ABSURDITY WATCH : Waste a Million

The referendum on recalling state Sen. David A. Roberti is on the April ballot in large part because of his eminently sensible support for tighter gun control laws. That’s why the gun lobby paid big bucks to gather signatures in Roberti’s district to force a special recall election--despite the fact that the Van Nuys Democrat is set to leave the Senate in December under term limits. Clearly, the recall is no more than a political vendetta.

It is illuminating to assess this taxpayer-financed venture in monetary terms. As Los Angeles County officials project a shortfall of $1 billion in the next fiscal year, a question arises: What else could be done with the $800,000 to $1 million it will cost to conduct the recall election?

--The money could buy quite a few books for the county library system.

--It could ease cuts in the district attorney’s office or the Sheriff’s Department.

--It could restore more than a third of the cutback in county monies needed to maintain and patrol county parks to keep them safe for visitors, such as your children.

--It could fund six months of the valuable work done by crossing guards at 134 schools throughout the county.

--It could pay the salaries of 27 to 33 schoolteachers for a year.

--It could restore all of the eliminated hours at the county Department of Animal Care and Control.

Roberti’s enemies seem to be thumbing their noses at the taxpayer, flaunting an attitude of “what’s a million here or there?” The only thing as bad as the motive behind this recall is the price tag.