PUBLIC FORUM.

Real emergency

Hopefully Mayor Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles City Council are watching TV and reading the papers to see what a real emergency is -- not the false one they are putting on the next ballot.

I hope that all voters see what they are trying to do and vote a big no on the telephone-tax measure. We shouldn't have been paying the 10 percent in the first place, and now they want to do us a favor and reduce the illegal tax to 9 percent.

-- Gene Goodwein

Van Nuys

Fires burning

With the devastation that is occurring from the raging fires, I am just wondering that if these fires were started by an individual what we as a society should do to punish that person. The harm that has been done to those affected is beyond the pale.

With the devastation that is occurring, I wonder how many of the homes and properties did not bother to make the clearings that were necessary to create a firebreak, and to use nonflammable roofing materials. If people wish to live in such high-risk areas, they would have had the responsibility to minimize the potential for harm. And with the fires burning, my thanks to those brave firefighters, working tirelessly, to stem this disaster as quickly as possible.

-- Barry Levy

Hawthorne

Preservationists

I wonder how many of the latest round of fires were touched off and fueled by brush on land that pseudo-environmentalists have "preserved" for our future generations -- for grandchildren who will be vastly wealthier than we are, as we are than our grandparents.

-- Doug Thorburn 

Northridge

Wind and flames

Not too long ago, many people and the Daily News were complaining about the pensions that our firefighters get.

The risk of injury and life that these courageous men and women are exhibiting during these fires is one of the reasons why. Let's try to remember these events for more than a few months.

-- Jackie van Riessen

Calabasas

Firefighters shorted

It's impossible to comprehend the scope of all the destruction and devastation being caused by the ever-growing number of fires in California and other states. It's even more difficult to conceive of a nation where truly brave men and women, working for the federal government, are being asked to routinely take enormous personal risk and face incredible danger without being "qualified for" medical benefits.

You see, these heroes only work "part time" in fire seasons lasting 7-8 months, and the feds can save money by depriving them of what they earn and truly deserve. Outrageous!

-- Robert T. Jones

(Father of a firefighter)

Sherman Oaks

Payouts to ousted

Re "Ousted city manager to get payout" (Oct. 23):

How many millions of dollars are spent each year on employee discharge settlements? Is the $270million telephone-tax income needed to cover that expense? A cheaper way to resolve this ongoing expense might be a more competent human resources department.

Wait a minute, what will it cost to replace the current human resources department? Perhaps the Daily News can obtain the answers.

-- Don Evans

Canoga Park

They are Christians

Re "Coulter's C-bomb" (Viewpoint, Oct. 21):

Patrick Coffin makes a huge factual error in his article about Ann Coulter. He states that "Jews do not cease being Jewish if they accept Jesus as the Messiah." He is profoundly wrong. Jews are waiting for and praying for the arrival of the Messiah and the Messianic age. That has not yet happened. Those who profess that Jesus was that Messiah and still characterize themselves as Jews are not Jewish.

I spend a few hours each December at my neighbor's house, sitting around his tree, drinking eggnog, and singing carols. This no more makes me Christian than celebrating Hanukkah makes these "Jews For Jesus" Jewish. That phrase is an oxymoron. They are what they are. They are Christians.

-- Richard Shafarman

Saugus