PUBLIC FORUM.

Isn't that his job?

Re "Kiss 200 good jobs goodbye" (April 1):

Why does your Sunday headline read "Kiss 200 good jobs goodbye"? Why not: "Councilman stands up for his constituents"? Aren't parks as important as jobs?

-- Alan Pollack

Woodland Hills

Reyes is right

Re "Kiss 200 good jobs goodbye" (April 1):

I recall reading Daily News articles that told us that Los Angeles is one of the most park-deficient cities in the country. Yet you took Councilman Ed Reyes to task over his decision to support this property being used as a park rather than a rail-car refurbishing facility that would provide 200 jobs for "several years." The melodramatic headline ("Kiss 200 good jobs goodbye") and the pro-business story fail to even mention the other side of this story. I applaud Reyes for doing what his constituents want and what is good for Los Angeles.

-- Michael McNamara 

Sylmar

Not the community

Re "Kiss 200 good jobs goodbye" (April 1):

It is not the community that wants another park at Taylor Yard (there already is one nearly completed there); it is Ed Reyes. The whole grandiose L.A. River revitalization is what Ed Reyes wants -- the taxpayers be damned.

So here's an idea, why don't we kiss Ed Reyes goodbye?

-- Tony Taylor

North Hollywood

A crime is a crime

Re "Gangs focus now on immigrants" (April 1):

The Daily News quoted Sheriff Lee Baca as follows: "It's important to recognize there's a difference between an illegal immigrant and an immigrant who commits a crime. We (he should speak for himself; who's his "we"?) believe an illegal immigrant who is a gang member should be deported."

Doesn't Baca know there is no difference between an illegal immigrant gang member and someone who is not a gang member but is an illegal immigrant? They both have broken the law and both should be deported. By Sheriff Baca's statement, it appears to me that, and in my opinion, the sheriff who is supposed to enforce the law is in favor of illegal immigration.

-- Mort Sherman

Woodland Hills

Not doing its job?

Re "Gangs focus now on immigrants" (April 1):

A 40 percent increase in gang violence this year in the Valley? Finally, the feds and the Sheriff's Department are getting it. The more illegal immigrants, the more crime in Los Angeles. Shame on them for waiting this long, knowing that many return to cause more crime.

And please stop blaming society for not "doing its job." Give up this crazy sanctuary policy. It is now destroying our quality of life here in L.A. We have no moral duty other than to deliver illegal immigrants back to their home country.

-- David McCann 

Agoura Hills

Something stinks

City Council President Eric Garcetti is actively trying to destroy all future business at the Los Angeles International Airport Hilton. Councilman Ed Reyes is blocking 200 high-paying light-industrial jobs. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa continues to welcome any illegal immigrant who promises to make a mockery of our laws.

The Los Angeles school board refuses to grant charter-school rights to an organization with a great track record, while renewing a charter for what has been one of the lowest-scoring schools in California. What's wrong with this picture?

-- Michael Guetzow

Woodland Hills

He's back

Re "Alarcon back in city's 7th District seat" (March 31):

Richard Alarcon's back in the city? When asked what it's like to be back at the City Council, his answer was it's almost like he never left. That's probably true. Not much has been done. The only difference I can think of is he is going to make a lot more money than if he had stayed in the state Assembly.

I hope the voters wake up before the next election in 2009. I think if a politician runs for an office that calls for a four-year term, then he should serve four years. Then maybe we wouldn't need costly special elections.

-- Frank Klein

Sunland

Tie him to a chair

Re "Fire blackens 150 hilly acres; teens arrested" (March 31):

Here we have a news conference called to update us on the Hollywood Hills fire by the battalion chief in charge, and here comes Antonio, flashing teeth and siren, to inform us on something he has just been barely briefed on.

He not only will not give up the microphone but starts interpreting in Spanish. Is that really necessary?? Will someone please tie Antonio Villaraigosa to a chair at City Hall. To think I thought traveling Sam Yorty was bad.

-- Ken Thatcher Sr.

Van Nuys

Poor decisions

Re "Paid too much" (March 29):

Circuit City lays off the salespeople because they are making too much money and the company needs to reduce costs. Instead of getting rid of the six top executives who made $33.5 million and whose poor decisions helped in running the company into the ground, Circuit City gets rid of the top salespeople who were probably keeping the company afloat.

I suspect these six management types will be expecting big bonuses for doing such a great job. They will also hire new people who do not need experience. I will now get a salesperson who has no idea of what he or she is selling. Terrific.

-- Richard Martin 

Burbank

Moving traffic

So Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky is the first official to recognize the obvious: that the conversion of large, nearby existing streets into one-way thoroughfares will move much more traffic and eliminate many left-turn crashes. As reported, this will be a low-cost, relatively fast change. On streets like our Victory Boulevard, Burbank Boulevard, Sherman Way, etc., we also gain an instant additional lane -- for free.

Now if the officials really get smart: Build overcrosses at the major intersections for the center two or three lanes, and things will really move around here. Also, change it so during rush hours the smaller intersecting street signals stay green for the large street, to keep traffic moving. Motorists would only be able to turn right at those times, but these are small prices to pay for moving traffic.

-- Dave Petterson

Sherman Oaks

Alberto Gonzales

Alberto Gonzales is being scrutinized for lying to Congress. Frankly I don't understand what the big deal is. Here is a man who wrote memos authorizing torture at Guantanamo Bay and in Abu Ghraib. A man who has helped turn America the beautiful into America the neo-Nazi internment center, from Guantanamo to Abu Ghraib to secret prisons around the world and in our border states.

A man who does nothing while Halliburton fleeces Americans of their hard-earned tax dollars. A man who has stated that he doesn't believe the American Constitution supports habeas corpus. We need to hold hearings to investigate whether this man is a pathological war criminal instead.

-- Charlie Wilken

Northridge

Without oversight

Re "Serve at pleasure" (Your Opinions, April 2):

Thank you, Dianne Newton, for clearing up a couple of misperceptions. I thought that the president served at our pleasure, and I was also under the impression that the GOP administration has created or contributed to some of the serious problems that our country faces (war, deficit, job losses even with record profits for corporations, etc.).

For six years, this administration has operated without fear of oversight and has behaved like an immoral kid turned loose in a candy store of executive privilege.

-- Jennifer Rabuchin

Burbank