Robert Silver

Re "Prevailing-Wage Curb for Storm Work Ends," Oct. 27 In lifting the order suspending the Davis-Bacon Act, the president has bowed to a coalition of Democrats and what I'll call moderate Republicans in the House. I would hope he sees the possibility of governing from this more centrist sensibility, with the idea that acknowledging a broader constituency might be more effective than serving the narrower far right that has characterized his governance until now. ROBERT SILVER Los Angeles

Re "Prevailing-Wage Curb for Storm Work Ends," Oct. 27 In lifting the order suspending the Davis-Bacon Act, the president has bowed to a coalition of Democrats and what I'll call moderate Republicans in the House. I would hope he sees the possibility of governing from this more centrist sensibility, with the idea that acknowledging a broader constituency might be more effective than serving the narrower far right that has characterized his governance until now. ROBERT SILVER Los Angeles

More than 2,000 artworks stolen from a Van Nuys art dealership have been recovered and police said Tuesday the robbery appeared to be the work of thieves using "inside information." "There are many circumstances surrounding the crime itself that indicate that somebody knew what was going on there--like who would be there, and what would be available to be taken," said Los Angeles Police Detective Lou Boozell.

More than 2,000 artworks stolen from a Van Nuys art dealership have been recovered and police said Tuesday the robbery appeared to be the work of thieves using "inside information." "There are many circumstances surrounding the crime itself that indicate that somebody knew what was going on there--like who would be there, and what would be available to be taken," said Los Angeles Police Detective Lou Boozell.

Re "Cheney Disclosure Could Serve as Defense for Libby," Feb. 16 When is a leak of classified information not an illegal leak? When the president and the vice president do the leaking by executive order. They simply declassify the information first. Is Congress going to let them get away with declaring that they are simply above the law? LEROY MILLER West Hills The vice president's disclosure that he has the authority to release classified information presents a dangerous political scenario in an administration noted for its secrecy and penchant for classifying information.

Five days after artworks worth more than $1 million were stolen in Van Nuys, Los Angeles police remained puzzled over who took them and why. About 8 p.m. Monday, a masked gunman tied up Robert Silver, part-owner of Eagle Limited's warehouse, took his watch and wallet, loaded the artworks into the company van and escaped. Detectives said Friday that there are no suspects.

The owner of a Van Nuys art publishing company told police today that a masked gunman tied him to a chair, loaded a company van with a million dollars worth of paintings, lithographs and serigraphs, and then drove off. Robert Silver, 44, told officers it took him three hours to free himself enough to dial police, talking to them over a speaker telephone. "When officers arrived . . . Silver was still tied to the chair, and they freed him," said Detective Richard Schauer.

Re "Details, Mr. Romney," Editorial, Sept. 11 In reducing tax rates by 20%, the rate reduction is greater for those in the higher brackets. For example, income once taxed at a marginal rate of 25% would be taxed at 20%, while the 36% bracket would go down to about 29%. As for the loopholes, Mitt Romney will have a far harder time getting a fractious Congress to agree on which ones to close if he doesn't identify and discuss them now than he will if he discloses and discusses them now, wins the presidency and has the specific public mandate he campaigned on. Robert Silver Los Angeles ALSO: Letters: Telling a 9/11 story Letters: AEG's hold on City Hall Letters: Breakfast in the classroom

A North Hollywood man who told authorities he was the victim of an abduction and shooting has been arrested as a suspect in a San Francisco murder, Los Angeles police said Thursday. Police found Elijah Franklin, 40, who had been shot repeatedly and left for dead, beside the Golden State Freeway in Sylmar on Aug. 2.

Re "Senate OKs bill to extend wiretaps," Feb. 13 The Senate again yielded to the threats of George W. Bush, a president whose credibility approaches zero, this time agreeing to retroactive immunity for telephone companies that facilitated the administration's warrantless wiretapping. It is clear that the Senate and the White House do not represent the people. What good are constitutional rights if they're not enforced? Thomas Bliss Sherman Oaks -- Between hidden military tribunals empowered to sentence accused terrorists to death and the grant of immunity to telecommunications companies for illegal wiretaps, democracy and the rule of law in America have suffered grievous blows from which they may never recover.

An armed robber stole about $1 million in original paintings and other artworks from a Van Nuys art distributor, authorities said today. Police said Robert Silver, 44, part-owner of Eagle Limited, told them an armed man in a black mask tied him up in his office along the 7000 block of Sophia Avenue about 8 p.m. Monday. More than 1,000 works from three artists were taken, police said. Also stolen were Silver's watch and the delivery van owned by the artists agency and arts publishing house.

The theft of up to $1 million in paintings and other artworks from an art distribution house in Van Nuys was an "inside job," detectives said today. Police investigators said two of three owners of Eagle Limited agreed to lie-detector tests in the aftermath of the June 19 theft. The third, however, Robert Silver, a Boston attorney who told police he was tied up at gunpoint by the thief, refused to submit to the test and has hired a lawyer, detective Lou Bozelle said.