Tom Hayden

I can’t believe that any state senator could say the things state Sen. Tom Hayden (Oct. 30) said against the urgent need to clear flood control channels of vegetation, and other debris, that prevents or limits the flow of water through those flood control channels.

Those channels were built to protect “humankind” from the potential disasters of major flood conditions. They were not built to provide vegetation to create bugs that can be eaten by birds, as stated by Marcia Hanscom of the L.A. River Task Force.

I support and want to protect natural habitat and ongoing life in that habitat from being endangered by unnecessary human actions. But that is not the issue. These flood control channels were built to protect humankind, not bugs and birds.

THOMAS M. PALLAD

Chatsworth

* Hayden states that destroying vegetation and habitat in the Los Angeles river is a “mortal threat to every river in the United States.”

I don’t think so, Tom. For one, most rivers generally have water in them. For another, they’re not lined with concrete, but dirt. The L.A. River long ago ceased to be river; it’s a flood control channel. I support tearing up its concrete lining and returning it to its natural state, but not when we’re on the cusp of a possible severe rainy season.

MARK OWEN WHEELER

Chatsworth