PUBLIC FORUM.

Clean money

Re ```Clean' money proposal scrutinized'' (Oct. 11):

Refusing to be controlled by Proposition 13 constraints, Los Angeles lawmakers have made it their business to circumvent those constraints by assessing ``fees'' for a multitude of issues and tacking them on to our property tax bills in clear violation of the spirit of Proposition 13.

This proposal is just another ruse to pick our pockets again under the guise of pretending that lawmakers on the take would suddenly become icons of political virtue. Get real. Hopefully, the voters are smart enough to realize that the real ``special interest group'' in all this is the group of lawmakers trying to pass this proposal.

-- Patrick Weir

Chatsworth

Location is everything

Re ``Children's project lacks donations from Valley'' (Oct. 9):

You can't blame the people of the Valley for not backing a stupid idea, and relocating the Children's Museum to Lake View Terrace is about as stupid as they come. This choice of location could only have been made by dilettantes who have no idea how the Valley operates, our lack of public transportation or the cores of densely populated areas that could have benefited by the new museum.

Finding a site along the Orange Line, or the Red Line, or at least central to the bulk of the population would have made this museum part of the Valley. As it stands, this wonderful opportunity for children might as well be on the moon. The child in Reseda or North Hollywood or South Los Angeles will never see this new museum or feel a part of it.

-- Michael Guetzow

Woodland Hills

While Tony's gone

Re ``Mayoral expedition'' (Your Opinions, Oct. 11):

Dick Bank's concern over ``who is running the city'' while the mayor is on his Far East expedition is a valid concern and I may have a clue. All he need do is place his last name first and check to see if City Controller Laura Chick stayed in L.A. She seems to be doing a good job guarding the ``henhouse.'' As the Daily News editorial said, ``Laura knows best.''

-- Bob Ginn

Arcadia

One more reason

Just saw Al Gore pitching for ``Yes on 87.'' One more reason to vote no.

-- David Hall 

Winnetka

Change at the top

Re ``Laura knows best'' (Our Opinions, Oct. 11):

I worked for the Los Angeles Fire Department for more than 30 years. The Fire Commissioners' Audit Action Plan calls for charter changes, millions of dollars of taxpayers' money and increased staff. None of that solves the root problem of weak leadership at the top. It is time for the mayor to replace Fire Chief Bamattre and his second-in-command, Andy Fox. This administration has had more than its fair share of chances.

Two scathing audits, mounting lawsuits, countless personal testimonies, documented neglect of duty, millions of taxpayers' dollars wasted, double standards, low morale. How much more evidence is needed?

-- Eric and Chris Mattson

Fallbrook

Should be severe

Re ``Yes on Jessica's Law'' (Our Opinions, Oct. 11):

My heart aches for the children who have been subjected to the inhuman acts of sexual predators. The so-called harsh stipulations associated with Jessica's Law, also known as Proposition 83, are justified due to the horrendous nature of the crime.

The price to pay for the violation of an innocent child should in fact be this severe and may make one think twice about the commitment of such an act. The protection of children is the essential concern here, not the shelter and security of the pedophile.

-- Jessica Washington

Los Angeles

Where did it go?

Re ``A star portal is reborn'' (Oct. 4):

Councilman Greig Smith's office invited some constituents from his area to the Griffith Park Planetarium on Tuesday night and my wife and I were one of the many couples that got to go. About $93 million was spent on its renovation and you know what? A lot of us couldn't tell where they spent the money, except on the new lawn, some outside bathrooms and the enlargement of downstairs.

You really have to be into the theme to enjoy what it brings to the city. Even Wolfgang Puck is there with his trendy restaurant and prices. Reminds me of Dodger Stadium. So if your child should take a field trip, send him or her with a $20 bill. The views are always spectacular, by the way.

-- Wynne Ritch

Granada Hills

Proposition 87

Oil companies are spending millions to intimidate voters into rejecting Proposition 87 -- saying it will result in more foreign oil and higher prices. Hogwash! The $4 billion in excess profits is lunch money to those folks. They spend more than that on the barrage of advertising against Proposition 87. They also spend that much on executive bonuses.

Then they try to persuade us that bonuses and advertising costs do not drive up the price of gas -- but that Proposition 87 would. The real issue here is voter control. Oil companies are convinced that by spending enough money to repeat their lies and distortions, they can scare voters into voting no on Proposition 87. Had enough? Then say so. We have a rare opportunity to say no to big oil by voting a big ``yes'' to Proposition 87.

-- Rhod Zimmerman

West Hills

Problem at the top

As corporate America makes record-breaking profits, and its execs enjoy obscene earnings, we're bogged down quibbling over the minimum wage. Raising the minimum wage a buck and some change won't hurt or solve a thing. The problem is not at the bottom, but at the top.

This outsourcing of factory jobs is killing the working middle class. We need to level the playing field by closing the gap between the rich and the poor. All it would take is to reinstate a cap on capital gains and limit its top wage-earners to a decent percentage rate of income. The company profits could then be directed toward respectable wages and health plans for the many workers instead of building mansions for a few fat cats.

-- Albert Obregon

Sunland

Christopher who?

I'm a substitute teacher and often interest my students in ``quick write'' projects by having them write for possible publication in the Daily News (I've had over 220 students published over the years). The prompt last week was to discuss what we know about the world today that Columbus didn't when he set out over 500 years ago. The fifth-grade students I was teaching looked at me blankly and didn't know who he was, not one of them. Needless to say, I was dismayed.

The consensus in the teacher lounge, both there and at other schools where I mentioned this, was that this is a consequence of Open Court taking so much time, and the phenomenon of ``teaching to the test.'' Where's the critical thinking?

-- Prentiss Moore

Sherman Oaks

Slap on the wrist

From past experience, the United Nations does nothing when it should. That is why North Korea has done the nuclear thing and Iran is continuing on with its nuclear program. They both know that the U.N. will just talk and proceed with no substantial actions. When are we going to learn that the U.N. cannot be depended on to be serious?

I will be very surprised if the U.N. does any more than give North Korea and Iran a slap on the wrist. Or maybe the U.N. will ask these nations what punishment they should be given and then go and stick their combined heads in the ground.

-- Gene Goodwein

Van Nuys