One intense Dodger fan; solving L.A.’s transit woes; a portrait of Andrew Breitbart

True to the Dodgers

Re “They go to bat for this stadium delivery man,” Column One, Sept. 6

Pete Bonfils probably has the best job ever. Too bad his meager pay isn’t commensurate with his enormous heart, desire and loyalty to the Dodgers.

I mean, on any given day, my local batting cage takes in more money than he does. At least Frank McCourt, in order to save more money, hasn’t outsourced his job yet.

Cesar Madrid

Orange

I love inspiring articles like this that shine a light on the integrity of unsung individuals.

I have been a Dodgers fan since I was a kid and still have season tickets. Bonfils is now my favorite Dodger.

This story is so much more interesting than any of the other garbage that currently passes for news about the Dodgers.

Hear that, Jamie and Frank?

Julie Saffro

Beverly Hills

On the road to gridlock

Re “Subway is no cure-all, report says,” Sept. 4

The issue is not that the Wilshire subway is a cure-all for traffic; it isn’t.

Nothing will be as long as the continuing increase in population makes the city more crowded and the streets even more gridlocked.

The value of the subway is that it is needed to anchor an areawide mass-transit system, augmented by light rail, trolleys and buses, both rapid and regular.

This subway is a radical representative of the change of mind-set needed to manage the city’s traffic problems, and needed to confront the health hazards, waste, pollution and global warming gases from vehicles on the city’s streets.

Changing the must-always-drive mentality will happen with the more-time-efficient, less-polluting subway as it speeds underneath, while overhead the same old story of gridlocked traffic continues to takes its toll physically, mentally, financially and environmentally and destabilizes the quality of life of the region.

Matthew Hetz

Los Angeles

The only effective solution to the Westside’s traffic gridlock is to stop overdevelopment here and encourage appropriate development, concomitant with infrastructure (i.e. light rail and subway) construction in other parts of Los Angeles city and county.

Too few people live and work near enough to proposed subway stops for this costly boondoggle to have much effect on traffic.

Daniel J. Fink

Los Angeles

Thirty-some years ago, working for the Metro Rail project, I suggested that we should advocate the subway as a way around congestion, not as a way to reduce congestion (which it would not be). I was told to be quiet. Your article on western extension alternatives shows that I was right.

That much said, building a way around (or through) congestion is a fine idea. However, do we have to spend billions of dollars? Santa Monica Boulevard had a former Red Car right-of-way. It was thoughtlessly made over into a hot-rod haven.

As a first step toward improving mobility in the western corridor, give the right-of-way back to transit use and push the space-wasting, gas-guzzling automobiles aside.

Don’t squander billions to create additional infrastructure for movement; use existing infrastructure more efficiently. Then build tunnels only where there is truly no reasonable alternative.

Robert P. Sechler

Seal Beach

Judicial nominations

Re “Where are the judges?,” Editorial, Sept. 3

The American Bar Assn.’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary has participated in reviewing the professional qualifications of nominees to the federal bench since the Eisenhower administration.

Judges in federal courts serve for life, unless found unfit, so it is crucial that individuals with the highest qualifications fill these positions.

The ABA committee focuses on integrity, professional competence and judicial temperament; political ideology is not considered. Each of the 15 members of the committee devotes roughly 1,000 hours to the work each year. From Presidents Kennedy to Obama, the ABA has evaluated more than 2,000 nominees. The process generally takes about 30 days.

Today, 40 nominees, vetted by the ABA, await Senate approval.

The existing vacancies should be filled promptly so that the federal courts will not be deprived of the judges they need to uphold the rule of law and provide access to the justice system.

Stephen N. Zack

Washington

The writer is the president of the American Bar Assn.

Not buying Breitbart

Re “Swinging at the left, hit or miss,” Column One, Sept. 3

Are you kidding me, man? Andrew Breitbart is not a “new-media” phenom; he is a hatchet man who should be sued by both ACORN and Shirley Sherrod.

By the way, regarding Mickey Kaus’ assertion that “everybody who meets him likes him. He is not a devious, Machiavellian guy.” The point was that you want everyone to like you, so that no one sees your treachery coming.

Gar Hildenbrand

San Diego

When there is so much going on in the world that is newsworthy, why do we have to be subjected to articles on the front page about people like Breitbart? He is the epitome of a bully when he says that his goal is to “destroy the institutional left.”

I prefer to read about people who are doing constructive work that contributes rather than seeks to destroy. Arrogant rich kids and what is important to them is neither interesting nor news.

Stephanie Kirschner

Agoura Hills

Breitbart is the Bernard Madoff of journalism.

How does a person who has demonstrated that his word cannot be trusted get sympathetic front-page coverage?

Craig Arnold

Long Beach

Generally, conservatives fall into one of three categories: They are either born wealthy, intend to become wealthy, or—and many land in this category—erroneously believe they are wealthy. It appears that Mr. Breitbart, none too bright indeed, has at various times fallen into all three categories. Hence the question, what transformation? Puhleeze.

Dee Turner

Huntington Beach

Lessons from a big quake

Re “Powerful earthquake hits New Zealand’s South Island,” Sept. 4

Earthquakes and fires are two reasons why building codes have evolved in California; the recent New Zealand quake is a dramatic example of how survival rates improve with stronger building codes enforced.

We can be glad there are planners and inspectors who help protect lives by enforcing strong building codes. Areas that allow occupancy of all subpar buildings should learn a lesson from these events in other places.

As a personal safety hint, Los Angeles residents should watch the videos of damage in New Zealand. It’s a good reminder of why we should always carry walking shoes with us in earthquake territory. Roads can become barriers to vehicles. Those 4-inch heels and flip-flops just won’t survive a hike in difficult conditions.

Amy Davis

Anaheim

Individuals who make history

Re “Jefferson Thomas: 1942-2010, One of the Little Rock Nine” Obituary, Sept. 7

The passing of Jefferson Thomas prompted a series of memories.

Fifty-three years is brief in terms of our history as a country. But I had forgotten the Little Rock Nine. I did not forget cause and circumstance, but I did forget the individuals who helped change many Americans.

What saddens my heart is that there are those who remember and did not change.

In 1957, I was in the military contemplating why I was ready to die for Americans who did not want people like me to have the same quality of education as their children. I was trained to defend my country against all enemies, but some of my enemies were at home in my own country.

Maybe I forgot for the same reason others forget Pearl Harbor, Hiroshima, Korea or even 9/11.

We should remember the historical events, but let us not forget the individual human beings.

Bill Thurmond

Los Angeles