PUBLIC FORUM.

LAPD consent decree

Re "LAPD still in need of consent decree" (Their Opinions, July 20):

I wonder if Erwin Chemerinksy and Mark Rosenbaum would still refer to the fees paid to the Independent Monitor as "only $1.5 million a year" if the money were coming out of their pockets. That's taxpayer money that would be better spent elsewhere, like putting more officers on the street to protect and to serve (you'll be shocked by how few there really are).

Why would the Independent Monitor find the LAPD in compliance and end a $1.5 million a year paycheck? What of the astronomical costs to the taxpayers associated with personnel and computer systems needed to count all those beans? A wise man once said, "We deserve what we accept," and this is an unacceptable expense.

-- Maria Acosta

Lake Los Angeles

Cottage industry

Re "LAPD still in need of consent decree" (Their Opinions, July 20):

It is insulting, if not scary, that Erwin Chemerinsky and Mark Rosenbaum expect us to believe the consent decree is improving the level of police service in L.A. I can tell you firsthand, experienced/tenured officers is what keeps mistakes and civil-rights violations from happening. They arrest violent felons in large numbers because of their experience and investigative skills.

Rotating younger officers into these units is a disaster waiting to happen. These youngsters compensate for their inexperience with reckless and rash decisions, brought on by the pressure "to perform." The Rampart corruption scandal created an entire cottage industries of charlatans fleecing L.A.'s citizens and taking money away from our Police Department.

-- Arno Clair

Saugus

Mental illness plan

The governor proposed eliminating the Integrated Services for Homeless Adults with Serious Mental Illness program, which in L.A. County alone has reduced psychiatric hospitalizations, incarcerations and ER visits.

The Los Angeles County Medical Association thinks eliminating the program is the wrong decision. The L.A. County Men's Jail is still the largest psychiatric facility in California. We are awash with homeless and wandering schizophrenics, and both our law enforcement and Emergency Medical System are spending untold hours caring for these folks. Cutting this program, which saves lives and tax dollars, will place a new and unneeded burden on the county budget.

-- David H. Aizuss, M.D.

President

Los Angeles County Medical Association

Bit hypocritical

Regarding the dog-fighting charges against Michael Vick, I realize the charges of staging dog fights are serious and should carry at least some punishment. However, isn't society a bit hypocritical about cruelty to animals? Almost all of us eat meat -- do we think that there is no torture in "humanely" killing the animals we eat?

Is dog fighting more onerous than fox hunting, bull fighting, cock fighting or just hunting and fishing in general? I don't think so.

-- Robert Matano

Cayucos

New la.com

I am not one for change, usually, but I have to say I have been enjoying the new la.com. Comics are comics, there are good and bad days. I am lucky, the Tuesday style is a breath of fresh air and works for me right now.

I have been working to get my tote bag business going the past two years. I have relied on the Daily News as a source of fashion and entertainment. I even read the horoscope section to guide me through the workday. Now more than ever I have a peek into that world I can only dream of, for now. I loved the article with Christos Garkinos; keep up the good work.

-- Susan Murphy

Panorama City

Crime, punishment

Re "Better role models" (Your opinions, July 25):

Citing Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's contribution to statistics that 30 percent of the children born in the United States are born to single mothers, I cannot help but shudder.

We cannot change a culprit's attitude overnight unless God intervenes. We cannot point an accusing finger at anyone. The most that we can do perhaps is to sidestep and watch how these perpetrators of immorality are punished. In my own observation, the greatest punishment of a polygamist is having so many mothers-in-law.

-- Rocky Avila

Sylmar

'Ice Queen' Hillary

Re "Antonio issue rankles as DiFi backs Hillary" (July 26):

I think it's obvious that Hillary Clinton couldn't care less about the infidelities of her husband or Antonio or any other morality-challenged male, just as long as they leave her alone.

-- Bill Fleming

Burbank