PUBLIC FORUM.

PR-savvy chief

Re "Melee brings 2nd civil-rights suit" (May 11):

We've had a week of "Your Opinion" letters backing the iron-fist tactics at the May 1 MacArthur Park police riot. The letter writers who unquestioningly support beating and firing at innocent women, children and elderly by the Los Angeles Police Department and the journalists who report it are probably the same sheep who follow a blockhead president. The vitriol aimed at the injured protesters in these letters always decries immigrants and is clearly based on hate and xenophobia.

Do you honestly believe Chief Bratton is anything other than a slightly more P.R.-savvy Daryl Gates?

-- Bob Deluca

Calabasas

Where the buck stops

Bill Bratton came to L.A. with his magic computer and "cleaned house" -- fixing that nasty old Los Angeles Police Department and putting people in place who thought and acted as he did. Lee Carter was one such appointee. The chief's decision to perform a career assassination on Carter in order to sidestep personal responsibility is consistent with Chief Bratton's philosophy of "transparency" -- at least where others are concerned.

It is amazing how the mayor and the press stand in awe of the chief as he takes "decisive action" against the scapegoat de jour in order to deflect any negative light away from himself. Apparently the buck stops at deputy chief.

-- Bruce Crosley

LAPD captain, retired

Wrong button

I think that Chief Bratton has punished the wrong police officers. Clearly the burden for what happened should fall on the shoulders of the police helicopter officer who broadcast the order to disperse. This officer should be punished for failing to push No. 2 for Spanish.

-- Ron Tremain

Valley Glen

Museum's financing

Re "Save the museum" (Our Opinions, May 10):

The Daily News has accused Councilman Richard Alarcon of blocking the Children's Museum project, under construction in Lake View Terrace. Long before Alarcon took the seat, the museum had been in a highly questionable financial state. Financial status numbers are running the gamut. Where are the books? Where has city government been since 2000 when it should have been monitoring the project?

Will the Children's Museum forever be a white elephant dragging on a chain about the city's neck for failure to meet its ongoing annual operational budget? I applaud Alarcon for taking the bull by the horns and initiating an audit of the museum's books.

-- Elektra Kruger

Shadow Hills

Everybody gets a cut

Re "Pump panic" (Viewpoint, May 13):

The gasoline companies are making a 10 percent profit per gallon -- at least that is what is being reported. The government is taking 15 percent per gallon, from what is being reported, and I also remember that the price of corn is going up because of ethanol's being used in gasoline as an additive.

I also remember that California has its own special blend of gasoline that cannot be sold anywhere else. I also remember that the environmental movement wanted the price of gasoline to rise above $3 per gallon -- now $4. I guess that's OK as long as the gas companies don't make a dime.

-- Dave Whitelaw

Eagle Rock

Money talks

Re "Bill seeks to hike monitoring of drugs" (May 10):

Once again the Senate, by a vote of 93-1, takes the lead in formulating legislation that will increase the cost to all Americans who use prescription drugs. They propose a fee increase on the drug industry to cover the cost of reviewing new medicines. (You know who will pay for this). Congress did not allow consumers to buy prescription drugs abroad. (Wonder if all the drugs sold in the U.S. are, in fact, manufactured within our borders).

I'm sure there must be more pro-drug-company and anti-citizen stuff in this legislation that was not reported. The bottom line for me: Drug companies speak with their wallets to senators who are deaf to voices of the people.

-- Raymond Balikov

Woodland Hills