PUBLIC FORUM.

LAUSD watchdog

Re ``LAUSD watchdog resigning'' (April 8):

It is not accurate to state that ``only good things'' have come of the LAUSD Inspector General's Office. A primary problem is that IG reports go only to the board. There they are covered up, with the public barred from access. Witness the Daily News' need to get reports from ``sources'' rather from any public access.

While the IG publishes supposed summaries of reports on its Web site, I have observed that the so-called summary may tell the public nearly nothing of what has gone on. Only an IG responsible to the public, not to the board, will result in some real visibility into LAUSD misdeeds.

- Phil Pearson

Agoura Hills

Gas-tax burden

Re ``Shift tax burden of gas to fund transportation'' (Their Opinions, April 11):

The proposal by Fabian Nuez to reduce the gas tax and increase the sales tax to fund transportation will only shift my tax payment from the gas pump to other purchases. Yes, this will broaden the tax base for transportation funding, but does not save any money.

Fabian only wants to hide the cost in sales taxes. A more equitable tax is to keep the gas tax so those who choose to travel less by car will pay less in taxes. Maybe some people will even choose to reduce travel by combining trips, shopping close to home, or possibly even walking more than they do now. Those who drive more and use more gas should bear the burden for the costs. Let's shift the burden the right direction.

- Bob Long

Woodland Hills

An honest woman?

Re ``Charles: At long last, love'' (April 10):

Camilla Parker Bowles, now the Duchess of Cornwall, really makes women seem desperate. What self-respecting woman would hang on, and on, and on, waiting 35 years for a man to finally make her an ``honest woman''? The late Princess Diana once called Camilla ``a Rottweiler.'' That seems to be a fitting description, especially when one considers how Camilla, like a dog, has been steadfast and unwavering in her love, affection and loyalty.

Now, Camilla has finally been rewarded with a special treat called ``marriage.'' It's too bad, though, that Charles and Camilla's adulterous affair, which has now resulted in marriage, came at the expense of Princess Diana's happiness while she was alive.

- Sophia Sherman

Sherman Oaks

Left to Brits

Re ``Weirdness reigns over Prince Charles' life'' (Viewpoint, April 10):

What a vicious and tasteless article. The author would serve his American readers far better by scathingly writing of his homegrown ``royalty,'' with their ludicrous claims of ``Camelot'' (which never existed in reality), and the so-called divas and icons of the pop music and television world. So many of these people are under the delusion that they should be regarded and treated as royals.

Was the author trying to be amusing or insulting? The royals should be left to the Brits; they are their concern, not his. He came across as a particularly obnoxious and supercilious twit.

- Harold Harris

Woodland Hills

Hahn's best decision

Re ``Will nod from Magic do the trick?'' (April 12):

Magic Johnson states that ``We need a mayor with energy'' and being upset with James Hahn for replacing Parks as his reason for endorsing Villaraigosa. We need a mayor like Hahn who had the guts to get rid of a police chief like Bernie Parks.

While he was chief, we lost over 1,000 police officers; morale and recruitment was down. LAPD lags behind five major cities, having fewer police per capita. One of Hahn's best decisions for the welfare of this city and LAPD was hiring Chief William Bratton, one the best police chiefs in the nation. We owe Hahn a debt of gratitude.

- Monica Harmon

Los Angeles 

Arnold's blink

Re ``Arnold's misadventure'' (Editorial, April 11):

Arnold blinked when he found himself out of step with the people and terminated the cornerstone (public employee pensions) of his ``reform package.'' Of course, like most rookies who find themselves out of their league, Arnold says that his low poll numbers had nothing to do with his retreat. His remaining three proposals are also losers. Limit spending (Arnold's special election alone would cost taxpayers upward of $70 million). Improve schools (changing tenure provisions could send teachers to states where tenure is protected).

Have judges draw election district lines (just when national Republicans are calling for judicial reform, claiming that a ``unaccountable judicial is legislating from the bench.'')

- Philip Wilt

Van Nuys

'Star Wars' toys

Re ``Toys force weakening'' (Business, April 12):

I was an avid ``Star Wars'' toy/action figure collector. I have always purchased the toys, opened them and displayed them. I never paid any attention to the notion than any of these things would ever be worth storing them in packages, away from sunlight, etc., on the off chance that they might be worth something in the future.

The new stuff coming out, to be kind, is garbage. The figures are not as detailed as any in the past, the packaging is horrible and those 12-inch figures are an insult to collectors who display their collection as I do. These toys that are now coming out will never be worth a penny for two reasons: everybody is getting them and they are inferior products compared to past releases.

- Bruce Roberts 

Van Nuys

Antonovich responds

Re ``Talking trash'' (Editorial, April 7):

For over two decades, I have worked with community leaders, members of the North Valley Coalition, state and local agencies to protect the residents of Granada Hills by consistently opposing the city of Los Angeles' efforts to open, reopen or expand the Sunshine Canyon Landfill. However, at the county level, I have been outvoted by the board majority.

Still, the city of Los Angeles is shirking its responsibilities. The city generates 30 percent of the waste stream for the entire county, yet only 2 percent of the trash disposed countywide goes into a landfill within the city of Los Angeles. County unincorporated areas generate just 10 percent, yet nearly 80 percent of all trash disposed goes into a landfill within county unincorporated areas.

The city of Los Angeles must work to develop long-term strategies to provide for the disposal needs of its residents. This does not mean transferring the burden from one community to another.

I will continue to fight any efforts by the city of Los Angeles to haul trash in its diesel-belching polluting trucks on an over-congested Highway 14.

- Michael D. Antonovich 

Los Angeles County supervisor

Setting them up

Ask any U.S. soldier. We stand up an Iraqi army that will not leave the protective edges of U.S. infantry firepower and we end up engaging insurgents for them. These Iraqi ``forces'' are undisciplined and grossly ill equipped.

We expect them to fight for themselves when all they have to drive around in are beat-up old Nissan trucks with no armor protection whatsoever. We are making no substantive efforts to stand up a real, self-sufficient and self-protecting army.

- Darrell Griffin

Sherman Oaks

Bush SS plan

I'd like to make a suggestion about the Bush plan to establish private accounts. Folks, let's just calm down and think for a moment about how this idea would work. There are several false notions about private Social Security accounts: Everyone must sign up - Only those who choose to, will sign up for a private account. When you establish a private account, 100 percent of your payment is converted into private accounts - For those who choose to join, only 5 percent of their account may be converted. Those who choose to have a private account can invest in anything. Limits would be placed on types of investments.

As for the trillions of dollars being diverted from the Social Security fund, consider this. If 15 percent of the people invest at a rate of 5 percent, the total investment is 0.75 percent or less than 1 percent.

- Lorin Wainwood

Newbury Park