PUBLIC FORUM.

What we pay for

Re ``In contempt'' (Our Opinions, July 27):

Your editorial about the City Council limiting time for public comment is infuriating, though not surprising, coming from a council that repeatedly railroads measures through and then claims they didn't get enough public comment against the measures. Well, how can they when they move too quickly for the public to mobilize and then won't let them speak when they do?

The increased trash tax for more police is a prime example. The public refused to vote for more taxes, believing, rightly, that the taxes would be used for pet projects instead of only the police we desperately need. This new tax is no different, with no oversight and guarantee that the money will be only for police. And what about the years of unexpected windfalls received from all the property tax increases? Why isn't that revenue earmarked for better roads and police -- as it should be. We already pay our taxes for everything -- give us what we pay for.

-- Hallie Kemper

Valley Glen

Up for bid

Re ``Council wants four more years'' (July 18):

I don't know about other districts, but in mine our council person received over $1 million in donations for the last two elections. The Ethics Commission's Web site shows numerous public accusations and contributions from notable scoundrels such as Casden Properties and 14 subcontractors, Cody Cluff, Able Sheet Metal, Woods & Assoc., etc. Her war chest is so large that for her second term she ran unopposed.

They become so entrenched and powerful that no one can defeat them. Isn't this what term limits was supposed to combat? With a salary of $163,000, three offices, staff and numerous perks, maybe we could put this job out for bid and attract someone who cares for all the citizens. I'll start the bidding at $150,000. Maybe public election financing isn't such a bad idea.

-- Jim Britten

North Hollywood

Just the public

Re ``Council snubs public views'' (July 26):

On May 19 the City Council in regular session allowed comment on an agenda item: the most important that a city must consider, the budget -- a budget which has grown to $6.7 billion determines where your money is spent and where the money comes from (you). How much time did Council President Eric Garcetti allow for comment by a stakeholder in the city? One minute.

The following Tuesday when the budget came up for a vote, how much time did the council president then allow for stakeholder comment? None. That sort of treatment of voters would probably make world headlines if it were to happen in a foreign country where the USA held sway.

-- Michael N. Cohen

Reseda

Lemon of a picture

Re ``DWP admits its system is a lemon'' (July 26):

What is wrong with your front-page pictures in Wednesday's edition of the Daily News? You show a family selling lemonade to raise money for a new power transformer. At the very least the pictures are disturbing and the reason given for collecting money is silly at best. No matter how noble the cause: To expose these young kids to this incredible inferno without any means of shade is downright irresponsible by the parents. What were they thinking?

A dog wouldn't go outside during this heat wave. How much money could they have gotten during this ordeal? And for what? Parents ``grandstanding'' just to get their picture in the paper? It is disturbing to see anyone put kids at risk for such an inane and silly idea.

-- Joe Loeffler

Saugus

Misled

Re ``Worth dying for'' (Your Opinions, July 25):

Sharon Howard seems smug in her willingness to lay down the life of someone's 18-year-old son or daughter she corresponds with to preserve her freedom ``at all costs.''

Maybe she should also correspond with the soldiers who feel that a slowly tightening noose has been placed around their neck, for vague reasons that they've been misled to believe are true and noble.

-- Jennifer Rabuchin

Burbank

Selective enforcement

Our local police can enforce federal drug laws but not federal immigration laws? Why? Any politician who claims that it is not their responsibility to enforce all of our nation's laws is just passing the buck.

Maybe it's because so many are making bucks off all the cost they save from cheap/illegal labor. After all, it's the people with bucks that pay for these clowns to get re-elected. As a citizen, I don't have the right to pick and choose which laws I want to follow nor should our local or state government.

-- James Streeter

North Hollywood

La Brea Tar Pits

LACMA is currently digging up a big section of Hancock Park in an effort to erect a parking structure, and they are uncovering many new prehistoric Ice Age animal fossils in the process, including those from a Columbian mammoth. As construction proceeds, however, there is little caution being paid to the care and recovery of the Ice Age bones, and true scientific excavation is being disregarded. Many fossils are being damaged, discarded and lost for all time.

Concurrently, the La Brea Tar Pits' Pit 91 was recently reopened for the summer excavation season. So here you have painstaking care being placed on the recovery of fossils at one small site (Pit 91) and horrific ruination occurring at LACMA's neighboring construction site. fossils are still being found, and there are many more that could be saved.

-- Adam Platts

Northridge

World War III? Right!

I've heard a lot of neoconservatives and other literal-minded car huggers (``O'Goebbels'' on Fox News) compare this Iraq conflict to World War II, using outrageous analogies or even outright labeling it ``World War III.'' What a terrible misnomer. Our incursion into Iraq has deep roots in imperialism, black propaganda (forged Niger documents) and war-corporatism (permanent war economy or military-industrial complex). The stuff of ``the greatest generation,'' right?

How come I don't see urban or rural underage white kids lying about their age to enlist? Why don't I see sacrifices? I don't see soccer moms turning in their pots and pans to make tanks or giving up panty hose or flashing any ration cards. And I certainly don't see our Cold War-hardened intelligence-gathering agencies turning the tide of this police action. Then again, I've been too busy buying war bonds.

-- Ethan Orloff

Burbank

Foreign thoughts

The American Civil Liberties Union wants to give protesters the right to hold up signs denouncing our war dead as they are being buried. These are the same miscreants who can't clog up our courts fast enough to make sure our enemies at Gitmo have a Quran, an appropriate meal or access to our courts.

The ACLU should have to register with the U.S. government as a foreign agent since they represent something that is foreign to most patriotic and freedom-loving Americans.

-- Rick Owen

Calabasas

Rolling, rolling, rolling

Along the 1.9 miles of Valley Circle Boulevard, between signals at Vanowen and Roscoe, are four stop signs -- at Highlander, Bell Canyon, Dorie and Ingomar. Often, parked on Dorie is a patrol car with two LAPD officers. I can think of only one reason they are stationed at the least-trafficked cross street: More cars roll through this stop. Therefore, 1) more fine money or 2) it puts a fear of getting a ticket into you if you don't stop completely every time, every place no matter how insignificant the intersection.

OK, so both are legitimate reasons, but two cops and a patrol car? How about one cop and a motorcycle? (Yes, I did get a ticket.)

-- Richard B. Schutz

West Hills