The Next Los Angeles / Reinventing Our Future : READERS RESPOND

On Sunday, Feb. 13, The Times published “The Next Los Angeles: Reinventing Our Future,” a special section intended to spur debate about what residents of Los Angeles and the region can do to shape their future. The public was invited to help in this search for new ways of doing things by calling TimesLink, the Times’ telephone news and information service. Today, Voices publishes the final reader responses to issues examined in the special.

Health Care

JOAN DOWNEY

Nurse, Thousand Oaks

I found the premise that one could even reach the hospital or emergency care by dialing 911 to be interesting in as much as we didn’t have any telephones during the quake. Therefore you can’t call anybody in that situation. And except for extreme emergencies, hospitals are not the answer. Perhaps Neighborhood Watch should incorporate people in the community who have some health care experience. For example, I am a registered nurse and I’m sure there are people around here who are probably physicians, people who might be able to assess minor injuries. It is going to have to be done on a very local level and be addressed consistently, not put on the shelf once the aftershocks stop.

MICHAEL GIANAKIS

Musician, Van Nuys

Health care is a right; it should be provided for everyone. And I feel that health care is being marketed as a product like someone was selling cars. You really don’t need a salesperson to come out and sell you a plan, all you need is the literature on the various plans available to make an intelligent decision. The point I am driving at is that the commissions being paid--anywhere from 10% to 15% of the average health-care premium--are actually being delivered into the pocket of the salesperson, the salesperson’s district manager, the broker, the regional manager. These people should be salaried. I know of health-care executives that are making $80,000 to $100,000 a year, and that is coming every month out of the premiums. For health care reform to work, somehow this should be eliminated.

Governing

ARTURAS MEDONIS

Software designer, Los Angeles

Santa Monica has established computer communication between city hall and its citizens in which citizens can ask questions and establish a relationship with government people. When the earthquake occurred, America Online organized a special forum for people to exchange ideas. So it is most important to create some forum on America Online or CompuServe or another computer service to discuss this issue.

MURRAY BROWN

Retired government consultant,

North Hollywood

Two quick comments: One is that the Sim City video game publicized so effectively in first part of the section should really be augmented by a copy of Paul Jacobs’ report in The Times about lobbyists’ role in the process, which is probably more significant. The other fact is that the multiplicity of local governments and governmental agencies are part of the problem. In olden times, we heard the theory that you ought to put all your eggs in one basket and then watch the basket very closely. That might help make more sense out of all the government organizations and agencies we have to watch these days.

Workplace

BARBARA GRIFFITH

Clinical psychologist, Los Angeles

I have personal experience in working with overworked and undervalued employees as an employee assistance programs (EAP) representative. I have three things that I believe we need to address. First, EAPs are usually for the clerks and lower-echelon people in large companies. We need to have a managerial or directors’ assistance program to educate supervisors and middle management on up on how to increase human values. Secondly, we should have flex time whenever possible, particularly for women who have children. We also should have more benefits for part-time workers.

JUDY SYLOS

Analyst, Van Nuys

I’m commenting on the reluctance some businesses have for telecommuting, especially large firms that have satellite offices out in different areas of L.A. It would save on actual time on the job, commuting and help air quality. It would also improve the morale of the employees. I’m a long-time employee--14 years--on the job, seven in my present position. I basically work on my own. From all the articles I’ve read, I would be a prime candidate, but I’ve been told that I’m ahead of my time. I’m moving to the Ventura County area for the betterment of my children, but my commute will be twice as long, 50 miles each way.

Community

TANIA NORDSTROM

Advertising executive, Studio City

What I have come across, being an immigrant myself, is that immigrants provide community support to their own: Koreans to Koreans, Japanese to the Japanese, the Iranians to the Iranians, Asian to Asian. When you have this kind of a support group, you really don’t need to get involved with the larger community. One way to overcome that is to have more community-based government. Everything is very impersonal here. Whatever you need you can get from so-and-so, who migrated from your country three years ago and can help you around. There’s really no need for you as an immigrant to reach to an outside source. With a smaller government, community-based, immigrants would be less scared of approaching whoever they need for help and thus get to know their neighbors and their community.

Preparedness

LYDIA M. FANFAN

Teacher, Los Angeles

Legislation should be passed requiring all apartment complexes with more than 20 units and all office buildings to have emergency supplies on hand, including water, generators and especially equipment for medical emergencies. This earthquake has shown us that it is impossible to handle all of the people who showed up at disaster relief centers. They should have tents and lists of people who live in the building who are old or handicapped. They should have monitors go door to door to find out if people are safe. If each apartment building had people trained in emergency medical procedures by the Red Cross, it would help a great deal to alleviate major strain on a lot of our facilities in the community at large.

PAMELA SHERRICK

Administrator, Los Angeles

I am concerned that we are spending a great deal of money on cleanup when we should be spending a great deal of money on getting prepared for the next one. I recommend that we look to more concrete methods of testing non-structural and structural components of buildings. I think that in the long run we are looking for things to be earthquake resistant, not earthquake proof. The goal would be for people to survive and walk away from a major disaster. We should fund this through some kind of tax or bond. I certainly think the state should be involved since we are one of the areas of greatest seismic activity in the United States.

Habitat

EARLE ADAMS

Retired stylist, Hollywood

There is a tremendous problem with people picking up cans and plastic and pushing them around in over-filled shopping carts. I was mugged in front of my own house--stabbed and beaten. If they would take the shopping carts away, these people would not be able to pick up these things and it would probably cut down 70% of the crime that they commit. They’re stealing these shopping carts and also stealing the recycling materials that rightfully belong to the city.

TONY KAY

Analyst at Northrop, Wilmington

I support the reduction of coastal development. The constant erosion and development is reducing the availability of it for both the public and the creatures that inhabit the coastline. I also would refuse to allow building on hillsides subject to flooding or erosion. I think we’ve got to accept the fact that Los Angeles is reaching capacity and we have to plan accordingly. We should no longer grant, automatically, permits for large apartment buildings, shopping malls and commercial buildings until the vacancy rate is much lower. It is ludicrous that everybody thinks that anybody can come to Los Angeles and we will provide the means to live here. We have to accept the fact that we have reached capacity.