Starved for Funds

* Re “Young Chefs Find a Raw Deal at Trade-Tech,” Aug. 7: The culinary arts program at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College represents the hospitality industry of Los Angeles. Adult students from the inner city, East L.A., West L.A., South-Central and extended communities such as Lancaster come together, knives in hand, to earn a culinary certificate from the American Culinary Federation accredited college.

Despite the lack of high-tech equipment, state-of-the-art appliances and respectable kitchen tools, the students representing LATTC at a culinary competition in Las Vegas took home more medals than any school in California, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado. The cafeteria is one of the best kept secrets in Los Angeles. Where else can one choose Salmon Wellington with rosti potatoes and summer squash julienne or kielbasa with braised red cabbage and spaetzle, all made from scratch for $3.95? Lest we forget, this needy department contributes generously to many charities.

Now that the secret is out concerning our “raw deal,” perhaps we will find support. After all, we are celebrating our 75th year, making us the oldest culinary arts program on the West Coast.

JEANETTE C. DONEY, Pres.

Les Amis de Savarin Culinary Club

LATTC

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As a teacher in the Adult Vocational School of the Hacienda La Puente USD, I thank you for pointing out the inadequacies in the funding of adult vocational classes. While the community college vocational programs are not adequately funded, their resources are considerably greater than those available to the accredited public adult vocational schools in California.

Our adult school serves dislocated workers, those on rehab, GAIN, GROW and Parent’s Fair Share clients and the incarcerated of Los Angeles County, as well as those who have been recently released. We also have special programs for the developmentally disabled and those who are physically challenged. Our students learn to become a valuable part of society rather than a burden on it. I would like to see the work continue, but, as you point out, the programs are expensive.

TINA MAYCLIN

Arcadia