PUBLIC FORUM.

City Hall confusion

Re "Traffic studies hit the wall" (Sept. 2):

Confusion within City Hall: So now it is told that developers hire and pay the consultants when an environmental impact or traffic study is required for one of their projects. Gee, I wonder why the results are in favor of the developer? Are the rules so easy to circumvent?

And Councilman Jack Weiss jumps in on both sides of the issue, if the article is correct. On the one hand, he proposed that the city Planning Department hire the consultants and, on the other hand, he is not convinced the system is broken. Now Chief Zoning Administrator Michael LoGrande has it right, but instead of using the words "could add safeguards," use the word "must" and fix the models to more accurately describe the different geo-areas of L.A.

-- Raymond Balikov

Woodland Hills

Car-pool-lane speed

Re "Freeing up car-pool lanes" (Sept. 5):

I never knew you were expected to drive at least 45 mph. I think it should be more, at least 50 or 55 mph. I think the car-pool signs should state "Minimum Speed 48 mph" so everyone is aware of a minimum.

-- Dan Short

Sunland

After it came to light

Re "Alarcon rescinds motion" (Aug. 29):

In yet another example of political hubris, Councilman Richard Alarcon decided to rescind a motion which would have clearly benefited his new wife and, by extension, himself. This is not the problem. Instead, it is shameful that he waited until someone caught him dead to rights, with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar, before he took such action. This is no better than Rocky Delgadillo waiting until being caught before making restitution.

And for this we rewarded him with another term? It makes you wonder what other similar examples have been pushed through secretly by him and his cohorts without ever coming to light.

-- David M. Kritzer

Mission Hills

Sexual repression

Re "Craig set to resign today" (Sept. 1):

Sexual aberrations come from sexual repression. The instinct to bond and propagate our species is overwhelming. Through sexual contact we find pleasure, comfort and intense joy. Lower forms of animal life require sex only as a means of reproduction. We humans would naturally turn to our chosen mate for sexual pleasure. But when one or both partners are burdened with false religious morality, sexual contact often becomes routine and lacks spontaneity, and is often burdened with guilt.

Some men, gay or not, feeling frustrated, will even turn to anonymous, spontaneous bathroom sex with other men. Sexual predators seek sexual gratification with children because of the youngsters' very open and spontaneous attitude. Our sexually suppressed society is to blame for most "deviant" behavior.

-- Bernard Lehrer

Ventura

Goldberg on Vick

In her first day on "The View," Whoopi Goldberg attempted to explain why Michael Vick would have engaged in dogfighting, saying that it is simply something that is common in the area he comes from. While it is not clear, as some have suggested, that Goldberg was trying to defend Vick, the comments were not well thought out.

I would ask Goldberg if she would accept racism in someone who grew up in Klan country? Would she accept spousal abuse in someone if it was common in the neighborhood in which he grew up? Neither should we be understanding of animal cruelty just because it was common in someone's home community.

-- David Holland

Chatsworth

More than just fish

Re "People, not fish" (Your Opinions, Sept. 5):

The "stupid fish" in question is the Sacramento Delta smelt, which is a major forage fish for salmon, striped bass and other larger varieties -- in other words, a major link in the food chain. The real problem isn't Ned Roberts' air conditioner, but the fact that we water lawns in a desert, among other crimes against nature.

-- Philip Miller

North Hollywood Skull and bones

The colossal mismanagement of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The failure to capture bin Laden. The fiascos of Katrina, health care, Social Security, education, illegal immigration, the soaring national debt, and the alienation of our friends and allies.

Our self-proclaimed "Decider" and "Educator" has shown utter incompetence in handling these and other major issues. His bullheadedness and undeserved loyalty to his cronies (at our country's expense) are unforgivable. One of his father's "Points of Light" must have blown a filament and morphed into the dim bulb that is now our current president.

-- Bill Fleming

Burbank