Chick Takes Care of City Business

Re “Chick Is a Portrait in Sharp Contrasts,” Feb. 21: Perhaps it’s precisely her background as a soccer mom that most prepared Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick for her current position. You can’t call all the penalties, but if you let the teams know you’re watching, something magical happens: They act as though they are being watched. Sometimes you can stop more problems with a spotlight than with a sharp pencil.

To those who cry foul -- that she’s now an insider, part of the game -- I would remind them that “insider” is more a state of mind than a job description. So she steps on a few toes. What did you expect from an auditor -- nods and acquiescence? Good for her.

Ira Lee Newlander

Los Angeles