[ LAWA Must Stop Kowtowing to Airbus... ]

LAWA must stop kowtowing to Airbus

I read with interest that Los Angeles World Airports felt slapped and was “taken aback” by being snubbed by Airbus for the launch of its new super jumbo jet, the A380 (“Airbus snubs LAX for New York debut,” Thursday). Frankly, I’m taken aback that LAWA is spending more than $120 million reconfiguring its gates to chase this golden goose in the first place.

If LAWA has that much money to spend, why isn’t it using the money to expand Palmdale and Ontario airports, and to build the regional airport system? Why isn’t LAWA using that money to help MTA extend the Green Line and connect it to the airport? These solutions will reduce traffic. Building larger gates to support the 500-plus- passenger A380, however, will only bring more passengers, more traffic and more pollution to the already overburdened areas around LAX.

Moreover, spending this money to chase an Airbus plane would be a slap in the face to Boeing, an American company with a heavy presence in El Segundo and Southern California. Airbus already receives hundreds of millions of dollars in unfair subsidies from European governments — that’s how Airbus has built market share against Boeing. It doesn’t need help from LAWA.

I would suggest that, instead of spending any more money kowtowing to Airbus, LAWA should use it doing something productive for the regional transportation system. LAWA should seek to improve traffic and pollution, not make things worse.

— TED W. LIEU

53rd District Assemblyman, Torrance

Candidate explains absentee mailers

I regret any confusion caused by a recent mailer I sent to help people apply for permanent absentee voter (PAV) status. As a Manhattan Beach City Council candidate, I am trying to encourage as many as possible to vote in the March 6 election — for me or any other candidate.

My mailer contained two postage pre-paid PAV applications to allow voters to use this simple method to cast their ballots. A letter to the editor incorrectly suggested the applications are addressed to me instead of the County Registrar of Voters Office so I can use personal information on the forms for my campaign (“Watch out for deceptive ballot mailers,” Feb. 14). The form is what the county requires. They are addressed to me so the application can be mailed back postage pre-paid to produce the greatest possible response and the U.S. Post Office will not allow me to buy a pre- paid postage permit for a county application. The applications are, in fact, being submitted to the county on a daily basis so voters will receive their ballots in the mail before the election. I am making every effort to insure PAV applicants receive their ballots in a timely manner.

Please contact me at david_lesser@verizon.net or 310-937-1515 if anyone encounters a problem receiving a ballot in the mail.

— DAVID LESSER

Manhattan Beach

Clark teachers’ choice for school board

On March 6, the voters of Redondo Beach will have a school board election. As a teacher in Redondo and a community member for 19 years, I have seen our district go through some trying times. We’ve pushed steadily forward and now enjoy a great superintendent, a healthy budget focused on the classroom, high teacher morale and ever-improving student test scores.

Carl Clark, current school board president and a candidate for re- election, has been the driving force in these positive changes for the Redondo Beach Unified School District. That is why the Redondo Beach teachers have enthusiastically endorsed Clark for re- election.

Clark is focused on being accessible to teachers, parents and community members, making sure that classrooms are the No. 1 spending priority and building partnerships with local businesses and colleges to help prepare our students for the jobs of the 21st century.

Carl Clark is the teachers’ choice!

— AMY SANTA CRUZ

President, Redondo Beach Teachers Association

Wage deal will benefit workers, hotels

Contrary to what the Daily Breeze claims in its letters (“Hahn clueless on ‘living wage’ issue,” Feb. 15) the living wage law for Los Angeles International Airport hotel workers is just what this city needs — and leaders like Councilwoman Janice Hahn should be applauded for taking a stand on one of the great moral issues of our time.

Poverty is reaching epidemic proportions in Los Angeles. Thousands of residents working full-time cannot afford the basics of food, housing and health care, let alone save money to send their kids to college. When working people earn poverty wages, families and communities suffer. I see the effects every day in my classrooms, where too many kids go without essential medical care because their hard-working parents have no health insurance.

It would be great if large businesses like the hotels on Century Boulevard saw the wisdom in paying their employees a decent wage and providing good benefits. But too many of them don’t, and are happy to rely on taxpayers to foot the bill for health care, food stamps and other government assistance programs.

The living wage law won’t end poverty in L.A., but it will improve the lives of thousands of people and their families. I am proud that I live in a city where my elected representatives are serious about taking on the scourge of poverty while also making sure to invest in the tourism industry and other sectors vital to our local economy.

Hotel workers, their employers, our communities and the whole city will be better off thanks to the living wage.

— TOM JOHNSTONE

Assistant Superintendent, Lennox Unified School District

Support our troops – bring them home

Please vote to cut off funding for the escalation of the war in Iraq. Too many people have died already. Support our troops. Bring them home where they will be out of danger.

Thank you for all your good votes up to now.

— LILLIAN LIGHT

Manhattan Beach

(c) 2007 Daily Breeze. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.