Mayor Riordan

When I moved to Los Angeles four years ago, six months passed before I learned that our mayor is Richard Riordan. After living in New York for most of my life and then Chicago for six years, I got accustomed to seeing the mayor’s face on front pages and television screens nearly every day. When you live in those cities you are constantly reminded of who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the city.

Seeing Mayor Riordan’s face on the front page of The Times last week after his charter reform victory makes me hopeful that Los Angeles will start to show evidence of progress, as a major city should. I also hope that new residents don’t have to wait as long as I did to learn who is in charge here.

LEN NAPOLITANO

Pacific Palisades

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It is so insulting when a losing candidate claims that Mayor Riordan bought elections. I am one out of five registered voters who actually shows up and casts my vote.

If I go through the trouble of ensuring that my voice is officially documented through my vote, it is because I have read about the issues and the qualifications of each candidate, as well as being fully aware of the job performance of any incumbent requesting reelection.

To suggest otherwise only means that those incumbents refuse to accept that they have been given the pink slip for doing a lousy job. You see, I am the elected officials’ employer. It is my vote and my taxes that pay their salaries. They seem to quickly forget that they do have a boss.

LOUIS JACINTO

Los Angeles

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Another election has come and gone. When is everyone going to realize it’s not who won or lost but how many didn’t even bother to play the game. The people have spoken, yet again nobody is listening.

KIRIL KUNDURAZIEFF

Pomona