' (Aug. 30):

``It's not their fault that their parents brought them here illegally?'' Well, Hector, it's not our fault either, and I don't see why Californians should be penalized for it. I pay my taxes with the expectation that they will be used for California and Californians. And Hector De La Torre and Gil Cedillo and the Democrats should wake up to that fact.

I hope the governor has the courage and foresight to veto this very misrepresented bill.

-- Ron Honthaner

Studio City

Child welfare

Re ``Child welfare investigation requested'' (Aug. 29):

The rate at which children previously known to the system die of child abuse in Los Angeles County probably is far lower than the national average. Using far better measures of safety, such as reabuse of children left in their own homes, Los Angeles County has among the best records in the state. Far better than counties that take far more children.

That's why City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo's comments about child-abuse fatalities are so dangerous -- should anyone actually take them seriously. They can terrify caseworkers into taking away far more children needlessly. Not only does that do terrible harm to the children wrongfully removed, it also overloads workers, leaving them even less time to find children in real danger.

-- Richard Wexler

Executive director

National Coalition for Child Protection Reform

Spin talk

Re ``Bush back in ravaged region'' (Aug. 29):

Where will the buck stop? Ultimately, it is with this so-called president. All he can do is give us promises. He seems to be incapable of delivering anything. Spin, spin, talking points.

Hey, George, where is the beef? It seems you're not capable of delivering. We all hope nothing else bad happens because you will fumble the ball again.

-- Gilbert Slivka

Calabasas

One year later

Re ``Bush back in ravaged region'' (Aug. 29):

It is apparent the Bush administration doesn't know about priorities. They believe that they are saving lives by fighting ``terrorism'' in Iraq when over 1,500 people died in a tropical storm. If the Bush administration had taken action, the casualties would have been minimal.

President Bush still hasn't redeemed himself. New Orleans is still in shambles. Sixty percent of the homes in New Orleans don't have electricity, a third of the debris still has to be picked up and most of the businesses have not yet reopened. The one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina offers much to think about. How did America decline so quickly? What brought us down so low as to have one and a half thousand people killed in a preventable disaster?

-- Christopher Peak

Santa Monica 

Bad economics

I moved to Sylmar about a year and a half ago and I can't wait to move. I feel like every time I go anywhere in this town I get ``bothered.'' I'm not sure why the issue of ``loitering'' has not been addressed. I have been approached numerous times everywhere ... I'm to the point now where I would rather get on the freeway on empty and press my luck to La Canada than deal with the lowlifes that hang out and approach every car that comes in.

Besides being a complete nuisance, it just can't be good for the economy of Sylmar. Now I know why the Realtor who sold me the house said everyone goes over to Santa Clarita to buy groceries and shop. How is this city going to grow if the people who are living here are constantly going out of the area and spending their money?

-- Kristina Zitkovich

Sylmar

Drama or comedy?

Instead of making a serious movie about the life of John Mark Karr, perhaps it would be better to make a movie about the life and tribulations of Colorado District Attorney Mary Lacy. Of course, it would have to be a comedy.

-- Gene Goodwein

Van Nuys

Mirror, mirror

Re ``Rumsfeld likens critics to appeasers of Nazis'' (Aug. 30):

To Donald Rumsfeld: Fascism -- noun, an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization; (in general use) extreme right-wing, authoritarian, or intolerant views or practice. Get it?

-- Philip J. Hilow

Sunland