Saban’s Donations to Democrats

In news reports about the $7-million gift from businessman Haim Saban to the Democratic Party (March 22-23), it emerged that Saban had also raised nearly $600,000 for our esteemed governor. Apparently, by the governor’s reckoning, this largess, coupled with Saban’s business acumen and cultural contributions (such as the “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers”), qualifies him for appointment to the University of California Board of Regents.

For what is arguably the finest public university system in the world, how discouraging.

Desmond Arthurs

Palos Verdes Estates

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Re “He’s Giving Himself Quite a Name,” March 23: Your front-page expose of Saban’s donations to the Democratic Party has left me puzzled. Is this some kind of scandal? Did your brave reporters uncover wrongdoing? Was there a quid pro quo? Now that story is followed by one on another entertainment industry executive who has donated large sums to the Democrats (“Democrats Release Another Blockbuster”).

If nothing else, surely they must have been spending major time in Sacramento helping Gov. Gray Davis make policy, a la Ken Lay. After all, with all the ex-Enron executives now toiling in Washington on our behalf, and with President Bush’s energy policy designed by Lay, we know what huge donations can buy.

The absence of anything of the sort asked for or received by these men still leaves me wondering what could have justified these stories being given such prominence.

Jim Carroll

Burbank

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Interesting watching our government in action last week. The pious senators nearly got hurt patting themselves on the back while passing campaign finance reform. But not until after the November elections. Better to have one more feeding frenzy at the trough. And we found out the qualification to get on the UC Board of Regents; just give Gov. Davis $600,000, like Saban.

And on the local level, who outside their immediate family believes that Los Angeles City Council members deserve a raise and to be the highest paid City Council officials in the nation (“Highly Paid L.A. Council Gets a Raise,” March 23)? Our “leaders” starring in the trifecta of greed.

Kevin Fitzpatrick

Alhambra