Statehood Vote for District of Columbia

During the last federal election, certain elements in the South Bay tried to label candidate, and now Congresswoman, Jane Harman, a carpetbagger. Not! She hardly qualifies as a tourist! Her rich hubby bought her this district, and now she is back where her heart and hot tub are . . . in D.C. . . . the capital of politics, bureaucracy, gang killings . . . and unfortunately, of the United States.

Our Founding Fathers must have had a crystal ball when they set it apart from the states. To show us that she is a D.C. denizen and not a Golden Stater, Jane voted for D.C. statehood. It has been suggested that this district (it’s ours, but we have to refer to it as hers) is 98% against statehood for the District of Columbia. California’s 31 million people have two U.S. senators, and Jane votes to give a city the size of her district (600,000) two senators who will further grind California down.

To her credit, Jane did what she thought was right . . . for her hometown--D.C.--but not for the 36th Congressional District or California.

ROBERT E. RYAN

Rancho Palos Verdes

The South Bay section of The Times welcomes all viewpoints from readers about South Bay issues. Letters should be as brief as possible and are subject to condensation. They must include signature, valid mailing address and telephone number, if any. Pseudonyms and initials will not be used. Send letters to: South Bay Section Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23133 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 200, Torrance, Calif. 90505.