Highway Patrol deaths; community reinvestment questions; tickets for Villaraigosa; Elena Kagan

Racing to danger

Re “A grim reminder of danger,” June 29

Five CHP patrolmen have died in the line of duty in recent weeks. Perhaps we are reaping the fruit of tolerating drivers who shrink safety margins by flagrantly speeding, driving aggressively and distracting themselves with electronic accessories, especially here in Southern California.

Driving I-5 over the Grapevine toward L.A., the flow of traffic conspicuously inflates at least 10 mph over the legal limit as you cross the Tejon Pass. Within the metropolitan region it has become common to see vehicles traveling 80 mph and more on freeways posted 65. Obey the speed limit and you become little more than a slalom flag for those who feel entitled to go much faster.

All these behaviors set the stage for accidents and make accidents deadlier. Perhaps it’s time for the CHP to crack down, for their own sake and everyone else’s.

David Mason
Culver City

California is looking for ways to improve safety for Highway Patrol officers.

Instead of pulling drivers over to the side of the road, why not instruct them to get off at the next exit where they can be written the ticket in a much safer area? Besides making it safer for the officer, it makes it safer for the driver, cuts down on rubbernecking and allows the driver to get back on the freeway safely without trying to merge into traffic from a dead stop.

Ed Kass
Los Angeles

Buy for millions, sell for thousands

Re “Taking a hamburger stand,” June 29

At first I thought this article contained a typo regarding the amount of money spent by the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) in the purchase and subsequent sale of property in Hollywood.

I found the statement of CRA Hollywood project manager Neelura Bell — that “People have to understand the numbers” — to be naive, at best, and otherwise outright condescending.

As a taxpaying citizen of Los Angeles I am outraged by both the wasteful expenditure of almost $5.5 million in tax dollars and the subsequent sale of this property for $825,000 — a fraction of the land’s value. Based upon this article it can only be concluded that the CRA needs to be investigated for fiscal malfeasance.

Ruthanne Rozenek
Los Angeles

The city is in a fiscal crisis, laying off employees and cutting services, but somehow can afford to buy a piece of land (potentially, with a historic-cultural landmark on it!) for $5.5 million but sell it to a developer for only $825,000.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Did the folks at Pacifica Ventures take the mayor to a baseball game?

Daniel Fink
Los Angeles

Mayoral doublespeak

Re “Mayor tries the cheap seats,” Column, June 27

So Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa takes in one game from the upper decks at Dodger Stadium and everything is all right?

All I saw in Steve Lopez’s column was the same doublespeak and rationalization we’ve heard from this mayor since his inauguration. The mayor wanted a self-serving photo op; thus he agreed to sit with Lopez in the “cheap seats.” At least Lopez saw through the facade.

Steven J. Dugan
Upland

In my opinion, Villaraigosa is the poster child for poor leadership.

But even I think he’s getting a bad rap on the free ticket issue.

All mayors should attend events, and be introduced, whenever possible.

Richard Harris
Villa Park

New member of activist court?

Re “ GOP turns up the heat,” June 30

It is somewhat amusing listening to Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan being interrogated and accused of potentially being what the conservative majority of the sitting court already is: activist and results-oriented.

Are Republicans afraid that a Justice Kagan will be too powerful for the biased court majority to ignore? Quite a compliment!

Jorg Aadahl
San Mateo

It’s only fitting that Kagan be appointed to the Supreme Court without any judicial experience, especially since lack of experience is serving our president so well.

Lillian Brock
Chino Hills

Another late state budget

Re “Impasse on state budget raises fears,” July 1

The Times gave short shrift to the primary reason state budgets are late: Republicans simply won’t agree to a plan that includes spending money the state government doesn’t have.

For decades, the Democrat-dominated state Legislature has unerringly charted a course for California’s ship of state out of the deep waters of fiscal solvency and into the rocky shoals of debt. Republican warnings of troubled waters ahead and calls to change course have been routinely ignored.

Now with the ship battered by those rocks and leaking badly, Democrats are digging in their heels, refusing to change course. Instead, their plan is to increase taxes and spending, claiming it will buoy the economy into recovery.

Simply put, Democrats believe they can raise the level of the ocean by bailing out a sinking ship. It doesn’t take an experienced sailor to foresee how this tale will play out.

Rob Griffith
Sacramento
The writer is deputy communications director, California Republican Party.

Could someone please explain to me how punishing state employees by forcing them to work for minimum wage will abbreviate a potential budget stalemate? The state employee has nothing to do with negotiating the budget; only the elected Legislature has that responsibility.

It’s like kicking the family dog because you’re mad at the sports scores.

George Baker
Huntington Beach

Was Whitman’s shove a preview?

Re “Whitman acknowledges dispute was also physical,” June 25

Meg Whitman is a liar. Even when it came to an issue not nearly as important as many she’d face as governor, she lied, when the truth and apology would have served. And by lying, she has now embarrassed herself.

About her character as a leader, she said, “I’ve been in business for 30 years, and it’s one of those things that just happens.”

Raise your hand if you’ve been in business 30 years and shoved someone. It’s illegal. It’s a criminal assault. Whitman thinks it’s just “something that happens” in the high pressure of running EBay, so what about the higher pressure of running this state, or running for office? Let’s all keep our distance from her.

Ira Spiro
Los Angeles

The chemicals around us

Re “Chemistry tests,” Editorial, June 28

With only chemicals used in pesticides, medication or food being tested for immediate safety, no wonder Californians have more chemicals in their blood or around their homes than residents of any other state.

We are a nation of guinea pigs, at the service of chemical companies and our governments — state and federal — which, up until this time, have refused to protect us.

Europe has decided to put the shoe on the other foot by making the companies prove that chemicals are safe before use. What a concept! I support Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s (D-N.J.) bill to make our chemical policy more like Europe’s. Safety over special interests.

Thera Jane Mercer
Long Beach