Joy Picus

Over the years I have grown accustomed to your narrow editorial focus in The Times. However, the column by Marlene Adler Marks (Commentary, June 11) represented an all-time low. Ms. Marks states that my mother, Joy Picus, has lost her moral center.

Having watched my mother in public life for the last 20 years, I am used to hearing people say nasty and ugly things about her. However, I have never been as repulsed as I was when I read Mark’s column. I know that if you had read the article before publishing it, you would never have allowed such a blatantly false statement to be printed about someone whose dedication to our city and whose honesty and integrity have never been questioned.

After 16 years in office, Joy Picus deserves more than a cheap shot delivered from someone who lives miles from Los Angeles yet claims to know about Valley politics. Your paper did a real disserve to the voters of the Valley. LAWRENCE O. PICUS SUSAN PASTERNAK North Hollywood