Romney’s faith and family; skyscrapers in Hollywood; California’s widening income gap

Romney’s life

Re “Romney opens up about his life,” Dec. 19

Nothing speaks more poignantly about Mitt Romney than his response to his wife’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 1998. Those living with MS and other debilitating diseases and their families appreciate his candid and open sharing of one of life’s greatest challenges.

He and his wife, Ann, can serve our nation well as a family managing the reality that even with almost unlimited wealth, each moment in their lives is uncertain. After all, her condition won’t be a secret.

As an independent, I do not know if I will vote for Romney should he win the GOP nomination. However, I admire Ann and Mitt Romney for their steadfast devotion to each other.

Jim Watson

Dana Point

The media and voters meekly accept Romney’s glossed-over references to his faith. If a Muslim candidate were running, you can bet he wouldn’t be given a pass on religion. Granted, it may be unseemly to query any candidate about the tenets of his faith, but not so with his religion’s earthly policies.

When Romney touts his mid-1960s Mormon proselytizing, he does not disclose that none of his missionary colleagues were female or black. That’s because the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints discriminated on the basis of race and gender.

In 1978, the Mormon church ceased its discrimination against blacks. Its women, however, remain relegated to second-class status. With women comprising half the nation’s electorate, a proverbial judgment day looms large for the Romney campaign.

Gary Dolgin

Santa Monica

When Romney’s wife was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she was fatigued and had difficulty with basic tasks like cooking. Romney said at the time: “I don’t care what the meals are like. You know, I like cold cereal and peanut butter sandwiches.”

Romney is a very wealthy man. He has access to the best care in the world. He and his wife can easily afford a cook or two and a housekeeping staff.

Romney shouldn’t fake the common man. It’s not as if he lives in public housing or is on food stamps.

Donna Handy

Santa Barbara

The future of Hollywood

Re “Hollywood sees future: up,” Dec. 20

I was part of the team of Los Angeles city planners who prepared the General Plan Framework, the adopted citywide plan that officials claim the update for Hollywood implements.

In fact, the update conflicts with the General Plan. It is nothing more than the city planning version of “Field of Dreams,” counting on a slew of mega-projects in Hollywood to propel economic growth.

Hollywood’s public infrastructure cannot support such projects. There is also no evidence that the upscale tenants, shoppers and residents required to make these mega-projects succeed will materialize.

If City Hall really wants to revitalize Hollywood and the rest of Los Angeles, it must provide amenities. This city desperately needs code enforcement, buried wires, good schools, real transit, more parks and community centers, repaired streets and sidewalks, bike lanes and an urban forest.

Richard Platkin

Los Angeles

While the City Council is weighing new guidelines that would allow taller buildings in Hollywood, perhaps those involved should look down instead — at the sidewalks, that is, to see what tourists are capturing with their cameras along with the names on the Walk of Fame. They are sharing their souvenir shots of their favorite stars with the broken sidewalks of the “walk of shame.”

Is this what the future of Hollywood is all about? Just tall buildings?

Morley J. Helfand

Arcadia

Income gap

Re “Lumps of coal all around,” Column, Dec. 19

George Skelton bemoans the widening income gap in California. Most progressives lay the blame on the upper income folks and call for increased taxes on the rich.

The problem lies more at the bottom end of the income ladder than at the top. Two labor dynamics contribute to the widening income gap.

The first dynamic is that many illegal immigrants to California tend to be poorly educated and are unable to get good paying jobs; they swell the ranks of the poor.

The second dynamic is the exodus of good paying jobs out of California. Skelton alludes to this by saying that we need to make California business-friendly again.

This should be at the top of our government’s priority list, while imposing another millionaires’ tax should be near the bottom.

Jerry Freeman

Irvine

Times change

Re “Obama faces a battle on air rules,” Dec. 22

Back in the mid-20th century, the American Cancer Society was in its infancy, smoking was considered a good way to relax and control your weight, pregnant women smoking didn’t draw a second look, every car had a cigarette lighter and an ash tray and power plant emissions of mercury and other poisons were not regulated.

Here we are a decade into the 21st century. We are just now, for the first time, getting around to regulating the levels of mercury coming out of generating plants. But what do we see in Congress and the conservative media?

We see Republicans and the polluters’ lobbyists longing for the good old days, predicting economic gloom while ignoring the success of world-class economies that have modernized their power generation.

How long can we remain a first-world country with a third-world mind-set?

Richard Green

San Clemente

Animal cruelty

Re “No more Jumbos,” Opinion, Dec. 18

I cannot thank writer Jay Kirk enough for his pointed articulation of the reasons why elephants do not belong in circuses (or even zoos).

It is obvious that wild animals must be cruelly prodded and tormented in the most obscene ways to act unnaturally and that fear is their inducement to perform thusly. For those who are ignorant of the facts, easily available footage has shown gross mistreatment, and much has been written on this topic.

In a contest between financial exploitation by certain organizations and the humane treatment of animals, the financial interests generally succeed. In a truly civil society, one must eschew such torment for “entertainment’s” sake, release these large animals to a sanctuary environment and cease this farce.

Elaine Livesey-Fassel

Los Angeles

N. Korean grief

Re “North Korea is crying—maybe,” Dec. 22

I love the sight of North Koreans devastated over the death of Kim Jong Il. The reason for the waterworks is because they believed everything said of him in the media, which he controlled. It’s called propaganda.

In a country not much bigger than Kentucky, they have raised an army bigger than Brazil’s. That’s where the money goes and explains why most of these people lead such pitiful lives. Kim was terrible.

Jack Spiegelman

Los Angeles