Congressman Beilenson

I read your article regarding Beilenson with more than the usual interest, since I was his Republican opponent in the last election.

Your article quoted Beilenson saying “I don’t think about California’s problems very much.�

Although Beilenson may have apologized for that remark, calling it “a stupid, arrogant thing to say,� he failed to retract the statement. That statement was not only arrogant, it was based on ignorance. Only a portion of our district is made up of the so-called “affluent Westside�; about half consists of San Fernando Valley areas. Economic comparisons aside, these areas are united in their fight against our district’s mounting traffic, drug, environmental, housing and health-care problems and we deserve our fair share of federal assistance. Beilenson can’t evade his obligations by saying, “That’s what local government is for.�

A congressman must represent local interests, as well as lead on national matters.

Finally, there is Beilenson’s claim that he has no need to campaign. The fact is Beilenson campaigns all year round, and he spends the public’s money doing it. He mails out invitations to monthly town meetings, and afterward everyone who got an invitation gets a letter. Every voter in the district receives at least one of theses sets of mail a year. Then, too, there are the “Reports to the District� and the “opinion surveys� which he ignores. All this he does at our expense on his free mail. The franking privilege was meant to defray a representative’s costs in responding to individual constituents. In the hands of congressmen like Beilenson, it has been corrupted into a sub-rosa form of public campaign financing.

The 23rd District deserves better representation--representation which can only come when we have a leader who recognizes the importance of both local and national concerns.

JIM SALOMON

Beverly Hills