PUBLIC FORUM.

And who pays?

Re "Other woman in the mayor's life revealed" (July 3):

Mirthala Salinas is not the first woman we have heard about with whom Mayor Villaraigosa has chosen to disregard his marriage vows. Doesn't this tell us something about the man's character -- or lack of same? Does anyone really believe that he is more honorable as the mayor?

Speaking of which, I would love to have the people who discovered that Rocky Delgadillo allowed us citizens to pay for the repairs to the city vehicle his wife crashed to ascertain if, similarly, we got to pay for Villaraigosa's airfare when he went to Phoenix for the funeral of Salinas' mother.

-- Diane Pfahler

Woodland Hills

And the winner is L.A.

After reading all the lies (and) half-truths that have been coming out of the mouths of Rocky and our mayor, I have reached the following conclusion:

We in L.A. have surpassed San Francisco even with their half-wit mayor and City Council.

-- George Timko

West Hill

Recycle this

Re "In the world of recycling" (July 5):

Trash envoys, ambassadors! So help me, Hannah, the city of L.A. has truly lost it. The only words worth printing were "some owners worry the recycling will attract scavengers." Send the trash envoys with its ambassadors out weekly and take away the thieves' stolen shopping carts and make them do community service.

I've been a victim of identity theft twice and all because of these lawbreakers rummaging through my trash. I've resorted to using the old yellow recycling bin and putting all my recyclables in plain sight. The article was an insult to all of us who reside in L.A. and pay taxes and try to recycle. The millions lost every year are due to theft, not our unwillingness to recycle.

-- Bob Mauch

North Hills

Far down the path

Re "What does this country mean to you?" (July 4):

Reading the comments for the Fourth of July was both compelling but also quite disturbing. It is becoming clear just how far down the path of no return we might have gone. Our Founding Fathers in reading these would not recognize them as coming from the America they risked their collective lives, families and fortunes to create.

Councilman Richard Alarcon, we are not a democracy. The Founding Fathers were clear in extensive writings about the inherent evils and pitfalls of democracy. Sir, we are a representative republic. Might you not get it clear as to what form of government you are a part of? The difference is huge.

-- John K. Taylor

Woodland Hills

The difference

As a proud American, I cannot imagine the mentality of people who believe it is acceptable to conspire to disclose or even publicly discuss the identity of our intelligence people. Yet that is exactly what George W. Bush just gave "Scooter" Libby a free pass on. These pardon supporters compare Scooter to Bill Clinton's lying about a personal matter or to Clinton's granting a pardon to tax-cheat Mark Rich.

The difference? What Scooter and the whole White House gang of insiders did was commit treason, pure and simple. In the old days, they would have been hanged. George W. Bush is no longer simply a lame duck. He has now cooked his own ethical goose.

-- Chuck Heinold

West Hills

Fastpokes

Re "Slowpokes" (Your Opinions, July 3):

You mention the inconsideration of folks who drive in the fast lane, though too slowly to be there. Your point is credible as long as that driver is driving below the posted speed limit. If the driver is driving at the posted speed limit while others are dangerously going faster, it is the others who should be off the road.

While the rules of the road state that slower drivers must drive in the far right lane, it refers to "those who drive below the posted speed limit." The California Driver's Handbook states that at no time should one be driving faster than the posted speed limit. Be advised: Those who don't understand this (there are many) have no business whatsoever on our roadways.

-- Gregory Todd

Palmdale

Driving while phoning

What's worse than someone talking on the cell phone while driving? Someone searching for and dialing the phone while driving. Having the driver in front of you looking to the side and down and then up and then down again several times while searching for and/or dialing the number he wants, all the while riding his brakes (on and off, on and off), is nerve-racking and totally dangerous.

If the conversation a driver wants to have is really all that important, he should pull over to the side of the road to have it and then proceed; otherwise, let it wait until he arrives wherever he's going. We used to do without phones in cars; we should be able to do it now.

-- Sheila Cooley

Van Nuys

Scooter scooting 

So it has come to this. Not only does the vice president flout an executive order, he has the unmitigated gall to tell us what branch of government to which he belongs. And then his boss commutes the sentence of a convicted felon who just happens to be his vice president's former chief of staff.

It is stunning to me that almost 144 years later, the words uttered by Abe Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address have been trampled and disregarded so callously by the three branches of this government. Indeed, it would appear that the government of the people, by the people and for the people has now perished, if not from this Earth, at least from the United States.

-- Rodney K. Boswell

Thousand Oaks 

Group homes

Re "Department failures cited by grand jury" (June 30):

Why slam group homes in recent coverage of the grand jury report? Group homes provide round-the-clock care for youths often having profound social and psychological challenges stemming from years of abuse and neglect, youths failed by the child welfare system with histories of many prior foster care placements.

The assertion, moreover, that group homes have blocked reform is just plain wrong. The California Alliance has twice led state efforts for group home reform, first with SB 933 and this year with AB 1453, a bill that strongly supports L.A. County's efforts to achieve better outcomes for foster youths.

-- Carroll Schroeder

Executive director

California Alliance of Child and Family Services 

Need a supermarket

Westfield Malls Corp. is determined to increase its presence in the San Fernando Valley. Why not call the strip between the Topanga and Promenade malls The Westfield Village?

Then we could have a much-needed supermarket, upscale, if necessary, or a Trader Joe's, along with satellite shops; a cleaners, a shoe repair store and a cafe or two with inside and outside tables. A cobbled-type sidewalk with benches, kiosks, etc., could certainly make it a very inviting place. With all the new apartments and condos being built in the Woodland Hills-Canoga Park area, we need a supermarket as well as more neighborhood merchants. We have enough department stores.

-- Mili Lang

Woodland Hills

Handicapped parking

I was reading about cars involved in illegal street racing being crushed for scrap. My thought is, why is this not done to the scofflaws that abuse the handicapped parking placard? Or the cars caught with counterfeit cards?

The enforcement job could be turned over to one of the many tow truck companies. They could share in the sale of salvaged parts and scrap metal from the car. As the car is crushed, it could be videotaped and shown on YouTube. This would be a good reminder to people who think it's no big deal to abuse the handicap parking law.

-- Mike Hoblinski

Burbank