Tokofsky’s School Board Seat in Eli Broad’s Sights

Re “Eli, My Friend, for $5 Million I Am All Yours,” by Steve Lopez, Nov. 2:

Financier Eli Broad and, before him, former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan are in the business of buying trustees and influence on school boards. Riordan got three in Los Angeles, and now Broad is after Los Angeles Unified School District Board member David Tokofsky.

Lopez’s column would be hysterical if it weren’t so on the button. Tokofsky is not for sale; that is why Broad had to look elsewhere.

Tokofsky is an educator who is a voice of integrity and intelligence on the board. Why don’t Broad and Riordan look for other people to support? How about helping out Cardinal Roger Mahony? I hear he is losing some of his best people.

Paulette F. Katz

Los Angeles

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Re “Broad Denies Gift Offer Was Improper,” Nov. 2: We are certainly being educated to the “boss” politics in the LAUSD. With the selection or hiring, or both, of the superintendent of schools, board members and senior staff, this buying of the system has cast a shadow on the integrity of all of us. None of us is immune to the damage being done.

The Associated Administrators of Los Angeles has been shouting this warning these past years. The question is, will the millions of dollars of Broad and Riordan continue to buy the school district?

Unless we all stand up and fight this manipulation of power, I fear the answer will be yes.

Eli Brent

President, Associated Administrators of L.A.

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As parents who were deeply involved in the crisis last summer over the transfer of Assistant Principal Jeff Kaufman from Hamilton High School, we wish to thank Tokofsky for his efforts to fight an injustice done to a terrific educator. He actually looked at the facts regarding this transfer and in so doing bucked the school board’s blind loyalty to Supt. Roy Romer. His involvement was much appreciated and is probably one of the reasons his head is now on the chopping block. We appreciate and will remember his commitment to what’s best for the children of the LAUSD.

Patti Benjamin

Bruce Benjamin

Los Angeles