PUBLIC FORUM.

On not giving a damn

It is obvious that Pierce O'Donnell does not give a damn or he would not have pleaded no contest to unethical behavior. I certainly hope the California State Bar gives a damn. I hope they sanction lawyers for unethical behavior.

What a fine example of the legal profession he is. O'Donnell does not care because his city business is limited, he just made a lot of money, can afford to pay the fine and it does not affect his bottom line. He has no remorse for committing a crime; it is business as usual. Do I believe all these laws make more people honest? I think that honest people will always make the right choice.

-- Carleen Powers

Sun Valley

Politics be damned

God forbid the LAUSD board should have some power taken from their grubby little fingers; they and Roy Romer have done such a stellar job with our schools. It is unfortunate that the mayor had to do business with UTLA to get this deal (or part of the deal), but hopefully he can talk some sense into this self-important bunch and begin working together on the deterioration of our public schools.

I heartily agree (for a change) with the Daily News that ``an open and lively public conversation about our schools and what's best for the kids'' should be the order of the day, weeks and months ahead. Let's give education a chance and the hell with politics and the likes of Julie Korenstein (20 years on the board) and her ilk. Their success rate is dismal at best.

-- Eileen O'Neill

West Hills

The new standard

Re ``Prisoner treatment'' (Your Opinion, June 22):

The behavior of the insurgents, as repellent as it is, is expected from a group of murderous thugs. Do we need to condemn all of al-Qaida's actions individually? However, torture and indefinite imprisonment without charge is not behavior expected of the United States of America. Or does Dana Johnson think so little of his country that this is his new standard: ``America -- not worse than al-Qaida!''

Incidentally, human-rights groups have condemned the atrocity. Amnesty International's statement, for example, is on the front page of its Web site.

-- Nicole Carlson

Granada Hills

Hard work, not drugs

The LAPD's motto is ``lead by example.'' We've never touched illegal drugs, and have passed all the rigorous steps to serve as officers. When you're allowed by law to potentially take a person's life or liberty, reaching high standards is the least that we should expect. There are 1,200 youths in the Police Academy Magnet School program. They're making tough decisions to do the right thing. But, their efforts will be tarnished if LAPD relaxes its drug policy by accepting future officers with hard-drug histories.

Using hard drugs like heroin is a felony. How can we advocate placing felons on our streets to protect our families? This new policy allows for past usage of hard substances and more than mere recreational use. With lives and taxpayer dollars at risk, why take the chance?

-- Greig Smith, Dennis Zine, and Bernard C. Parks 

Los Angeles city councilmen

Displacement activity

Re ``Vile and hostile'' (Your Opinions, June 16):

Do you Republicans really believe that the acerbic and hurtful remarks by ``one skinny, little blond lady'' drives us liberals crazy? Only in your dreams. Ann Coulter, like Russ Limbaugh, is a mouthpiece for the Republican Party, nothing more.

Hate-filled windbags like Coulter can't change the obvious -- that this present administration is a disaster.

-- Tarleton X. Garton

Lancaster

Making it hard

For six years I have gotten my bus pass through my employer. Every month my pass was here. My job was terminated as of May 31 and I am turning 70 at the end of July. I called MTA today to find out where to get my Senior Discount Pass. They said to go to the Mid Valley Senior Center in Van Nuys or downtown L.A. to get my pass.

I also was told that the passes are only sold on Mondays and Fridays from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Mid Valley Senior Center. What is with this? Why are you making it so hard to get this pass?

-- Pat Meiner

Canoga Park