Tobacco Funds
* Re “Use of Tobacco Funds for Rampart Suits Opposed,” May 2: The City Council Budget Committee made the correct decision on opposing the mayor’s proposal to use tobacco settlement money to pay off a proposed $91-million bond issue that could be used to pay for the Rampart scandal.
If the tobacco companies lose one or two more class-action lawsuits, they will file for bankruptcy and all future tobacco settlement payments to the city will stop. It would be more honest to sell the $91-million bond issue and pay off the bonds from the general fund. Because of the uncertain nature of future tobacco settlement payments to the city, such funds should only be used for one-time expenditures, such as constructing curb access ramps for the handicapped.
LARRY BURKS
San Pedro
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