PUBLIC FORUM.Councils put down Re ``Neighborhood councils Neighborhood councils are governmental or non-governmental bodies composed of local people who handle neighborhood problems. They can be found in many cities throughout the world. put up too much fight'' (Nov. 21): The neighborhood councils were set up to provide a means for the ``stakeholder'' to have a grass-roots say in our city government. Most neighborhood councils are not only elected by registered voters, but by stakeholders Stakeholders All parties that have an interest, financial or otherwise, in a firm-stockholders, creditors, bondholders, employees, customers, management, the community, and the government. who live, work or otherwise participate in the community. As such, people of all kinds are welcomed to their meetings and allowed to voice their opinions. Given this, it makes sense that altercations will occasionally arise, with 85 neighborhood councils holding 12 to 24 or more meetings per year. Why then are neighborhood councils put down when most of the incidents are caused by nonboard members? Is this another attempt of the political factions to diminish the work of neighborhood councils? -- Garth Carlson Reseda Widespread in nature Re ``Penguin book raises concern'' (Nov. 18): If the homophobic members of our society would open their eyes a bit, they would see that loving bonds, including sexuality, between members of the same sex are fairly widespread in nature. Then, perhaps, instead of attempting to ban a book about two male penguins that love each other, they might learn to accept same-sex love as a natural variant in many animal species, including Homo sapiens Homo sapiens (Latin; “wise man”) Species to which all modern human beings belong. The oldest known fossil remains date to c. 120,000 years ago—or much earlier (c. . -- Alan Pollack pollack: see cod. pollack or pollock Either of two commercially important North Atlantic species of food fish in the cod family (Gadidae). Woodland Hills Defending us So Mr. City Attorney is OK with giving away $2.7 million of taxpayer money for a prank, played on a prankster, because he might actually have to do the job he is paid to do and defend the city and its taxpayers. Then the illustrious City Council agrees to this outrageous amount; after all, they got their raises and fooled the voters into letting them keep their no-stress do-nothing jobs for another term. Now Rocky Delgadillo Rockard John "Rocky" Delgadillo (born July 15 1960) is the current City Attorney of Los Angeles, California. Career
-- Edwin Weigand Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. Zero tolerance The policy of applying laws or penalties to even minor infringements of a code in order to reinforce its overall importance and enhance deterrence. Since the 1980s the phrase zero tolerance has signified a philosophy toward illegal conduct that favors strict imposition of Re ``TV star says he's not a racist, apologizes for using epithets'' (Nov. 21): There should be zero tolerance for racism in this country. Michael Richards' rant against our fellow black brothers and sisters was repulsive re·pul·sive adj. 1. Causing repugnance or aversion; disgusting. See Synonyms at offensive. 2. Tending to repel or drive off. 3. Physics Opposing in direction: a repulsive force. . I was personally offended and hurt. I have white skin but regard black people as my people. All Americans are ``my people.'' Black people have a painful past in this country. Their pain is our shame. We cannot heal if the wound keeps getting reopened. -- Suzy Coyle Burbank May they extend Re ``Job losses at stake'' (Your Opinions, Nov. 20): God forbid, workers should earn a living wage. ``Are there no workhouses? Are there no prisons?'' So spoke Ebenezer Scrooge Ebenezer Scrooge is the main character in Charles Dickens' 1843 novel, A Christmas Carol. He is a very cold-hearted, selfish man, who has no love for Christmas, children, or anything that even provokes happiness. . While Gregory N. Lippe (who obviously never tasted bitter poverty) of Valley Industry and Commerce Association says, ``Tomorrow it could be restaurants on Ventura Boulevard Ventura Boulevard is one of the primary east-west thouroughfares in the San Fernando Valley; as it was originally a part of the El Camino Real (the trail between Spanish missions), Ventura Boulevard is the oldest route in the San Fernando Valley. It was also U.S. or body shops on Sepulveda. Where does it stop?'' VICA's Brendan Huffman says, ``Our concern is what's next? Hospitals? Restaurants? Construction firms? (Daily News, Oct. 23). In the cold Wal-Mart/Dick Cheney's Halliburton environment that surrounds us, the L.A. City Council shows immense courage with the living-wage rules. May they extend from Century Boulevard to Ventura and Sepulveda boulevards, and beyond. -- Bob Deluca Calabasas The Republicans lost Remember that the unemployment rate is 4.4 percent. The economy is excellent, with low taxes ... where will we be in two years? If the past is a lesson -- a bigger hole culturally and economically. -- Joseph Nicassio Valencia |
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