Dry Cleaning

California will become the first state to phase out the use of perchloroethylene, or perc, a chemical used by commercial dry cleaners that has been linked in studies to bladder, esophageal and other cancers.

Roy L. Pearson learned Monday that his pants are not worth $54 million. In fact, the lawsuit he filed when a pair of trousers went AWOL at a local dry cleaner set him back $1,000 in court costs -- and potentially a much larger sum in attorneys' fees for the folks he sued. More broadly, Pearson's pant suit came to epitomize, for many, serious flaws in the legal system.

California is poised to become the first state to phase out the main chemical used by dry cleaners, following a unanimous vote by the state's Air Resources Board on Thursday to develop a plan to eliminate perchloroethylene -- or "perc." Citing health risks to workers, nearby residents and businesses, the board took the action despite industry protests and a contrary recommendation by its own staff. The South Coast Air Quality Management District enacted the first ban anywhere in the U.S.

Re "Delgadillo used his staff for baby-sitting, errands," June 21 If the city of Los Angeles is capable of specifying who should drive the publicly purchased automobiles used by its senior elected and appointed officials, why can't it also mandate the kind of vehicles these employees drive? City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo and all others in his vaunted category should be weaned from the gas-guzzling glamour tanks they maintain at our expense. This would, in turn, eliminate family member abuse of car privileges, because I'm sure Michelle Delgadillo and others would be less than eager to drive a gray Toyota Prius with a city logo on its doors.

Light, slight and more touching than uproarious, Elizabeth Logun's "Butter" is a low-impact British farce about coupling and decoupling that goes down as smoothly as, well, butter, in director Dave P. Moore's new production.

Pierre Frik feared that if the country went to war in Iraq, he might be targeted by zealots because of his Middle Eastern background. He never imagined he'd be vulnerable because French Cleaners is the name of his small chain. The Lebanese native said he picked the name on a whim, making the Eiffel Tower the logo. But as relations between the United States and France soured over a war with Iraq, Frik said, he was hit by the backlash.

An employee of a dry-cleaners and two firefighters were taken to a hospital for observation Wednesday after being exposed to a solvent spilled at the business, according to authorities. The accident occurred at about 2:30 p.m. at the Elegant Custom Cleaners in the 20800 block of Lassen Street, said Jim Wells, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department. City firefighters along with a hazardous-materials crew were sent to the location.

America Online, Blockbuster Video, Spec's Music and the Red Cross have plans to advertise on the plastic bags and hangers of local dry cleaners, the latest frontier being claimed by advertisers looking for new ways to reach consumers. The Red Cross and Spec's rolled out their ads Sunday in New York and Miami, respectively. America Online is still completing its deal, but is slated to start on Dec. 1 in San Diego, and Blockbuster will begin in Dallas on Dec.

Irene White used to avoid dry-cleaners because she couldn't tolerate the solvents they used to clean her clothes. "I had a sensitivity to the chemicals. I occasionally broke out in a rash, and I didn't like the smell," says White, a Huntington Beach resident. Until recently, White was resigned to wearing cotton garments and other fabrics that didn't have to be dry-cleaned; she hand-washed her sweaters and fine clothing.