Political Payback

* Re “Inmate Terms Are Cheap Fuel for Davis’ Ambition,” Opinion, July 23: I think Jean Arnold gives Gov. Gray Davis too much credit for his reasons for undercutting the parole process. He also cut out funding for crime prevention and vetoed a bill to study the effect of “three strikes.” It appears to me he is just trying to keep up the occupancy rate at prisons, as an obligation to the guards union for its generous election contribution. It has nothing to do with “justice,” “the slow taking of lives,” or “tough on crime.” It’s just money, lots of it.

DAVE ENGLISH

Rancho Palos Verdes