Chavez Holiday

* Re a Cesar Chavez state holiday (editorial, April 5): A creative solution might work best here. Instead of all state employees having the day off with pay, give them the option to do their regular jobs or take the day off to participate in programs to improve the lives of people most affected by Chavez, the farm workers. The state could organize day projects throughout California to paint or repair farm worker housing or other projects to improve the lives of these folks.

This win-win situation would allow the state workers a paid holiday and help keep the Chavez legacy alive.

DAVID HYMAN

Sepulveda

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* With all due respect to Chavez, his accomplishments and importance, yes, there should be some kind of state memorial and reckoning. Make Labor Day into Chavez Day for California. But still another day off to the tenured, pensioned civil servants? And another school day off to students and teachers who have so much off already?

We nongovernment taxpayers foot the bills for this enormously expensive government; it seems a crime to add to this. There has to be a fairer and cheaper way to do this.

MARVIN LESSEN

Los Angeles