Mayor Candidates Traffic in Politics

Re “Candidates Take Different Paths on Improving Transit System,” May 8:

How odd that both mayoral candidates state solutions to improving L.A.’s transportation problems but neither promotes light rail as an alternative. This at a time when Los Angeles is voted to have the worst nationwide gridlock and gas prices are surpassing $2 a gallon. Light rail is both energy-conserving and gridlock-reducing and provides an effective alternative to car reliance.

The Long Beach Blue Line is the most successful light-rail line in the U.S. In mid-2000 it carried 66,000 passengers per day. The subway is equally successful: Red Line riders nearly doubled to 119,000 upon its completion to North Hollywood. Light rail to Pasadena will open in two years.

Light-rail proposals today need someone with a great deal of courage and foresight to succeed--and a public outcry as well. Tom Bradley’s $4.7-billion Red Line subway was widely criticized at the time, but its overwhelming popularity cannot be disputed. Antonio Villaragoisa and James K. Hahn should take courageous--not politically expedient--action by supporting light rail.

David Goldstein

Chatsworth

*

James W. Robinson claims that on April 10, about 325,000 registered Republicans in Los Angeles were effectively disenfranchised because Steve Soboroff didn’t get into the mayoral runoff election (“What’s a Republican to Do?” Commentary, May 10). Robinson faults the California Constitution, and says, “An arcane ‘nonpartisan’ election system has left voters with the two top vote-getters.” No doubt he thought the system was just fine after Richard Riordan’s victories. Robinson would give Soboroff a place on the ballot just because he’s a Republican.

What’s a Republican to do? Here’s the answer. Quit whining. And be glad you don’t have to go to your Republican friends and ask them to pour more money down a disastrous campaign rat hole.

Richard Tentler

Oxnard

*

Your coverage of the impending mayoral election has been thorough and informative. However, the same degree of attention should now also be paid to the race for city attorney.

Sadly, there has been a dearth of reporting about the election that, in some respects, affects the lives of everyday citizens of Los Angeles more directly than does the contest for mayor. The city attorney has immediate impact on matters that touch the daily quality of life for seniors, the poor and the frightened. The city attorney deals with the problems of slum-condition housing, elder abuse, consumer fraud, discrimination and public safety in a dramatic way that impacts our most vulnerable citizens. This race to succeed Hahn is critical to our city.

David A. Lash

Los Angeles