PUBLIC FORUM.

Startling solution

Saturday's (Jan. 13) Daily News headline says it all: ``A cure for gang violence,'' followed by ``City-funded study says all-out effort needed to solve the problem.'' Boy, what a startling solution. Hey, President Bush, are you paying attention?

-- Joseph Nicassio

Valencia

Total failure

Re The online poll question, ``Do you think L.A.'s war on gangs is a failure?'':

I think the City Council is a total failure for allowing the problem to get this far out of control. Now they want to put a gang czar in control so they have someone to point their fingers at and once again not have to take responsibility for not doing the job.

All the rhetoric, (epidemic proportions, sweeping reforms, comprehensive regional solutions, coordinate prevention and intervention) are politicians running off at the mouth. They have no idea what to do except to throw taxpayers' money at the problem. The suggestion to have LAUSD to get involved is stupid; they can't get the students to graduate, let alone do anything else.

-- Ronald Roth

Northridge

Effectively curb gangs

Re ``Cops, neighbors huddle on crime'' (Jan. 11):

Community activists, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the City Attorney's Office are all eagerly holding meetings, and trying to institute programs that would at least curb gangs and gang violence.

It's too bad that they do not recognize that an adjustment of just one city ordinance would effectively curb gangs while reducing the tax resources needed by the City Attorney's Office and the LAPD. If the owners of older apartments were given the same right that owners of apartments built since 1978 have -- to evict nuisance, violent, drug-selling tenants without evidence or scared witnesses -- significantly fewer people would cause such problems, and the remainder would be moved out.

-- Victor N. Viereck

Valley Village

The catch

Re ``Water bonds slow to flow'' (Jan. 15):

What did supporters of this bond issue expect? That ``clean water'' was a real phrase? Sorry, guys. Catchphrases like ``our children,'' ``global warming,'' ``our schools,'' ``racial inequality'' and, of course, ``clean water'' are specifically created to keep the money coming.

This is generalized terminology for the majority of voters whose total effort toward informed voting is sharing sound bites with others who refuse to get informed. Unfortunately, those who refuse to be duped have to pay just the same. And look out, voters. Just around the bend is Arnold Shriver's health plan. The catch? ``Everyone should be entitled to health care.''

-- Patrick Weir

Chatsworth

Civil service reform

Re ``Schwarzenegger stresses environment, infrastructure'' (Jan. 10):

Buried deep in Gov. Schwarzenegger's budget is a call to ``reform'' the civil service system, which employs over 200,000 California state workers. The governor wants to streamline hiring, to get rid of hundreds of outdated classifications, to make sure the compensation package attracts the best and the brightest, and make other changes to modernize the system.

Yes, the state service system needs a tuneup. But let's do it right. The civil service merit system has turned out to be the best system devised to get the people's work done at the best price. Let's not use ``reform'' to let the good old boys -- now they're called contractors -- back in.

Let's not use it as cover for yet another divisive attack on state employees, who provide their fellow citizens a lifetime of service. We hope the ``new'' Governor Schwarzenegger is ready to get rid of inefficiencies and inequities in the civil service system -- while preserving the guts of a system which has worked so well for so long.

-- Jim Hard

President, SEIU Local 1000

Sacramento

Doing the right thing

Re ``Cop releases confidential ruling clearing him in teen's shooting'' (Jan. 13):

Officer Garcia rose above the system's lack of transparency and did the right thing by releasing ``confidential findings'' the LAPD Board of Rights refused to, citing ``privacy of officers in these investigations.'' Officer's privacy should be respected but should be up to the officer involved, not the LAPD Board of Rights or the Police Commission.

By releasing the findings, Garcia showed that one policeman was honorable with integrity, which has earned my total respect. Most policemen, in my opinion, are as honorable and possess the same integrity. Those beneath honor and integrity must and will be dealt with, minimal thanks to the LAPD Board of Rights and the Police Commission.

-- Bill Maez

Northridge

Won't be dying

Re ``Bush to opponents: Find own solution'' (Jan. 14):

An easy solution to stopping the violence in Baghdad is obvious -- since our presence there is the major reason for the violence, why not just leave and see what happens? The Iraqis have been killing each other for centuries. How much worse can it be? At least, then, our boys won't be dying alongside them.

-- Lori San Martin

Canoga Park

The 99 Cent solution

The 99 Cent Only Stores have had special ``stoppers'' on their shopping carts for a long time. As soon as someone attempts to move the cart beyond the yellow lines around the parking area, the wheels just go in circles.

This chain has a very low profit margin on its sales, but if they can afford this very simple method to keep their shopping carts, I don't know why Ralphs, Vons, Target, et al., cannot afford to do the same.

-- Mili Lang

Woodland Hills

Clog the courts

Re ``Not their problem'' (Jan. 12):

Clovis Kerr's abandoned shopping cart solution of a required $50 deposit or the imposition of a $250 fine would never work. If the thousands of people in Los Angeles who illegally dump these carts actually had the $50 to post and did, it would create a fund so large it would beg for misappropriation.

If his $250 fine were to be enforced, because of the sheer enormity of the violators, who mostly subsist at the poverty level, it would only be construed as an attack on the poor by the left-wing media and it would clog the courts for years. Imagine catching jury duty for that one. Back to the drawing board, Kerr.

-- Thomas Tassinari

Encino

Volunteer army

Re ``Not their children'' (Your Opinions, Jan. 14):

To Doris Dent who asks why President Bush is not planning to send any of the Bush or Cheney family members to Iraq. As the uncle of a soldier currently in Ramadi, my guess is that we have a volunteer, not conscripted, army. People can't be sent anywhere unless they enlist. Kind of obvious, isn't it?

-- Joel Chitiea

Thousand Oaks 

Welcome, Beckham

How exciting! After being a soccer mom, soccer grandma, etc., and a huge Dodger and Laker fan, and following the San Diego Chargers for our football fix, we are thrilled that David Beckham will arrive in L.A. in June.

Welcome, Welcome. Hopefully it will inspire more young boys to get involved and off the streets. Move over, Kobe and Garciaparra, another great athlete will soon join you.

-- Gloria J. Aguilar

Northridge

The good news

Hopefully the arrival of David Beckham and Victoria ``Posh Spice'' Beckham will push Britney Spears, Tom Cruise and Paris Hilton out of the news.

-- David Arms

Tujunga