Greenpeace Demonstrators at Arco Towers

Greenpeace’s agenda-based, people-be-damned attitude, illustrated by its protesters on the Arco Towers (Oct. 16), shows why the once respectable, now tragically led organization is losing membership in the U.S. Although fire season is upon us with brush fires blackening the hills around the basin, Greenpeace chose to tie up a fire company for hours with civil disobedience for no other reason than to satisfy the egos of protesters. The fire crew watching over them could have been better used to help relieve other firefighters who are risking their lives to protect our communities from a real, immediate danger.

Antics like that are why this wildlife lover’s donations go to local animal welfare and environmental organizations, and not to Greenpeace coffers.

HUGH RYONO

Fullerton

* As one of a large group of persons disrupted and forced to detour by the fanatics climbing the building, may I suggest a suitable punishment for them? Fine them the cost to the taxpayers of deploying the police and fire departments for this trespass.

I am certainly in favor of all reasonable efforts to preserve nature, but not of efforts of zealous fanatics. After this experience any Greenpeace activities will have to overcome an aversion on my part to support them in any way.

JOHN A. WOODWARD III

Los Angeles

* When two Greenpeace protesters climbed Arco Tower, the LAPD flooded the area with officers. As I walked past the scene, I counted at least 18 patrol cars parked on 5th Street in front of the Central Library with two to three dozen officers milling around. In addition, there were patrol cars and officers deployed farther west on 5th Street in front of the tower who were too far away to count accurately but at least appeared to be involved in some activity.

I approached a police sergeant standing in front of the library and asked why so many officers were needed. He replied that is what is called for. When I pressed him to explain why two peaceful, albeit foolish, tower-climbers putting only themselves at risk justified dozens of officers, he answered I was not qualified to raise such questions because I was not in law enforcement. In an era of tight budgets, when the LAPD complains it is overworked and understaffed, how can the department consider this an efficient use of its personnel?

COLIN LEIS

Glendale