LETTERS

Power Failure

KSUR-AM 1260 is low powered compared to KLAC-AM 570 (“KLAC Turns Off Talk for Updated Standards Format,” Nov. 25)? It has 20 kilowatts to KLAC’s 5. KLAC has a more favored dial position, but right next to it is KSUR’s Tijuana synchronized satellite, XESURF 540.

As for programming, it might be nice if KIEV were to sign Michael Jackson for his familiar time, mornings from 9 to 12 (or even 1 p.m.), but I’d hope they would then fill out the day and week with live and local telephone talk.

Thomas D. Bratter

Los Angeles

Hanging Up

Some time ago when the Santa Monica City Council was considering banning the practice of phoning while driving, you wrote a sarcastic editorial attacking the “People’s Republic.”

Given the research now arriving from both the California Highway Patrol and federal government showing cellphone use is causing accidents, don’t you think an apology is in order?

As a person who drives 50 to 100 miles a day across the Southern California region, I can tell you from experience and observation that almost every midday traffic slowdown that is non-accident related is because someone is dialing instead of driving, and virtually every near-miss I observe is because someone is on the phone while behind the wheel.

I am convinced that the reason why there are not more phone-related accidents is because some of us are busy watching out for the drivers on the phone.

James Conn

Santa Monica