43rd District

"SLAPP in Face for Protesting Homeowners" (Times, July 5) describes a cynical, new legal ploy developers are using to deter community opposition to their projects. Homeowner organizations and individuals hesitating to raise valid challenges to proposed developments should, however, know about an important bill pending in the Legislature that will limit developers' right to use such aggressive tactics. Senate Bill 2313 (sponsored by state Sen. Bill Lockyer) would provide significant legal protection to persons exercising their First Amendment rights of petition or free speech in connection with a public issue, such as opposition to unwanted development.

Historians and semanticists will long debate whether Yasser Arafat actually satisfied the U.S. conditions for meeting with the PLO. His supposedly clear words at the pivotal press conference Dec. 14 were barely more forthcoming than what George Shultz termed ambiguous the day before. It seems that the Administration heard Arafat as it wanted to hear him, not as he is. Now, unfortunately, only Israel sees Arafat as a deceitful terrorist. More important as negotiations begin is one absolute essential: Israel's security.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my support for the comments outlined by the Metropolitan Water District general manager, Carl Boronkay, in his article (Editorial Pages, Jan. 20), "The Price Will Be Too High If We Don't Act on Water." As a member of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee (as well as the Water Resources subcommittee), I have met with Boronkay on a number of occasions to discuss potential solutions to the water problems we face in California.

Half a dozen Assembly races in Los Angeles County are being carefully watched by both major political parties. In the battle for control of the Legislature, most of the 24 seats on ballots around the county are not expected to change party hands in the fall, even though incumbents will not be on the ballot in seven of them. The exceptions are the 43rd, 44th, 53rd, 54th, 56th and 60th districts, all in suburban areas that can no longer be counted sure bets by either party.

People of widely divergent views despair the awful violence and deaths in Gaza. Everybody loses. Historic Israeli values have been scarred, Palestinian lives are lost without progress toward legitimate aspirations. The world's hottest region is more dangerous. The Times editorial ("Reminder of Folly," Dec. 24) properly places this current violent outbreak in a larger context. The rioting is not an isolated event but the product of unnecessary and reversible policies. Yet The Times errs in primarily blaming Israel for it while understating Arab failure.

Questionnaires were distributed to candidates this month. Answers have been edited to fit the available space. Family Sick Leave Q. Gov. Deukmejian recently vetoed legislation that would have granted workers as much as four months of unpaid leave every two years to care for sick children, spouses and other family members without fear of losing their jobs. Do you favor this type of legislation? Friedman: Yes. Passi: No. Lindblad: Yes. Rotter: No. Teacher Salaries Q.

For a long time, community activists in the San Fernando Valley have grumbled that they suspect the heart and soul of the state assemblyman from the 43rd Assembly District belongs to the Westside, where most of the big campaign donors live. On Saturday, leaders of Valley homeowner groups got a chance to tell the three Democratic candidates running for the Assembly seat that they do not want the Valley ignored. In the living room of the president of the Encino Property Owners Assn.

Occupation Howard Greenebaum: Retired businessman Daniel L. Muhe: Financial Planner Ron Packard: Congressman Birth Date Greenebaum: 12/31/29 Muhe: 3/13/53 Packard: 1/19/31 Party Affiliation Greenebaum: Democratic Muhe: Libertarian Packard: Republican Previous Public Offices Greenebaum: None Muhe: Packard: 43rd District Congressman, 1982-present; Carlsbad City Council, 1976-78; Mayor, 1978-82; Carlsbad School Dist. Bd.

It is, by both candidates' admission, a Republican primary race without issues, conflict or many campaign dollars. The low-budget, low-profile contest does not bode well for the eventual nominee's prospects against Democratic Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman of Tarzana in November. Attorneys Tom Franklin of Beverly Hills and Edward Brown of Sherman Oaks are competing in the June 7 primary for the GOP nomination in the 43rd Assembly District.