On restrictions on teenagers; fixing L.A.’s cracked sidewalks; Eli Broad’s vision; remembering Lena Horne
Letting teenagers be teenagers
Re “Protecting, or ‘nannying’?,” May 8
The Times’ front-page story on new restrictions being imposed on teenagers barely scratches the surface of a serious problem that’s rapidly getting out of hand.
Research I’ve conducted on this topic shows that our teenagers are being subjected to 10 times as many restrictions as mainstream adults and to roughly twice as many restrictions as active-duty Marines and incarcerated felons. The number of restrictions is increasing rapidly, driven in part by a rash of new high-tech devices.
The restrictions are the root cause of unprecedented levels of mental health problems experienced by our teenagers. Annually, nearly 40% of them are being treated for episodes of major depression, and we’re spending more money on psychoactive prescription drugs for teenagers than on all other prescription drugs combined.
Past puberty, teenagers are actually young adults — not children — but we are now prolonging childhood well into the 20s, with devastating results.
Robert Epstein
San Diego
The writer is a visiting scholar at UC San Diego and former editor in chief of “Psychology Today.”
If children are to grow, they cannot be babied. However, leaving their well-being in the hands of retailers is criminally irresponsible.
Advertisers spend millions to convince young consumers that this style or that brand is cool. These ethically challenged businesspeople are concerned only with sales volume and couldn’t care less whether your children are harmed by their products, having already woven the cost of potential lawsuits into their budgets.
Despite what opponents of proposed bills designed to protect teenagers may say, this is not a level playing field on which mature adolescents can make informed choices. It is a rigged game in which unsuspecting teenagers must often pay dearly for unseen hazards. Moderate laws designed to protect our children are completely appropriate.
Bart Braverman
Los Angeles
Sidewalk repairs made simple
Re “L.A. may stop paying to fix sidewalks,” May 9
When I first read this article, I was on board with the idea of the city no longer paying to fix sidewalks.
Then I got to the part in the article where it states that the Bureau of Street Services would “draw up a list of approved contractors who could perform repairs.”
Any contractor licensed to do concrete work should be able to perform this work. It should be no different than if I add a room on to my house. I get the permit and hire a licensed contractor, the city inspects before the concrete is poured and it’s done. Why should the city get to pick who I hire to pour a walkway?
Will Montes
Los Angeles
What is it with Americans who think that the government or someone other than themselves should prevent and attend to any and all, no matter how slight, impediments that could possibly come before them? In this case, it’s the sidewalks and, heaven forbid, the tree roots that tend to cause cracks and fissures in them. Whatever happened to people looking where they are going … maybe even picking up their feet as they go?
One wonders how civilization has managed all these millions of years to traverse the treacherous paths where trees grow? Most of the world has issues of greater concern than cracked and uplifted sidewalks. So do we.
The economy is in trouble. There is no money for frivolous expenditures right now. Tree root whiners should knock it off and pay attention to where they walk.
Sylvia Lewis Gunning
Thousand Oaks
Juvenile court success not rare
Re “A troubled system works,” Column, May 8
A big thank you to Sandy Banks for writing a positive article about the juvenile court system.
I have worked in both attorney and judicial capacities in juvenile courts in L.A. and Orange Counties for 20 years. This story of success in the system is not as rare as it might seem. Considering the hundreds of cases handled by the courts on a daily basis, the negative articles are a tiny fraction of the picture.
I do not mean to make light of the tragedies that have occurred; every child that comes through the courts is precious. But it would be nice if the successes were applauded more often so the public could have a proper perspective.
I only wish Banks’ article had been front-page news like the others.
Leslie Flynn Parker
San Clemente
Iraq can take care of itself
Re “There’s still time to lose in Iraq,” Opinion, May 9
Max Boot, who never observed an overseas problem that he didn’t think could be solved by prompt military action, is at it again.
Just back from Iraq, he discovered that sectarian problems still exist there and that Prime Minister Nouri Maliki doesn’t want to relinquish power despite having lost an election. The solution, Boot writes, is the retention of 10,000 to 15,000 U.S. troops for an unstated period of time. No surprise there.
No, Max, not this time. If eight years of effort, hundreds of billions spent, more than 4,000 American deaths and thousands of wounded have failed to bring order out of chaos in Iraq, then it is time to admit that military might is not the solution there.
It is time to withdraw and let the Iraqis tackle their problems as best they can. Being the world’s policeman is not working to our advantage.
George Miller
Los Osos, Calif.
It doesn’t have to be Paris
Re “The Champs-Elysees of L.A.? Mais non!,” Opinion, May 9
Enough with the criticisms of Eli Broad’s good intentions.
Does Doug Smith really think Broad literally wants to re-create the Champs-
Elysees in downtown L.A.?
Of course he doesn’t. Broad simply wants downtown L.A. to have the kind of cultural gravity that makes a great city great.
Such an effort can take generations, and Broad has done more than most to build up Los Angeles’ prestige as a city.
Shawn Kirchner
La Verne
Horne’s legacy
Re “Lena Horne, 1917-2010,” Obituary, May 11
Lena Horne is gone. A sad day for all of us — but we still have her recordings and films, and we have the legacy of her battle against racism.
I have the memories of 61 years of listening to the most beautiful woman singing.
I can close my eyes and see the lovely Lena: “Don’t know why there’s no sun up in the sky, stormy weather …”
Heaven’s residents smile in appreciation and God sits on his throne, nodding with pride for a job very well done.
Stephen Schertzer
Hawthorne
