On L.A.’s deadly 110 Freeway; California’s Dream Act moves forward; and dog owners who want dog-friendly beaches

An accident magnet

Re “Crash death hits neighborhood hard,” Aug. 28

I have been commuting on L.A. freeways for 30 years, the last seven on the 110 between downtown and Pasadena, and it was no surprise to me to read of the tragic collision that took the life of a little girl.

That stretch of the 110 is an accident magnet because of the high speeds of most drivers and the blind curves. And with only three lanes, even fender benders cause significant backups in traffic.

It’s very clear that this road was not built for the number of vehicles or the speeds at which most travel.

Officials should quickly move to reduce the speed limit and to enforce it.

Kathleen Cook

Culver City

As one who occasionally drives this hazardous freeway, I can attest to the danger: When driving at a reasonable — i.e., safe — speed, angry drivers will ride your bumper and perform dangerous maneuvers to pass.

Exits require slowing to a crawl, and blind curves add to the danger.

Relatively inexpensive measures that could alleviate the hazards include more flashing yellow lights and warning signs on critical sections, and grooves

in the roadway to alert drivers (similar to what’s used on many freeway shoulders).

Paal J Bakstad

Rancho Palos Verdes

Dream Act dissenters

Re “Senate panel OKs part of Dream Act,” Aug. 26

I have a dream too. It involves the government enforcing the law of the land and deporting

immigrants who are here illegally instead of rewarding them for breaking the law.

I have a dream that signs in stores be written only in English.

I have a dream that the money now spent on people who are here in violation of the law be spent on our own poor, and that Medicaid funds are used only for those who have paid into the system.

I have a dream that bleeding-heart liberals will start worrying more about the welfare of U.S. citizens instead of bending over backward to aid those who shouldn’t be here in the first place.

When is the U.S. going to make my dream come true?

Mandy Baker

Norco

As a California resident who pays so much of my salary toward taxes, it’s hard to understand why students here illegally should get public aid for higher education.

So the Senate Appropriations Committee sees fit to approve this in a time of economic crisis. What about those students — who are citizens — who need funding? One would think our Sacramento representatives should be thinking about ways to cut spending, not increase it.

This on top of the Obama administration giving hundreds of thousands of undocumented workers an amnesty program. Call me cynical, but do you think this might have something to do with securing the Democratic vote?

Terry Johnston

Newport Beach

Even in a time when there are no epic proportions of debt and unemployment, I cannot fathom providing my tax dollars for education for illegal immigrants.

Neither one of my children — with high GPAs and glowing applications — could go to their top five choices of in-state public colleges.

My point: We cannot take care of our own citizens; why are we doing this?

What does it mean to be a citizen of this great country anymore?

Debra Harris

Irvine

I am a U.S. citizen who did not receive any grants to go to college. School tuition for me and my classmates was hundreds of dollars per unit, and I am scheduled to make my last loan payment at age 55.

I am a California community college instructor. Community college students pay an astoundingly low per-unit fee.

I wish this generation of students well, but something is wrong with this picture.

Donna Kelly

Pomona

We have a law making it unlawful to hire an illegal immigrant. How is it possible for our legislators to vote for the Dream Act and to spend our tax dollars to educate people who cannot be hired? Where is the benefit to California?

This is just another attempt to place a foot in the door for total amnesty. The bill’s author, Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) should be looking out for the state, not his personal quests.

Shame on our politicians.

John Moran

Thousand Oaks

Barking up the wrong tree

Re “Seeking sites for Rover to roam,” Aug. 25

Now the dog people want to take over and foul the beaches.

I live near an L.A. city park, and there are illegally off-leash dogs out there 24/7.

Why reward this community with more of our public space when they ignore the laws already in place?

John Reed

Los Angeles

So a group of dog owners wants taxpayers to indulge their desire to romp with their dogs on public beaches and provide “dog beaches” for them.

Just how many dog owners will be tempted to kick a little sand over their doggy’s deposit instead of picking it up and disposing of it properly?

Judging by the number of dog owners who walk past my home and plop the little blue bag of dog poop in my flower bed because they can’t be bothered to dispose of it in their own garbage cans, I wonder.

Folks go to the beach so they can walk barefoot in the sand and play in the water; imagine stepping on a covered deposit in your bare feet (or worse, having your children step on it in their bare feet).

A dog off-leash has no place cavorting around families who are out for a day at the beach. We shouldn’t have to worry about a dog overrunning our beach blanket or frightening our children.

There are plenty of off-leash dog parks around. Use them.

Brenda Anderson

Santa Monica

Talking point

Re “Congress is in no mood for town brawls,” Aug. 26

I am a little confused.

I have pondered this situation for days now but have yet to figure it out. Maybe someone can help me.

I believe that we elect Congress to represent us, but according to your front-page article, many

in Congress do not seem

to want to hear what we have to say at town hall meetings.

As you write, they are “shying away from wide-open forums.”

What am I missing?

Rich Kelly

Oceanside

Road to success

Re “Carmakers’ rebound is driving jobs,” Aug. 25

I wonder when some Republicans are going to admit how wrong they were when they tried to stop the federal government loans made to save this country’s automobile manufacturing industry?

Roger Geisler

San Dimas

Fixing lunch

Re “Students grade L.A. school lunch menu,” Aug. 29

I packed lunches for my two sons from the time they began school until they graduated from high school: sandwiches, fruit and usually a bottle of water.

Obviously, because parenting means you feed your own children, I also fed them breakfast before they left for school, though one could make a peanut butter or other protein sandwich for breakfast too.

The older son went to a private school with no lunch facilities, and the younger to a public school where there wasn’t enough time to eat even if he had wanted to eat the school food.

Is it really too much to ask parents to feed their own kids?

Becky Bonanno

Los Angeles