PUBLIC FORUM.

How does it feel?

Re ``LAUSD won't let mayor be part of hiring process'' (Oct. 5):

The mayor wants input on the new super of the school board of Los Angeles. Do we remember how the mayor went straight to his ``cronies'' in Sacramento to get control without any concern or regard of the voters of Los Angeles?

-- Joseph Orr

Beverly Hills 

Not so innocent

Re ``Trash and treasure'' (Oct. 5):

It's a pity the city of L.A. hasn't figured out the tremendous loss in revenue due to the packs of thieves that ravage the residents' recycling containers. After numerous inquiries I've been told that our trash containers become public property once they leave the curb. For those of you that think that rummaging through your trash is an innocent way to earn money, you better think again.

Discarded credit card applications and loan applications are ``treasure'' to unscrupulous people. I've learned to bury all glass, plastic and aluminum in the bottom of the container and stack all the papers on top and it usually prevents any theft.

-- Bob Mauch

North Hills

Quality education

Re ``3 new schools LAUSD milepost'' (Oct. 4):

It is wonderful news to hear that there are now more schools available for students especially because the student-to-teacher ratio will be balanced. Although with 10 more to open this year, it sounds as if public schools are becoming the new Starbucks, one on every corner.

It seems a little excessive to have so many schools in the area; the focus should be on the quality of education, not quantity.

-- Alisa Post

Los Angeles

Suspicious minds

Re ``Mayor vowing payoff in trade'' (Oct. 4):

Mister Mayor, you are off on your way, on an incredible journey that many of your constituents could never dream of -- perhaps even you could never have dreamed of -- 16 days, $500,000.

As a middle-age white male in the San Fernando Valley, born and raised in North Hollywood (Pre-NoHo): What have you done for me? It's not envy ... It's distrust.

-- Sandy Beckler

Granada Hills

Country music

I have to say that my birthday this year, Aug. 17, was a strange and sad day not only for me but a lot of Angelenos. That was the day that KZLA literally went off the air. No warning, no fanfare and come to find out, the DJs didn't even know it was to occur. Apparently, parent company Emmis doesn't think there is a big-enough fan base, audience share or money to be had from country listeners.

Strange, Vanity Fair is doing a full spread on country stars, there is the Country Music Awards, and Sara Evans, a country singer, is on ``Dancing with the Stars.'' San Diego has two stations, Ventura one but none for Los Angeles. I miss my KZLA. Surely I am not alone.

-- Susan Mueller

Granada Hills

Books of evil

Re ``Mom battles Harry Potter'' (Oct. 4):

Laura Mallory of Atlanta wants all Harry Potter books removed from the school library on the grounds that they indoctrinate her children into a religion whose practices are evil. The school board has actually formally heard her complaint. Good grief!

May I proffer a justified solution? It is obvious Mallory has not read the books. Force her to read every word of the Harry Potter series housed in the school library. Then have her present her detailed objections, in writing, before the school board. If she wishes to become the laughing stock of Atlanta she should certainly be afforded that opportunity. The Harry Potter books are notably the finest fantasy written in this generation.

-- Wallace Mingus

Northridge

Safer, right?

Re ``Bush will get them'' (Your Opinions, Sept. 29):

Sharon Howard writes that George Bush has kept us safe because ``we have not been attacked here in five years.'' After the 1993 World Trade Center attack we were not attacked here for eight years. Will Sharon give Bill Clinton that credit?

In the meantime, Sharon, according to the Armed Services Committee, al-Qaida on George W. Bush's watch has grown from a few hundred die-hards to a few hundred thousand. Seventy percent of Iraqis want us out now and 20 percent more within a year. As for keeping us safe, I am planning a trip to Vienna in the spring and my cousin Georg who owns a hotel there has advised me to tell strangers that I am Canadian.

-- Chuck Heinold

West Hills

Gets scarier

Re ``Dad could help end Iraq war'' (Their Opinions, Oct. 4):

Richard Cohen can find no reason ``... other than to satisfy some psychological compulsion'' to explain why Bush 43 even wanted to be president. He hypothesizes that it has to do with the father/son relationship with Bush 41.

I submit that there is an even deeper and more disturbing reason; one that has been well documented and never contradicted by the president. George W. Bush believes that God wanted him to run and be president of the United States. This messianic view of his own destiny is what has plunged the nation into this frightening abyss.

-- Robert C. Von Bargen

Santa Monica

Another way

Re ``Terror activity'' (Your Opinions, Sept. 29):

Rick Caravetti compares terrorists to stinging insects and advises ``leav(ing) the vicinity of the nest.'' Another way to stop the stinging is to destroy the hive.

-- James F. Glass

Chatsworth

Answer -- Maybe

Re ``The Answer? Yes'' (Your Opinions, Oct. 4):

Jim Stewart's answer may depend too much on experts. In 1947, experts said there was only 10 years of oil reserves. Same year society of American scientists said man could not get to the moon. In 1975, scientists were warning about the coming of another ice age.

When I was a young boy, the Santa Monica pier on the north side had a paddle board club with its platform about 6 feet above the ocean floor; today it is buried under 3-4 feet of dry sand. From Santa Monica to Venice, the sandy beaches are much wider. Where has the ocean gone? Certainly refuting the claims of sea level rise. All it is is a cyclical event, with mankind keeping in step with the ``Chicken Little'' fable.

-- Joseph Nicassio

Valencia

Unfair parking

Re ``Handicapped parking'' (Your Opinions, Oct. 4):

I agree with Sue Abrano. My husband takes me to Kaiser Permanente every Monday to be at the lab at 7 a.m. for blood work. Most of the closer parking spots are filled. We feel it must be employees, which makes it very unfair for handicapped people who must be there early.

Also, even though the cars are checked for valid plates or placards at all places of business, they don't check to see if the person in the vehicle legally belongs there. I carry my letter from the DMV in the glove compartment. When my husband is alone he never uses handicapped parking. Hopefully, something can be done about this problem.

-- Mildred Black

Chatsworth

Really bad bill

We got our DWP bill today -- $531. If you're making $100,000 a year this bill would still be shocking. When you and your wife are in your mid-70s, living on a retirement income, it's disastrous. I'm not very happy that the City Council gave DWP workers a raise.

The American dream is to own a home. I think the Los Angeles dream is: When can I get the hell out?

-- Kenneth D. Johnson

Tujunga