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Public Forum on Proposition 227 Los Angeles Daily News (Letters)
Proposition 227 was passed by a majority of California voters, but our City Council has decided to fight the implementation with taxpayers' money. Even our Valley representatives seem to feel they do not have any obligation to their own constituents. I had not worked for Valley cityhood before, but I believe it is time to separate from a city that so easily ignores the will of the people. They seem to forget they were elected to represent, not to dictate to, the people. Valley separation would offer a better method of controlling the
people who represent us.
My question for those ruling the Banana Republic of Los Angeles: What part of democracy don't you understand? Your constituents, not to mention the majority of Californians, passed Proposition 227. Who are you to oppose the will of the people you represent, let alone the California electorate? We taxpayers need a law that states unequivocally that tax dollars shall not be used by elected officials, appointed officials, commissioners, board members or any individual whose salary is paid from taxpayer funds to usurp the will of the people. It's time to revolt!
I had been a Laura Chick supporter until I read the Daily News on
Aug. 5. I was planning on voting for her for mayor if she runs, but
no more.
In actuality, the L.A. City Council's lack of vision and
leadership will continue to hold back students in the L.A. area who
are learning English as a second language. Now that is what I call
racism.
Talk about the arrogance of power. Although this should not have come as any surprise, it only reinforces the belief that we need a major shake-up of this City Council. This atrocious behavior should highlight the fact that we have leaders who believe they, and they alone, are the only ones intelligent enough to make such decisions. I remember a time when Congressman James Corman, now deceased,
reiterated after he made a similar decision that he wasn't going to
let a bunch of housewives dictate how he would cast his vote. When
he came up for re-election, he was defeated.
When the City Council passes laws, we residents must obey these laws or face legal action, including arrest. But when the voters pass a law, the politicians seem to think they can ignore us and do as they will. It is time to remind the City Council that we are their masters. Our taxes pay their bloated salaries and benefits. And for what? Millions and millions of our tax dollars wasted, with no accountability. Of course, the City Council doesn't care. All it has to do is
raise more taxes or try to slip another bond issue by the voters.
If I questioned my boss every time he gave me an order, I'd be
looking for a new job. Laura Chick used to have my full respect and
cooperation, but no more.
I just finished reading your Aug. 5 editorial, and if ever there were a time for voter revolt, it is now. Let's get rid of those boors in City Hall. Talk about a slap in
the face to the people who put them in office and continue to support
them. This should be a real shot in the arm for the Valley
secessionist movement.
"We the people," "for the people" - voters must view this as pure myth. We put our stamp of approval on legislation such as Proposition 227. After all, the choice was given to us. Councilwoman Chick, you're very wrong. But you've been wrong
before. Because of your mayoral aspirations, you play to a wider
audience. My vote is not for you.
Two items in the news within the last week I find very ironic: One, our property taxes may be increased - a lot - to pay for "things needed" for the city and county of Los Angeles. And the City Council members have decided to override the people's vote and fight the banning of bilingual education in California. Lest anyone forget, the property taxpayers are the major source of
funding. Can the politicians really afford to ignore them? Who is
going to keep this part of the country operating when the landowners
give up, pull up stakes and move on?
I am so livid after reading about city officials' contempt for the people. I guess we can just stop voting and let the City Council decide what is good or bad for us. Voters are angry that so many of the measures we approve are constantly being challenged by one group or another. Thank you, Daily News. Keep up the good work.
Laura Chick is the most arrogant politician in the Valley. How bold of her to say no matter what the people in her district want, her political aspirations are more important. She says she doesn't want to create division. Well, let's make sure a portion of our population doesn't learn English - that will certainly eliminate division. My second-grade daughter can figure that one out. By the way, more than 60 percent of Latinos voted to eliminate
bilingual education. How sad for any politician to say an ethnic
group is not intelligent enough to learn English, when people in
every country of the world strive to teach their children English -
but maybe the rest of the world has a handle on reality.
I would like to thank the Los Angeles City Council for proving to me what I have suspected for quite some time: That voting is a waste of time, and that whatever American-born citizens want - this time around being in the best interests of preserving our children's rights and educational proficiency, as well as promoting essential immigrant English language skills - does not count, even when the "count" is overwhelmingly in. So, instead of weighing the pros and cons of lengthy ballot
measures that, once passed, will be discarded, it looks like I'll
have more meaningful time in June and November to contemplate my
navel.
I find it unimaginable that both council members Chick and Feuer could possibly vote this way on Proposition 227. Our city attorney should be out prosecuting criminals rather than
having to devote efforts toward something the city has no business
being involved in.
Obviously these politicians think we voted for them because we did not actually want a person to represent the majority view of his or her constituents, but instead someone to tell us how inept we are at making decisions on our own. Not. We voters will remember your treachery come election time, Chick. I predict you will lose the next election by a 2-to-1 margin. Finally, I would like to say goodbye to the council members who so
blatantly oppose the will of the people. Enjoy the paycheck while
you can.
Excuse me. Did we miss the high school civics lesson that discussed how government runs? You know - the part about how democracy is based on the vote of the majority. What information do our council members have that makes them so
much more knowledgeable than the thousands of their constituents who
approved Proposition 227? Perhaps they need to review their basic
Government 101 textbook.
Let me get this straight. If I vote yes on 227, my councilman, John Ferraro, says my vote doesn't count. Yet, when I voted for him, that was just fine. Mr. Ferraro just turned me and my family into Valley VOTE members.
Let's secede from L.A. and get some representatives who respect the
vote of their constituents.
Lone writer applauds action I applaud the decision of the Los Angeles City Council to join legal efforts to overturn Proposition 227, which banned bilingual education in California. I particularly applaud those members who represent the San Fernando Valley, because I'm sure it isn't a popular move. I have lived in the Valley for 37 years, have subscribed to the Daily News for most of those years, and feel I can respond to your criticism of the council members' decision. In your editorial of Aug. 5, "Contempt for the people," you ask, "When are voters too stupid to decide an issue?" And you answer, "Whenever the Amoral Majority of the Los Angeles City Council says so." My answer is, "Whenever a leading community newspaper day after day perpetuates an attitude - an attitude that says, we've made it; why can't they?" The City Council apparently sees through that attitude, sees that
it's a dangerous one, and certainly sees that it hardly is the answer
to solving our problems in education. My concern is that even if
Proposition 227 is overturned, the attitude prevails - especially in
the Valley.
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