PUBLIC FORUM.

What he deserved

Re ``Executed; Governor denies clemency for Tookie Williams'' (Dec. 13):

No clemency for this convicted killer. His time has finally expired. Hey, and it only took our great judicial system 20-plus years to put this, now, good doer and keeper of gang peace away.

Capital punishment doesn't work here in America: too many appeals, too many delays, way too much cost. Where else in the world do convicted killers grow old on Death Row!? Only here in America, that's where. Oh, well, I am not going to miss any sleep over this gang leader, he got what he deserved in the end.

- Dave Costa 

Woodland Hills

Justice delayed

Re ``Executed; Governor denies clemency for Tookie Williams'' (Dec. 13):

Stanley Tookie Williams' death is sad. Even sadder is the loss of four innocent lives that he took. He had 24 years to prove that his trial was flawed. The problem with our society is that we take so long to carry out justice. If you threaten your child with a spanking but never or rarely actually carry out that punishment, he will soon learn that it's just a threat.

That is the reason the death penalty is not a deterrent to murder. The 639 people on Death Row prove any of us can commit murder and live to tell about it. If we shorten the appeal time and actually carry out the penalties, then potential killers might think twice before committing the crime.

- Don Evans

Canoga Park

Created by Tookie

Re ``Executed; Governor denies clemency for Tookie Williams'' (Dec. 13):

Finally! The governor, previously known as ``The Terminator'' in movie folklore, has become the real terminator in denying clemency to Stanley Tookie Williams. My hope and wish is that his action (or inaction) brings some semblance of peace, hope and vindication of the loss of the loved ones as a result of the horrific events that were created by Stanley Tookie Williams. Hasta la vista.

- Gary E. Rogness

Santa Clarita 

What they want

Whether you believe in the death penalty or not, I am finding it more interesting that there were people who believe that Tookie Williams is not guilty of his crimes. I mention this because when the verdict was what they wanted, as in the O.J. verdict, they were telling me that the justice system works, and the jury verdict is sacrosanct. Now, after more than 20 years, where the verdict has been upheld, they are saying that problems exist with the system, and we shouldn't believe what the jury and the appeals keep confirming.

So when we spend way too much time on a convicted murderer, it is worth looking at those who want the jury verdict and sentence reversed and see how consistent they were in the past.

- Barry Levy

Redondo Beach 

Lead the parade

You could count on Jesse Jackson showing up at San Quentin to jump in and try to lead the parade of protesters against the execution of Tookie Williams. One wonders who is the bigger fool: Jackson or the media that gives him all the front-page publicity?

Incidentally, we saw all the candlelight vigils for Williams; were there any prayer vigils for the four innocent victims the monster murdered?

- Hal Geer

Simi Valley

Monorail solution

Re ``Tracking next big rail project'' (Dec. 12):

While L.A. and USC quibble on whether to build a $640 million light-rail line down Exposition or whether to send it through a tunnel, adding another $100 million onto the project, everyone continues to overlook the option of building an elevated monorail.

These systems generally run from $20-$40 million per mile, or one-third to two-thirds of the currently planned cost. Monorails are more attractive, safer and quieter than light-rail lines, and they don't interfere with traffic.

- Michael W. Boggs

Los Angeles

Sunshine Canyon

Re ``Sunshine alternatives'' (Editorial, Dec. 12):

Come February, the city will dump on the people of Granada Hills again, just as it has since the inception of this trash dump. BFI, the trash hauler and operator of Sunshine Canyon, owns the City Council and mayor. Granada Hills residents don't matter to the other 14 council members and mayor. The stinking pit isn't in their districts.

The ``alternatives'' you speak of have been out there every year BFI comes before the city to renew its dumping contract or to the county for landfill expansion permits.

- Darene Sutherland

Reseda

Susan Kennedy

Re ``Spoilsport pols'' (Editorials, Dec. 9):

Whether one agrees or disagrees with Governor Schwarzenegger's handling of our great state, we should all be proud of his selection of Democrat Susan Kennedy as his new chief of staff. Is she the best person for the job? I'm not sure, but it gives me hope for the future when I see an effort being made on both sides to work together in bringing change and finding solutions to problems facing all Californians.

True change can come about only when players from both parties put their collective heads together to achieve positive results and leave their party's politics at home.

- Kyle Laurent

Newhall

Real time waster

Re ``Aussie to film true freeway tales'' (Dec. 12):

Loved the story about the filmmaker showcasing the 405 Freeway. It's interesting to see that $10 billion is wasted in lost productivity for business due to traffic congestion. When he's done with that film, he could do one on all the wasted time lost in traffic returning faulty products such as cell phones, computers, printers, etc.

The down time our company spends waiting for repairs on brand-new equipment (including backups) is more devastating than the time we spend in traffic. This will never change until companies are held accountable. Here's an idea. Instead of trying to figure out how to dock an i-Pod to my bowling ball, you work on an operating system for your computers that actually work.

- Laurien DuTremble

Northridge

Most likely dead

It is a little sickening to hear Democrats and other leftists continually spouting how the administration let Osama bin Laden escape - for example: John Kerry on MSNBC on Friday. There is no proof that bin Laden is alive today or that he has been alive in the past three or four years.

It is 99 percent more likely that he is dead - because a man with his great ego would not abide in the background all this time. It would be nice if these would-be detractors could find something constructive and helpful to shout about instead of their sour grapes.

- Ralph Smathers

Newhall

Coming home

I'm sick and tired of listening to all the whining and complaining about our wonderful president doing nothing to bring our heroic fighting men and women home from the war. Because of the ``positive leadership in the White House,'' they are coming home. In body bags, perhaps, but they are coming home. Happy holidays and ``God bless us, every one.''

- Parker Young

North Hollywood

Bad analogy

President George W. Bush has now compared the Iraqis to the American patriots of 1776. Let's review. Outside of some financial and naval help from the French, I believe that the American patriots ... fought for themselves. Remember Bunker Hill and Valley Forge?

If there is a comparison to be made, it is that we are now the equivalent of the British who did not want to give up the resources and power that the colonies provided. According to Fox News Today, 67 percent of Iraqis want us out - and, if Fox says it, the number is probably 80 percent. So let's get out of Dodge and let the Iraqis deal with the religious fanatics; but, I forgot, if our military stops dying for them, Halliburton would have to leave too.

- Chuck Heinold

West Hills