Los Angeles Sues Jonathan Club

Regarding your article about the Jonathan Club/Los Angeles lawsuits (Metro, Jan. 8) over the bias law: The only persons City Atty. James Hahn and Controller Rick Tuttle “openly degrade” are themselves, for wasting our tax dollars on nonexistent problems when they were elected to solve the urgent, often life-threatening problems ever existent in a metropolis the size of Los Angeles.

Though I am not a member of the Jonathan Club, I have been a guest there on numerous occasions. As a woman . . . and a lady, I appreciate their gracious hospitality. There has always been someone to open the door for me, as a man should for a lady. There has always been a convenient ladies’ room separate from the men’s room, where I can comb my hair without the man I’m combing it for watching me. The ladies’ locker room is separate from the men’s locker room. I appreciate being able to undress and dress in the privacy of my own sex without the opposite sex analyzing my physical attributes and/or lack of them.

May I suggest that Deputy City Atty. Pamela A. Albers go back to law school to learn the importance of obtaining accurate facts? She states: “Who wants to pay $10,000 to join a club and then not be able to use the restaurant?” Women are welcome in the Jonathan Club’s Renaissance Room, where I can vouch for the chef’s superb cuisine. For women who drink, the Florentine Lounge is a wonderful watering hole. And for women who can’t resist the grill, they may dine there after 5 p.m.

I am surrounded by three wonderful males--my husband, Roger, and two sons, R.J. and Clay, but sometimes I want to leave them to their own devices while I have a gossipy, giggly lunch with my female friends.

When it comes to the sexes, I have always believed in vive la difference.

MELINDA STEPHENS

Los Angeles