Mayor Riordan
Could I be correctly reading your quote from Mayor Richard Riordan regarding the candidates for school superintendent (April 20): “It’s always good for the people to get out and be forced to tell what they believe.”
Isn’t this the mayor who refused debates and hid from the public when he ran for reelection?
JACK L. SCHWARTZ
Los Angeles
* In his budget, Mayor Riordan promises trees trimmed, more streets swept and paved, three new shuttle bus lines, eight regional libraries open on Sundays, advisory boards for the city’s 127 parks and a $350,000 matching fund for neighborhood improvement projects (April 19). To this, Councilman Hal Bernson comes up with, “It’s a little of everything that everybody wants to hear. It’s schmaltzy.”
Yes, Mr. Bernson, this is exactly what everyone wants to hear. The job of mayor is largely to care for the everyday workings of the city. Riordan seems to be doing exactly this. This kind of schmaltz suits many of us just fine.
JAMES E. GARDNER
Los Angeles
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