PUBLIC FORUM.

Try Antonio's yard

Re ``Antonio unveils plan for Skid Row'' (Nov. 3):

What a scream! Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called on all Angelenos throughout the city to collectively adopt the motto ``Yes in my backyard'' in regard to getting the homeless off Skid Row.

Here's a thought: How about we take the domes from the recently dismantled Dome Village and put them in the mayor's expansive backyard? It would be a ``twofer.'' We'd reduce homelessness, and Antonio could get close to his constituents. I venture to believe we would all run out of air holding our breath collectively before that backyard is available.

-- Chuck Heinold

West Hills

Too few teachers

Re ``Are there too many chiefs in LAUSD?'' (Nov. 2):

There were 680 administrators and supervisors added since 2001, while teachers have dropped by 2 percent. Enrollment has dropped. Superintendent Roy Romer stated ``much of the bureaucracy's growth has been supervisory employees needed for the district's $19.2 billion building program and conversion to digital technologies.''

Thirty-eight students are considered a small class in middle school and there could be six of them who cannot read or write English. Some middle school teachers have as many as 44 students, and a coach only takes more time from the teacher. Please give our fine teachers smaller classes and administrative support, and then watch the children grow in knowledge.

-- Joanne L. Calhoun

Agoura Hills

Defining `temporary'

Re ``Memories relived with anniversary'' (Nov. 5):

I will visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum and try to scan the 50 million pages of presidential papers to see if I can find the paper signed by Reagan in 1982 authorizing a ``temporary'' tax increase on Social Security.

That tax increase was needed for what was called ``a temporary fiscal crisis.'' Please define ``temporary.''

-- Dante F. Rochetti

West Hills

Not nearly as stupid

Re ``See the illusionist'' and ``Easy does it'' (Your Opinions, Nov. 6):

George W. Bush is not himself the Wizard of Oz, the master illusionist. He is mostly part of the illusion. There is an entire team of scriptwriters and murderers hiding behind the curtain.

On the other hand, our new Big Brother is not nearly as stupid as he pretends to be. He's an astute student of Plato, as he pretends to be religious, and of Machiavelli, as he wages war against his own country's citizens. For Bush, 9-11 was the Reichstag Fire and Gleiwitz Incident rolled into one.

-- William O. West

Reseda

Bikes on the bus

One would think that with 20,000 riders a day, the Orange Line would include more than two bike riders at a time. Since the connections north and south from the Orange Line are so abominable, it's much more efficient to ride a bicycle to and from home to the stop. Yet there are racks with space for only two bikes on the make-believe subway.

Most of the time those two spaces are full, and a third or fourth bike rider cannot take the bus. The bus drivers must be instructed to allow bike riders to bring their bikes onto the bus when the racks are full. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority might also consider installing additional racks on the back of the bus or on the side. Most of us put racks on the back of our cars. The same could be done on a bus -- doubling the number of bikes it carries.

-- John Kieffer

North Hollywood

Theological ruling

Re ``Parishes desperate for young priests look to laity'' (Nov. 4):

The headlines of Saturday's paper revealed a major search for lay ministers in the parishes of the San Fernando Valley. There remains a Catch-22 in the plan.

The Council of Trent allows the sacraments to be ministered by ordained priests. Perhaps Patricia Aidem will choose to have a follow-up on how this ruling and theological tradition will be dealt with.

-- Kenneth Grissom

La Crescenta

Backyard parties

Re ``1 dead, 2 injured at backyard party'' (Briefly, Nov. 6):

I don't know what I'm most curious about: the fact that someone opened fire at a party or why that party was allowed to be ``winding down'' at 4 a.m. I have to wonder how many complaint calls were placed to the Los Angeles Police Department about that party and how many times, if any, the LAPD responded. In our area, parties may last until all hours, and though certain other neighbors and I call and complain about the noise, we rarely receive satisfaction.

I'm sorry anyone died at this party, but perhaps the police should begin questioning disgruntled neighbors who had simply had enough of parties going on all night and finally snapped. I fear something like that in our area within the near future.

-- Anita Work

Sylmar

In our own country

Re ``Dumb and dangerous'' (Nov. 6):

Taking medical care away from babies of undocumented immigrants is atrocious. We're missing the point, though, that undocumented immigrants are human beings. It's time that lawmakers take into consideration the fact that they are not making policies for barnyard animals.

They are making policies for people, including kids who had no choice on immigration. If we could send our troops to fight for human rights abroad, then we should be willing to ensure human rights are upheld in our own country, even if we have to pay for it.

-- Igor Kagan

North Hollywood

Offensive photo

Re ``Pine Island is euthanized'' (Sports, Nov. 5):

Was it really necessary to show the photograph of Pine Island's badly dislocated leg, which led to her being put down after a very somber Breeders' Cup Distaff that also saw Fleet Indian being hurt and pulled up as well.

I think there should be some tact on your part the next time you consider showing such a photo. Yes, it's part of horse racing. Those of us who embrace the sport know the risk, but we sure do not need to be reminded of it. This was a loss of a truly wonderful filly.

-- Nancy Wilkinson

Burbank

Garza and Kerry

Re ``Brewer brings Dilbert Principle to L.A. Unified'' (Viewpoint, Oct. 29):

Mariel Garza found it odd to hear so much pop-business theory coming from a Navy man. She says the military isn't known for its business acumen and innovation. I guess David Brewer is just another ``dumb ex-military man.'' Good luck to the Los Angeles Unified School District.

After 24 years in the Air Force, including two years in South Vietnam, I had a successful second career as a history teacher at Dewitt Clinton High School in the Bronx. Not to blow my horn, but I won quite a few awards and was the primary Advanced Placement teacher in the Social Studies Department until I retired and moved to Woodland Hills this summer. I suppose you find it odd that a former first sergeant of security police forces could become a successful educator.

-- Joe Straus

Woodland Hills

Sign hooliganism

Tuesday morning I went out to get the paper and found that, sometime in the night, someone had planted signs for Arnold Schwarzenegger in the parkway along the street. What annoyed me even more was that a person or persons had gone by and torn all the signs up, leaving the bits for the homeowners to clean up.

I know the parkway is public property, but people should have thought before placing signs in a mass effort.

-- Jess Miller

Woodland Hills