South Bay : White House Pen Pal Fails to Include Check

Hawthorne Mayor Larry Guidi just got a “Dear Larry” letter from the President. Pretty exciting, being on a first-name basis with Bill Clinton, he figures--but he’s hoping their budding relationship proves more fruitful.

Guidi sent Clinton a letter in February telling him about Hawthorne’s financial woes and asking for emergency assistance. In 1994, auditors discovered Hawthorne owed creditors $10.5 million--an amount equal to more than a third of the city’s budget.

Four and a half months later, Guidi got a response. In a three-paragraph letter, which opens with a familiar “Dear Larry,” the President assures Guidi he is “following the progress of this matter” and thanks him for “getting in touch with me and my staff.”

Guidi, who pronounced the unexpected missive as “pretty cool,” later admitted he was disappointed that the President had not offered something meatier, like a zero-interest, 10-year loan. But he plans to write Clinton again.

“This time,” Guidi said, “I’m going to say ‘Dear Bill, Thank you for your response, but here’s what the city of Hawthorne really needs.’ ” . . .