Richard Alatorre

* Re “Alatorre to Pay Fines for Ethics Violations,” Sept. 16:

Hot on the heels of L.A. City Councilman Mike Hernandez’s run-in with the law comes Councilman Richard Alatorre, pursued for creatively (and illegally) promoting his wife’s business to the tune of some $225,000, plus some fancy footwork in financial disclosure. Hernandez is faced with criminal charges and demands for his removal from the City Council. Alatorre is slapped on the wrist with an $8,000 fine and given a bully pulpit for the preservation of baldfaced political prevarication. Little money compared to what his wife apparently reaped, and no cries for his seat. What’s going on?

Alatorre stayed ahead of the wolves by sticking to criminal behavior that is almost invariably forgiven or at least cursorily punished. The electorate finds in his behavior little that is not routinely acceptable (for politicians).

Hernandez erred in his choice of crime. Alatorre wisely limited himself to the socially acceptable, white-collar variety of crime.

ALLAN RABINOWITZ

Los Angeles

* I feel it necessary to mention that charity will suffer as a result of the ethics panel’s decision to persecute Alatorre for his dastardly telephone call. Alatorre is a tireless champion of the underdog and his advocacy of the less privileged has not gone unpunished.

Maybe Alatorre and other politicians should not even hassle with charities, as their fund-raising tactics will be questioned at every turn. I, as a former constituent of Alatorre’s, have seen the good that his charities do. It will be a shame if his passion for them is lessened as a result of this “justice.”

CHARLES RICO

La Puente