Mayor Karen Bass

Re “After city’s spending spree, Bass asks for a state bailout” (March 27):

You have to find this humorous! In Thursday’s edition, columnist Susan Shelley states “After city’s spending spree…” that a recent report indicates Mayor Bass and the City Council have run Los Angeles into the ground!

To add insult to injury, on your front page the overpaid Bass followers (AKA L.A. City Council), directed city staff to identify $540,000 to maintain immigration legal services.

Explain it to me, Karen … and tell me when it stops; hopefully by the next mayoral election.

— Richard Whorton, Studio City

Fantastic news

Thrilled the judge on March 27 allowed the suit to go forward that news reporters/papers should be compensated for use of their product in AI.

I have and will continue to subscribe to multiple papers. Copyrighted news reporting should not be stolen.

— Lynda Goddard, Redondo Beach

Trump’s Cabinet

Re “No excuses for Trump’s incompetent cabinet” (March 26):

Once again Mr. Perez is so quick to slam anything or anyone connected to Trump. Yes, it was a mistake to have that information get out to a reporter. However, one important question I have to ask is if this reporter were actually a true patriotic American, then why didn’t he go to the DOD and explain to them what had happened, instead of releasing it to the world? The obvious answer is he hates Trump more than he loves his country, which in the words of Pete Hegseth is “pathetic.”

— Chas Hamann, Yorba Linda

Jeffrey Goldberg in Signal group chat

During my employment years I had the opportunity to participate in conference calls and zoom calls. At the start of each meeting participants were asked to introduce themselves. Why would Jeffrey Goldberg attend, and not introduce himself? If we take his statement that he thought he received a valid invitation, why not declare his presence? But he chose to deceive the others with his unauthorized presence. Is journalism a morals-free zone? I think not. Shame on Jeffrey Goldberg and The Atlantic magazine.

— Jorge A. Velez, Long Beach

Yemen leak

Re “Trump calls leak of Yemen attack a ‘glitch’” (March 26):

The conversation that members of the Trump administration had over a commercial platform concerning military action in Yemen is indefensible. If you disagree, you have never held nor should you ever hold a security clearance. This was not a mistake but rather willful disregard of the principles, systems and regulations that people who hold security clearances are sworn to follow. Similar offenses would result in punishment and maybe jail. Last night I had a conversation with sailors off the USS Nimitz. The Nimitz is deploying overseas. Those proud sailors were filled with anticipation and angst. We guard classified information to keep those sailors and others like them safe.

These government leaders have proven that they have neither the background, training nor experience to fulfill the roles in which they were placed. They must resign or be fired.

— Charles W. Sharkey, Costa Mesa

Right to a peaceful protest

Re “Attacks against Tesla dealers are abhorrent” (March 26):

You write in your editorial about the right of peaceful protest. You also write: “We hope the investigation doesn’t include people ‘keying’ the vehicles, or puncturing their tires …. as these are acts of common vandalism.” Are you serious? One, as the vandalism escalates it is anything but peaceful. And two, if one were to come running out in the middle of the night for an emergency, like maybe your house is on fire, and find their tires slashed and someone dies because of it, does that still fit your criteria of “common vandalism”? It’s enough already. The various media outlets and publications have been stirring this pot to over-boiling since Trump took office, and now you are condoning more misplaced violence and destruction? This editorial isn’t helpful.

— Lydia Milars, Los Angeles