Homeboy Industries’ financial woes; Meg Whitman’s dealings with Goldman Sachs; improving education

Help for Homeboy

Re “L.A.’s Homeboy Industries lays off most of its employees,” May 14

As someone who recently visited Homeboy Industries and met with Father Greg Boyle, I was deeply saddened, yet not surprised, to read of the layoff of staff members.

As a hospital chaplain in Long Beach and Oxnard in recent years, I personally witnessed the tragedy of gang violence and the impact on young lives and the community these young adults live in.

We are all facing very challenging times. Our state and local governments are stressed, to say the least. As history teaches us, difficult times are opportunities to clarify what is truly lasting; what is truly central to the meaning of our lives.

Though it is commendable that our community recently rallied to preserve the Hollywood sign, isn’t

it telling about our priorities that our community could not do the same for the healing work of Homeboy Industries?

I trust we can learn, and move positively forward in wise action.

Larry Ehren

Cerritos

Whitman and Goldman Sachs

Re “Whitman’s words put spotlight on her deeds,” May 12

The Times faults Meg Whitman for cutting a deal with Goldman Sachs at a time when Goldman was considered golden.

You also fault her for having been involved in lawsuits, which few in our litigious society can escape because our existing laws appear to encourage them. Many such cases are settled as a practical matter, because the legal cost and energy involved in defending a suit can be enormous and the outcome uncertain regardless of its merit.

Although I have not decided on giving Whitman my vote, I believe that your report was grossly unfair.

John T. Chiu

Newport Beach

Much to be worried about here: dubious judgment, an unwillingness to be accountable, a troubling litigation history. But nothing is more annoying than this: “Whitman declined to be interviewed, referring questions to her campaign staff.”

Offered a forum to pitch her candidacy in plain terms, she declines. Apparently there’s more to lose than to gain by communicating directly.

When it comes to the voting booth, I think I’ll follow Whitman’s lead and similarly “decline” the opportunity.

Will Thomas

Hermosa Beach

Thanks for your article detailing Whitman’s history of shady dealings.

From the article, a pattern of rationalization and failing to address ethical issues directly emerges. In one example, you quote her as having written that “such investment opportunities were common at the time.”

This type of “everyone else was doing it” answer is the sort of excuse I would expect from a naughty child, not the next governor of California.

David Salahi

Laguna Niguel

A climate bill for everyone

Re “Kerry cites urgency on climate change bill,” May 12

The climate bill is a necessity. The debacle in the Gulf of Mexico clearly underscores this.

Anyone still pondering the merits of a shift to clean-energy sources may deserve a dirty and climatically unstable future, but the rest of us don’t.

The bill isn’t perfect, but it moves us in the right direction. Let’s pass it now.

G. Colby Allerton

Richmond, Calif.

Re “Oil executives trade blame in Senate grilling,” May 12

Don’t blame BP. Or Transocean. Or Halliburton.

Don’t blame their executives.

Blame me. I’m responsible. I’m a U.S. citizen, and I didn’t demand of my elected officials that they forbid offshore drilling until it can be made safer.

Cynthia Carle

Los Angeles

The politics of 9/11 trials

Re “The 9/11 civilian trial, and 12 unlucky jurors,” May 10

David Rivkin and Vincent Vitkowsky state, “It was difficult not to conclude that, given Moussaoui’s involvement in the worst terrorist attack on American soil, the failure to secure the death penalty was both a setback for the prosecution and a source of grief for many of the victims’ families.”

As a 9/11 family member who testified for the defense and for a sentence of life in prison for Zacarias Moussaoui, I would like to correct some of their conclusions.

The prosecution was unable to prove convincingly that Moussaoui was directly involved in the attacks of 9/11; that was the setback for the prosecution.

There were families who wanted retribution, and they were undoubtedly disappointed by the verdict. I would venture to say, however, that grief for 9/11 family members revolves mainly around the loss of our beloved family members. Only those who have suffered such a public loss, which remains relevant every day, can possibly speculate about our grief.

Those who would cite that grief to make a political point are shameful.

Adele Welty

Flushing, N.Y.

The writer is the mother of firefighter Timothy Welty, who died during rescue operations on Sept. 11.

Nazi talk

Re “Jewish group denounces rhetoric,” May 14

Rabbi Abraham Cooper’s statement is misguided.

He is confusing the facts of the Arizona legislation with anti-immigration sentiment. No one is calling Arizonans a bunch of Nazis. The claim is that the illegal search tactics allowed under the new legislation are similar to the tactics used in early Nazi Germany to round up “undesirables.”

It is unfortunate and inexplicable that a respected institution like the Simon Wiesenthal Center cannot understand this.

Ken Ferber

Memphis, Tenn.

Education is a calling

Re “A better way to build a teacher,” Opinion, May 10

The title of Jonathan Zimmerman’s Op-Ed uses the right phrase — “build a teacher” — but one has to build onsite, not at the lumberyard, and even a craftsman needs high-quality supplies.

After retiring from 25 years as a high school teacher and 21 years as a U.S. Air Force officer, I wonder whether skilled “teaching” (not test preparing), like effective “leadership” (not management), is learned or innate.

It certainly is not simply another academic course. The key elements are: a love of children and a calling to teach them; a love of learning and a passion to share it; real character and a commitment to follow it.

Beyond that, all that’s required is an environment that encourages rather than stifles. A master’s degree in “education” is irrelevant.

Gary Tompkins

Lake Arrowhead

If we are to improve the quality of K-12 education across this country, our focus needs to be on effective teaching, not on alternative teacher certification, as Zimmerman suggests.

We are fighting to ensure that effective teacher preparation programs are part of a national commitment to school improvement. Unfortunately, while we talk about quality, the U.S. Department of Education is cutting funding for its Teacher Quality Partnership grants, a program that does exactly what Zimmerman calls for.

If our goal is to provide “high-quality pathways for aspiring teachers,” as Education Secretary Arne Duncan says, we cannot turn our backs on our teachers colleges. We don’t institute lasting school improvement by tinkering around the edges. Our nearly 800 members are committed to long-term progress.

Sharon Robinson

Washington

The writer is president of the American Assn. of Colleges for Teacher Education.